Tired of the way your Windows desktop looks? Want to spruce it up? Take advantage of the hidden collections of icons that come with Windows.
I suspect that most PC users are unaware that there are well over a thousand different icons stored in various Windows system files. Icons are often embedded in EXE or DLL files and the system folder \Windows\System32\ contains many DLL files that come with icons. Shell.dll is a well-known example but there are many more. Below is a list of DLL files in \Windows\System32\ that contain multiple icons. There are also others with single icons.
This list is for Windows 7 but many of these DLL files are also in Windows XP. Most are also in Vista and Windows 8.
- AccessibilityCpl.dll
- compstui.dll
- DDORes.dll
- gameux.dll
- ieframe.dll
- imageres.dll
- mmcndmgr.dll
- mmRes.dll
- moricons.dll
- NetCenter.dll
- netshell.dll
- networkexplorer.dll
- pifmgr.dll
- pnidui.dll
- SensorsCpl.dll
- setupapi.dll
- shell32.dll
- wmploc.dll
- wpdshext.dll
Another file with a collection of icons is Explorer.exe. This file is located in the Windows folder.
A website that displays what all these icons look like is at this link.
How to use the files to change icons
Windows has a well-known procedure for using embedded icons for shortcuts and for folders.This procedure is described in detail at this link,
Amd there you have it – a route to a more interesing desktop and better-looking folders.
