How do I change Hard Drive Icons in Windows Xp Pro?

Here is the contents of a file I have called driveicons.reg that I use to change mine with. Copy and paste this into a text file, but rename it with *.reg extension (txt is default). Make the necessary letter changes to match your pc. Also note in the bottom part, the path uses \\ instead of \ like normal. Change the path to match your icons location for each drive letter. Save the new reg file incase you ever need it again. Either right click/choose "merge" or double click the reg file and click Yes. Enjoy!

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\DriveIcons]

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\DriveIcons\A]
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\DriveIcons\C]
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\DriveIcons\D]
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\DriveIcons\E]
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\DriveIcons\F]
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\DriveIcons\G]
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\DriveIcons\H]




[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\DriveIcons\A\DefaultIcon]
@="S:\\PATH\\TO\\THE\\ICON\\FILENAME.ICO"
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\DriveIcons\C\DefaultIcon]
@="S:\\PATH\\TO\\THE\\ICON\\FILENAME.ICO"
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\DriveIcons\D\DefaultIcon]
@="S:\\PATH\\TO\\THE\\ICON\\FILENAME.ICO"
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\DriveIcons\E\DefaultIcon]
@="S:\\PATH\\TO\\THE\\ICON\\FILENAME.ICO"
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\DriveIcons\F\DefaultIcon]
@="S:\\PATH\\TO\\THE\\ICON\\FILENAME.ICO"
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\DriveIcons\G\DefaultIcon]
@="S:\\PATH\\TO\\THE\\ICON\\FILENAME.ICO"
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\DriveIcons\H\DefaultIcon]
@="S:\\PATH\\TO\\THE\\ICON\\FILENAME.ICO"

Remember those AutoRun.INF files that are put on most commercial CD Games/Applications??

Copy the same AutoRun.INF file to your hard drive(s) ROOT directory (a.k.a C:\) and then edit it with notepad, and it will say an icon showing the filename, you can edit the name of the icon file in the AutoRun.INF file, then you create an icon and save it to the ROOT directory again.

Make sure that you point to the same icon as you did in the AutoRun.INF file

You can also make the AutoRun.INF hidden aswell as the icon

This is the icon i want to be for one of my drives.

You will need some kind of extractor to get the icon from the shell32.dll file. I have never done this, but surely someone will be able to tell ya how to do it.

Edited January 1, 200620 yr by accessdenied042

Use the reg file that accessdenied042 gaved you and point to shell32.dll ..here's another way

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\DriveIcons\C\DefaultIcon]
@="shell32.dll,9"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\DriveIcons\D\DefaultIcon]
@="shell32.dll,9"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\DriveIcons\E\DefaultIcon]
@="shell32.dll,9"

Save this in notepad with .REG extension, ...importing this in your registry will change the C,D,E drives icons to the one you want.

Edited January 4, 200620 yr by BlueMe

i only want to change one drive

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\DriveIcons\C\DefaultIcon]
@="shell32.dll,9"

The Driveletter you want to edit the icon for goes here:

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\DriveIcons\C\DefaultIcon]

thank you

try Iconworkshop! (www.axialis.com)

It can change any icon you want, on startmenu, Hd, CD, anything! It's great!

Why pay when its easy and free ?

icon packager will get the job done the best

Yeah i use iconpackager and it changes the icons nice and easy with no fuss.

Hi, I've tried this way and this in the post here; http://www.msfn.org/board/index.php?showtopic=47780

And nothing seems to work for me to change the system-icons..

Anyone know why or something?

I also tried to combine these two ways, but didn't work either

I'm using Win XP Home..

Thankful for reply.

/jey