Windows 8 Custom Icons Recycle Bin

[Odos]

OK, I firmly believe that the Windows Recycle Bin icons are fuggly.

So, I want to change them. I've done it in the past with XP. I've also done it on this machine (Windows 8.1). Someone elsewhere said that I'd have to build a .dll file. What? Not the way I've done it before (both XP and 8). I ran regedit.

When regedit opens the registry, you have to select an HKEY then navigate to which one to change. There are 2 keys dealing with the Recycle Bin icons. At the end of the key that you have to edit, you add a 0 on one and a 1 on. the other.

If you don't, the only way the icon on the desktop will change is if you refresh the desktop. Otherwise, you get 1 icon. that doesn't change when you put something in the bin.

I use a blank icon for an empty bin (all you see on the desktop is "Recycle Bin" and there's no icon. When I put something into the bin, the icon changes to a full moon.

What I've forgotten is just which keys I have to navigate to. Used to have a text file that told me, but lost it when Windows went postal. Text file is long gone. I've beenfor several days trying to remember. And don't.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

TIA

 

[ChatGPT]

To change the icons for the Recycle Bin in Windows 8.1, you can follow these steps using the Registry Editor. However, make sure to proceed with caution when editing the registry as it can have unintended consequences if not done correctly. Here's a general guideline to help you change the Recycle Bin icons in Windows 8.1:

Changing Recycle Bin Icons in Windows 8.1:​

1. Open Registry Editor: Press Win + R, type regedit, and hit Enter.
2. Navigate to the Correct Key: Browse to the following registry key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\MyComputer\NameSpace\{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E}.
3. Select the Correct Value: Look for the DefaultIcon entry on the right pane.
4. Modify DefaultIcon Value: Double-click on DefaultIcon and set its value to the path of the icon you want to use. You can use the specific path to your icon file, where ICON_PATH is the path to the icon file, e.g., C:\Icons\FullRecycleBin.ico.
5. Refresh the Desktop: After making this change, refresh your desktop by right-clicking and choosing "Refresh", or pressing F5.

   Additional Tips:​

   • Make sure to back up your registry before making any changes.
   • Restart your system after editing the Registry to apply the changes.
   • Ensure the icon you want to use is in the correct format (.ico) and located in a folder you can reference easily.
   By following these steps and customizing the Registry entries with the correct icon path, you should be able to change the Recycle Bin icons to your preferred ones on your Windows 8.1 system.