Changing XP's Playskool icons

[Venger]

Greetings...

Popped for a 250GB drive to replace the old 120, and decided to upgrade to
XP from 2k with a fresh install. Getting around the 32k cluster trevails of
an earlier post, I'm slowly getting XP to my liking.

Except I simply cannot abide the Playskool icons XP has for windows and
other buttons such as in IE or Outlook Express.

The gadgets across the top of OE as I type this are simply a joke, at least
for something billed as "Professional".

I realize there are themes and such, but I really am not interested in
re-inventing my desktop, rather just getting some clean (NeXT like would be
nice) buttons for the user interface.

Anyone run across such a beast, or fashion a way to achieve this? Hell, I'd
even take the old OE buttons...

Of course, this assumes this can be done - I sure hope so...

Thanks,

Venger
P.S. The icon text in the OE Outlook Bar is bold for some reason, and I
cannot discern how to change it - I user OE6 on 2K and it wasn't bold... am
I missing something?

 

[Sleepless in Seattle]

Display Properties/Appearance Tab/Windows Classic style

 

[Venger]

Display Properties/Appearance Tab/Windows Classic style

Nope (though I have of course done that). That changes some of the Playskool
look, but not the gadget icons themselves - the forward, reply, etc. buttons
with the little colorful Playskool heads, etc...

Venger

 

[Richard Urban]

If you don't like the icons that are "designed" into Outlook Express - turn
off the tool bar! Use only the drop down text menu. How much more
"professional" (text only) can you get.

Or, you could change to another program and use "it's" designed in icons.

Or, you can write your own "professional" program! (-:

--
Regards,

Richard Urban

aka Crusty (-: Old B@stard

If you knew as much as you thought you know,
You would realize that you don't know what you thought you knew!

 

[Venger]

If you don't like the icons that are "designed" into Outlook Express -
turn off the tool bar! Use only the drop down text menu. How much more
"professional" (text only) can you get.

Aigh, that's not professional, that's just aggravating...

Or, you could change to another program and use "it's" designed in icons.

Or, you can write your own "professional" program! (-:

I didn't mind the OE6 icons in Windows 2000...

Looks like I'm going to have to resource hack the .exe or .dll that the
icons reside in...

Sigh.

Venger

 

[Kelly]

Go back to W2K and be done.

--
All the Best,
Kelly (MS-MVP)

Troubleshooting Windows XP
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com

 

[Raymond J. Johnson Jr.]

|
| | > If you don't like the icons that are "designed" into Outlook Express -
| > turn off the tool bar! Use only the drop down text menu. How much more
| > "professional" (text only) can you get.
|
| Aigh, that's not professional, that's just aggravating...
|
| > Or, you could change to another program and use "it's" designed in
icons.
| >
| > Or, you can write your own "professional" program! (-:
|
| I didn't mind the OE6 icons in Windows 2000...
|
| Looks like I'm going to have to resource hack the .exe or .dll that the
| icons reside in...
|
| Sigh.
|
| Venger
|

Then you'll be complaining that something else in XP doesn't match your room
decor. You need to try and understand the difference between your own
neurotic hangups and actual problems.

 

[Venger]

| > Or, you can write your own "professional" program! (-:
|
| I didn't mind the OE6 icons in Windows 2000...
|
| Looks like I'm going to have to resource hack the .exe or .dll that the
| icons reside in...
|
| Sigh.
|
| Venger
|

Then you'll be complaining that something else in XP doesn't match your
room
decor.

Really? And if I did, who would you be to object? Do you have an answer to
my question? Or just ignorance?

You need to try and understand the difference between your own
neurotic hangups and actual problems.

Neurotic hangups? Look Junior, it's a simple question - can the generic
icons used in IE and OE be skinned without using an entire theme. Do you
have an answer? It's xp.general, not xp.reallyhardproblems. Criminey...
someone is a little childish about their own little Usenet sandbox. Get over
it.

Venger

 

[Venger]

Go back to W2K and be done.

Should have figured an MS-MVP would be this helpful. Thanks!

All the Best,
Kelly (MS-MVP)

Troubleshooting Windows XP
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com

Is "Go back to W2K and be done" on your web site too?

Venger
P.S. If in your very sig-line-impressive MS-MVP portfolio you have an answer
to the question - can the OE and IE icons be skinned short of using a full
blown theme - feel free to make both of our time spent here useful and
provide that information...

 

[Alias]

|
| | > If you don't like the icons that are "designed" into Outlook Express -
| > turn off the tool bar! Use only the drop down text menu. How much more
| > "professional" (text only) can you get.
|
| Aigh, that's not professional, that's just aggravating...
|
| > Or, you could change to another program and use "it's" designed in
icons.
| >
| > Or, you can write your own "professional" program! (-:
|
| I didn't mind the OE6 icons in Windows 2000...
|
| Looks like I'm going to have to resource hack the .exe or .dll that the
| icons reside in...
|
| Sigh.
|
| Venger

Don't you have anything better to do with your computer than try to change
icons?
--
Alias

Use the Reply to Sender feature
of your news reader program to email me.

Utiliza Responder al Remitente
para mandarme un mail.

 

[Raymond J. Johnson Jr.]

|
| | >
| > | > Or, you can write your own "professional" program! (-:
| > |
| > | I didn't mind the OE6 icons in Windows 2000...
| > |
| > | Looks like I'm going to have to resource hack the .exe or .dll that
the
| > | icons reside in...
| > |
| > | Sigh.
| > |
| > | Venger
| > |
| >
| > Then you'll be complaining that something else in XP doesn't match your
| > room
| > decor.
|
| Really? And if I did, who would you be to object? Do you have an answer to
| my question? Or just ignorance?
|
| > You need to try and understand the difference between your own
| > neurotic hangups and actual problems.
|
| Neurotic hangups? Look Junior, it's a simple question - can the generic
| icons used in IE and OE be skinned without using an entire theme. Do you
| have an answer? It's xp.general, not xp.reallyhardproblems. Criminey...
| someone is a little childish about their own little Usenet sandbox. Get
over
| it.
|
| Venger
|

You're the one who tried to start a conversation by copping an attitude,
a$$hole. Maybe if you had asked a simple question without the condescending
"playskool" bull$hit you would have gotten a simple and direct answer. Good
luck.

 

[Venger]

| Neurotic hangups? Look Junior, it's a simple question - can the generic
| icons used in IE and OE be skinned without using an entire theme. Do you
| have an answer? It's xp.general, not xp.reallyhardproblems. Criminey...
| someone is a little childish about their own little Usenet sandbox. Get
over
| it.
|
| Venger
|

You're the one who tried to start a conversation by copping an attitude,
a$$hole. Maybe if you had asked a simple question without the
condescending
"playskool" bull$hit you would have gotten a simple and direct answer.

Look chump, save the phony consternation, it was well within your power to
SKIP IT if you felt it was not in the spirit of your preferred
conversational tone, but you decided to be a smarmy pissant.

Unless you are in charge of icon artistic design at Microsoft, you have no
standing to feel condescended to in the first place...

Venger

 

[Venger]

| I didn't mind the OE6 icons in Windows 2000...
|
| Looks like I'm going to have to resource hack the .exe or .dll that the
| icons reside in...
|
| Sigh.
|
| Venger

Don't you have anything better to do with your computer than try to change
icons?

Another clownish non-response...

Don't you have anything better to do than change your wallpaper? What's the
point in customizing any of it, if it's a matter of time-management with
you?

A better question is - don't you have anything better to do than act like
the time-management police in an XP newsgroup? Guess not.

Venger

 

[Richard Urban]

Really! You "must" have more pressing things to worry about!

--
Regards,

Richard Urban

aka Crusty (-: Old B@stard

If you knew as much as you thought you know,
You would realize that you don't know what you thought you knew!

 

[Venger]

Really! You "must" have more pressing things to worry about!

--
Regards,

Richard Urban

aka Crusty (-: Old B@stard

Well sure, if I rank things, OE icons are less pressing than world famine
relief. But luckily, I don't find myself in such a mutual exclusion.

Surely, we all have more pressing things to worry about than changing our
wallpaper on our computer, or the ring tones on our phone - but we still do
them.

Frankly, I make a boatload of money being in front of my computer for an
extended time, and would like the computer to appear in an aesthetically
pleasing manner in both form and function. If changing the icons make them
more easily discernable and pleasing to the eye, I really don't know why
it's such a subject of considerable misunderstanding...

Venger
P.S. Do you know of a way to skin the Windows icons without skinning the
entire PC, and a suitable set of graphics?

 

[Alias]

|
| | >
| > | I didn't mind the OE6 icons in Windows 2000...
| > |
| > | Looks like I'm going to have to resource hack the .exe or .dll that
the
| > | icons reside in...
| > |
| > | Sigh.
| > |
| > | Venger
| >
| > Don't you have anything better to do with your computer than try to
change
| > icons?
|
| Another clownish non-response...

Charming.

|
| Don't you have anything better to do than change your wallpaper?

Yes, actually, I do. I haven't changed it since I set up XP.

| What's the
| point in customizing any of it, if it's a matter of time-management with
| you?

You're being too picky and twisting my meaning.

| A better question is - don't you have anything better to do than act like
| the time-management police in an XP newsgroup? Guess not.
|
| Venger

Actually, I do and, frankly I don't care what you do with your time. How
does it feel to want and not get?

AHAHAHAHA!
--
Alias

Use the Reply to Sender feature
of your news reader program to email me.

Utiliza Responder al Remitente
para mandarme un mail.

 

[Alias]

"Venger" <[email protected]> whined:

| I ... would like the computer to appear in an aesthetically
| pleasing manner in both form and function.

| Venger

How does it feel to want and not get?

AHAHAHAHA!
--
Alias

Use the Reply to Sender feature
of your news reader program to email me.

Utiliza Responder al Remitente
para mandarme un mail.

 

[Venger]

| > Don't you have anything better to do with your computer than try to
change
| > icons?
|
| Another clownish non-response...

Charming.

Do you spin plates? I love clowns that spin plates...

|
| Don't you have anything better to do than change your wallpaper?

Yes, actually, I do. I haven't changed it since I set up XP.

But you ARE aware the OS comes with the function to change the wallpaper, as
well as various samples of pleasing visuals one might use, yes? So, do you
think it was included as a time-management item? Or because some people
might prefer staring at a desktop that wasn't the electronic equivalent of a
blank wall? You decide.

| What's the
| point in customizing any of it, if it's a matter of time-management with
| you?

You're being too picky and twisting my meaning.

Too picky? You ARE aware the OS includes the functionality to change the
icons, yes? So why was it included if we all should have something better to
do? Or is your response really the equivalent of a snot-nosed rockthrowing
kid at the playground who tosses rocks at others and runs because nobody
will play with him? Diagnosis COMPLETE.

| A better question is - don't you have anything better to do than act
like
| the time-management police in an XP newsgroup? Guess not.
|
| Venger

Actually, I do and, frankly I don't care what you do with your time.

Really? It was your ONLY expressed concern in your non-responsive, ignorant
reply. Let's check the replay:

"Don't you have anything better to do with your computer than try to change
icons?"

Apparently, you DO care. In fact, people who care so much about what other
people do with their time are usually the kind of OCD anal-retentive Gladys
Kravitz types who aren't doing ANYTHING productive with their own time.

How does it feel to want and not get?

How does it feel to get and not want? Sorry, that's a question for your
wife...

AHAHAHAHA!

Oh good, a grotesque, laughing clown. What color are you big floppy shoes,
circus freak?

Venger

 

[Venger]

"Venger" <[email protected]> whined:

| I ... would like the computer to appear in an aesthetically
| pleasing manner in both form and function.

| Venger

How does it feel to want and not get?

I'm sure you're experience in reproduction has given you all the knowledge
on that topic that you need.

AHAHAHAHA!

Self amusing, self abusing... the classic symptoms. Yes, the Doctor is [IN].

Venger

 

[J. S. Pack]

Greetings...

Popped for a 250GB drive to replace the old 120, and decided to upgrade to
XP from 2k with a fresh install. Getting around the 32k cluster trevails of
an earlier post, I'm slowly getting XP to my liking.

Except I simply cannot abide the Playskool icons XP has for windows and
other buttons such as in IE or Outlook Express.

The gadgets across the top of OE as I type this are simply a joke, at least
for something billed as "Professional".

I realize there are themes and such, but I really am not interested in
re-inventing my desktop, rather just getting some clean (NeXT like would be
nice) buttons for the user interface.

Anyone run across such a beast, or fashion a way to achieve this? Hell, I'd
even take the old OE buttons...

Of course, this assumes this can be done - I sure hope so...

Thanks,

Venger
P.S. The icon text in the OE Outlook Bar is bold for some reason, and I
cannot discern how to change it - I user OE6 on 2K and it wasn't bold... am
I missing something?

1. windowblinds, Stardock
2. icon packager, Stardock
3. UXtheme multi-patcher for using non-MS themes - free; check
deviantart.com for themes
3. longhorn transformation pack - free
4. gant 2 ocean - free
5. fidolook - free
6. Maxthon multi-tabbed browser, various skins available

check around the forums at neowin.net for specific icon replacement
questions.