Instructions to change your icons

 

The "Get Info" way (mostly for folder icons)! 1. Select the icon you would like to use 2. Select: File Menu -> "Get Info" 3. Click on the icon in the "Get Info" window 4. Select: Edit Menu -> "Copy" 5. Close the "Get Info" window. 6. Select the folder or file where you want to apply the icon 7. Selec:t File Menu -> "Get Info" 8. Click on the icon in the "Get Info" window 9. Select: Edit Menu -> "Paste" - That's it! Important: This method will not work on the Trash icons! To change the Trash and System icons, use the instruction below! Note: In OS 8.5 and above the operating system handles the icons differently when the "Get Info" method is used. It only copy-paste the 32 bit information of the icons which means that you will not see the icons if pasted to a removable media and moved to an older version of OS. Using ResEdit to change System Icons MacOS 8.5 and up! MacOS 8.5 brought with it 32 bit System icons. These icons are stored in either the System Resource file or the MacOS ROM file, both in the System Folder. If you have a newer, colorful Mac, the icons in the MacOS ROM file. Older beige Macs have the 32 bit icons in the System Resource file. Using ResEdit, you can not view the icons as anthing but HEX. Yuck! This means you have to pay particular attention to the ID numbers when pasting in replacements. Please see the Previous edits below for more information. Forcing MacOS 8.5 and up to use 8 bit System Icons. How to Modify the new 32 bit System Icons Replace the Apple Menu Icon (8.5) Replace the Help menu text with an icon This listing below shows the most common folder ID numbers for 32 bit icons. In MacOS 8.0 and MacOS 8.1, the Sysytem icons are stored in the Appearance Extension. This version of the OS only supports 8 bit icons. Please see the following ResExcellence edits to learn more: Changing the Trash, and other System icons Change any icon in the Appearance extension For System 7.x: First make a copy of your "System" suitcase (located in the "System Folder")! Open the "System copy" with ResEdit, and the ResEdit file of that icon you would like to use. In this example, we will call this "New System Icons". 1. Click on the "New System Icons" window, go to the Edit Menu and "Select All". 2. Click on the "System copy" window, go to Edit Menu - "Paste". When ResEdit asks you: "Replace resources with the same ID?" Click: Yes. On a very large set of replacement icons, you may need to increase the memory to ResEdit, or copy and paste the new icons in smaller groups. When you finished, close the windows. When ResEdit asks you: "Save "System copy" before closing?" Click: Yes. Now, you have an original "System" and a "System copy" in your "System Folder". Create a new folder and name it "OLD SYSTEM". Put your original "System" in the "OLD SYSTEM" folder. Rename the "System copy" to "System". Before Restarting your computer to see the new icons, make sure the System Folder has the traditional 'Smiling Mac' icon to insure a valid system is on computer. Restart your computer! - That's it! Do not trash your original "System" until you are satisfied with the performance and results of the new one. Return to the Icon Archive...