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milehighguy
28 Posts
0
7381
June 8th, 2005 17:00
Where Does XP Keep Taskbar Icons?
Hi,
I love the free Microsoft Virtual Desk Manager that gives me four customizable desktops:
I think this PowerToy is what XP calls a "Downloaded Installation" - because that's the folder where "Virtual Desktop Manager Powertoy for Windows XP.msi" now resides. It puts icons "1" "2" "3" and "4" in the Taskbar so you can easily click to any of the 4 desktops. I would love to customize those icons - but I can't find them!
I've searched my PC with various icon editing software to try to find them, to no avail.
Are there any icon junkies out there who can suggest where in the bowels of my machine these new Taskbar icons might be hiding? Or - are .msi icons unaccessible for editing?
Alternatively, I'd appreciate being steered to any kind of XP/Icon forum.
Thanks!
Milehighguy
milehighguy
28 Posts
162
0
Posted June 8th, 2005 19:00
No joy. Perhaps because it launches on startup - not via quicklaunch?Might be in Windows\System32\msvdm.dll but without an icon editor to open it all I'm seeing is mention of the virtual desktop. The file size seems too small to contain everything for that, this was just the obvious file I found.
+++addendum+++
Well... I've been through all possible files in Windows\system32 (even some other places) by using Articon, an icon program I downloaded (been a very long time since I did anything with icons), and none show those particular graphics (window, numbers). They sure seem familiar somehow, anyway, like something from the Windows install maybe. I just don't know. The msvdm.dll file says E:\shellext\powertoy\MSVWM\obj\i386\msvdm.pdb within it but it doesn't seem to relate.
Message Edited by iKlaatu on 06-08-2005 08:22 PM
milehighguy
28 Posts
162
0
Posted June 9th, 2005 18:00
Thanks for looking. This sure is a puzzler. I also found certain icons in the dll, but not the taskbar buttons.I searched separate folders, then tried to have Icon Suite 2 capture all the icons on my C: drive. It captured over 10,000, but when I try scrolling the window to see them all, it crashes.I wonder if there's some kind of utility that can list all the components currently active or in use when the computer is on. Or all components used in the current desktop and toolbars. And/or, where are the instructions located that tell XP where to fetch the icons from? Some sort of ini file? That might provide a clue. Because those icons have to be coming from SOMEWHERE!I tried looking over the Task Manager Processes list, but its unfamiliar territory to me.Wish there was a "Taskbar Icon Commander" type utility. I coan't be the only person who'd like to change taskbar buttons.Another question - since there are SOME icons in the dll file, one would think the taskbar buttons must be there as well. But if they are, why can't the icon editors see them?
JersWork
770 Posts
162
0
Posted June 8th, 2005 18:00
Have a look in this location:
C:\Documents and Settings\[your user name]\Application Data\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch