How can I see which DLLs included in Windows contain icons?

When changing shortcut icons it's useful to know which DLLs and EXEs included with Windows contain icons, but there are so many DLLs (especially in System32) that it's difficult to find the ones which contain useful icons.

Which DLLs or EXEs included with Windows (any flavor) contain icons?

pyrachi

Posted 2010-05-19T01:35:03.413

Reputation: 763

Answers

Use IconsExtract from NirSoft.

It scans a folder you select and can list any icons and files which contain icons.

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akira

Posted 2010-05-19T01:35:03.413

Reputation: 52 754

1Nir Sofer never disappoints. :-) – Gnarfoz – 2015-09-25T19:30:00.660

Nice! I will make sure to check that out. Beats searching through DLLs manually. – pyrachi – 2010-05-20T19:39:42.120

Big ones:

%windir%\system32\shell32.dll           Standard
%windir%\System32\wmploc.DLL            OK
%windir%\system32\setupapi.dll          OK, Hardware / Periphals
%windir%\system32\ddores.dll            OK, lot of devices
%windir%\System32\ieframe.dll           IE and warnings, mixed ugly
%windir%\system32\netshell.dll          Ugly and non ugly
%windir%\System32\imageres.dll          Ugly, New ones
%windir%\System32\pifmgr.dll            Ugly, Win95 Ones
%windir%\System32\moricons.dll          Ugly, very old
%windir%\System32\mmcndmgr.dll          Ugly, Very old
%windir%\System32\compstui.dll          Ugly, Very old

Small ones:

%windir%\system32\accessibilitycpl.dll
%windir%\explorer.exe
%windir%\system32\gameux.dll            Some gaming icons
%windir%\system32\mmres.dll             Audio
%windir%\system32\mstscax.dll           Warnings
%windir%\System32\netcenter.dll         Network
%windir%\System32\networkexplorer.dll   
%windir%\system32\networkmap.dll
%windir%\System32\pnidui.dll            Ugly Exlamations
%windir%\system32\SensorsCpl.dll        Handheld devices
%windir%\system32\xpsrchvw.exe 
%windir%\system32\UIHub.dll
%windir%\system32\vpc.exe
        - provided as a free download for Win7 owners
%windir%\system32\wmp.dll               Media player
%windir%\system32\wpdshext.dll          Battery and arrows
%windir%\system32\wucltux.dll

pyrachi

Posted 2010-05-19T01:35:03.413

Reputation: 763

2Emanuel, Can I complete that list or you want me to make another post? I like to share knowledge, that's all. – e-motiv – 2015-08-04T19:57:39.557

2Feel free to add more – pyrachi – 2015-08-05T00:21:17.743

Done. I hope you don't mind the re-ordering and adding comments. – e-motiv – 2015-08-05T15:57:58.790

I couldn't find the Device Manager's icon in the above files. Any idea where it may be? (Using Win 8.1) – akinuri – 2016-02-07T00:25:44.050

Some heroes don't wear capes – Pilpel – 2016-04-30T11:10:39.717

My Windows 10 says no icons in gameux.dll, wmploc.dll – Sebi2020 – 2019-01-19T11:22:33.227

The classic additional icon repository of Win95 is %SystemRoot%\system32\moricons.dll. The file is still included with Windows 7.

Jawa

Posted 2010-05-19T01:35:03.413

Reputation: 3 349

3...and it still exists as of Windows 10. – bwDraco – 2015-10-01T15:02:26.543

Win95 ????????? – harrymc – 2010-05-19T07:55:36.957

Or maybe it was Win98, don't remember any more. The one that had real DOS underneath... Actually, I think those icons are/were basically for DOS programs. – Jawa – 2010-05-19T08:00:29.353

1I noticed that on my Win7 system....so it's still there! – pyrachi – 2010-05-20T19:37:59.093

4It is on my VM with Windows 3.1, so it has been around at least since then. – ctype.h – 2013-09-22T22:51:27.763