if i download icons where should i downloadthem to,so that i can use them.i opened a new folder for icons but i cant seem to use the ones in that folder.

You should be able to use icons from anywhere you like as long as the path to each icon is correct. Use the Veiw>Options\File Types menu form Explorer or any folder to change icons for files of your choice and if they don't change delete a file in Windows folder named ShellIconCache, sometimes this stops certain changes and next time you reboot the change should be implemented. You can even change system icons with certain tweaking programs if you like [Microangelo98, Tweakui etc]. If you need more info on icons just email me.

The problem could also be that the file extension is still .gif or .jpg. You may need to change that estension before your system will recognize them as icons. A real good freeware program for that is IrfanView. Just put www before and .com after the above name and you'll get the page for that program.

when i download an icon from the internet i need to change the extension so that it can be opened as an icon. what is the extension for as icon.

"ico" is the extension for icon files. I think you can only change .bmp to .ico (by changing the extension) and have it work as an icon.

I did some experimenting with this. I did some small screen captures, both elliptical and rectangular, while in various programs including solitaire and the start up screen of Warcraft II. I saved them as .bmp, edited them a bit in adobe photoshop. Then changed extensions to .ico. Now I have some nice icons. I could even make an icon out the image below, now THAT is exciting!!!!!!!!!!!

Also to add to that, some, if not all icon editors will not recognise bitmaps that have the extension changed to .ico for editing but the image [no bigger that 32 x 32 for most editors] can be copied from bitmap to icon editor. Score yourself Microangelo 98 and you won't ever need any other editor, it IS the BEST.