Classic Shell: Forum

Windows 10 Pro. I have changed the start menu icons to my satisfaction. However, I am unable to change the default folder icons in the programs menu. In previous editions of Windows I accomplished this by changing the folder icon in imageres.dll and in shell32.dll. This I cannot do in Windows 10. Is there a way to change the default folder icon in the programs and sub menus? I use the classic style menu as I have since Windows 95. I will be appreciative of any assistance in this matter.

Well there are 2 Programs folders and one of them is protected by UAC starting with Windows Vista.

For items stored in %appdata%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs, you can right click on a folder icon, select Properties, select Customize, click on "Change icon" and select an icon.

But for folders which are protected by UAC (such as the folders inside C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs), you need to elevate the program which changes the icon if you use the desktop.ini method. That is because Microsoft doesn't easily allow Explorer.exe to be elevated (which is the process responsible for changing icon from the Properties).

Also, changing folder icon manually is a very tedious process because it requires modifying desktop.ini with elevated permissions *and* setting the right attributes for the folder (for Explorer to show the icon correctly). Finally, a bug in the Explorer shell introduced ever since Vista causes icons to not refresh correctly unless some undocumented API function is called. So basically, changing icons for UAC protected folders is only for advanced users.

To simplify the whole process, I use a commercial app to effortlessly change icons from the context menu. It is called Microangelo OnDisplay (http://www.microangelo.us/mod.asp). It does all the hard work of correctly modifying desktop.ini in elevated mode for UAC protected folders, setting the right folder attributes and refreshing the icon cache. OnDisplay also has an excellent icon handler shell extension so it can change literally any Windows icon, gives you control over icon overlays etc. But at $25, it doesn't exactly offer much value though. Should've been priced $3 or $5 at most. But it has an Evaluation version: http://microangelo.us/free-icon-editor-download.asp and I don't think the folder icon changing feature expires even if the Evaluation expires because it is a shell extension.

This is how On Display's Shell extension looks:

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Links to some general topics:

● Compare Start Menus

● Read the Search box usage guide.

I am a Windows enthusiast and helped a little with Classic Shell's testing and usability/UX feedback.

Thank you Gaurav, you have expended quite a bit of effort to assist me and I appreciate it. I do have Microangelo Display and will acquire the extension. However, prior commitments will leave me no time to pursue your suggestions for about a week. I'll get back to you with the result after I've followed your advice when time allows.

Like I said, On Display does the job of changing icons really well so if you have it installed, you don't need to follow other manual steps.

Also, the shell extension from the Evaluation version should continue to work even if the main program itself expires.

_________________
Links to some general topics:

● Compare Start Menus

● Read the Search box usage guide.

I am a Windows enthusiast and helped a little with Classic Shell's testing and usability/UX feedback.