How Do I Change Icons Using Restorator?

Klaw117 · Nov 1, 2009

Title says it all. I've always heard people say use Restorator (or another similar program) to manually change your icons, but not one ever mentions the specific steps about how to do it. Can someone please help me by giving the specific steps?

And yes, in case you're wondering, I am a total noob when it comes to manually editing system files.

rsvr85 · Nov 1, 2009

Hi Klaw117

I'll assume you want to change the embedded icon in an application.
For example, if you wanted to change CCleaner's icon to something a bit nicer, you would navigate to %programfiles%\ccleaner, open CCleaner.exe with Restorator.
In the left hand pane, expand Icon, right click the icon you wish to change and choose Assign > Assign to...
Choose your prefered .ico image, save & close restorator.

Please note that sometimes the icons will not refresh straight away. Delete the thumbnail cache, and see here.

Klaw117 · Nov 1, 2009

Well, actually I meant changing the default icons and replacing them with, for example, Mr. Grim's Black Glass icon pack.

rsvr85 · Nov 1, 2009

Well, in that case, open files like shell32.dll, imageres.dll and do the same thing i posted above.
I highly recommend creating backup copies of any files you intend on changing before you even consider opening them with restorator.

Klaw117 · Nov 1, 2009

All right, thanks. I'm guessing this could take a while though, since I have to manually edit many files.

Since you helped, I'm giving you rep.

Klaw117 · Nov 2, 2009

Ok, problem here...

I opened Restorator as an admin, I opened imageres.dll and shell32.dll and did all the "assign to" stuff to the icons that had to be changed, but when I save and close it, nothing happens, even after restarting. If no one has a solution for this, then I'm giving up, since this is kind of becoming a pain.

By the way, if anyone's curious, I'm trying to replace the default icons with Mr. Grim's Blue Full Glass Icon Set.

rsvr85 · Nov 2, 2009

Hi Klaw117
You may need to temporarily disable UAC to be able to save those files.

As far as installing MR GRiM's icon pack goes. See the first post in this thread.
Hope this helps

Klaw117 · Nov 2, 2009

I'll try that, thanks.

Plus, I saw that link already. The problem is, the set of icons I got are from his personal site, meaning it has no installer. I'm doing everything manually.

Mark · Nov 2, 2009

Doing it manually can be difficult because for starters the dll's you are changing are already in use so when you save it will actually make a file and put a 1 on the end of it.

If you do manage to save the dll you will not see any changes straight away and you will need to clear the icon cache and do a restart before they will take effect.

The way I used to do all of my editing before Generator made the installer was to boot into a second OS and that way none of the files were in use and could easily be replaced and also delete the icon cache at the same time and boot back into Windows 7 and all the changes were aplied.

If you go to my site at Virtual Customs you can download all of my icons with installers which makes the job a lot less of a headache.

Link is in my sig.

Klaw117 · Nov 2, 2009

Thanks for the suggestion Mr. Grim, but those installers are for build 7600. I'm still on build 7100, since I'm not getting Windows 7 until Christmas from my brother. I think I'll just wait until I have the retail version (I'm guessing the build 7600 installers will work on the retail version).

Mark · Nov 3, 2009

Klaw117 said:
Thanks for the suggestion Mr. Grim, but those installers are for build 7600. I'm still on build 7100, since I'm not getting Windows 7 until Christmas from my brother. I think I'll just wait until I have the retail version (I'm guessing the build 7600 installers will work on the retail version).

Well the other solution would be to use the dll's from your build with the installer, just make copies of your dll's and place them in the installer folder replacing the ones in there and then do all your edits and then install them that way using the script.

MallRat · Nov 3, 2009

Klaw117 said:
Ok, problem here...

I opened Restorator as an admin, I opened imageres.dll and shell32.dll and did all the "assign to" stuff to the icons that had to be changed, but when I save and close it, nothing happens, even after restarting. If no one has a solution for this, then I'm giving up, since this is kind of becoming a pain.

By the way, if anyone's curious, I'm trying to replace the default icons with Mr. Grim's Blue Full Glass Icon Set.

u HAVE TO choose " save as..." and then save it on your desktop or another folder, best leave the name the same. AND THEN take ownership of the old one and replace it with your newly created file.

If u choose save, and save it in thesame file, it won't actually save anything. Had the same issue, so just take my word for it. Choose "save as" and save as a seperate file before replacing.

cheers

Klaw117 · Nov 3, 2009

Thanks for the suggestions, but I think I'll just wait until I get the retail version and then using the 7600 installers. I don't want to go through the whole editing thing just to potentially have it blow up in my face again. I always get nervous when manually editing my system files.

MallRat · Nov 3, 2009

Klaw117 said:
Thanks for the suggestions, but I think I'll just wait until I get the retail version and then using the 7600 installers. I don't want to go through the whole editing thing just to potentially have it blow up in my face again. I always get nervous when manually editing my system files.

no need to worry. I had the EXACT same thing, first time i did it. Wouldn't save, cause i clicked save instead of save AS...

just save as...and save the file in another location, so that u have a copy. THEN replace it with the old. Can't be easier...

smeghead · Mar 7, 2010

I too am trying to replace the main icons for programs (such as Firefox, Word etc...). I've used Restorator 2007 to assign new icons for Firefox, and it works perfectly, however Word and Staxrip to take 2 examples, don't - I still get the old icon, even though it's showing up in Restorator to have the new ones assigned to it.

And yes, I've rebuilt the icon cache, restarted many times, etc... It just still seems to use the old icon for some reason! Where is it getting the icons from, if not from the .exe ?? I've changed ALL the possible icons in Word to the same one, but it's still using the default Microsoft one!

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!! :0)

DerickA · Mar 7, 2011

The reason why some of the icons aren't changing is probably because you have them pinned to the start menu. Pinned shortcuts retain their icon if it's a customized one, you can either right click the shortcut and change the icon by pointing back to the exe or unpin the icon and then re-pin it. To see all of your user pined shortcuts paste this into the address bar and click enter and go into the folder StartMenu Or TaskBar.
%APPDATA%\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\User Pinned

How Do I Change Icons Using Restorator?

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