Help....Problem with MS-Dos Application Icon not correct

from WinCustomize Forums
Here's a copy of my post from the MicrosoftXP NewsGroup. Since I suspect that Icon Packager has a hand in this, I hope that maybe someone here can give me some guidance. I'm willing to try just about anything, since I backed up my C:\ partition prior to installing ODNT (Just because ya never know...). I just don't want to have to start over and re-install ODNT again for what is only a minor, but annoying problem.
Thanks all...

Here's what I know so far:

I wrote earlier today:

>..com files show correct icon....they are using
>C:\WINDOWS\System32\shell32.dll,2
>
>..exe files show incorrect icon....they are using
>C:\WINDOWS\System32\shell32.dll,0
>
>How do I restore .exe files to use C:\WINDOWS\System32
>\shell32.dll,2

and also:

>Okay I found...
>HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVers>ion\Explorer\Shell Icons
>
>Its showing:
>(Default) REG_SZ (value not set)
>2 REG_SZ C:\WINDOWS\System32
>\shell32.dll,2
>29 REG_SZ C:\WINDOWS\System32
>\TweakUI.exe,2
>
>I am unsure what to change here.

Response so far

>"David Candy" Sent: 11/29/2003 8:49:15 >AM
>
>So am I. If you delete it it assumes what is there. So >as standard there are no entries under this key. Tweakui >has added 29 (custom shortcut arrow). Some other tweak >program has set 2 (exe files without inbuilt icons and >com file which can't have icons) to = 2. But it defaults >to 2 if there is no entry. (0 defaults to 0, 1 defaults >to 1, 2 to 2, n to n, 46 to 46 same as the order in >shell32).
>
>But delete it anyway as it's unnecessary.
>
>It maybe there is no problem (Icon cache is full). Try >this
>To refresh the icons in the system change the size of >icons in Start - Control Panel - Display - Appearance - >Advanced, click ok - apply then change the size back.
>
>More on shellicons here
>
>www.mvps.org/serenitymacros/icon.html

Here's what I've tried so far.

1. rebuild cache: no change

2. deleted shell icon key and rebuild cache: no change

3. uninstalled program called Icon Packager: huge bad change. Every shortcut icon set up by system or program that installed them, not ones where I defined the icon myself went to C:\WINDOWS\System32\shell32.dll,0 icon. Had to re-install Icon Packager to restore all shortcut icons.

So I figure that Icon Packager has goofed up something in my registry. Not quite sure where to go next.
4,773 views 20 replies
Reply #1 from WinCustomize Forums Top
What happens when you right click on icon and click 'Restore Default'?
Reply #2 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Nothing....somehow C:\WINDOWS\System32\shell32.dll,0 icon has become the default icon. Also if I go into IconPackager it shows the correct icon. In IconPackager, if I try to change it to anything, it has no effect on it either. I can change the icon on each individual icon by right clicking on it, but 'Restore Default' always goes back to C:\WINDOWS\System32\shell32.dll,0 icon instead of C:\WINDOWS\System32\shell32.dll,2 icon.
Sins of a Solar Empire II
Reply #3 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Try going thru 'Folder Options/File Types' in Control Panel and go to the program icon you want to change. Drill down until you get to 'Change Icon' and point to the icon you want. That should change the icon register...
Reply #4 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Tried that one already. Application files, .exe, .com aren't listed there.
Reply #5 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Now you got me confused....exe and com (I assume you're referring to internet files) are all different and are dependent on the program it is referenced to. Am I missing something...???



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Reply #6 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Gary is confused
Reply #7 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I was fine until I read "Yeah...a fortune could be found in her genitalia alone"
Reply #8 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Reply #9 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Straighten-Up....You have serious work to do
Reply #10 from WinCustomize Forums Top
.exe and .com are also MS-DOS application extensions. Normally, Windows uses the C:\WINDOWS\System32\shell32.dll,2 icon to represent them, since MS-DOS applications don't normally have "their own" icon like most windows applications. On my system, the icon for .com is correct. the icon for .exe that is being shown is C:\WINDOWS\System32\shell32.dll,0.
Reply #11 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Don't really understand why you're concerned about them in XP, but....the default name for a DOS proggie is _DEFAULT.BAT. The icon resides in C:\WINDOWS. You can register the apps you want thru Folder Options starting with the .bat file.



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Reply #12 from WinCustomize Forums Top
.bat is a MS-DOS batch file used to combined DOS commands to be run at a command prompt or in a DOS box, such as autoexec.bat. In windows it uses the C:\WINDOWS\System32\shell32.dll,71 icon by default. The batch program you mentioned "_DEFAULT.BAT" does not exist on my system. An example on my system would be the MS-DOS version of Grand Theft Auto. The BAT file "GTA.BAT" runs the following commands:

@echo off
cd gtados
gta24.exe

The DOS application file GTA24.EXE which is called up by GTA.BAT is the game application.

The only reason I care is that it's pissing me off that IconPackager or some part of ODNT has messed it up somewhere in my registry and I can't fix it without having to restore my entire C:\ partition (the only solution I know will work, so far). I can see something happening like this with some lame freeware/shareware program, but this is a RETAIL product I paid $50 for.
Reply #13 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Well, I certainly wouldn’t pay $50 bucks for anything that would f u my registry either.

what's a registry?


Reply #14 from WinCustomize Forums Top
OK...it's been way too long seen I've dealt with DOS, but I think I understand what you want (and why you find it so irritating). This use to work, but have no idea if it will work in XP...go back to Folder Options, hit 'new' and type in .bat. When the prompt comes up to associate with new app, click yes and re-associate it with 'Batch File' (which is the same it should be now). It should change your DOS icons back to default. I'm not sure of the results since, for whatever reason, you don't have that 'Batch Icon' in the Windows folder. As a side note...have you tried using Icon Developer to change these icons?
Reply #15 from WinCustomize Forums Top
The reason Icon Packager messed up your system is because you deleted all the icons that you changed things too. You were using a theme in your program files\whatever\icon packager\themes directory, and that was deleted along with Icon Packager. Now the defaults that Icon Packager saved are the ones from your previous installation. You really shouldn't delete Icon Packager, because it has system integration into the properties page too.



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Reply #16 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I don't know if I like that policy once installed...never uninstall, but what your saying does make sense about a newer version of IconPackager thinking the system defaults were the last version's theme setting. Too bad the software doesnt' "right things" in the registry during an uninstall. I restored my c:\ partition from a backup (only took 10 minutes) and will not use IconPackager again, but will go back to using MicroAngelo, never had a problem using it. I just liked the concept of applying a "theme" that IconPackager offers vs. having to individually change icons.
Reply #17 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I don't know if I like that policy once installed...never uninstall


It isn't a policy for one thing, you can un-install it anytime you like.

Also, Stardock is the place for product support and the first means that I would make use of for support Stardock products.

But, what does it have in your " C:\Windows(WINNT)\explorer.scf " file...

This is what mine looks like...

-----------------------
[Shell]
Command=2
IconFile=explorer.exe,1

[Taskbar]
Command=Explorer

-----------------------


Dunno if you have looked there but check and see if yours is the same, or if editing the Icon line resets it to what you want...

good luck...
Reply #18 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Also, for the life of me I can not figure out why your system out of the numbers of system out there has this issue. I would like to know though so it could be addressed and fixed, or at least know what to tell the next person it might happen to.

Stardock support is the place for this, I assume you contacted them and they could not find a solution?

If not, you probably should, if you paid for the program then whatever the cause for the issue should be found if possible and addressed without a doubt. KarmaGirl will probably come across this thread, and you might consider contacting her also...
Reply #19 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I've already restored my c:\ partition with a image backup and the explorer.scf file doesn't exist on my sytem.

I'll probably re-install IconPackager this weekend when I have time to play with it. If the problem comes up again, I'll try contacting support first. Thanks.
Reply #20 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Re-installed IconPackager and didn't use it until I updated it. So far...no issues.