By Chad Sweely
Expert Author
Article Date: 2010-08-05
If you have been using Windows since its early days of Windows 3.1 and you are used to the icon set that it provided, there is a way to have Windows XP mimic the icons that Windows 3.1 was themed with.
To achieve this, you will need to access an icon library file when you want to change the icon of the program that you desire to have a "retro" look. To access the icon library that holds these classic icons, follow the steps provided below:- Right click the icon on your desktop that you would like to change and select Properties from the drop-down menu. A program properties window will appear.
- Select the Shortcut tab (if it does not appear automatically) and click on the Change Icon button. This will display the current icon library of the program which you have selected.
- In the "Look for icons in this file:" address box, enter moricons.dll, and press OK. (If it requires you to enter a path, the location is C:WindowsSystem32Moricons.dll)
- Select the icon that you would like to use from the library and click OK, and then click OK again on the program properties window. Your new icon from the moricons.dll icon library will automatically replace your previous icon on the Desktop.
This icon library will load a large selection of icons that you used to see for well-known programs back in the early developments of Windows. This is a great way to theme your desktop to a classic Windows 3.1 look and feel.
If you are not satisfied with the icon(s) that you chose and want to revert back to your original icon(s), follow the steps above and enter the original .exe filename of the program on your desktop, or try shell32.dll.
