Solved Help! - How do i restore default icons?

Please help!
Quite some time ago i tried out the Alienware theme and it changed all the folder & shortcut icons. I decided i didn't like it too much so i uninstalled it but the icons remain changed and were not reverted back to the default Windows ones.

I've just found this forum and have tried several suggestions in other posts like removing the icon cache etc, with no success. The only thing i managed to do successfully is to change the shortcut icon back to the default one by editing the windows registry and specifing the use of shell32.dll,29 in the Explorer\Shell Icons section (found this tip in the forum).

All the 'Folder type' icons still use the Alienware theme - Can someone please let me know how i can revert them back to the default type, even if i have to download an original file replacement (imageres.dll?) or even if someone can supply me with a list of entries i need to edit in the Registry (tedious, but i'm desperate).

Hello Rick, and welcome to Seven Forums.

You might see if running a SFC /SCANNOW command may be able to help since it will restore the default system files if any of them were modified for the theme. You may need to run it a few times though if it can't fix something at first.

If quite some time ago hasn't been to far back, then you could also do a system restore using a restore point dated before you installed the theme to undo it.

If all else fails and you have a retail copy of Windows 7, then you could do a repair install that should be able to fix it.

Thanks for the *very* quick reply.
It's been several months since i installed/removed the Alienware theme so System Restore is not an option.
I'm away for the weekend so i can't try running SFC /SCANNOW or Repair Install from my original Win7 DVD for a few days, but if i manage to find which solution fixes this, i'll post the results so other people may find this helpful if they do a search for "Restore Icons" or "Alienware" like i did.

Hello and welcome aboard , Rick

Alienware modded all your icons, and so thse are not present in your system any more . System restore or sfc /scannow should not work in such a situation . You do have three alternatives to apply.

1. Repair Install, as Shawn suggested .

2. http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/73191-icons-change-using-resource-hacker.html and http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/144807-folder-icon-change-default-icon.html . (You will need the default icons for this option. If you opt for it, I'd supply those to you)

3. Replace the Imageres.dll with the supplied (from my computer, 32 bit, as yours) one in imageres.rar ; follow the steps from 6 to 8 of the tutorial http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/144807-folder-icon-change-default-icon.html to know how to do the change and how to make the change effect.

In this situation, the easiest option for you is option 3 . Best of luck

Or you could try this icon pack installer. What it does is install back Win 7's default icons.

Remember to run it as administrator.

WooHoo! The Icons are fixed!

Many thanks to Brink, Arc, and D3ftOn3Z for their helpful suggestions.

For anybody else who's run into a similar problem and want's to know how i fixed it, I simply tried the easiest suggestion first which for me was Step 3 in Arcs' post, Download and replace the Imageres.dll file, delete the Icon Cache & Thumbnails files, then reboot the PC

...considering i checked out the icons inside Imageres.dll and found them to be modified by the Alienware theme, i was reasonably sure this was the file that needed replacing back to original. I was not sure if registry entries were modified also - it seems not as everything is back to normal by following the above steps.

- Thanks everyone.

That's nice Rick !! But frankly speaking, D3ft0n3Z's option was even easier, and I was not aware of that thing .

For the next time, if you install Alienware or Stardock Iconpackager once again , get back to the default icon profile before uninstalling it

Np, glad to help. Btw do make backups of original files if you're changing it manually.

That's a great solution there D3ftOn3Z.

I'm happy to hear that you got it sorted Rick.

Brink said:

That's a great solution there D3ftOn3Z.

I'm happy to hear that you got it sorted Rick.

Click to expand...

Ayie's link made life with icons problem easier . I wish I could know coding
Everytime such things makes me feel I should know it .

Brink said:

That's a great solution there D3ftOn3Z.

I'm happy to hear that you got it sorted Rick.

Click to expand...

Thanks shawn.

Arc said:

Ayie's link made life with icons problem easier . I wish I could know coding
Everytime such things makes me feel I should know it .

Click to expand...

Well, it's just an alternative method though.

Trying to keep this thread on topic and with another queery...

Now that i know how to safely revert the icons back to original, i'd like to modify completely the look of the Windows, Icons, Desktop, etc., to suit my favorite wallpapers. I've looked around and the only place that comes close is the ones in Deviantart but i've found none that are 'quite right' for me or that come complete with Icon packs.
Is there a way to customize the Windows 7 Desktop theme/skin like WinXP where we could manually and seperately change the colour, fonts & sizes for all the title bars, message boxes etc.
Windows 7 seems to be limited by changing 'fixed' themes that only change window title bars, borders and wallpapers with an option of adjusting the colour intensity of those 'fixed' themes.

Replying to previous suggestions...
ARC - I did download D3ft0n3Z's Icon pack at the same time as yours and checked out both, his had all 3 files included so i tried yours first that had only "Imageres.dll" - if yours didn't work properly i would have tried his next. Yes, his is probably better as a "complete fix" but i was curious as to what 'exactly' needed fixing so i can learn from this experience.
D3ft0n3Z - You're right regarding making backups, and i usually do, but at the time i had no idea what files were going to be changed by Alienware and especially that when uninstalled it would be one of those 'dirty' uninstalls that doesn't uninstall everything and leaves crap behind.

1. For that, you need to use an app. Ave's Windows7 Style Builder

2. You've learned something new then.

D3ftOn3Z said:

1. For that, you need to use an app. Ave's Windows7 Style Builder

2. You've learned something new then.

Click to expand...

1. Thanks D3ftOn3Z, I guess i should have expected that a seperate 3rd party software program is required, i was hoping that perhaps Microsoft may have created a seperate utility for more advanced tweaking of the Windows 7 interface colours/styles.

2. Yes, still learning, and this forum is a great source of information. With many years of using WinXP and about 6 months of Win7, i'm still working out where they've put things and the differeny ways things are done or modified.

hey bud.. i have the same problem as yours...
i've tried many methods like the regedit and others but it didn't work
please wish me luck on arc's suggestion.. i will post a reply if it works for me
TNX for this post

D3ftOn3Z buddy,. do you have an icon pack installer for 64bit?..
please,,,. i really need help
i tried the way that arc said but it is too hard... it got even worse for me cuz i can't quite understand it..
i just needed an easier way and i think that's it.. the icon pack installer..please help me buddy.. tnx!!!!!

Hi ! If you want to use my solution that the OP have done, you are to change another file too, as yours is 64 bit system . If you want, I may upload it, which is to be replaced in syswow64 folder .

EDIT : Mistake !! In another thread you told me that yours is SP 1 ? If so, dont use the file uploaded thete in the thread. It will result in system instability . I am trying to upload the necessary files to you , but it may take a time .

This one will go in System32 Folder : imageres 32 bit SP1.zip

And this one will go to SysWoW64 Folder : imageres 64 bit SP1.zip

follow the steps from 6 to 8 of the tutorial Folder Icon - Change Default Icon .

ok//i'll try it at home.. hope it will do

I am a new user to this Forum, I tried all the options, but still my media player icon and all other windows programs' icons aren't the default ones.

Try it:
Win7 orig. IconPack inst X64 by ~Mr-Ragnarok on deviantART