change the icon of a file

[el_rob3]

hi guys

i need a program to change the icon of a file.

plz help!

[el_rob3]

is it impossible?!

[horsecharles]

can you be more specific: besides os, for what kind of file specifically, desktop shortcut, the icon shown in explorer ,,,,,,,,,,,???????????

[el_rob3]

thnx for your post

i'm useing win98 / XP & i want to change icons such as IE,EXPLORER ......

[horsecharles]

This FREE app will do it for you-- while the manual method is also easy, & likely you already have the icons you will use, it searches your entire system & catalogs them all: http://www.cursorarts.com/ca_aifw.html

I haven't tried to change such an icon, but i believe if you change the one for the main exe file, it should update its shortcuts all over too: you would browse to say, c: windows\explorer.exe / right-click / properties / change icon / in: %WINDIR%\%SYSTEM%\SHELL32.DLL are stored a bunch of system icons.... or point to the location of yours...

I would first right-click / properties the shortcut of the icon you wish to change, since often there will be extra copies of the exe file-- in this case probably in root drive & in win folder: you want to change the copy actually used/registered.....

Hopefully this is what you meant?

[horsecharles]

Free icon gallery & make your own:

http://www.iconfactory.com/

http://www.cursorarts.com/ca_if.html

http://www.aha-soft.com/iconlibs.htm

edit: it wouldn't hurt to get into the habit of taking a picture with say: InstallRite or at least looking before & after(& easily remove a stubborn app with this) w/ say: JV16 in case the freeware is instead foistware... even though supposedly the app comes recommended, you never know / it can be changed at any time.....

Happy Hunting....