How to Change the Default "Default Programs" Icon in the Windows 7 Start Menu

   Information
This will show you how to change the default Default Programs icon in the Windows 7 Start Menu to be a icon of your choice for all users or just your user account.

EXAMPLE: Default Programs in the Start Menu
Default Programs - Change Default Icon in Start Menu-default.jpg





OPTION ONE

For Current User Only


NOTE: This option will only change the default icon for the user account that you are currently logged in, and will override the icon from OPTION TWO below for only this user account. This option will not change the icon for all users like OPTION TWO below, but only for the current user.
1. To Change the "Default Programs" Icon for Current User
A) Click on the Download button below to download the file below.
Change_Current_User_Default_Programs_Icon_in_Start_Menu.reg
B) Click on Save, and save the .reg file to the desktop.

C) Right click the downloaded .reg file on the Desktop and click on Merge.

D) Click on Run, Yes, Yes, and OK when prompted.

E) Open the Start Menu, then type regedit in the search box and press Enter.

F) If prompted by UAC, then click on Yes.

G) In regedit, navigate to the location below. (see screenshot below)
NOTE: This will be the registry locations added from steps A to D.

Code:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\CLSID\{E44E5D18-0652-4508-A4E2-8A090067BCB0}\DefaultIcon
Default Programs - Change Default Icon in Start Menu-current_user.jpg
H) In the right pane of DefaultIcon, right click on (Default) and click on Modify. (see screenshot above)

I) Do either step J or K below depending on what icon you want to use.

J) To Use another Windows 7 Icon
J1) Download and install the free program IconViewer to add the Icons tab in the screenshot below step J2.
NOTE: Be sure to download the correct 32-bit or 64-bit version for your Windows 7.

J2) In Windows Explorer navigate to the .exe (ex: for program icons) or .dll (ex: Windows 7 icons) file that contains the icon that you want to use, right click on the file, click on Properties, and the Icons tab. (see screenshot below)
NOTE: The most common Windows 7 icons are in the C:\Windows\System32\imageres.dll file.
Default Programs - Change Default Icon in Start Menu-icons.jpg
J3) Make note of the icon number for the icon that you want to use instead. (see screenshot above)
NOTE: For example, the default Default Programs icon number is 24.

J4) In the Modify window from regedit, type in the full path of the .exe or .dll file followed by ,-icon# (full path,-####) and click on OK. (see screenshot below)
NOTE: For example, if I wanted to use the path (step J2) and the 24 icon (step J3), I would type:

%SystemRoot%\system32\imageres.dll,-24

OR

C:\Windows\System32\imageres.dll,-24
Default Programs - Change Default Icon in Start Menu-modify.jpg
J5) When finished, go to step 3.
K) To Use a Custom Icon of Your Own
K1) In the Modify window from regedit, type in the full path of where the custom icon (.ico) file is saved at with the file extension in quotes, then click on OK. (see screenshot below)
WARNING: You will need to use a 256x256 pixel icon that was made for Windows 7 and Vista for them to display properly at all of the available icon view sizes in Windows 7. You will also need to leave the icon saved at the exact location you typed below for it to continue to work. If you delete or move this icon, then it will no longer be displayed.
Default Programs - Change Default Icon in Start Menu-modify_custom.jpg
L) When finished, go to step 3.
2. To Undo the Changed "Default Programs" Icon for Current User Only
NOTE: This will undo the changes made to the icon in OPTION ONE for only the current user, and restore the icon back to what the icon is set as in OPTION TWO below.
A) Click on the Download button below to download the file below.
Undo_Current_User_Default_Programs_Icon_change_in_Start_Menu.reg
B) Click on Save, and save the .reg file to the desktop.

C) Right click the downloaded .reg file on the Desktop and click on Merge.

D) Click on Run, Yes, Yes, and OK when prompted.
3. Log off and log on, or restart the computer to apply.

4. When done, you can delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.





OPTION TWO

For All Users


NOTE: This option will change the default icon for all users on the computer. You will need to be logged in as an administrator to be able to do this option. OPTION ONE above will override this option's changed icon only in the user account that OPTION ONE was applied in.
1. To Change the "Default Programs" Icon for All Users
A) Open the Start Menu, then type regedit in the search box and press Enter.

B) If prompted by UAC, then click on Yes.

C) In regedit, navigate to the location below. (see screenshot below)

Code:
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{E44E5D18-0652-4508-A4E2-8A090067BCB0}\DefaultIcon
Default Programs - Change Default Icon in Start Menu-all_users.jpg
D) In the left pane, right click on DefaultIcon, click on Permissions. (see screenshot above)

E) Select your Administrators account, check the Allow box for Full Control, then click on OK. (see screenshot below)
Default Programs - Change Default Icon in Start Menu-permissions.jpg
F) In the right pane of DefaultIcon, right click on (Default) and click on Modify. (see screenshot below step 1C)

G) Do either step H or I below depending on what icon you want to use.

H) To Use another Windows 7 Icon
H1) Download and install the free program IconViewer to add the Icons tab in the screenshot below step H2.
NOTE: Be sure to download the correct 32-bit or 64-bit version for your Windows 7.

H2) In Windows Explorer navigate to the .exe (ex: for program icons) or .dll (ex: Windows 7 icons) file that contains the icon that you want to use, right click on the file, click on Properties, and the Icons tab. (see screenshot below)
NOTE: The most common Windows 7 icons come from the C:\Windows\System32\imageres.dll file.
Default Programs - Change Default Icon in Start Menu-icons.jpg
H3) Make note of the icon number for the icon that you want to use instead. (see screenshot above)
NOTE: For example, the default Default Programs icon number is 24.

H4) In the Modify window from regedit, type in the full path of the .exe or .dll file followed by ,-icon# (full path,-####) and click on OK. (see screenshot below)
NOTE: For example, if I wanted to use the path (step H2) and the 24 icon (step H3), I would type:

%SystemRoot%\system32\imageres.dll,-24

OR

C:\Windows\System32\imageres.dll,-24
Default Programs - Change Default Icon in Start Menu-modify.jpg
H5) When finished, go to step 3.
I) To Use a Custom Icon of Your Own
I1) In the Modify window from regedit, type in the full path of where the custom icon (.ico) file is saved at with the file extension in quotes, then click on OK. (see screenshot below)
WARNING: You will need to use a 256x256 pixel icon that was made for Windows 7 and Vista for them to display properly at all of the available icon view sizes in Windows 7. The icon will need to be saved in a location that all users have access to. For example, in a C:\Users\Public folder. You will also need to leave the icon saved at the exact location you typed below for it to continue to work. If you delete or move this icon, then it will no longer be displayed.
Default Programs - Change Default Icon in Start Menu-modify_custom.jpg
J) When finished, go to step 3.
2. To Restore the Default "Default Programs" Icon for All Users
NOTE: This will restore the default icon for your user account and all users except the user accounts that had applied OPTION ONE above.
A) Click on the Download button below to download the file below.
Restore_Default_All_Users_Default_Programs_Icon_in_Start_Menu.reg
B) Click on Save, and save the .reg file to the desktop.

C) Right click the downloaded .reg file on the Desktop and click on Merge.

D) Click on Run, Yes, Yes, and OK when prompted.
3. Log off and log on, or restart the computer to apply.

4. When done, you can delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.
That's it,
Shawn