Changing the default file association icon

[Dead1nside]

I want to change the icon that is shown as the preferred application to open a file type with. How would i go about doing this, please?

[Stargate199]

Somehow I think you do that in folder options, but am not sure. Possibly a registry hack?

[Orevin]

Go to Control Panel > Folder Options > File Types > Select the File Type you want to edit > Advanced > Change Icon...

[Dead1nside]

Thank-you *big smile*

[skanky]

how do you change the "type" of icon, bear with me, its not as silly as it sounds..

for example, with VLC, if i choose to associate a filetype with VLC during install (for example .MKV files), it sets up any .MKV files that with the VLC icon, but its the exact same one as the app uses.

however, if i install VLC without associating then double click on the file and use windows to associate with VLC, you get a white rectuangular icon with a small VLC logo to diffierentiate.

which is what i want to do with media player, but i cant get that to work, any ideas?

[jchryst01]

This should work on XP and other flavors of windows:

• Open an Explorer window.

• On the menu bar click on Tools | Folder Options...

• In the "Folder Options" dialog click on the "File Types" tab.

• Locate the extension of the file type you are interested in then click on the "Advanced" button located towards the bottom of the dialog box.

• The "Edit File Type" dialog will open. Locate the "Change Icon" button and click it.

• The "Change Icon" dialog will open up. Click on the "Browse..." button.

• Navigate to the resource you would like to use for the icon. This can be a program (.exe), Application Extension (.dll) or an icon file. Most of the time applications and dll's have multiple icon stored as resources as part of the file.

• When you have selected the icon resource click the "Open" button. You will be returned to the "Change Icon" dialog which will show you a list of available icons in the resource.

You may have to just open files to try and find the icons you are interested in.

[skanky]

tried that, the VLC icon only has the standard VLC icon, i want to know how to have the VLC icon inside a white rectangular icon.

[jdhurst]

I can think of two possible answers.
1. Use the icon given by the application and change the text label. That is what I do. So I have a couple of equal icons with different text underneath and that is how I differentiate.
2. Find some icon-building software and build your own icons. I did that with Windows 3.1 and then stopped as I was just chasing my own tail for nothing. The icon-building software I have is that old as well and no longer functions. Google will be your friend.
... JD Hurst

[Dead1nside]

tried that, the VLC icon only has the standard VLC icon, i want to know how to have the VLC icon inside a white rectangular icon.

I know what you're trying to achieve, Windows automatically does it sometimes. Instead of taking on the application icon, it shrinks it and puts the white border around it, so it looks more like a file.

I'm afraid i don't know how to achieve this though.