Windows, not only Explorer but all applications using file icons (eg: Explorer replacements) is always reading the metatags in html files to see which editor was used to create this file and adapt the icon accordingly.

Example:

<meta name="GENERATOR" content="Microsoft FrontPage 5.0">

IMO this is a waste of processor cicles and of hard disk spins. Everytime you open a folder with html files in it Windows read all these files and think about which icon should be displayed for each file individualy.

For the user it's confusing because it looks like these files are of different types. But my goal is to increase efficiency.

How do I disable this?

In my case, if i can't simply change the icon in Explorer' File Types.

The change icon button was disabled, and the casue was:

REGEDIT4

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\htmlfile\ShellEx\IconHandler]
@="{42042206-2D85-11D3-8CFF-005004838597}"

Above reg-key, overides the HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\htmlfile\DefaultIcon key.

So i delete that IconHandler key, and explorer finally allow me to change the icon for HTML files.

now, icon for htm files no longer changes according to its content anymore.