How do I set a different overlay icon for SymLinks?

[ajfudge]

Hi. icnic:

First, I have read this: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/3606-shortcut-arrow-change-remove-restore.html so you don't have to tell me to go there and Brink (the author) kindly advised me to post in this section.

Second, I already have the basic concept of SymLinks in Windows 7 pinned down, but the thing I'm curious about is whether or not Symlinks and the normal shortcuts (.lnk) use the same overlay icon (the blue arrow pointing upward).
I am asking this because I use a program called Link Shell Extension (a very handy tool for creating SymLinks) and it designates a different icon each for softlinks, hardlinks, junctions. However, after creating a SymLink, it shows the default shortcut overlay icon instead. I know you're thinking that I should probably contact the software's author instead (which I did but I'll explore other options as I am still troubleshooting the problem ) BUT the thing is, whenever I restart my laptop, the overlay icons for SymLinks disappear. So I'm partially convinced that this is a Windows Explorer issue.[1]
I want to ask if Windows assign the same default overlay icons for shortcuts and SymLinks. If the answer is yes, how do I assign a different overlay icon for hardlinks, softlinks and junctions?

Third, (This third inquiry is only applicable if and only if the 2nd inquiry I posted above is null) I really don't want to mess up my overlay icons because believe it or not, I like them. But for the sake of better organization, I need to tweak something here. I don't have to remove or edit an overlay icon; I just need to add new ones. I assume this would involve registry hacks, but I need instructions coz I'm such a dumbo on the area.
I already categorized my folders by color. I don't want to break the uniformity I already have by assigning another color just for SymLinks (which is distributed in different subfolders). So assigning overlay icons is my only option. If someone could help me with this, give me wise advice, I will be thankful. Better yet, if someone knows of a program that will allow me to place an overlay icon with just a few clicks (similar to Shedko Badges), then I will love you like you've never been loved before. HAHA.

I hope I didn't miss a detail. Thank you for reading.


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[1](UPDATE Mar. 5, 2012 12:46PM (+8 GMT): Here's a rather quirky behavior: Right now I am troubleshooting this problem. the overlay icon for SymLinks icons are not showing up. I placed a symlink on a normal folder and it didn't have an over lay icon. Then I placed a symlink on Desktop and it showed me this (see screenshot below). It shows an overlay icon that I don't know what for, but clearly isn't related to symlinks. So now I'm really convinced that this is an explorer problem. Should I flush my icon cache?

[2](UPDATE Mar. 5, 2012 7:28PM (+8 GMT): So I flushed/rebuilt icon cache, and as expected the overlay icon reverted to the shortcut overlay icon (see screenshot below). Still not green arrow. Then after some hours later, the overlay icon disappeared once again. This is frustrating

 

[snaphat]

The problem is Microsoft Sharepoint Workspace (Previously MS Office Groove).

Essentially, there are two solutions:

(1) Removing "Microsoft Sharepoint Workspace" from being installed as a feature of Microsoft Office.

or

(2) Removing the following registry keys (back them up):

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\ShellIconOverlayIdentifiers\Groove Explorer Icon Overlay 2.5 (GFS Unread Folder)​

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\ShellIconOverlayIdentifiers\Groove Explorer Icon Overlay 3 (GFS Folder)​

Please let Hermann know (the developer of Link Shell Extension).

 

[ajfudge]

snaphat,

Welcome to Sevenforums!
Thank you for sharing that information. I will try your solutions now.
I 'll also inform Hermann about this. He just sent me a new version to test.

-AJ

 

[ajfudge]

Here's an update.
I follow snaphat's solution and I removed MS Office Groove.
Now all my symlinks created by LSE are all showing the proper overlay icons.
Thank you snaphat!
I also forwarded this information to Mr. Hermann.

 

[snaphat]

No problem. I had the same issue (and found your post as a result). I figured some of the other overlay icons were overriding LSE ones so I tracked down which ones.

--
Aaron