Change file extension icon in Windows Vista

Do you remember how easy it is to change the icon of a file (eg: .jpg, .zip) in the previous build of Windows?

This is the option where you can find in Windows XP:


This is the folder option for Windows Vista:


In Windows Vista, the option was gone. Some might not even know that actually we still had the option of changing file type association in Windows Vista. To change the file type association in Windows Vista, just follow the simple steps below :
(Let say we want to change the default program to open a jpg file)

Method 1

1. Simply find a .jpg file, and right click on the .jpg file.

2. Go to Open With > Choose Default Program.. .

3. You would see a windows popup like this.


4. Make sure that the option Always use the selected program to open this kind of file was checked.

5. Just click OK when you are done.


That's it. Quick and Easy. If you don't like this method, and you want to directly change the default program for multiple extension, actually there is a similar interface like what you had in Windows XP.


Method 2

1. Open up the Control Panel by go to Start > Control Panel.

2. Select and open Default Programs.

3. Select Associate a file type or protocol with a specific program.



There you go. A similar interface that you used to had in Windows XP. Now, what's missing from the menu? For those that always want to customize the file type icon like me, you would sure aware that there is no more option for you do it.

Don't worry, Windows Registry Editor holds most of the secret. For those who are familar with Windows, they would know that Regedit always has a way out. Yup cut off the crap, lets get hands dirty.

(I won't use .jpg as example as I doubt you will change the icon of .jpg. This is because Windows Vista has a live preview features for most of the image type. You wouldn't want to lost it right? So lets says we want to change the icon of .zip file this time.)

1. Make sure you have your icon file ready, in this scenario i use (myZip.ico) stored in (D:\MyIcon).

2. Open up Start, type "regedit" in the search field, and of course press Enter.

3. Expand your HKey_Classes_Root hive, and find ".zip" key.

4. Read the value stored in "default". By default it should be "CompressedFolder" and it might be vary if your .zip file is opened using Winzip or Winrar.

5. Move on using my scenario, I should find "CompressedFolder" key in the same path.

6. Expand the key, and you would find "DefaultIcon" subkey.

7. Just change the value of Default to where your icon was stored. In my case, I just change to "D:\MyIcon\myZip.ico". If your icon files has multiple icon, you can also specify the index of the icon. (Eg: "D:\MyIcon\myZip.ico,1").

8. When you done, just close up everything, log off and log in back, you should see .zip icon was updated.


Easy? Complicated? Nah, if you opted for the easy way, there's a "littleway" for you. Stardock was offerring a very powerful tools called "IconPackager" with a little sum you need to pay.

Refuse to pay? Then stick back to your default icon! Hahaha... PowerTools from Creative Element is a freeware that enable you to change the icon easily too. However don't expect that it would be as great as IconPackager. :P They have their own target users.

Have Fun~!!

Update : Opps, indeed PowerTools is not a freeware anymore. Thanks CoolRaoul, for the information.