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Change Windows 8 icons trough registery

Started by Seahorsepip, Nov 26 2012 19:40 windows8 icons change modify regedit registery

4 replies to this topic - - - - -

#1 +Seahorsepip

    http://seapip.com

  • 938 posts
    • Joined: 23-January 11
  • Location: Vlissingen, Netherlands
  • OS: Windows 8 Pro

Posted 26 November 2012 - 19:40

So I tried changing icons trough a different way then hacking the dll files today and tried iconpackager, yes it's not for windows 7 but it seems to work xD...

So after some investigation it seemed to just add regedit values to the registry to the ico files when I change the icons manually ^^

So for everyone who wonder how to change the windows 8 folder icons without the need of iconpackager see example reg file text below:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FolderDescriptions\{FDD39AD0-238F-46AF-ADB4-6C85480369C7}]
"Icon"="C:\\Documents.ico,0"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FolderDescriptions\{18989B1D-99B5-455B-841C-AB7C74E4DDFC}]
"Icon"="C:\\Videos.ico,0"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FolderDescriptions\{56784854-C6CB-462B-8169-88E350ACB882}]
"Icon"="C:\\Search.ico,0"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FolderDescriptions\{4C5C32FF-BB9D-43b0-B5B4-2D72E54EAAA4}]
"Icon"="C:\\Games.ico,0"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FolderDescriptions\{33E28130-4E1E-4676-835A-98395C3BC3BB}]
"Icon"="C:\\Pictures.ico,0"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FolderDescriptions\{4BD8D571-6D19-48D3-BE97-422220080E43}]
"Icon"="C:\\Music.ico,0"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FolderDescriptions\{bfb9d5e0-c6a9-404c-b2b2-ae6db6af4968}]
"Icon"="C:\\Links.ico,0"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FolderDescriptions\{374DE290-123F-4565-9164-39C4925E467B}]
"Icon"="C:\\Downloads.ico,0"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FolderDescriptions\{FDD39AD0-238F-46AF-ADB4-6C85480369C7}]
"Icon"="C:\\Favourites.ico,0"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FolderDescriptions\{B4BFCC3A-DB2C-424C-B029-7FE99A87C641}]
"Icon"="C:\\Desktop.ico,0"

[HKEY_USERS\S-1-5-21-2099262738-29464829-2369556334-1001\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\CLSID\{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}\DefaultIcon]
@="C:\\Controlpanel.ico,0"

[HKEY_USERS\S-1-5-21-2099262738-29464829-2369556334-1001\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\CLSID\{20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D}\DefaultIcon]
@="C:\\Computer.ico,0"

[HKEY_USERS\S-1-5-21-2099262738-29464829-2369556334-1001\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\CLSID\{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}\DefaultIcon]
@="C:\\Controlpanel.ico,0"

[HKEY_USERS\S-1-5-21-2099262738-29464829-2369556334-1001\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\CLSID\{26EE0668-A00A-44D7-9371-BEB064C98683}\DefaultIcon]
@="C:\\Controlpanel.ico,0"

[HKEY_USERS\S-1-5-21-2099262738-29464829-2369556334-1001\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\CLSID\{59031A47-3F72-44A7-89C5-5595FE6B30EE}\DefaultIcon]
@="C:\\Userfolder,0"

[HKEY_USERS\S-1-5-21-2099262738-29464829-2369556334-1001\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\CLSID\{2559a1f1-21d7-11d4-bdaf-00c04f60b9f0}\DefaultIcon]
@="C:\\Help.ico,0"

[HKEY_USERS\S-1-5-21-2099262738-29464829-2369556334-1001\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\CLSID\{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E}\DefaultIcon]
"empty"="C:\\Empty-recyclebin.ico,0"
"full"="C:\\Full-recyclebin.ico,0"
@="C:\\Full-recyclebin.ico,0"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Shell Icons]
"0"="C:\\Contacts.ico,0"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Shell Icons]
"3"="C:\\Folder.ico,0"
"4"="C:\\Folder.ico,0"
"livefolder_back"="C:\\livefolder_back.ico,0"
"livefolder_front"="C:\\livefolder_front.ico,0"
"29"="C:\\Shortcut-arrow.ico,0"
"34"="C:\\Desktop.ico,0"
"15"="C:\\Computer.ico,0"
"livefolder_data"="C:\\livefolder_back.ico,0"

To reset everything back to default:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FolderDescriptions\{FDD39AD0-238F-46AF-ADB4-6C85480369C7}]
"Icon"="%SystemRoot%\system32\imageres.dll,-112"
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FolderDescriptions\{18989B1D-99B5-455B-841C-AB7C74E4DDFC}]
"Icon"="%SystemRoot%\system32\imageres.dll,-189"
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FolderDescriptions\{56784854-C6CB-462B-8169-88E350ACB882}]
"Icon"="%SystemRoot%\system32\imageres.dll,-18"
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FolderDescriptions\{4C5C32FF-BB9D-43b0-B5B4-2D72E54EAAA4}]
"Icon"="%SystemRoot%\system32\imageres.dll,-186
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FolderDescriptions\{33E28130-4E1E-4676-835A-98395C3BC3BB}]
"Icon"="%SystemRoot%\system32\imageres.dll,-113"
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FolderDescriptions\{4BD8D571-6D19-48D3-BE97-422220080E43}]
"Icon"="%SystemRoot%\system32\imageres.dll,-108"
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FolderDescriptions\{bfb9d5e0-c6a9-404c-b2b2-ae6db6af4968}]
"Icon"="%SystemRoot%\system32\imageres.dll,-185"
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FolderDescriptions\{374DE290-123F-4565-9164-39C4925E467B}]
"Icon"="%SystemRoot%\system32\imageres.dll,-184"
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FolderDescriptions\{FDD39AD0-238F-46AF-ADB4-6C85480369C7}]
"Icon"="%SystemRoot%\system32\imageres.dll,-115
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FolderDescriptions\{B4BFCC3A-DB2C-424C-B029-7FE99A87C641}]
"Icon"="%SystemRoot%\system32\imageres.dll,-183"

[HKEY_USERS\S-1-5-21-2099262738-29464829-2369556334-1001\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\CLSID\{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}\DefaultIcon]
@="%SystemRoot%\system32\imageres.dll,-27"
[HKEY_USERS\S-1-5-21-2099262738-29464829-2369556334-1001\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\CLSID\{20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D}\DefaultIcon]
@="%SystemRoot%\system32\imageres.dll,-109"
[HKEY_USERS\S-1-5-21-2099262738-29464829-2369556334-1001\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\CLSID\{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}\DefaultIcon]
@="%SystemRoot%\system32\imageres.dll,-27"
[HKEY_USERS\S-1-5-21-2099262738-29464829-2369556334-1001\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\CLSID\{26EE0668-A00A-44D7-9371-BEB064C98683}\DefaultIcon]
@="%SystemRoot%\system32\imageres.dll,-27"
[HKEY_USERS\S-1-5-21-2099262738-29464829-2369556334-1001\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\CLSID\{59031A47-3F72-44A7-89C5-5595FE6B30EE}\DefaultIcon]
@="%SystemRoot%\system32\imageres.dll,-123"
[HKEY_USERS\S-1-5-21-2099262738-29464829-2369556334-1001\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\CLSID\{2559a1f1-21d7-11d4-bdaf-00c04f60b9f0}\DefaultIcon]
@="C:\\Help.ico,0"
[HKEY_USERS\S-1-5-21-2099262738-29464829-2369556334-1001\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\CLSID\{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E}\DefaultIcon]
"empty"="%SystemRoot%\system32\imageres.dll,-55"
"full"="%SystemRoot%\system32\imageres.dll,-54"
@="%SystemRoot%\system32\imageres.dll,-54"
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Shell Icons]
"0"="%SystemRoot%\system32\imageres.dll,-181"
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Shell Icons]
"3"="%SystemRoot%\system32\imageres.dll,-3"
"4"="%SystemRoot%\system32\imageres.dll,-4"
"livefolder_back"="%SystemRoot%\system32\imageres.dll,-5"
"livefolder_front"="%SystemRoot%\system32\imageres.dll,-6"
"29"="%SystemRoot%\system32\imageres.dll,-163"
"34"="%SystemRoot%\system32\imageres.dll,-183"
"15"="%SystemRoot%\system32\imageres.dll,-109"
"livefolder_data"="%SystemRoot%\system32\imageres.dll,-162"


I'll update this post with all icons later ^^ I wonder what other functions iconpackager has next to registry modification :/

Edit: Seems that some icons have different values in windows 8 then in widnows 7, I'll lookup the values for those manually ;)
Edit2: Finished most common icons, I'll update in a min.
edit3: Done


Anyone willing to test if it also works correctly on other 64bit systems and 32bit? Here are the elementary icons in ico format: http://dl.dropbox.co...5hcr68itjvy.zip place them in "C:\" when uisng above regedit files also make sure to make a system restore point!

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#2 cpl183

    Neowinian²

  • 179 posts
    • Joined: 29-October 04

Posted 27 November 2012 - 09:22

i get an error message when importing the reg file: "couldn't import bla.reg: error accessing the registry." the same error occurs when opening regedit and clicking file->import. a few icons did change though: the standard folder icon and the icon for network pc's. and it did mess up the shortcut arrow, it shows as the "blank icon" icon.

#3 OP +Seahorsepip

    http://seapip.com

  • 938 posts
    • Joined: 23-January 11
  • Location: Vlissingen, Netherlands
  • OS: Windows 8 Pro

Posted 27 November 2012 - 15:53

View Postcpl183, on 27 November 2012 - 09:22, said:

i get an error message when importing the reg file: "couldn't import bla.reg: error accessing the registry." the same error occurs when opening regedit and clicking file->import. a few icons did change though: the standard folder icon and the icon for network pc's. and it did mess up the shortcut arrow, it shows as the "blank icon" icon.
Yeah noticed those problems after a restart here too :/
Seems I got to improve my reg file a bit :p atleast folders are working ^^

#4 dRaiser

    Resident One Post Wonder

  • 1 posts
    • Joined: 25-October 12

Posted 13 December 2012 - 02:57

Please remember that "HKEY_USERS\S-1-5-21-2099262738-29464829-2369556334-1001\" line is valid only for your user account - everyone should check their user id in registry and change.

Nice find, thanks.

#5 MarkKB

    Neowinian

  • 45 posts
    • Joined: 27-June 05
  • Location: Auckland, New Zealand

Posted 13 December 2012 - 04:44

View PostdRaiser, on 13 December 2012 - 02:57, said:

Please remember that "HKEY_USERS\S-1-5-21-2099262738-29464829-2369556334-1001\" line is valid only for your user account - everyone should check their user id in registry and change.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but shouldn't "HKEY_CURRENT_USER" work just as peachily?

(For example, "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\CLSID\{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}\DefaultIcon")

But yeah, I'd had an idea in my head a while back to use Process Monitor to see if IconPackager did it a simple way vs. some funky hack, but I never got around to it. If this works, it'd be very nice indeed. (I knew at least the icons already modifyable by the UI were in the registry, and you can go around and change the extention icons manually if you like, but I didn't know how extensively this was, or if IconPackager did something else.)
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