How to make icon bigs (Windows XP)

[raksmey1309]

This is will be my last step to completely turn my XP to vista (Look) anyone know software i can use to turn all icons big and sexy like in vista.Thanks U.

[jonc2006]

you are going to need to edit the registry to do this. so if you are not too familar with doing that, dont attempt to do what im about to tell you without backing up your registry first because one mistake in it could screw up alot of stuff.

anyway go to: start>run> type "regedit" without the quotes in the box.

now go here:

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop\WindowsMetrics]

Shell Icon Size=32

the default value is 32 so increase that value until they are the size you want.

[TheCloudOfSmoke]

Another way to do that is by right clicking on your desktop and go to Properties to enter your computer's Display Properties. Click on the Appearance tab and click on the Advanced button on the bottom right. In the Advanced Appearance dialog window, click on the drop down list where it says Item and select Icon. By default, it should say 32. Change it to the size that you want. Keep in mind that when you do that, the icons will look like ****. This is because windows is taking a 32x32 or 48x48 size icon and resizing it bigger. So it will look pixellated and blurry because when it resizes a small icon image, it has to guess what those extra pixels should look like. So basically it's not going to look good. It won't look bad if your shell32.dll icon library has larger resolution versions of the icons.

You can search for dock icons to be used in dock programs like RocketDock or ObjectDock to give your computer the Mac look. There are usually a lot of dock icons out there that are larger versions of your default Windows icons.

deviantART Search: windows vista in:customization/icons/dock

You can also find a replacement for shell32.dll (the file in the system32 folder that contains most of the primary Windows icons that you see) with a better icon set that includes larger versions of those icons. Make sure that you back up the original shell32.dll before you replace it though. I'm not sure if it could damage your computer in anyway by replacing that file, so use caution before you decide to replace it. Also make sure that the icon set that you use to replace the original contains an icon for each and every one of the original icons.

[MiretanK]

Hold on, a bit too much for a simple question.

Get Tune Up Utilities 2007, there are a lot of tweak options for icon appearance and stuff. You can even change your icons from there.

Adding to TCOS' dock tip, you can use Avedesk for big and fully customizable icons for desktop.

Originally Posted by jonc

the default value is 32 so increase that value until they are the size you want.

Until 256 pixels to be exactly.

[jonc2006]

yeah man object dock is real nice, thats what i use to bling up my desktop for the most part. you can even make the entire dock larger (or smaller) in size.

Originally Posted by MiretanK

Until 256 pixels to be exactly.

i knew that. i was just testing your long term memory.

[Hard core Rikki]

The Brickopacks full conversion themes to Vista-style appearance should provide a pleasing desktop experience. 4 packs are available on their official site

CrystalXP.net - Bricopacks