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Did you ever tire of the icons on your desktop? Would
you rather be able to have a little fun changing them
without having to install an icon editing program? If so,
this is the shortcut you've been waiting for. Using a
graphics editing program, such as PhotoShop, CorelDRAW
or Window's Paint, create an image 16-by-16 pixels in
size. If you wish, you can make a large image, but
Window's will resize it to 16-by-16. Save the image in
BMP (bitmap) format. Using your file manager, locate
the image file and rename the extension to "ico". For
example, if you named your grahpic myicon.bmp, name
it myicon.ico.
To use the new icon, right-click the desktop icon you
wish to change. Choose Properties, select the shortcut
tab and then click the "Change Icon" button. Click on
"Browse", locate your icon image file, click Open; click
Okay twice. You should now see your new icon on the
desktop!
Note however, Window's may reduce the colors in your
icon to as few as 16 which could alter the quality some.
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Icons Acting or Looking Strange?
If the icons on your desktop begin to appear blacked out or
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Place and Keep Desktop Icons Where You Want Them
This is a common question in many computer user's minds and
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Display Or Remove Your Volume Icon
To display - or remove - your volume icon from your
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Quick Link Icons - How to Change Them
You know that little "page on a globe" icon supplied
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Change Folder Icons
If you like to jazz up your folder icons a little, here is
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Temporarily Hiding Your Icons
*See below for explanation of "Active Desktop"
Disclaimer: These tips are intended to help you work with your computer and learn a few tricks with it. Should anything go wrong while you are trying a tip, this site and it's owner holds no responsibilty! These tips, if followed properly, are harmless and fun. Not a one of them can hurt your computer in any manner. If you are doubtful or unsure, do not try one.
are just acting strange suddenly, you could have a damaged
icon cache file. Do not let the word damaged alarm you though,
as you can delete this file and let Windows recreate it. To do
so, Start Windows in Safe Mode. Open Window's Explorer
once in Safe Mode. Make sure you have your settings set so
hidden files are viewable. To do this, click on "View", then
"Folder Options" from the menu. Once in Folder Options,
click the "View" tab, select "Show All Files" and click OK.
Next, locate the file "ShellIconCache" in your c:\windows folder.
This is the drive and folder where windows is installed. Right
click this file. You should now have a context menu showing.
Choose Delete from this menu. Restart Windows in normal
mode. Your icons should be back to normal.
there is a way to arrange your desktop icons to your liking.
First of all, your icons are most likely set on "auto arrange".
This feature can be handy, but not if you want control over your
icon placement. To shut off the Auto Arrange, right-click the
desktop. You will see a little menu come up that will show
the option of "Arrange Icons". (There are other choices also,
if you think you would prefer one of those, follow the same
procedure). Place your mouse over it; you will see another list
come up. On the bottom of that list it should say "Auto Arrange".
If there is a little check mark next to the words "Auto Arrange",
that is the reason you are not able to move your icons around
easily, and more so, keep them where you want them. Click
on Auto Arrange to remove the little check mark and you are
all set to put the icons where you please. And they will stay!
Note, if you ever wish to go back to Auto Arrange, just reverse
the procedure. If you enjoy a little experimenting, try some of
the other options!
system tray (lower right corner), simply do the following:
Click the Start button, point to Settings, select Control
Panel, double-click Multimedia, and click the Audio tab.
Select -- or deselect -- the option Show Volume Control
on the Taskbar. Click OK to save the change and close
the Control Panel. Easy, isn't it!
with Microsoft Windows for your Quick Link button? You
can change that if you like. To do so, right-click on it,
select Properties from the resulting pop-up menu. On the
Internet Shortcut tab, click the Change Icon button. Choose
one of the icons that appears, or click the Browse button
to find more icons. Try the
c:\windows\system\shell32.dll folder for more options.
how to do it. From either "My Computer" or "Windows
Explorer", choose "View", then "Options", (or folder
options) from the menu. Next, click on the "File Types"
tab. Double-click the folder in the Registered File
Types list and click hte "Change" icon button. Select a new
icon from the icon gallery and click OK to save the new
setting. You are all set!
For Windows 98 / 95:
First, we need to enable your Active Desktop and install it
necessary. If you have IE 4.0 or better, you're probably all
set in this department. Here is what to do to set yourself up:
:
1. Open My Computer or Windows Explorer. From the View
menu, go to Folder Options, then click the View tab.
2. Now, under the Visual Settings section, click the "Hide icons
when the desktop is viewed as a web page" checkbox. Hit OK.
If you already had your desktop set to be viewed as a web page,
you will find your icons have disappeared. Now, if you want them
back, right-click your desktop and select Active Desktop. Click
the "View as Web Page" menu choice. That will turn off the
"View as Web Page" and you should see your icons again.
To get rid of them again, right-click and repeat the process.
Win ME / 2000 Instructions:
1. Right-click your Desktop and select Active Desktop from the
menu. A sub menu will pop up. If the Active Desktop item
doesn't have a check next to it, click it (Win 2000 users need
to make sure the "show web content" item is checked instead).
2. From the same sub-menu mentioned above, click the "Show
desktop icons" menu item to turn them on or off.
*Active Desktop - What Does it Mean?
The Active Desktop allows you to have web-related content on
your desktop. If you enjoy using different types of background
wallpaper, you have to use BMP files if you are not using Active
Desktop. With Active Desktop, you can use JPEG's as well.
It also let's you single click your icons, use HTML documents
as wallpaper if you wish and some other fun things. Play a little!
By the way - if you are running IE 4.0 or better, you have it.