Clean Shortcut Icon Script for Windows

This script allows you to remove the default shortcut arrow icon from Windows and replace it with a custom icon, such as a Unix-style clean icon. The script makes a registry modification to update the shortcut icon for a more streamlined look.

Features

• Removes the default shortcut arrow from icons.
• Replaces it with a custom icon (blank.ico).
• Works by modifying the registry key for Windows Explorer.
• Offers a clean, Unix-like look for your desktop shortcuts.

Prerequisites

• Windows 7 or later: The script is designed to work on modern Windows versions.
• Administrator privileges: The script requires elevated privileges to modify the system registry.
• Git: Ensure that Git is installed for the cloning process.

Installation

Step 1: Clone the Repository

First, clone the repository from GitHub to get the script.

1. Open Command Prompt or PowerShell.
2. Run the following command to clone the repository:

   git clone https://github.com/h471x/blank_icon.git

3. Navigate to the blank_icon directory:

   cd blank_icon

Step 2: Run the Script

From Command Line

1. Ensure you are in the blank_icon directory (where scripts\blank.bat is located).
2. Run the following command to execute the batch file as an administrator:

   runas /user:Administrator ".\scripts\blank.bat"

3. You will be prompted to enter the full path to the blank.ico file. If the .ico file is located in the same directory as the script, the script will automatically detect it.

From Windows Explorer

1. Navigate to the scripts folder inside the blank_icon directory.
2. Right-click the blank.bat file and select Run as administrator from the context menu.
3. Follow the on-screen prompts to enter the path to the custom .ico file (if necessary).

Step 3: Restart Windows Explorer

The script will automatically restart Windows Explorer to apply the changes. This will remove the shortcut arrows and apply the custom icon.

How It Works

• The script checks if the blank.ico file is located in the same directory as the batch script.
• If the .ico file is not found, it prompts the user to provide the full path to the blank.ico file.
• The registry key for Shell Icons is updated to associate the blank.ico with all shortcut icons, removing the default shortcut arrows and replacing them with a clean Unix-like icon.

Reverting the Changes

If you want to revert the changes and restore the default shortcut arrow icon, you can use the revert.bat script.

Step 1: Run the Revert Script

1. Navigate to the scripts folder inside the blank_icon directory.
2. Right-click the revert.bat file and select Run as administrator from the context menu.
3. The script will remove the custom icon and restore the default Windows shortcut arrow.

Alternatively, you can run the revert.bat script from the command line using the following command:

runas /user:Administrator ".\scripts\revert.bat"

How It Works

• The revert.bat script deletes the registry entry for the custom shortcut icon.
• It then restarts Windows Explorer to apply the changes and restore the default icons.

Notes

• Ensure the blank.ico file exists and is named exactly blank.ico before running the script.
• The script requires administrator privileges to make changes to the Windows registry.
• To restore the default icon after running the blank.bat script, you can use the revert.bat script as described above.