I change an icon but they don't survive

I have changed the icon on two drive shortcuts and one folder to icons that I made with an icon builder. I went through the normal routine of customization in all cases, even clicking the APPLY button before the OK button. Sometimes they do not survive a reboot or an on/off.
Anything else I can do to make them permanent?
Bill

Hello "Blockie" :)

Icons for external drives are stored in a hidden INF file on the external device (thumb drives, discs)
Not all devices will have an INF file, but you can create one.

I assume your icons are ICO files.
The folder that is not retaining your custom icon, check if it has a hidden "desktop.ini" file
To view hidden files and folders ... see the early text in HOW TO ASSIGN AN ICON TO A DATA STORAGE DEVICE in this thread.

Contents of the "desktop.ini" should look something like

Code:

[.ShellClassInfo]
IconResource=C:\windows\system32\SHELL32.dll,27
[ViewState]
Mode=
Vid=
FolderType=Generic

... the "IconResource" string should be the full-name to your ICO file.

HOW TO ASSIGN AN ICON TO A DATA STORAGE DEVICE:-
Windows Explorer > Tools > Folder options ... (or Start > Settings > Control Panel > Folder Options)
View (tab)
(•) Show Hidden Files, folders and drives <<< SELECTED
[ ]Hide protected operating system files (Recommended) <<< UNCHECK
Apply (btn)
OK (btn)

Windows Explorer
create a new folder anywhere (it will be deleted when this entire process is finished)
right click the new/temp folder > Properties > Customize > Change icon > Browse to the icon of your choosing.
Apply (btn)
OK (btn)

New/temp folder:-
- in the new/temp folder there will be a hidden folder (greyed out) "desktop.ini"
- open the INI file
- copy the string after "IconResource=" to clipboard
eg C:\windows\system32\SHELL32.dll,27
- close the INI file

   Note

If the external device does not have an INF file ...

• Open Notepad:
• Type this text into the Notepad orphan -- except for the <icon path here>

Code:

[autorun]
ICON=<icon path here>

• Save the Notepad doc as "autorun.inf"
• FileType option in Notepad must be "AllFiles (*.*)
  otherwise the file will be saved as "autorun.inf.txt" a TXT file not an INF file
• Save the new file in the external device eg, "F:\MyData"

Insert the path copied from the "desktop.ini. after "ICON=" in the "autorun.inf" file
to replace the <icon path here> text
eg, C:\windows\system32\SHELL32.dll,27
- obviously if there is an existing autorun.INF file, replace the old name-path with the new name-path
-----
Right click the "autorun.inf" file ... the new INF must be hidden
Properties > Attributes
[x] Hidden <<< CHECKED ... (this will hide the INF file after this process is finished)
Apply (btn)
OK (btn)
-----
External data storage device:-
- safely remove the external device
- count to 5 and reinsert the drive
Device should appear with the new icon

Housekeeping:
Windows Explorer > Tools > Folder options ... (or Start > Settings > Control Panel > Folder Options)
View (tab)
(•) Don't show hidden files, folders or drives <<< SELECTED
[x] Hide protected operating system files (Recommended) <<< CHECKED
Apply (btn)
OK (btn)

Delete the temporary folder created at the beginning of this process

   Note

For memory Win7 MS Security updates disabled "AutoRun"
This might be reason your icons don't hold.
Thread Autoplay Registry key value is well worth a read, and includes some very recent contributions.

I have created custom icons and used them in portable drives too.
If you need any help, call back here.

Hope this helps, regards
Russell :)

My apologies Blockie, I did a new post instead of a reply

Russell,
I haven't forgotten, just real busy these past few days. Will get to your post and follow your suggestions soon, I hope.
Thanks for the info.
Bill