desk top icons

[DeanC]

when i try to change a shortcut icon on my desktop I get a message that there
are no icons in that folder. I am used to being able to use any item for an
icon when using XP. Vista will not let me use downloaded clip art etc. any
suggestions.
Dean

 

[Bob]

Use Paint to open the file you want to use as an icon. Resize it to 32x32
and save it in the folder in question as a BMP file. Rename it to
filename.ico.

 

[DeanC]

Thanks Bob
I followed your instructions (I think) when I got to the resize it gave me
choices of percentage and I used 32 X 32 and followed the rest of the trail,
however when the icon came up on my desktop it was very faint and grainy.
Did I screw up in the resize?

 

[Bob]

You resized it correctly. Did you save it as a 256 color bitmap?

 

[DeanC]

Yes

You resized it correctly. Did you save it as a 256 color bitmap?

 

[Bob]

Maybe it was the quality of the image you used. Try a different one.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

when i try to change a shortcut icon on my desktop I get a message that there
are no icons in that folder. I am used to being able to use any item for an
icon when using XP. Vista will not let me use downloaded clip art etc. any
suggestions.

Click the Browse button, and you can browse to and use any compatible
icon file anywhere on the drive.

 

[judycrayton]

There are two pop ups when I hit 'properties' on an icon. When the 'change
icon' tab is in the middle I have no problem. But when the first screen that
comes up has the 'change icon' on the right side ... when I try to change the
icon it won't change, it only flickers and stays the same.
Is it possible I chose 'Use windows icons' at some time in the past when I
was first setting up my Vista? I have a fuzzy memory of something like that &
thought perhaps that is my problem. I've searched for a place that gives that
choice so I can undo it but can't find it.
These are all icons I've created and used in the past; and some SnagIt
icons.