In order to address the disorderly way most people catalogue their data, Windows 7 introduced a new system that let's users point a Library to various folders (Pictures or Documents, for example).
Fret not. If you have five minutes and a shred of fortitude, we'll show you how to ditch that lame default icon.
Method 1 - The hard way
1. Open a text editor (Notepad will do)
2. Go to the following Windows directory: %appdata%microsoftwindowslibraries
3. Drag the Library icon you want to change into Notepad
Among the several lines of text that appear should be one that reads something like this:<iconReference>imageres.dll,-1001</iconReference>
Now, all you have to do is swap imageres.dll,-1001 for the directory or file where your icon is located, as well as its place within the file. For instance, the icon in the example below is located at imageres.dll,124 which seems to fit well for a Work-oriented Library.
Naturally, you won't know this information offhand, but the free application IconViewer will let you browse the contents of a DLL file and it will even give you an icon's location number. Once you've found your desired icon, save the changes in Notepad and your new icon will appear.
Method 2 - The easy way
This method automates the above process with a simple GUI and even includes an icon viewer. All you have to do is download and run this utility, type in one of the DLL files mentioned below (or stick with the default imageres.dll), choose an icon, select the library you'd like to apply it to and click Select icon from dll.
It's worth mentioning that some icons look pretty terrible in the utility's icon browser, but they're actually attractive, high-res images. If you think something might fit your Library well, give it a chance before you dismiss it for being ugly, after all you can roll back any changes with the click of a button (Restore default icon).
Where to find icons within Windows?
For your reference, here are some additional DLLs with icons: ddores.dll (mostly hardware-related), shell32.dll (hundreds of assorted icons), wmp.dll (a few media-related icons), moricons.dll (various low-res, old school Windows icons).
Want more icons? Check these out: compstui.dll, mmcndmgr.dll, netshell.dll, pnidui.dll, wmploc.DLL,iconarchive.com, interfacelift.com, and as always, feel free to share your resources in the comments.
Fret not. If you have five minutes and a shred of fortitude, we'll show you how to ditch that lame default icon.
Method 1 - The hard way
1. Open a text editor (Notepad will do)
2. Go to the following Windows directory: %appdata%microsoftwindowslibraries
3. Drag the Library icon you want to change into Notepad
Among the several lines of text that appear should be one that reads something like this:<iconReference>imageres.dll,-1001</iconReference>
Now, all you have to do is swap imageres.dll,-1001 for the directory or file where your icon is located, as well as its place within the file. For instance, the icon in the example below is located at imageres.dll,124 which seems to fit well for a Work-oriented Library.
Naturally, you won't know this information offhand, but the free application IconViewer will let you browse the contents of a DLL file and it will even give you an icon's location number. Once you've found your desired icon, save the changes in Notepad and your new icon will appear.
Method 2 - The easy way
This method automates the above process with a simple GUI and even includes an icon viewer. All you have to do is download and run this utility, type in one of the DLL files mentioned below (or stick with the default imageres.dll), choose an icon, select the library you'd like to apply it to and click Select icon from dll.
It's worth mentioning that some icons look pretty terrible in the utility's icon browser, but they're actually attractive, high-res images. If you think something might fit your Library well, give it a chance before you dismiss it for being ugly, after all you can roll back any changes with the click of a button (Restore default icon).
Where to find icons within Windows?
For your reference, here are some additional DLLs with icons: ddores.dll (mostly hardware-related), shell32.dll (hundreds of assorted icons), wmp.dll (a few media-related icons), moricons.dll (various low-res, old school Windows icons).
Want more icons? Check these out: compstui.dll, mmcndmgr.dll, netshell.dll, pnidui.dll, wmploc.DLL,iconarchive.com, interfacelift.com, and as always, feel free to share your resources in the comments.
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