What Windows 10 default files contain lots of useful icons for shortcuts to be set to?

In this thread from earlier today
http://alt.comp.os.windows-10.narkiv...-icon-you-want

I learned how to put an "icon in the taskbar" of a batch file shortcut
where the "icon in the taskbar" came from this standard icon location.
C:\Windows\System32\SHELL32.dll

I used that knowledge to create an Edge batch file from this thread
http://alt.comp.os.windows-10.narkiv...on-1809#post16

Where I found an Edge icon in this location for the "icon in the taskbar"
C:\Windows\SystemApps\Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge_8wek yb3d8bbwe\MicrosoftEdge.exe

Rummaging around, I found a few more nice icons in these files.

Lots of icons
(Use "control+a" & then "control+v" to paste these paths into the search.)
C:\Windows\System32\SHELL32.dll
C:\Windows\System32\mspaint.exe
C:\Windows\explorer.exe

Edge specific icons
C:\Windows\SystemApps\Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge_8wek yb3d8bbwe\MicrosoftEdge.exe
C:\Windows\SystemApps\Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge_8wek yb3d8bbwe\MicrosoftEdgeCP.exe

Two to four icons only (not many)
C:\Windows\System32\MRT.exe
C:\Windows\System32\SnippingTool.exe
C:\Windows\System32\GamePanel.exe

Just one icon
C:\Windows\System32\rdvgm.exe
C:\Windows\System32\SearchIndexer.exe

Rather than do trial and error on all Windows files, do you know offhand of
any good default Windows 10 files that already contain lots of good icons?

On Sun, 9 Sep 2018 22:57:27 -0400, K120 said:

Rather than do trial and error on all Windows files, do you know offhand of
any good default Windows 10 files that already contain lots of good icons?

Jonathan Little reported this great dll for lots of icons.
%SystemRoot%\system32\imageres.dll

I spent more time playing with icons than you have spent breathing.
Nowadays it does not always work when trying to move stuff to the
taskbar. You should avoid messing with it.

Good luck.

K120 wrote:

do you know offhand of
any good default Windows 10 files that already contain lots of good icons?

There's always the old faithful %windir%\system32\moricons.dll

On Mon, 10 Sep 2018 08:10:44 +0100, Andy Burns said:

There's always the old faithful %windir%\system32\moricons.dll

Those are interesting. Lots of big boxy icons in that file.
They look like old DOS icons.

Here are the best places for icons so far.
C:\windows\system32\shell32.dll
C:\windows\system32\imageres.dll
C:\windows\\system32\moricons.dll
C:\windows\system32\mspaint.exe
C:\windows\system32\twinui.dll
C:\windows\explorer.exe

On Sun, 9 Sep 2018 22:57:27 -0400, in alt.comp.os.windows-10, K120 wrote:
In this thread from earlier today
http://alt.comp.os.windows-10.narkiv...-icon-you-want

I learned how to put an "icon in the taskbar" of a batch file shortcut
where the "icon in the taskbar" came from this standard icon location.
C:\Windows\System32\SHELL32.dll

I used that knowledge to create an Edge batch file from this thread
http://alt.comp.os.windows-10.narkiv...on-1809#post16

Where I found an Edge icon in this location for the "icon in the taskbar"
C:\Windows\SystemApps\Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge_8we kyb3d8bbwe\MicrosoftEdge.exe

Rummaging around, I found a few more nice icons in these files.

Lots of icons
(Use "control+a" & then "control+v" to paste these paths into the search.)
C:\Windows\System32\SHELL32.dll
C:\Windows\System32\mspaint.exe
C:\Windows\explorer.exe

Edge specific icons
C:\Windows\SystemApps\Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge_8we kyb3d8bbwe\MicrosoftEdge.exe
C:\Windows\SystemApps\Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge_8we kyb3d8bbwe\MicrosoftEdgeCP.exe

Two to four icons only (not many)
C:\Windows\System32\MRT.exe
C:\Windows\System32\SnippingTool.exe
C:\Windows\System32\GamePanel.exe

Just one icon
C:\Windows\System32\rdvgm.exe
C:\Windows\System32\SearchIndexer.exe

Rather than do trial and error on all Windows files, do you know offhand of
any good default Windows 10 files that already contain lots of good icons?


C:\Windows\System32\inetcpl.dll

I use the first house icon a lot for "home" folders. There's a bunch of
other interesting stuff in there that may be of more limited use.

--
Zag

No one ever said on their deathbed, 'Gee, I wish I had
spent more time alone with my computer.' ~Dan(i) Bunten

"K120" wrote

| Rather than do trial and error on all Windows files, do you know offhand
of
| any good default Windows 10 files that already contain lots of good icons?
|

I haven't tested it on 10, but it should also work
to specify your own icons, as long as they're suitable
size and color depth. It may also be feasible to use
a PNG these days. I'm not sure. But if you extract an
icon you use then you should be able to figure out
those details.

Then you can just assign your own. I keep a folder
on XP, in Windows\, where I store them. For instance,
I replaced the hospital style "recycle" with a red oak
wastebasket. Win10 probably won't let you do that, but
it should let you spec your own icons for your own
shortcuts.
When using a lone icon, if you need the number then
just use 0:
C:\ExtraIcons\DOS1.ico,0

There are places online that give away royalty-free
icons. There are also free editors. I use IcoFX 1.6, which
is very good. I don't know if you can still get a free
version, but this appears to be a valid link:

http://www.321download.com/LastFreew...e40.html#IcoFX

On 09/09/2018 10:57 PM, K120 wrote:
In this thread from earlier today
http://alt.comp.os.windows-10.narkiv...-icon-you-want


I learned how to put an "icon in the taskbar" of a batch file shortcut
where the "icon in the taskbar" came from this standard icon location.
C:\Windows\System32\SHELL32.dll

I used that knowledge to create an Edge batch file from this thread
http://alt.comp.os.windows-10.narkiv...on-1809#post16


Where I found an Edge icon in this location for the "icon in the taskbar"
C:\Windows\SystemApps\Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge_8wek yb3d8bbwe\MicrosoftEdge.exe


Rummaging around, I found a few more nice icons in these files.

Lots of icons
(Use "control+a" & then "control+v" to paste these paths into the search.)
C:\Windows\System32\SHELL32.dll C:\Windows\System32\mspaint.exe
C:\Windows\explorer.exe

Edge specific icons
C:\Windows\SystemApps\Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge_8wek yb3d8bbwe\MicrosoftEdge.exe

C:\Windows\SystemApps\Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge_8wek yb3d8bbwe\MicrosoftEdgeCP.exe


Two to four icons only (not many)
C:\Windows\System32\MRT.exe
C:\Windows\System32\SnippingTool.exe
C:\Windows\System32\GamePanel.exe

Just one icon
C:\Windows\System32\rdvgm.exe
C:\Windows\System32\SearchIndexer.exe

Rather than do trial and error on all Windows files, do you know offhand of
any good default Windows 10 files that already contain lots of good icons?


If you want to go hog wild on this, there are tools out there to extract
icons from dlls or exe files. Once extracted I use a program like
Greenfish Icon Editor to build a new dll file with all my custom icons.
I can then point to that dll. The good part being if I have more than
one Windows version, I still have my own person DLL to share and don't
have to look around.

Almost every DLL has icons, and I go as far to say that every EXE does.
And I was surprised that some EXE have a lot variations of their own icon.

Also google images is a great source. (tools-type-icon helps filter).
Even PNG/JPG will be converted via GIE to ico files and imported into a
DLL. I've made my own custom icons with letters/words etc. Folders
with emblems in them.

You can really let this get out of hand.

"Big Al" wrote

| Almost every DLL has icons, and I go as far to say that every EXE does.
| And I was surprised that some EXE have a lot variations of their own icon.
|

By default the 1st one shows. You can tell if
there are none because it will have the old
style white rectangle icon with dark blue stripe
to mimic a window. DLLs can also be made to
show their default icon in Explorer, if they have
one, though I forget now what the tweak is.

On Mon, 10 Sep 2018 07:31:02 -0500, Zaghadka said:

C:\Windows\System32\inetcpl.dll

I use the first house icon a lot for "home" folders. There's a bunch of
other interesting stuff in there that may be of more limited use.

That is one of the best so far!

I couldn't find the "dll" on Windows 10, but I had the "cpl".
C:\windows\system32\inetcpl.cpl

That makes the best places for default icons so far to be
C:\windows\system32\shell32.dll
C:\windows\system32\imageres.dll
C:\windows\system32\inetcpl.cpl
C:\windows\system32\moricons.dll
C:\windows\system32\mspaint.exe
C:\windows\system32\twinui.dll
C:\windows\explorer.exe

On Mon, 10 Sep 2018 09:04:39 -0400, Big Al said:

Once extracted I use a program like
Greenfish Icon Editor to build a new dll file with all my custom icons.
I can then point to that dll.

Do you know of a good tutorial for making custom icons?
I have failed every time I've tried.

Looking up this "Greenfish", is this the location to get it?
http://www.greenfishsoftware.org/gfie.php
http://www.greenfishsoftware.org/dl...._3.6.exe#apage

Once installed, Greenfish opens up in a nice looking simple editor.
I haven't done anything with it yet though.

If all you wanted was a folder with letters inside, such as
- A folder with a big red A in the middle
- A folder with a big red B in the middle
- A folder with a big red C in the middle
and so on

What would you load first into that Greenfish editor?

On Mon, 10 Sep 2018 08:56:52 -0400, Mayayana
said:

I haven't tested it on 10, but it should also work
to specify your own icons, as long as they're suitable
size and color depth.

I always wanted to make my own icons to organize my stuff.
But every time I tried, I failed.
It would be nice if there is a good step by step tutorial that works.

In the past, I found many tutorials, but none that actually worked.

The main icons I'd want to make are "alphabet folders".
- A folder with a big red letter A.
- A folder with a big red letter B.
- A folder with a big red letter C.
and so on.

I'd use these as my folder icons.
But I've failed every time I tried.

It's not as simple as you might think.
Either that or I just haven't found a good tutorial yet.

On 09/10/2018 9:47 AM, K120 wrote:
On Mon, 10 Sep 2018 09:04:39 -0400, Big Al said:

Once extracted I use a program like Greenfish Icon Editor to build a
new dll file with all my custom icons. I can then point to that dll.

Do you know of a good tutorial for making custom icons?
I have failed every time I've tried.

Looking up this "Greenfish", is this the location to get it?
http://www.greenfishsoftware.org/gfie.php
http://www.greenfishsoftware.org/dl...._3.6.exe#apage

Once installed, Greenfish opens up in a nice looking simple editor.
I haven't done anything with it yet though.

If all you wanted was a folder with letters inside, such as - A folder
with a big red A in the middle
- A folder with a big red B in the middle
- A folder with a big red C in the middle
and so on


What would you load first into that Greenfish editor?


A new approach you might like is "folder marker" I use it and it really
works well.

http://foldermarker.com/en/

Rene

"K120" wrote

| I always wanted to make my own icons to organize my stuff.
| But every time I tried, I failed.
| It would be nice if there is a good step by step tutorial that works.
|

How did you try to do it? A program? A BMP
can actually be converted into an ICO. IrfanView
will do it. Just pick an image of the right
size, open in IV, save as ICO. In the save options
put a check mark to save the transparant color.
IV will then let you click a pixel to pick it.

In the past icons were generally 32px square.
Now I think there are 48x48 and 256x256, at least.
I don't use any of those so I haven't kept up.
It may also be possible to use a PNG directly,
but I'm also not sure about that.

For basic ico files:

The ICO can contain one or more sizes. Each
icon consists of an image bitmap and a mask bitmap.
The color depth can also vary, up to 24-bit color.
The ICO structure is very simple: There's a small
header followed by each icon image and mask.
The mask is a 2-color image, b/w, used to indicate
which pixels are transparent when the icon is
painted onscreen.

I don't think IV will save compound ICO files, but an
editor like IcoFX usually will. Just start a new icon
and pick the depth/size. Then add new images to
the project. But that means you also have to create
images for each size.

The work is not in making the icon but in making the
image. An icon editor will let you paint each pixel with
various tools, but it's easier and usually looks better to
use an image. For instance, you can draw an Earth
icon pixel by pixel, or you can use a graphic editor
to resize a photo of Earth to 32x32, then paste that
into an icon editor. The latter method should be a
lot easier and look a lot better.

Similarly, for folders you can take an image of a folder,
open it in a graphic editor like Paint Shop Pro, GIMP, etc.
Then use the text tool to put an "A" in the image. (Set
anti-aliasing for a better look.) Then save that as a BMP
to convert in IV and/or paste it into an icon editor.
The space around the folder, in the image, will be the
color you set transparent.

IV is not so good for image editing because it doesn't
have a workspace, layers, multi-undo, etc. It does have
a function to paste text into an image, but the process
is very awkard compared to a true image editor.

Here's one I just made:

https://www.jsware.net/Files2/clfol.ico

I took an old ICO file that I made or adapted years ago,
which I use for folders. I opened it in IV and saved it back
out as BMP. I opened that in Paint Shop Pro and used the
text tool to make a red "A" in the middle. I then saved that,
opened it in IV, saved it out as an ICO, and selected the
transparent color.
That was much easier than doing it in an icon editor.

On Mon, 10 Sep 2018 10:01:04 -0500, Rene Lamontagne said:

A new approach you might like is "folder marker" I use it and it really
works well.

http://foldermarker.com/en/

That seems to be a nice quick changer for folder icons.
http://foldermarker.com/FolderMarker_Free.exe

I choose a folder, and then picked a colored folder icon from the list
provided, and that folder instantly had that colored icon.

That was quick!

There are a dozen colors to choose from.
There are another dozen additional icons.

I tried both color and additional icons, but it is one or the other, which
is OK (it was just a test).

What I really want is the letter A, or B, or C (and so on) inside the
folder.

Foldermarker has a section for "user icons" where the default location is
C:\Windows\system32\shell32.dll

I would presume if I can make my own icons, it will use them.
That means the trick is learning how to make custom icons.

Once the custom icons are made this foldermarker tool makes it very easy to
point and click to change the icons of any folder.