windows8 Change Windows 8 icons trough registery

[Seahorsepip Veteran]

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"
[/CODE]

To reset everything back to default:

[CODE]
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"
[/CODE]

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!

[cpl183]

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.

[Seahorsepip Veteran]

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 ^^

[dRaiser]

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.

[MarkKB]

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.)