Changing icons in Internet Explorer 7

Mark Bender · 11-27-2006, 01:16 PM

I recently installed Internet Explorer 7 and all my existing website shortcuts on the desktop changed to the same icon - the typical blue "e" with a circular yellow line running through it. Also, any new website shortcut I create shows up as the same icon on the desktop. The problem is that when I try to change the icon (Properties, Change Icon, etc.) it won't change. I contacted Microsoft and they spent an hour trying to fix it themselves and then, finally told me it was just the way that IE 7 works because it doesn't use file associations. It just doesn't make sense to me that every shortcut you create for a website with IE 7 is going to have the same unchangeable icon. Any help would be appreciated. I'm using XP Home Service Pack 2. Thank you.

Mark

Flatiron · 11-27-2006, 04:00 PM

Try this if you want.

Download FavOrg 1.4 - manage and safely store your favicons - Softpedia
http://www.softpedia.com/get/Interne...s/favorg.shtml

Don't Lose Your Favicons - WorldStart Computer Tips and Help
http://www.worldstart.com/tips/tips-pr.php/1284

Tired of the Yahoo.com favicon not showing up in your list of IE Favorites? Here's a quick and simple solution:

1. Browse to http://www.yahoo.com/favicon.ico
2. Right click the icon, click 'Save Picture As...', and place the file in a folder of your choice...
3. Browse to the stored file, rename it to 'yahoo.ico', and save...
4. In IE's Favorites menu, scroll to Yahoo.com (you DO have it in your Favorites - right?)...
5. Right click on the name...
6. Click 'Properties'...
7. Click 'Change Icon'...
8. Click 'Browse', and navigate to where you stored the yahoo.ico...
9. Click the file, then click 'Open', which takes you back to the 'Change Icon' dialog...
10. Click 'OK' twice...
11. Close IE, then reopen it...
12. In the Favorites menu, you'll find that Yahoo.com now has its own permanently associated icon...

This will work with any site that has a favicon (you will have to browse to whateversite.com/favicon.ico)...

throoper · 11-28-2006, 05:13 PM

Hi Mark
I don't know how the favicons in IE7 work as I'm still avoiding it, but the icons for the desktop shortcuts should be independent of what is in the favorites list in the browser. You should be able to assign any .ico file just as you can for folders. Try Properties>Change icon>Browse>System 32>Shell 32 dll. Select one of the icons and apply. If that works, follow Flatiron2's instructions for saving favicons. Please post back with results.
T.

Mark Bender · 11-28-2006, 06:43 PM

Yes, I've tried that numerous times. The icon actually does change in the Properties dialog window but as soon as I hit OK, the desktop icon that I'm trying to change flickers once and stays the same. I tried all three of Flatiron 2's suggestions and none of them helped.

Flatiron · 11-29-2006, 10:06 AM

I don't know what else to suggest. I do have IE7, but use Firefox 99% of the time. Myself, I don't have any Icons on my Desktop because I like a clean looking Desktop..

throoper · 11-30-2006, 07:04 PM

Hi Mark,
Sorry, but I have to ask. When you tried to change the icon did you click on the icon in the box that says "Select from the list below" even if there was only one and it was already highlited. It makes a difference.
I found this and thought it might give you a workaround http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_abc.htm
Go to Icons and halfway down the page it tells about true color icons. If you have a graphic converter like Irfanview you can set a folder of Bmps to use as icons. If you try it be sure to set the "files of type" on the change icon properties window to "all files" so the bmps will show.
My only other suggestion is to go back to IE6 and see if that fixes the problem.
T.

Mark Bender · 12-01-2006, 09:33 AM

Yes, I did click on the icon even if it was the only one.

I'll look at the workaround. Thanks

**nickster_uk** · 12-01-2006, 09:27 PM

Hi Mark, I replied to the email you sent me with the solution.

Let me know how you get on please :)

Mark Bender · 12-02-2006, 12:08 AM

Nickster,

Sorry but for some reason, I did not receive your e-mail. Could you please post it on this thread?

Thanks

**nickster_uk** · 12-02-2006, 03:47 PM

Cut n pasted from my sent box:

Hi Mark,

Thanks for the email.

In order to resolve your problem you will need to edit the registry. Please follow the instructions below:

• Click Start -> Run -> type:
• regedit
• Click OK
• Locate and expand the following key:
• HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\InternetShortcut\shellex
• Once expanded, you should see and subkey below called:
• IconHandler
• Right click the key and select to delete it
• Once you have done that, close regedit and then open Windows Explorer
• Click Tools -> Folder Options -> File Types
• Scroll down to:
• URL Internet Shortcut
• Click the ‘Advanced’ button then the ‘Change Icon’ button
• All you need to do then is browse to your preferred icon file and select it

You may need to reboot before all of your URL icons are updated.

Hope that helps, if you have any problems with it, please let me know.

Nick

p.s – It’s always a good idea to backup the registry before editing/deleting keys. The advice I have given will not cause any problems if you do exactly as advised but deleting the wrong can can cause problems.

Hope that helps :)

Mark Bender · 12-04-2006, 02:34 PM

I finally got a call back from a higher level tech at Microsoft. Below is the solution he came up with. I didn't try Nickster's suggestion about changing the registry just because I didn't want to mess with that if there was an alternative method. The method below worked for me. Thanks to everyone for their help.

Open desired web page
Click on File
Click on Save as
Click on Save
Close web page
R click on newly created icon on desktop
Click on Create Shortcut
R click on the second new icon you just created on the desktop
Click on Properties
Change icon as usual
Delete unneeded icons

Garrason · 10-18-2007, 02:17 PM

Perhaps this belongs in another thread. I am having a similar problem with desktop icons that I create by dragging the icon from the URL box on the website to a blank spot on the desktop. Recently some few (not nearly all) have had different graphics substituted. If I reboot they may or may not revert to the correct. If I click on the icon to go to the site then both the URL box and Tab box have the same wrong graphics as the desktop icon. That is why I think it is an IE7 problem, not just a Windows XP SP2 problem. Folks on one of the "other" Windows forums don't have a clue.

Note that I want to use the website graphic, not one of Windows.

Any suggestions will be appreciated. Thanks!

C C Garrason

11-27-2006, 01:16 PM	#1 (permalink)
Mark Bender Registered User Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 5 OS: XP	Changing icons in Internet Explorer 7 I recently installed Internet Explorer 7 and all my existing website shortcuts on the desktop changed to the same icon - the typical blue "e" with a circular yellow line running through it. Also, any new website shortcut I create shows up as the same icon on the desktop. The problem is that when I try to change the icon (Properties, Change Icon, etc.) it won't change. I contacted Microsoft and they spent an hour trying to fix it themselves and then, finally told me it was just the way that IE 7 works because it doesn't use file associations. It just doesn't make sense to me that every shortcut you create for a website with IE 7 is going to have the same unchangeable icon. Any help would be appreciated. I'm using XP Home Service Pack 2. Thank you. Mark

11-27-2006, 04:00 PM	#2 (permalink)
Flatiron Registered User Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Ozark, Alabama Posts: 492 OS: Vista Home Premium SP2 My System	Try this if you want. Download FavOrg 1.4 - manage and safely store your favicons - Softpedia http://www.softpedia.com/get/Interne...s/favorg.shtml Don't Lose Your Favicons - WorldStart Computer Tips and Help http://www.worldstart.com/tips/tips-pr.php/1284 Tired of the Yahoo.com favicon not showing up in your list of IE Favorites? Here's a quick and simple solution: 1. Browse to http://www.yahoo.com/favicon.ico 2. Right click the icon, click 'Save Picture As...', and place the file in a folder of your choice... 3. Browse to the stored file, rename it to 'yahoo.ico', and save... 4. In IE's Favorites menu, scroll to Yahoo.com (you DO have it in your Favorites - right?)... 5. Right click on the name... 6. Click 'Properties'... 7. Click 'Change Icon'... 8. Click 'Browse', and navigate to where you stored the yahoo.ico... 9. Click the file, then click 'Open', which takes you back to the 'Change Icon' dialog... 10. Click 'OK' twice... 11. Close IE, then reopen it... 12. In the Favorites menu, you'll find that Yahoo.com now has its own permanently associated icon... This will work with any site that has a favicon (you will have to browse to whateversite.com/favicon.ico)... __________________ Encouragement Can Change A Persons Life.

12-01-2006, 09:27 PM	#8 (permalink)
nickster_uk Moderator, Microsoft Support, Happy to support TSF! Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 7,043 OS: XP Pro SP3, Windows 7 Ultimate, Ubuntu v8.04 My System	Hi Mark, I replied to the email you sent me with the solution. Let me know how you get on please :) __________________ My system: ASUS P5K-E WiFi \| Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 Conroe 2.4GHz (OC 3.60GHz) \| 4GB Corsair DDR2 XMS2-6400C4 RAM (4-4-4-12) \| PowerColor ATI Radeon HD 3850 Pro Xtreme 512MB GDDR3 GPU \| Maxtor DiamondMax 22 500GB, Maxtor DiamondMax 23 500GB & 2xMaxtor DiamondMax 21 250GB SATA HDDs \| Thermaltake CL-P0114 Heatsink + 6 LED Case Fans \| Corsair HX620W Modular PSU \| Enermax Black Knight (CS-527) Case \| Pioneer DVR-216 SATA 20x20 DVD±RW In a world without walls or fences - who needs Windows and Gates?

12-02-2006, 03:47 PM	#10 (permalink)
nickster_uk Moderator, Microsoft Support, Happy to support TSF! Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 7,043 OS: XP Pro SP3, Windows 7 Ultimate, Ubuntu v8.04 My System	Cut n pasted from my sent box: Hi Mark, Thanks for the email. In order to resolve your problem you will need to edit the registry. Please follow the instructions below: • Click Start -> Run -> type: • regedit • Click OK • Locate and expand the following key: • HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\InternetShortcut\shellex • Once expanded, you should see and subkey below called: • IconHandler • Right click the key and select to delete it • Once you have done that, close regedit and then open Windows Explorer • Click Tools -> Folder Options -> File Types • Scroll down to: • URL Internet Shortcut • Click the ‘Advanced’ button then the ‘Change Icon’ button • All you need to do then is browse to your preferred icon file and select it You may need to reboot before all of your URL icons are updated. Hope that helps, if you have any problems with it, please let me know. Nick p.s – It’s always a good idea to backup the registry before editing/deleting keys. The advice I have given will not cause any problems if you do exactly as advised but deleting the wrong can can cause problems. Hope that helps :) __________________ My system: ASUS P5K-E WiFi \| Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 Conroe 2.4GHz (OC 3.60GHz) \| 4GB Corsair DDR2 XMS2-6400C4 RAM (4-4-4-12) \| PowerColor ATI Radeon HD 3850 Pro Xtreme 512MB GDDR3 GPU \| Maxtor DiamondMax 22 500GB, Maxtor DiamondMax 23 500GB & 2xMaxtor DiamondMax 21 250GB SATA HDDs \| Thermaltake CL-P0114 Heatsink + 6 LED Case Fans \| Corsair HX620W Modular PSU \| Enermax Black Knight (CS-527) Case \| Pioneer DVR-216 SATA 20x20 DVD±RW In a world without walls or fences - who needs Windows and Gates?

10-18-2007, 02:17 PM	#12 (permalink)
Garrason Registered User Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 1 OS: Windows XP SP2	Re: Changing icons in Internet Explorer 7 Perhaps this belongs in another thread. I am having a similar problem with desktop icons that I create by dragging the icon from the URL box on the website to a blank spot on the desktop. Recently some few (not nearly all) have had different graphics substituted. If I reboot they may or may not revert to the correct. If I click on the icon to go to the site then both the URL box and Tab box have the same wrong graphics as the desktop icon. That is why I think it is an IE7 problem, not just a Windows XP SP2 problem. Folks on one of the "other" Windows forums don't have a clue. Note that I want to use the website graphic, not one of Windows. Any suggestions will be appreciated. Thanks! C C Garrason

11-28-2006, 05:13 PM	#3 (permalink)
throoper Registered User Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 231 OS: Win XP Pro	Hi Mark I don't know how the favicons in IE7 work as I'm still avoiding it, but the icons for the desktop shortcuts should be independent of what is in the favorites list in the browser. You should be able to assign any .ico file just as you can for folders. Try Properties>Change icon>Browse>System 32>Shell 32 dll. Select one of the icons and apply. If that works, follow Flatiron2's instructions for saving favicons. Please post back with results. T.

11-28-2006, 06:43 PM	#4 (permalink)
Mark Bender Registered User Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 5 OS: XP	Yes, I've tried that numerous times. The icon actually does change in the Properties dialog window but as soon as I hit OK, the desktop icon that I'm trying to change flickers once and stays the same. I tried all three of Flatiron 2's suggestions and none of them helped.

11-30-2006, 07:04 PM	#6 (permalink)
throoper Registered User Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 231 OS: Win XP Pro	Hi Mark, Sorry, but I have to ask. When you tried to change the icon did you click on the icon in the box that says "Select from the list below" even if there was only one and it was already highlited. It makes a difference. I found this and thought it might give you a workaround http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_abc.htm Go to Icons and halfway down the page it tells about true color icons. If you have a graphic converter like Irfanview you can set a folder of Bmps to use as icons. If you try it be sure to set the "files of type" on the change icon properties window to "all files" so the bmps will show. My only other suggestion is to go back to IE6 and see if that fixes the problem. T.

12-01-2006, 09:33 AM	#7 (permalink)
Mark Bender Registered User Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 5 OS: XP	Yes, I did click on the icon even if it was the only one. I'll look at the workaround. Thanks

12-02-2006, 12:08 AM	#9 (permalink)
Mark Bender Registered User Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 5 OS: XP	Nickster, Sorry but for some reason, I did not receive your e-mail. Could you please post it on this thread? Thanks

12-04-2006, 02:34 PM	#11 (permalink)
Mark Bender Registered User Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 5 OS: XP	I finally got a call back from a higher level tech at Microsoft. Below is the solution he came up with. I didn't try Nickster's suggestion about changing the registry just because I didn't want to mess with that if there was an alternative method. The method below worked for me. Thanks to everyone for their help. Open desired web page Click on File Click on Save as Click on Save Close web page R click on newly created icon on desktop Click on Create Shortcut R click on the second new icon you just created on the desktop Click on Properties Change icon as usual Delete unneeded icons