AlteGron Posted October 3, 2006 Report Share Posted October 3, 2006 Hey,Basically my problem is that I can't change the icons for *.HTM, *.HTML, and *.XML files in Windows XP Pro SP1. They have been stuck using the default-unknown-filetype icon for almost a year now and it finally got to me tonight when I was going through my icons and changing them to better looking ones. What I do when I try and change them (and any others, but they actually succeed in changing) is go to Tools | Folder Options | File Types and then select HTM or HTML or XML or whatever it be. I then go to Advanced and select Change Icon. I pick an ICO file and say OK and Windows Explorer flashes as if it is putting the new icons into use, but the ugly old ones are still there. Oh, and one other problem is that I can't change BMP, GIF, and PSPIMAGE files to each have their own unique icon. I can do BMP and GIF okay. However when I change PSPIMAGE, both BMP and GIF take the icon I assigned to PSPIMAGE. And then if I try and change GIF or BMP back, it changes PSPIMAGE.Anyone got any ideas on these problems? Thanks for your time! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-pops- Posted October 3, 2006 Report Share Posted October 3, 2006 It is extremely unwise not to have installed SP2 into your Windows system.Before commenting on your specific problem, I feel that you should at least have your machine up to date with Service Packs and all the other Windows updates. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlteGron Posted October 3, 2006 Author Report Share Posted October 3, 2006 I've been hesitant to install SP 2 for quite a time. I don't really know what benefits it offers, but I have heard of tons of problems with it. I'd really like to know about the pros and cons of it before I just go out and download it. I'm not really sure how it is unwise. http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/sp2/topten.mspxI mean, when I look at the top ten reasons to upgrade, they just don't seem like something I'd want. It seems more like Mircosoft trying to tell me what is dangerous. I don't need help protecting myself from harmful attachments. I don't even use IE anymore, and about half of the reasons focus around IE. I've never gotten any virus or worm, even in my entire history of computing, and I'm pretty sure I can keep that up. I don't use wireless and I don't care to 'Get the latest updates easily'. But of course, if it could be a simple fix to this problem and it wouldn't add a bunch of trash I don't need I could just DL it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-pops- Posted October 3, 2006 Report Share Posted October 3, 2006 Windows SP2 only causes problems on installations that are faulty in some way. If SP2 won't install it indicates there is something wrong with the operating system you are trying to install it to.The reason it is unwise not to have SP2 are that without it your computer is out of date in respect of patches and modifications to Windows itself and also out of date with all the precautions introduced to prevent and avoid malware introduction into the machine. Windows is also updated on a regular basis - without SP2 you cannot get these updates.If, by chance SP2 causes problems then it is an indication for you to get your operating system properly running, not an indication of there being anything wrong with SP2. When you get your system running as it should with SP2 installed, you may well find your original problem posted here has gone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlteGron Posted October 3, 2006 Author Report Share Posted October 3, 2006 Windows SP2 only causes problems on installations that are faulty in some way. If SP2 won't install it indicates there is something wrong with the operating system you are trying to install it to.The reason it is unwise not to have SP2 are that without it your computer is out of date in respect of patches and modifications to Windows itself and also out of date with all the precautions introduced to prevent and avoid malware introduction into the machine. Windows is also updated on a regular basis - without SP2 you cannot get these updates.If, by chance SP2 causes problems then it is an indication for you to get your operating system properly running, not an indication of there being anything wrong with SP2. When you get your system running as it should with SP2 installed, you may well find your original problem posted here has gone.Thanks for the quick and comprehensive reply! :) I guess you've convinced me to download it, so here goes. I'm downloading it (and about 1,000 other updates) off of Windows Update now. I'll guess I can only wait and see how it goes so I'll get back to you when it is done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ɹəuəllıʍ ʇɐb Posted October 3, 2006 Report Share Posted October 3, 2006 The main problem(s) with SP2 is when trying to install it on a malware-infected system. Please make sure that your system is malware-free before attempting to install SP2! Make sure that your antivirus and antispyware definitions are up-to-date, then run a full system scan with them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlteGron Posted October 3, 2006 Author Report Share Posted October 3, 2006 Well, I've got SP2 installed now. Unfortunately though, the icons are still having the same problems. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ɹəuəllıʍ ʇɐb Posted October 4, 2006 Report Share Posted October 4, 2006 Congratulations to the successful install of SP2! Now the icons problem: can you check the file associations of these filetypes (Explorer, Tools, Folder Options, tab File Types, select each of the extensions).Also try to download and install TweakUI from the Microsoft PowerToys for Windows XP and run Repair Icons. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlteGron Posted October 4, 2006 Author Report Share Posted October 4, 2006 Congratulations to the successful install of SP2! Now the icons problem: can you check the file associations of these filetypes (Explorer, Tools, Folder Options, tab File Types, select each of the extensions).Also try to download and install TweakUI from the Microsoft PowerToys for Windows XP and run Repair Icons.Well I tried the Repair Icons function but that didn't seem to change anything. However, prior to that (after a restart) the icons for HTM and HTML files changed to the Firefox program icon, even though they are set to open with Opera. The URL files icon is still (and has been) the default Internet Explorer file icon, and XML files have an icon that looks to be from Microsoft Frontpage, even though I uninstalled it (they are set to open with notepad). By now I've restarted, deleted the file type entries and remade them, reset associations, tried to change the icon many times now and I've also looked at solutions to similar problems on the Opera forums. But none of that has allowed me to change the icons. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlteGron Posted October 8, 2006 Author Report Share Posted October 8, 2006 2nd page...Any more ideas would be greatly appreciated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scarecrow Man Posted October 8, 2006 Report Share Posted October 8, 2006 You can change the icons on shortcuts, much easier than you can with an actual file. I would also recommend using shortcuts when making custom icons.You can change icons for files or folders by creating shortcuts, and it will not have any adverse effects on your system. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlteGron Posted October 25, 2006 Author Report Share Posted October 25, 2006 Well I have no idea what happened, but the icons are finally how I want them. Half a month ago I tried changing them to what they are now and nothing happened. A week or so after that, shortcuts in the start menu to HTML files displayed correctly. And today the actual files have started displaying the proper icons. So there's my "solution" to this problem. Thanks for the help, though. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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