File, Folder and Shortcut on the computer: what is it? Beautiful icon for program folder

Over time, the look and feel of the "Desktop" can get pretty boring. Many users confine themselves to a simple wallpaper change. The fresh main window image, however, can be supplemented with new shortcut icons. How to change different types of icons, we will consider in this article.

Standard or third-party icons in ico format

First, you need to decide what icons you need: classic from Microsoft, which are already stored in the PC's memory, or third-party images. In the second case, you must first create a picture yourself or find an image on the Internet. The main condition is that it must be small and have an ico extension.

You can find ready-made icon files with various designs on third-party resources and download them from there, and then install in any of the following ways, depending on the type of icon (folder, application shortcut or the main Windows icon). To search, use Google or Yandex services: enter the query "Desktop icons for Windows 10" in the line. The variety of icons available for download on the Internet is quite large: author's, thematic, standard for certain versions of Windows, and so on.

You can change the icons for all shortcuts at the same time using an icon pack - a separate collection of icons packed into one file with the dll extension. Such packages can also be downloaded from various sources. However, be careful when searching for and downloading such files: trust sites that have a mark that the files have been scanned by antivirus. Otherwise, you risk downloading a malicious program along with the file.

Photo Gallery: Icon Sets for the "Desktop"

The shortcuts on the "Desktop" can be non-standard, but they must be in the ico format. On the Internet you can find many original icons for folders. The Aero icon pack is suitable for users who love modern design. The choice of icons on the Internet is great: from simple to thematic and author's

How to change the appearance of the main icons on Windows 10

The main Windows icons on the "Desktop" are icons with the names "Trash", "My Computer", "Network", "User Files", "Control Panel" and some others. They are placed on the Desktop by default after installation. You can independently determine which of them should be present on it and which should not. You also have the right to change their appearance in the system window "Options" or using third-party utilities.

Through the Windows Settings window

The easiest way to change the appearance of the main icon is to go to the window with system parameters:

  1. To make the "Options" window appear on the display, the easiest way is to simultaneously press two keys: Win + I. But this combination may not work. In this case, there is another way: click on the "Start" button in the lower left corner of the screen, and in the menu itself, select the second icon from the bottom - the gear.
    Click on the gear icon in the Start menu
  2. We get into a large menu "Options" with many sections. We need the last tile in the first row - "Personalization".
    In the "Options" window, click on the "Personalization" section
  3. The desired tabbed section will open. You can launch the same window in a different way: click on the "Desktop" on the area free of icons, and in the context menu select the last item - "Personalization".
    Click on the item "Personalization" in the context menu of the "Desktop"
  4. Go to the "Themes" block.
    Go immediately from the "Background" tab to "Themes"
  5. In the right column with links to other windows and sections, click on the line "Desktop icons settings".
    Click on the link "Desktop icons settings" on the right side of the window
  6. On top of the "Parameters" a small window will open - select the desired icon in the menu with the left mouse button, for example, "This computer". Then click on the "Change icon" button.
    Click on the icon you want to change and click on the "Change icon" button
  7. In the third window, select an icon from the list of standard Windows icons, or load your own using the "Browse" button.
    Choose an icon from the available ones or load your own using the "Browse" button
  8. If you chose the second option (loading your icons), the Explorer window will appear. We are looking for a folder with the desired icon file in the ico format. Click on the "Open" button and then click OK.
    Find the required ico file in the "Explorer" and click on "Open"
  9. In the "Icon Settings" window, first click "Apply" for all changes to take effect. If you want to change the icon for other main Windows icons, repeat the same procedure for each of them. Click on "Apply" again and then on OK to close the window.

Using special utilities

There are many applications from various developers that allow you to change the icons of both the main shortcuts and other icons, for example, folder icons, beyond recognition. In programs, you can change both individual icons and all icons at once, that is, install the whole package.

IconPackager: Convenient and fine-tuning the appearance of icons

IconPackager is a product from Stardock, a company that develops utilities for customizing the Windows desktop interface. This utility comes preinstalled with several icon packs. There is also an opportunity to upload your own and change icons in the available collections, that is, create your own unique packages.

The utility supports versions of Windows higher than "seven". Its downside is that it is paid, but at the beginning a month of free testing is offered. Although the interface is in English, it is quite convenient to use the application:

  1. Open the official website of the app developer. To download the installer, click on the blue Try It Free button.
    Click on the blue Try It Free button to download the installer
  2. Run the installer and install the program following the simple instructions in the window.
  3. Click on the Finish button to bring up the application window on the display.
    Click on Finish to close the "Installation Wizard" and open the program window
  4. To start using the trial version, click on the Start 30 Day Trial button.
    Click on Start 30 Day Trial to start using the program for free for a month
  5. If you want to download a third-party icon that you downloaded from the Internet, in the Look & Feel tab, click on the Icon Package Options drop-down menu. We select the penultimate item Add Icon Package in it, and then Install from disk.
    Click on Add Icon Package and then select Install from disk to upload your collection
  6. In Windows Explorer, find the file with the icon pack and click on “Open” - the collection will be added to the list of currently available ones.
  7. You can also choose a theme from those presented in the list. Let's try to put, for example, Delta.
    Click on the Delta package below
  8. Click on Preview to see a preview of all the icons in this pack. If you like them, close the second window and boldly click on the Apply icons to my desktop button.
    Click on Preview to preview the entire collection of icons
  9. If you want to put the old Windows icons back in place, just apply the first theme in the list - Windows Default Icons.
  10. In the Colors tab you can change the color, shade, brightness of the icons.
    In the Colors tab, adjust the colors of the available icons
  11. With the item I want to adjust the color of my Icon Package you can adjust the icons to the theme of your "Desktop" and to the color of the "Taskbar". For example, they can completely change the color to red if there is a Windows theme with that shade. After all the changes, click on Apply icons to my desktop.
    Icons can match the color of the current Windows theme
  12. In the Live Folders section, you can put separate icons for folders - live icons. To do this, check the box to the left of Always use the Live Folder icons selected below. Then just select the type of folders.
    In the Live Folders block, select individual icons for folders
  13. The Customize tab allows you to create your own icon packs. To change a specific icon, click on Change this Icon.
    The Customize section allows you to create your own collections and change those presented in the program
  14. In the new small window select from the available ones or add your own icon using the Browse button.
    In the Change Icon window, select an icon from those available in the menu, or upload your own using the Browse button
  15. When all changes are made to the package, click on Save Icon Package.
    Save changes to the icon package using the Save Icon Package option
  16. In a small window, confirm that you want to make changes to the package. After that, all settings should be successfully saved.
    Click "Yes" to confirm your intention to save the changes
  17. There are additional settings in the Settings section. In particular, you can determine which Windows icons should be changed and which ones should not be touched. Here you can enable the Cursors mouse pointer change.
    In the Settings tab, you can configure the change for certain types of icons: folders, files, main Windows icons and others

Video: how to install new icons using IconPackager

Se7en Theme Source Patcher: Free utility and large selection of packages

The application is intended to replace all classic icons of the "Desktop", local hard drives, folders, as well as icons of the "Control Panel". Initially, the program was created for the "seven", but now it supports other versions of Windows, in particular, our "ten".

The program uses the popular 7z compression format. The disadvantage of the utility is that icon packs are not initially built into it. You need to download all collections on the same site from where you download the application, and then add them yourself to the utility database for further use. Nevertheless, the choice of packages on this resource is very large.

The advantage of this program is that it is free. Before replacing icons, the utility creates a restore point and a backup copy of system files so that you can return all Windows icons to their classic ones:

  1. Moving on to applications. Click on the "Download" button.
    Click on the "Download" button to download the executable file of the program
  2. Your browser will download the archive - open it, and in it right-click on the file and click on "Extract to ..." in the menu. Select a folder and unzip the archive.
    Click on "Extract to the specified folder" in the context menu of the file
  3. Find the extracted file, right-click on it again and click on the "Run as administrator" link in the context menu.
    In the context menu of the unpacked file, click on "Run as administrator"
  4. Allow this application to make changes on your PC by clicking "Yes" in the system window that appears. The application does not require installation, so its window will open immediately.
    Click "Yes" to allow the program to make changes on the device
  5. Pre-select and download the themes you like from the same site.
    Download the icon pack you like on the developer's site
  6. In the application window, click Add a Custom Pack.
    Click on the Add a Custom Pack button
  7. In Windows Explorer, select the downloaded icon pack archive and click Open.
    Find the file with the icon pack and click "Open"
  8. The collection will appear in the menu. At the bottom of the window there will be a Start Patching button. Click on it. The utility will ask if you need to create a restore point. Be sure to create - click "Yes".
    Give permission to create a backup before installing new icons
  9. Wait for the procedure to complete. After that, you need to reboot the device two times for the changes to take effect.
  10. Icon packs from this developer contain not only icons, but also some other elements of the Windows interface, for example, pictures to replace the clock, date, and even the Task Manager window. If you do not need them, before installing the collection, click on the Extra item. In the Option Menu, uncheck unnecessary items and click Save.
    In the Option Menu, remove unnecessary items that you do not want to change and click on Save
  11. If you want to restore classic Windows icons, click in the program window on the Restore button in the lower right corner. In the new window, check the box next to the first item and click on OK.
    To return to the default Windows icons, click Restore and then OK

It is imperative to install a new icon pack on a clean system, that is, on classic images of icons in Windows, and not on third-party icons. Therefore, make a preliminary restoration using the Restore button, if you have icons that differ from the standard ones.

Video: how to set icons using the Theme Source Patcher utility

IconTo: app with built-in instructions for use

IconTo is a free application from the developer AleXStam that can change icons for system elements, folders, hard drive partitions or even their groups.


In IconTo you can change the icons of folders, system objects and hard disk partitions

It has the following advantages over other utilities:

  1. More than 300 built-in icons. There is also the option to upload your own icons.
  2. Instructions for installing icons: you will see tips at the bottom of the window.
  3. There is a conversion of png, jpg, ico formats, as well as an option to extract images from files in dll, exe and some others format.
  4. The program interface is completely in Russian.

IconTo is suitable for all versions of Windows, from Windows 98 to the modern "ten". The size of the downloaded installer does not exceed 15.1 MB, so the utility can be used on computers with a small amount of memory. The application is available for download on the official website of the developer.

How to change the folder icon on Windows 10

If you want to highlight a certain folder on the general background of icons to make it more recognizable, follow these steps:

  1. Right click on the folder shortcut. In the menu that appears, click on the "Properties" item.
    In the context menu of the folder, select the item "Properties"
  2. A window with various sections will immediately appear on the display - go to the "Settings" tab. In the last section, click on the "Change Icon" button.
    In the "Settings" tab, click on the "Change icon" button
  3. Select an icon from the available ones: scroll to the right of the icon list to see all the shortcuts. If you have your own image with the required ico format and you want to put it exactly, click "Browse".

    Select an icon among the suggested ones or click on the "Browse" button if you have your own icon
  4. In the additional Windows Explorer window, find the folder where the image is stored. Left-click on it to select it, and then click on "Open".
    Find the desired icon in the form of a file with the extension ico in Windows Explorer
  5. For a convenient search, you can use the line with a magnifying glass - just enter the name of the icon file or the extension ico.
    Enter ico in the search box and find the file you need
  6. To save changes, click OK in the window with a list of available icons. After that, the folder icon will change.

How to replace all folder icons at the same time

To change the appearance of all folders, you need to resort to a more complex method - editing the registry in the system window. However, this method is not recommended for beginners: it is better to use the special programs described in the "Using special utilities" section of this article. If you are already a confident PC user, then you can perform manipulations in the system window:

  1. To call the system window "Registry Editor" simultaneously press the keys Win and R - a small panel "Run" with a single line "Open" will open. In it we type the regedit command. For the system to execute it, click on OK or press Enter.
    In the "Run" window write the command regedit
  2. In the next window, click "Yes". This will give the "Registry Editor" permission to make changes on the computer.
    Click "Yes" to allow the system utility to make changes on the device
  3. First, let's make a backup in case of incorrect editing of the registry. On the top panel, find the item "File" and click on it with the left mouse button. In the menu that appears, click on "Export".
    In the "File" menu, select the "Export" item
  4. In a new window that opens, select the folder in which the copy will be stored. We give the appropriate name to the file. Then click “Save”.
    We name and save a copy in any folder
  5. Now you can start editing yourself. Double click on the third main branch - HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE.
    Open the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE folder by double clicking
  6. One by one, go to the following blocks on the same left side of the window: Microsoft - Windows - CurrentVersion - Explorer - Shell Icons.
    The Shell Icons folder should be in the Explorer section
  7. If you did not find the last Shell Icons folder, create this section yourself: right-click on the Explorer section, select "New" in the context menu, and then click on the "Section" item. We name it appropriately.
    If you don't have a Shell Icons folder, create it using the context menu of the Explorer section
  8. Click on Shell Icons. On the right panel, right-click on an empty area to open the menu. In it, select "Create", and then - "String parameter". We indicate the number 3 as the name for the new registry entry.
    Click on "Create", and then - "String parameter"
  9. Right-click on it and select "Change". You can also just double-click on it with the left mouse button.
    Click on "Change" in the context menu of the newly created parameter
  10. In a small window, in the line for the record value, insert the path to the file, where its name and extension ico must be indicated. Click on OK.
    In the line "Value" write the path to the ico file, which should be set as an icon
  11. If you are on a 64-bit system, the path to the final Shell Icons folder in the left pane will be slightly different: Wow6432Node - Microsoft - Windows - CurrentVersion - Explorer. Then we repeat the same steps as for a 32-bit system.
  12. Close all windows and reboot the device. After starting the OS, you will see that the icons of all folders have changed.

Change application shortcut icon

If you are tired of the old icons of shortcuts for your programs, try replacing them. For example, let's take the shortcut of the popular Google Chrome browser:

  1. We are looking for the desired icon on the "Desktop" (in our case, this is the "Google Chrome" icon). We click on it with the right mouse button to open a context menu with a list of options. We select the same item as in the case of changing the folder icon - "Properties".
    Click on the "Properties" item in the context menu of the shortcut Google Chrome
  2. You will immediately be taken to the desired tab - "Shortcut". Click on the middle button "Change icon".
    In the "Label" section, click on the "Change icon" button
  3. A window similar to the one in the instructions for changing the folder icon will appear on the display. Here, however, there won't be such a large selection of icons. As a source, we specify not the system library, but the chrome.exe executable file. We make a choice, for example, in favor of the original yellow icon. Click on OK.
    Select an icon from the available ones or upload your file with the extension ico
  4. In the window with the properties of the shortcut, first click "Apply". The system will ask for permission to make changes. Click on the "Continue" button.
    Click on the "Continue" button to save all changes
  5. After that, click on OK - the window will close, and the icon icon will change.
  6. If you want to change the shortcut icon to your own, use the Browse button to upload your own file with a third-party image.

How to create an icon yourself

If you want to install your image (drawn or downloaded from any site) with the png or jpg extension as an icon, you need to reduce its size if necessary using the standard Windows Paint utility, and then convert it to an ico file using special services - converters.

An easier way is to use the services of online and software icon generators, which are already configured to create files with a certain format and other parameters, for example, image sizes. For example, let's take the IcoFX program, which combines an icon generator and a tool for drawing and editing pictures. It is paid, but its developer, IcoFX Software, provides 30 days of free use. How to use it, we will tell in the instructions:

  • Run the installer and select the language in the small window that appears. Unfortunately, Russian is not there, so we put English. Click on OK, and in the next window we agree to the terms of use of the application. Click on Install.
  • We are waiting for the installation to complete, then click Finish in the box with a checkmark next to Launch IcoFX.
  • In the utility window, select the Windows Icon From Image section if you already have an image.
    On the initial page of the program, click on Windows Icon From Image if you want to upload an image
  • Select the file with the picture in the "Explorer".

    This will launch a page with a set of image editing tools
  • You probably want to remove the background and leave only the item for the icon. To remove it, click on the magic wand in the left panel called Magic Wand.
    Click on the Magic Wand on the left vertical panel
  • Click on the background twice - a dotted line will appear. In the left panel, select a paint tool, for example, Brush ("Brush"). On the right side of the window, click on the checkerboard colored tile.
    On the right panel, select the checkerboard tile to make the background transparent
  • With a brush, draw over the area bounded by the dotted line. After that, the background will also change to a checkerboard-colored image. This will mean that it is transparent.
  • In the top menu, select the File item, and then click Save as.
    Click Save to save the edited image
  • Choose a place to store the icon and give it a name. Click on "Save".
    Find the folder where you want to save the future icon and click on "Save"
  • If you want to draw a future icon yourself, click on New Windows Icon in the initial window. In the next window, decide on the quality of the colors (it is better to set it to True Color) and the size of the icon.
    Select the size and quality of the color of the future drawing
  • In the editor, draw an icon using the available tools: brush, pencil, fill and others. If you want it to be flat, use the Line tool.
  • When the drawing is ready, save it via the Save as option in the File menu and set it as an icon.
  • If you are no longer attracted by the look of old icons on the "Desktop", change them either to other classic icons for Windows, or to your own - any small images in ico format found on the Internet or drawn by yourself. You can use both built-in Windows tools and third-party applications to change icons.

    Some of the basic computer concepts are things like file, shortcut, and folder.

    Each of these digital units interacts with each other in one way or another, and any user needs to understand the differences between one and the other.

    This article will help you figure out what packages, folders and shortcuts are for, and what is generally meant by these names.

    What is a file

    It is worth starting the analysis of this concept with an explanation of how the file system of a computer works in general.

    So, each hard drive has its own volume, calculated in computer units - bytes.

    Relatively speaking, these bytes represent cells, each of which is occupied with information.

    The number of these cells, which is needed to install the program or transfer any data to the media, is also indicated as a number - volume.

    However, the point is that the PC does not perceive interconnected cells as different data. It compiles them into packages.

    In other words, file is a group of interconnected cells of information that take up space on your hard disk.

    It is very important that in order for the computer to perceive the occupied area as a whole, it must be named the same - and that is why we cannot create two documents with the same name.

    Each file has its own format, which determines its content, as well as the application in which it will be opened.

    Here are examples of the most common ones:

    • .exe is the so-called executable file. Its task is to simultaneously launch the workflows specified in the program.
    • .doc - Microsoft Word text document format. For versions beyond 2010, the format was modified to .docx.
    • .mp3 - audio format.
    • .avi - video format.
    • .dll is a format of operating system functions that cannot be opened by the user.
    • .jpg is a format for images and pictures.
    • .pdf is an image format for the Adobe Acrobat Reader application.

    These are the most common formats, but in reality there are many more.

    It is worth making a remark that the user can create files with the same names, but different formats.

    In addition, it should be understood that the shortcut and folders that will be discussed further are also files, but they are private, different from others.

    What is a folder

    In fact, this is the same program, only in its functions is very different from the rest of the capabilities of ordinary information packages.

    They were created specifically to make it easier for users to structure information on a hard drive.

    A folder is a special type of file that serves as a container for larger layers of information.

    It is displayed in any operating system as an image of a stationery bag, and also has its own names.

    Also, like ordinary packages, folders cannot have the same name, but here the restriction is milder - two identical names cannot exist only within the same place of creation.

    If, say, you create one on the C drive, and the other on D, then you can name them whatever you like.

    The entire folder system is divided into levels. The very first one that needs to be opened to access files is indicated by the first.

    If there are other similar containers in it, then they are indicated by the second level, and so on.

    Although most often these packages are created by the user independently, go according to his desire, there are applications that create folders without the knowledge of the user.

    Below are examples of such folders:

    • Spacekace is a place that is created by a special driver update program. Most often it appears in the root directory of the system drive. The software is called DriverDoc, and if it is not already installed, then you can safely delete this container.
    • NNU is another file that appears after installing third-party software without the user's knowledge. This is also the place where updates are stored, but for another program, Navigator.

    In addition, there are system folders that are created by the OS itself. These include winevt, which stores the information that Windows needs to run.

    It is highly discouraged to remove or carry out any manipulations with them, since this can cause malfunctions and the subsequent need to reinstall the system.

    What is a shortcut

    The shortcut is also a special type of package that was made in order to facilitate the process of launching software or opening containers of information.

    Also, its task is to remove the need to constantly dig into the contents of the hard drive, and instead keep the buttons for launching the application in one place.

    In fact, a shortcut is a pointer through which the computer understands which program to run in this case.

    In the properties of each such package there is a clearly written path to the place and a specific indication of what needs to be launched.

    This way, you can quickly open folders and programs. Usually, shortcuts are created immediately when installing new software, or they are generated by the user independently as needed.

    In general, this is all there is to say about the differences between files, shortcuts and folders.

    You need to understand that the first is a collective concept denoting all the information stored on a PC, while the second and third are special cases that facilitate and structure the work with a computer.

    Therefore, if you need to quickly launch your favorite game, then you should create a shortcut, and if you want to structure the document storage, then in this case you cannot do without containers.

    In order to start using a computer, the user needs at least a little idea of \u200b\u200bwhat he is working with. Therefore, you first need to understand the standard concepts.

    What is a file - these are all the icons that you see on the monitor, any information on the computer is considered to be files.

    A photo is a file, a song is a file, a movie is a file, and everything else is also files.

    But there may be folders among the files, and you need to be able to distinguish them. What is a folder?

    A folder is a storage location for your files. Initially, a folder is an empty storage where you can put your files. This will help you put things in order in your computer, because using folders you can put music to music, photos to photos. Thus, you can create at least a whole media library with your files and easy navigation. Let's take a look at this clearly.

    We are looking at how we can make convenient navigation, for example, we named the main folder my computer, so as not to throw everything in it, we create a few more necessary folders, documents and a gallery.

    In the gallery folder, we create a few more folders, photos and music, in order to separate the photos (figure - 3,4) and music (figure - 5) separately.

    In the documents folder, we still have one direction, abstracts, in which we put text files (Figure - 1.2).

    Thus, you can create an entire library on your computer by sorting files into folders. On different computers, folders may look different, but the standard ones are like in my pictures.

    So, the folder is the storage in which we put our files so that they do not lie in the same heap. But sometimes, the folder we need is very far in our gallery and we have to click on other folders for a long time to get to it, which makes the work a little inconvenient and time-consuming. However, this is not necessary, for quick access to any folder, you can create a separate shortcut and then you can get to the folder we need in just one click. (Click - one click)

    What is a shortcut is a quick path to your file or folder. A shortcut is, as it were, a mirror image of your file or folder, which can be brought out to any convenient area of \u200b\u200bthe computer, usually shortcuts are brought out to the desktop in order to get instant access to the necessary information.

    For example, my entire computer is divided into 6 parts (main folders):

    These folders are located on your hard drive, which means you have to make a lot of clicks to get to them. But I often use the picture folder because I have a gallery of photos in it and I want to have instant access to it. What do I need to do?

    Right-click on the folder we need, in the pop-up menu, look for the send item, then go to the "Desktop (create shortcut)" tab, click to select with the left mouse button.

    Now if we look at the desktop, we will see a shortcut on it, which allows us to move to the picture folder with one click.

    Agree this is very convenient, over time you will get used to it, and your desktop will contain shortcuts to all folders and files that you use. And remember, a shortcut is just a mirror image, if you delete a shortcut, then the folder or file itself will not be affected in any way. How to distinguish the original folder from the label? Very simple, take a closer look at the bottom left of the icon, if you see an arrow, then this is a shortcut.

    I would also like to draw your attention to the gross mistake of all newcomers. Almost all novice users do not pay due attention to the correct creation of folders and do not use shortcuts at all.

    They just create the necessary folders right on the desktop, because while they do not yet know that all the folders that are located on the desktop are saved on the hard disk that contains the operating system, so each new folder will slow down your computer, as a rule, this leads to errors and malfunctions.

    Therefore, never create folders on your desktop unnecessarily, be literate from the very beginning, set up shortcuts for convenient work and don't litter your operating system.

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    Your monitor screen contains a large number of different folders and icons that have a standard look. Perhaps you are tired of their familiar look and would like to change it. It's possible! But in order to do this, you need to download a collection of different icons for files and folders. For example this one.

    Download icon set. This set contains icons in two formats.

    How to change the folder icon.

    To replace the folder icon, move the cursor over the desired folder and press the right mouse button. Some list will appear. We select "Properties" in it.

    A window with icons will appear. You can choose the icon you like for a folder from this list or choose an icon from the downloaded icons.

    If you want to select an icon among the icons you downloaded, then click the "Browse" button, go to the folder with icons, select the one you like and click "Open", then click "OK" in the windows that appear. The icon you like will be applied to the folder.

    For example, here is the folder that I got.

    How do I change the file icon?

    We proceed in a similar way! Click on the file with the right mouse button, go to the "Properties" section, but here go to the "Shortcut" tab, click "Change icon".

    Following these simple rules, you can gradually change all the icons of folders and files to those that you like best. The folder icons are all the same, so they usually need to be replaced. Then you can distinguish them not only by name, but also by color and shape.

    Now that you've tidied up your folder icons, you need to figure out how easy they are to use. It is better to use some programs in a portable version, so that in case of emergency you always have them at hand, namely: on a USB flash drive. However, in this case, the folders with programs become like a dump, and it becomes inconvenient to search for the.exe file in them to start. You can solve this problem by creating separate shortcuts located in the root of the flash drive. These "smart guys" independently run all the necessary programs on absolutely any computer, regardless of where you put your storage device.

    2. Return to its root and click on an empty space with the right mouse button. Now select the "New" and "Shortcut" functions.

    3. After that, we need to specify the path to it in a similar way:

    % windir% \\ system32 \\ cmd.exe / C start / B / D \\ * path to the folder with the program * \\ * path to the folder with the program * \\ * file name.exe *

    When writing it, do not forget to include the backslash "\\". In our case, it looks like this:

    % windir% \\ system32 \\ cmd.exe / C start / B / D \\ Soft \\ OpenOffice \\ Soft \\ OpenOffice \\ X-ApacheOpenOffice.exe

    A small footnote: if you decide to place all the shortcuts in a separate folder, creating an additional one in the root of the flash drive, indicate in the command line that it will need to go back to this folder. Just put a period "." As the first slash. In our specific case, it looks like this:

    % windir% \\ system32 \\ cmd.exe / C start / B / D. \\ Soft \\ OpenOffice. \\ Soft \\ OpenOffice \\ X-ApacheOpenOffice.exe

    6. To prevent the command prompt window from being displayed at startup, select the "Minimized to Icon" option in the "Window" field:

    7. Right on the tab at the bottom of the window, click the "Change icon" button, and then in the window that appears, open the executable file of the program, since it is on it that we create a shortcut. We mark it and click "OK" - the same as on the properties window.

    8. Now the shortcut will change its icon on its own, and we can run the program from the root of the flash drive. This folder, along with the program and shortcut, you can easily move to any convenient place. At the same time, they will work fine while maintaining the relative path from the shortcut to the working executable file.

    We hope that each of our articles helps you to become more confident and not to be afraid of any actions in working with your computer. Have a positive working mood!