Change Ugly adobe file icon

[ParzivalRM]

I recently uninstalled and reinstalled Adobe Reader (32-bit Windows 7 on HP desktop).  For some reason, I now have a different icon next to my .pdf files.

I no longer have either:

1.  the red icon with the curly white triangle, nor

2.  the white icon with the the curly red triangle, the red bar on top with PDF, and Adobe at the bottom.

(Sorry, I don't seem to be able to post htese icons.)

The icon is now an ugly white rectangle, that has in the middle a tiny red version of icon 1 above.

I can find the icons 1 and 2 in a .dll file at C:\Program Files\Adobe, but I can't even find the current icon in any .exe or .dll file.

I have tried various ways to get the original icon back, but without success.  Does anyone know how to do it?

Interestingly, I did exactly the same uninstall-reinstall on my laptop (also with 32-bit Windows 7), and I now have icon 2.  What's going on?

[pwillener]

After you uninstalled Adobe Reader, what do you now have associated with .PDF files (type assoc .pdf in a Command Prompt window)?

[ParzivalRM]

The answer to typing "assoc .pdf" in the black Command Prompt box is:

.pdf=AcroExch.Document

I've never used assoc before, and I don't know what AcroExch means.

- - - - - - - -

When I open Control Panel\Programs\Default Programs\Set Associations, the "Current Defalut" for .pdf files is

Adobe Reader 9.3

and the icon on the left is the icon I don't like, that is, the ugly whie rectangle containing a tiny red icon.

Interestingly, just underneath is .pdfxml, also set with Adobe Reader 9.3 as "Current default.  It's icon is con 2 on my list, which I want.

[pwillener]

Ok, the file association is correct (AcroExch.Document will point to your Adobe Reader).

You should be able to change the icon associated with the PDF file type; on Windows Explorer use 'Tools' | 'Folder Options', then tab 'File Types'.  Select the 'PDF' extension, then click 'Advanced'.  Here you can use the 'Change Icon' button.

[ParzivalRM]

[I can't do this with Windows Explorer.  Windows 7 is different and "Tools | Folder Options' has only 'General', 'View'. and 'Search'.]

But I can do the steps with Dirctory Opus, my Explorer replacement, and I have gone through its 'Change Icon' procedure many times.  Only trouble is, nothing happens.  I can change the icon as much as I like, but when I go back to the list of files, the ugly icon is still there.  Even rebooting doesn't bring the change into effect.

Interestingly, when I open a .pdf file, the icon in the tray at the bottom is Icon 2 in my list, even though the cion to the left of the file in Windows Explorer and in Directory Opus is the ugly one.

It looks as if Adobe might be protecting the Registry somehow and not letting the change go through.

[ParzivalRM]

Some further details about my attempts to change the icon.

1.   Using Directory Opus, I can change other file icons on my system.  This  process does not change the file associations, only the icon.  I can,  for example, even download an icon from the web and change a file icon to the  downloaded icon (without changing the file association).

This  process, however, does not work with Adobe Reader 9.3.  With this  programme, everything seems to work exactly the same during the change  process, but the file icon does not change.  Even when I reboot, no  change occurs.

2.  I went on the web and found clear instructions about how to change the file icons in Windows 7 at

* http://www.winhelponline.com/blog/change-file-type-icon-windows-7-and-vista/

I went through their steps, as administrator, and navigated to

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FileExts\.pdf\UserChoice

The (Default) reads (value not set)

I entered the following value there:

* C:\Program Files\Adobe\Reader 9.0\Reader\AcroRd32.exe,0

which was the same value as at the other place they mentioned:

* HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\PDFPlusReader.Document\DefaultIcon

But I can't do this.  I keep getting an error message:

- - - - - - - -

Error Editing Value

Cannot edit :  Error writing the value's new contents.

- - - - - - - -

CONCLUSION:  It does seem that Adobe is somehow protecting the Registry.  Please, Adobe techies, how do I do this?

[ParzivalRM]

Now solved.

I uninstalled Adobe Reader, and cleaned the registry with jv16 power tools.

Then I installed Foxit reader.  The file icon for .pdf files was now the foxit icon.

I then reinstalled Adobe Reader 9.3.  The file icon remained the Foxit icon, even after rebooting.

I then changed the icon in Directory Opus in the usual way.  When I restarted Directory Opus, the icon was the one I wanted.  I have no idea why this worked.

TWO COMPLAINTS:

1.  Why is there all this fuss over the .pdf file icon, when other file icons can so easily be changed?

2.  Do the Adobe techies read these forums?  Are they asleep?  Is anyone at Adobe interested in their users' problems?

[pwillener]

ParzivalRM wrote:

Do the Adobe techies read these forums?  Are they asleep?

This is a user-to-user forum; there is no guarantee that Adobe staff read any posts here.

[ParzivalRM]

Well Adobe clearly does not want display any interest in their customers.  But I do thank you for taking my question seriously.http://forums.adobe.com/people/pwillener

[orangekiller]

This is how I solved the same problem you have.

When you have tried everything, you just cannot change the icon back. Try FileTypesMan.

Launch it, look for .pdf, select it, press F4,  Detach the file type, OK, close it.

select .pdf again, press F4, select AcroExch.Document.7, OK.

This solution is for anyone who has tried editing Registry, use FileTypesMan to replace file extension with new default icon...etc. but it just won't work.

[eliok56]

I used always to use adobe reader 10 or 11. 

but yesterday  for some reason it was not working anymore,  keeps crashing after few seconds of opening it, uninstalling and reinstalling didn't fix it,  

I hatefully installed adobe  Reader DC, but the  icon is ugly, i can not distinguish files easily, 

I was reading your answer I installed FileTypesMan  as you said, right click on .pdf extention  and chosing Edit Selected File Type  fixed the  problem you can change that in default icon option, you can also edit your image in photoshop or any picture editing software save it as .png icon and tadaaa.. thank Pal...

[AtulPuri · Accepted solution]

Thanks for the feedback.

We have conveyed your feedback to the relevant Acrobat and Reader teams.

thanks

-atul