How to change icon associated with different files types?

[falcon2000]

In Win9x you can change the icons associated with different types of files by going to Folder Options/Files Types/Advanced/Change Icon. I don't see this option in my XP Pro. Anyone knows how to do it in XP Pro?

The problem is that way back I asked my wife to install PhotoShop 7 for me and she chose to associate all the images files with PS 7. Then I installed IrfanView and associated all the files types to it. In all my other systems the IrfanView icon would then take over and associate themselves to the files types. But not with XP Pro. The PS 7 icon stayed!

[Dr.Gibbs]

Umm... I don't know what else to tell you... to change icons in Windows XP, you go to Options/Files Types/Advanced/Change Icon

[104456]

It may be a corrupt icon cache,try using the XP version of tweakui and use the rebuild icons option.

[ahmedalmatook]

right click on the Icon>Properties>change icon>select your new Icon

no other way , I do it this way

[Dirk Diggler]

You could open up your Registry to the HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT area.
Example: To change the icon for jpg's you would go here:-
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\jpegfile\DefaultIcon

And in the right panel type the full address of the icon of your choice. You may need to add ,0 to the end of the address if your extracting from a dll file

[tironsi]

You can try deleting the icon cache. It's:
C:\Documents and Settings\username\Local Settings\Application Data\IconCache.db

It should get rebuild automatically by Windows.

[falcon2000]

Dr.Gibbs,
Umm...don't know what elseto tell you...once the file type is associated w/ a programme the "Advanced" button is not available anymore. It changed to the "Restore" button.

104456,
TwaekUI/Icon Rebuild is the 1st thing I tried. No use.

ahmedalmatook,
Not sure what you mean? How?

tironsi,
That didn't do it either.

Dirk Diggler,
Haven't tried your method yet. Will give it a go later tonite.

[104456]

Has infranview an options menu where you can disassosiate the extension,click apply then reassosiate them again ?

[falcon2000]

104456,
Been there. No use.

Problem Solved!! Actually solved 2 problems with this one fix!!!

I was following Dirk Diggler's advice in the regrstry and while I couldn't find the DefaultIcon data as per Dirk's instruction I did find a data "Default" and its value is "Photoshop.jpeg." I changed it to irfanview.jpeg. Rebooted and the IrfanView icon is now associated with JPEG files now.

The Bonus Is that this also solves my problem with the Slow Windows Explorer!! (See detail in this thread.) Now the JPEG folders open up real quick. Then I do the same with the TIFF files. Before I thought that my TIFF folders were opening at normal speed and it was just slow on JPEG folders. I was wrong. Now with the registry fix both file folders are opened instantaneously as they should have been. Don't know why ... but, what the heck, it's working now.

Thank you all for the inputs!

[Dr.Gibbs]

Originally posted by falcon2000
once the file type is associated w/ a programme the "Advanced" button is not available anymore. It changed to the "Restore" button.

Does this happen to anyone else

[Dirk Diggler]

Yes

[maximumq]

I went to My Computer, Tools, Folder Options, etc., and was able to reach the Change Icons dialog in WinXP Pro. Is the button just not available when you follow the same procedures as in Win95? see attached for the screenshot.

[Dr.Gibbs]

Is this something that was fixed in SP1 or something..? I have XP Pro and I can change the icon of any file type...

[tironsi]

maximumq: That's a weird way of posting a screenshot I suggest using the PNG format. You'll get smaller file size and no need to mess with rtf and zip formats.