Windows Tools, Help & Guides

In the past, we’ve shown you many ways to customize Windows using .PNG and .ICON icons. In this guide, I’ll show you where to get icons how to:

• Change Vista desktop icons.
• Change folder icons in Windows Explorer.
• Change drive icons in Windows Explorer.
• Add custom libraries with custom icons in Windows 7.
• Change network icons in Windows Vista.
• Update outdated icons automatically in Windows Vista.
• Remove the shortcut overlay arrow icon in Vista.
• Customize Windows Media Center Media Browser icons.

Download Icons for Windows

If you’re looking for icons for Windows, you can download them here: Windows Icons. Here are some of my favorite collections:

• 111 Free Icon Packs for Your Dock/Website
• Windows Style Icon Packs
• RSS Icon Packs
• Social Icon Packs
• Icon Packs for Your Website
• 90 Free High Quality Icon Packs [Set 1]

Customize Windows with Icon Packs

Here’s how you can use these icons to customize Windows:

Change Vista Desktop Icons

If you’d like to customize your desktop icons in Windows Vista, follow this guide: Customize Vista Desktop Icons [How To]

Change Folder Icons in Windows Explorer

If you’d like to customize folder icons in Windows Explorer, follow this guide: Customize Folder Icons in Windows Explorer or use icons bundled with Windows in imageres.dll or Windows 7’s high resolution device icons.

Change Drive Icons in Windows Explorer

If you’d like to add custom icons to your drives in Windows Explorer, follow this guide: Add Custom Icons To Your Drives In Explorer (Manual Method) or (Use Windows Forums member Batu’s Tool.)

Add Custom Libraries with Custom Icons in Windows 7

If you’re a fan on Windows 7’s libraries and use them, you can customize them to your needs and even use custom icons. Find out how here: Add Custom Libraries To Windows 7 Explorer

Change Network Icons in Windows Vista

You can change the network icon in Windows Vista; learn how here: Change Wireless or Wired Network Icon in Vista

Update Outdated Icons Automatically in Windows Vista

Windows Vista kept some legacy icons from Windows XP, 2000, 98, and even 95. Vize is a program that updates these icons to make them match the updated user interface that Vista has. Download Vize here.

Before using Vize:

After using Vize:

Other Icon Tips and Tricks

If you’re not content with just changing icons, here are some other guides to help you customize Windows icons:

Learn how to remove the shortcut overlay arrow icon in Vista as shown below:

If you use Media Browser for Windows Media Center, you can use custom icons for genre’s etc. Learn about Media Browser here and how to customize the icons here (or download the Windows 7 Media Center Customization Handbook to give Windows 7 Media Center a functional and graphical makeover.)

What Did I Miss?

What else can you do with icons in Windows? Let us know in the comments.

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