Create a custom icon

A good way to personalise your computer is to use a custom picture for the My Computer icon. Even though icons have a special file extension they are just picture files.

Load a picture in your favourite image editor, such as Paint.NET. Crop and resize the image to 200 pixels square. Windows will resize the icon, but if it is too large it will affect performance.

Save the file as a 24-bit bitmap but instead of letting the software add the file extension, add .ico at the end of the file name.

Right-click on the Desktop and left-click on Properties. Click on the Desktop tab and then on the Customize Desktop button. Click on My Computer, on Change Icon and then Browse. Find the file you have just saved and click on Open and OK. Click on OK to save the changes.

Many ready-made icon sets can also be found online.

James Dingle