Recovering Windows XP Icons

This week, my computer went through an unusual phase where it seemed like it wanted to hit the time machine button and revert back to my Windows 2000 machine. Well, I got everything back to normal, but my icons are still of 2000. Is there a way to get these icons back to Windows XP?

I attempted to use Tweak UI, but that didn't work. Here is a look at my desktop icons, and let me know what can be done.

http://www.pointatrad.com/icons.jpg
http://www.pointatrad.com/icons1.jpg

Thank you so very much in advanced!

 

I went ahead and attempted this, but it did not work.

 

willis wood

Sound problems , Windows xp. I hjave some nswoundn problem. Wyhejnn starting or shutting downn windowswb Im, do n ot get any sound yet when playing video, clips I, get the sound but when using incredimail then chacters ndo not speak but thier lips move. Any sugestions?
Thank You.
W Wood

 

I think your SHELL32.dll is broken, recopy it from system install file and then replace it to <systemroot>\system32\SHELL32.dll.

 

It seems like it doesn't want to replace the original, it gives me an Access Denied error. I attempted to rename it and copy the .dll from the Windows XP CD, restarted, but it didn't work.

 

Sorry for couldn't provide detailed help, but you may need to troubleshoot your Windows registry, try to look for the registry guide for icon tweaking. If i'm not mistaken, most of the theme modifier also tweaks the registry to modify the icon sets including Control Panel's icons and System Icons.

Just my 0.03 cents...

 

Could you explain further... "registry guide for icon tweaking "?

 

You can take a reference here.

http://www.virtualplastic.net/html/icn_reg.html

Or Google "icon registry "

Hope it helps.

 

Thanks a lot. I think I found out the problem. All of the icons want to point to C:\Aston\Themes\AstonXP\sysIcons\

But now, where are the Windows XP icons located?

 

Raderick,

OK, how bout this, you should locate another Windows XP machine, go to the same registry location, export the original settings(registry data) > Right click [CLSID], choose {Export} (Save as any file name)

To import the registry into your own Windows, just run the file, it will do the neccessary changes.

You might have any installed Spyware/AntiVirus to warn you about registry changes, just proceed the warning, i.e. allow changes to be made.

 

I went ahead and installed a copy of Windows XP on a test machine. But I couldn't find HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\Current Version\explorer\Shell Icons in the registry.

 

That key isn't there unless you've customized some of your icons. I've messed with this on my puter until I was blue in the face and to make a long story short, try this.

First, backup the registry key that has the custom settings and then delete it. Then, in your

Code:

c:\Documents and Settings\your username\Local Settings\Application Data

folder, delete or rename the iconcache.db file. It's a hidden file so you have to have windows set to view hidden files in order to see it. Windows should rebuild it on the next reboot although I did run into some odd happenings in this respect (part of the long story) . Then reboot the computer and check to see if the icons are the correct ones. If not, check to see if windows recreated the iconcache.db file. If not, post back for a bit longer version.

 

This looks like it fixed my icons problem. Thanks a lot.

Now, since we're involved with icons. Whenever I click on the C or the D drive paritition in My Computer, it sends me to a Search window. Could anyone help me out there?

 

Good. One problem gone anyway and I wasn't looking forward to having to explain the long version.

For your other problem, have a look at this page.
Search Companion Starts If You Double-Click a Folder

If you don't want to mess with the registry (although it appears you've managed so far) you can download a regfile from Kelly that will do the work for you. Line 18, right side. If nothing else, it'll be here for somebody else.
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm

 

I went ahead and attempted both, but neither worked.

 

Did you try rebooting? If not, do so.

If you right click on a drive is search in bold text in the menu? What happens if you right click and select explore or open?

Does it affect only drives or do folders do the same thing when you try to open them?

 

This only happens with my C and D drive partitions. When I right-click on one of the drives, Search is bold. But when I click on explorer or open, it opens up the drive.

 

Bump

 

Well, I had a look at the MS article again and then the regfile I linked to. The regfile is only for this problem with folders. For drives there's another key to check.

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Drive\shell

So, if there's a problem with that key the regfile wouldn't fix it. When you looked in the registry did you also check this key to see if it's default value is set to "none "?