Customize the Icons in the Start Menu

Q:    Is it is possible to change the icons for the right-panel of the Start Menu in Windows XP Pro. (the icons for My Documents, My Computer, Network Places, Printers & Faxes and others) ?

I know that certain visual styles software like Windows Blinds can do this too. I was wondering if one could do this without the use of such programs. A way to do this through the registry would be welcome. Thanks..

A:    You can set the icons for special folders in the following key (per-user override)

HKEY_CURRENT_USER \ Software \ Microsoft \ Windows \ CurrentVersion \ Explorer \ CLSID \ {GUID} \ DefaultIcon

Where {GUID} is the Globally Unique Identifier pertaining to a special folder. The {GUID} for various special folders are given below. Note that you need to create the registry keys up to that level above, for each special folder for which you want to customize the icon.

My Computer {20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D}
My Documents {450D8FBA-AD25-11D0-98A8-0800361B1103}
Network Connections {7007ACC7-3202-11D1-AAD2-00805FC1270E}
Printers & Faxes {2227A280-3AEA-1069-A2DE-08002B30309D}
My Network Places {208D2C60-3AEA-1069-A2D7-08002B30309D}
Set Program access and Defaults {2559A1F7-21D7-11D4-BDAF-00C04F60B9F0}
Control Panel {21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}
Recycle Bin {645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E}
Internet Explorer {871C5380-42A0-1069-A2EA-08002B30309D}

FYI, the icon for the My Pictures folder comes from the Desktop.ini file present in that folder. So you need to alter the Desktop.ini file to change My Pictures folder icon.

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One Comment

  1. hexaae
    said this on Thursday, August 21st 2008 7:34 pm

    Great!
    And thank you for your quick reply! I feared something screwed up my system. I do my best to keep it as clean as possible…
    I’ll impatiently wait for the cosmetic fix hint! ;)

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