most of the icons (quite a lot actually) you can change hacking shell32.dll. find shell32.dl_ file in I386 folder, and uncab it with this command in command prompt window: expand -r shell32.dl_ now you have unpacked shell32.dll which you may open with Resource Hacker. on the left pane expand Icon Group folder, so you'll see all the icons to be changed. right-click any you want and choose Replace resource... or in the menu click Action and Replace Icon... this way you may also change bitmaps, cursors, and more... having changed your icons you have to re-cab shell32.dll with this command (command prompt too) you got shell32.dl_ again but hacked with your icons, so copy it back to I386 folder overwriting an older one, and install XP. now your icons are set for good