[KaneBT]

I've always hated the default Windows XP folder icon so I have been trying for years to change it without any performance slowing 3rd party programs. I have discovered an answer so I have written a tutorial to help others.

Now, Relatively Easily, The Default Icon Can Be Changed For All Current & New Folders In Menus, The Desktop & Anywhere The Icon Is Displayed!
And All Without Any 3rd Party Applications Ruining Performance!

Also See Here For An Even More In Depth Tutorial


Heres How:
1. Download Resource Hacker:

Resource Hacker (Zip File 541kb)

2. Find the file ‘Shell32.dll in: C:\WINDOWS\system32. Make a copy of the file on the desktop.

3. Open Resource Hacker and select File>Open. Navigate to the shell32.dll file on the desktop and Press enter.



4. Select ‘Action’ and navigate to ‘Replace Icon’, click on it.



5. Select either 4 or 5 in the list to the right, these are the folder icons. We will replace both of these. 4 is an open folder, 5 is a closed folder.



6. Highlight either 4 or 5 and select: open file with new icon. Navigate to the new icon (it should be close to the same size as the old one) and press open. Now select click replace.



7. Do the same for the other icon (either 4 or 5), and click replace.

8. Select File>Save. Now close Resource Hacker. Resource Hacker will automatically create a backup of shell32 on the desktop, just delete this (the file we edited is already a backup).

9. Download Replacer:

Replacer: Version 2.63

10. Open Replacer, a ms-dos windows will open, follow the instructions. You will have to drag the original file (C:\WINDOWS\system32\shell32.dll) and then the replacement file (the copy of shell32.dll on the desktop which we edited).



11. Restart the computer.

12. Download (if you don’t already have it) the simple Microsoft utility: TweakUI

13. Run TweakUI, click repair in the left hand column. Select ‘Rebuild Icons’ from the drop-down list and then click repair now.




14. You now have an all new DEFAULT WINDOWS XP FOLDER ICON.

Your desktop icon arrangement will be lost, you will have to sort that out again. Try making a new folder to test out your new icon!

Enjoy!

KaneBT

All replies are hugely appreciated! Did this work for you? Please let me know and say thanks!

This post has been edited by THE KING: 06 April 2008 - 09:58 AM

[Seventh Surfer]

This is a nice guide, it will help those who are new to Resource Hacker.

[FalseAgent]

I bookmarked this page

[doyao]

use this tool to rebuild the icon cache.
http://www.doyaoblog...rebuildicon.rar

This post has been edited by doyao: 06 April 2008 - 04:27 AM

[KaneBT]

thanks for the comments guys!


thanks comedy guy

The progam doyao advised may work, but I havent tried it.

[Frylock86]

Word of caution: you are playing with system files. Make sure you know what you are doing, if you don't you can seriously mess you your system!

Trust me on this one....

This post has been edited by Frylock86: 06 April 2008 - 06:18 AM

[The Silent Warrior]

*| Don't forget to backup the file! |*

[winmatrix2007]

Quote

*| Don't forget to backup the file! |*

I second that

[kaironxp]

i like vista's icons but i cant use it on windowsxp because doesnt look well

mmm......is there a descent shellpack for XP with Vista's icons??

bye

[chard081992]

gudeve... can i ask? may i know what visual style u are using, that ive seen on your post? and what pack or tricks did u use to change your icons.. (not only the folder icon)..

hope u'll reply... thanks...

[SharmanNet]

kaironxp check this link. If you have SP3 installed then don't forget to check this thread.

chard081992 he is using Zune theme.

[KaneBT]

char081992: im using the Microsoft Zune Theme.

I change all of my other icons by editing system files also, so all of the icons in system32, .cpl (control panel) files, and a number of others.

I have written exact instructions to what I have done here

My Shutdown, Restart etc. icons can be found here

All of the other icons can be found here

Thanks for the comments guys!

[chard081992]

oo.. thanks for the reply... i really appreciate it...

i will grab to try for it...

tanks.

[KaneBT]

no problem.

[mediar]

I think you can just use Stardock IconPackager or IconTweaker.