Solved How to make recycle bin icon switch between two icons?

[cocatfan]

When I had XP I could make my recycle bin switch between 2 icons depending on if it was empty or full. I have an icon representing full (dirty cat box) and one representing empty (clean cat box with a cat). They are cute and I want to use them but I cannot get Window 7 to switch back and forth between them. Is there a way to do this in Windows 7 or am I stuck with just using one icon. Thanks.

 

[Bongo]

Welcome to the Seven Forums

Have a look at this tutorial it should help you out http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/920-desktop-icons-change-restore-default-icon.html

Jerry

 

[cocatfan]

Welcome to the Seven Forums

Have a look at this tutorial it should help you out http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/920-desktop-icons-change-restore-default-icon.html

Jerry

Thank you Jerry. I know how to change the icon. I want my computer to switch between 2 icons automatically without me going into switch them each time. It worked in XP, not now. When I empty my recycle bin which has one icon for full, I want the icon to automatically switch to the empty icon. The tutorial that you show does not make that occur nor do I see any method to make it occur. I would like it to happen.

 

[HammerHead]

Brute Force

Try this is you have not already. Put something in the recycle bin. Right click the bin icon and change the full icon to your choice.

Now empty the bin and right click again and change the icon to your choice for empty.

Should now switch back and forth.

 

[Bongo]

It should work?

I changed mine in the imageres.dll.

Jerry

 

[carwiz]

I changed mine in the imageres.dll.

Jerry

Have you ever run SFC /scannow? I think it will get reset if you do. I changed my start-up sound once and it got reset.

 

[HammerHead]

Change Recycle Icon

In my previous post I discovered that a right click on my desktop recycle bin did not give me the option to change the icon. So here is another method.

right click desktop --> select "Personalization"
Select "Change desktop Icons"

You'll get a window with the recycle bin full and empty. Select change icon with the focus on one of the bins. Set the new icon. Do the same for the remaining icon.

 

[Bongo]

I changed mine in the imageres.dll.

Jerry

Have you ever run SFC /scannow? I think it will get reset if you do. I changed my start-up sound once and it got reset.

I have not need to (knock on wood) but I know it changes system file back.

 

[cocatfan]

Try this is you have not already. Put something in the recycle bin. Right click the bin icon and change the full icon to your choice.

Now empty the bin and right click again and change the icon to your choice for empty.

Should now switch back and forth.

This does not work. When I right click, I do not have the option of changing icons.

 

[cocatfan]

It should work?

I changed mine in the imageres.dll.

Jerry

I do not know what this means. Or how to do it.

 

[cocatfan]

In my previous post I discovered that a right click on my desktop recycle bin did not give me the option to change the icon. So here is another method.

right click desktop --> select "Personalization"
Select "Change desktop Icons"

You'll get a window with the recycle bin full and empty. Select change icon with the focus on one of the bins. Set the new icon. Do the same for the remaining icon.

It does not work. It does not switch back and forth. It stays with whatever icon I picked last. I guess Windows 7 can't handle switching back and forth.

 

[cocatfan]

I thought of something. Maybe it is not working because maybe I do not have my custom icons in the proper folder. The systems folder. I will move them with the other icons and try again and let you all know if it worked.

 

[cocatfan]

C:\windows\System32\imageres.dll

This is where it says icons are stored but I cannot locate on my computer to move my icons to this folder. This is frustrating.

 

[carwiz]

The images are stored inside Imageres.dll as icons. Using the "patch" method noted by Bongo (Jerry), you need to have an editor. These will also get reset if you ever run the system file scan (SFC).

Are you using the method for "Personalization" off the desktop?

 

[Bongo]

Yes inside the imageres.dll is a Icon folder, the empty recycling bin icon is #55 the full recycling bin icon is #54 and you will need a resource hacker to open up the imageres.dll.

With 64 bit system you'll find imageres.dll in both C:\Windows\System32 and C:\Windows\SysWOW64 it is best to do both also I recommend you put copies on your desktop to edit so you do not corrupt the originals.

Look at this tutorial will show how to do it http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/73191-icons-change-using-resource-hacker.html

To properly change a system file you need to take ownership give yourself permission and rename the old file and then copy in the new one look at Post #6 of this thread will tell you how to do it http://www.sevenforums.com/customization/179502-basic-networking-information.html#post1525656

Then follow up with http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/49819-icon-cache-rebuild.html

Jerry

 

[cocatfan]

Yes inside the imageres.dll is a Icon folder, the empty recycling bin icon is #55 the full recycling bin icon is #54 and you will need a resource hacker to open up the imageres.dll.

With 64 bit system you'll find imageres.dll in both C:\Windows\System32 and C:\Windows\SysWOW64 it is best to do both also I recommend you put copies on your desktop to edit so you do not corrupt the originals.

Look at this tutorial will show how to do it http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/73191-icons-change-using-resource-hacker.html

To properly change a system file you need to take ownership give yourself permission and rename the old file and then copy in the new one look at Post #6 of this thread will tell you how to do it http://www.sevenforums.com/customization/179502-basic-networking-information.html#post1525656

Then follow up with http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/49819-icon-cache-rebuild.html

Jerry

This is just ridiculous. In XP there was just a folder, this is nonsense. I will just use the regular recycle bin, using my cat box is not worth this trouble. Shame on Microsoft.