Buzz
Is your USB flash drive stuck with a mundane, default icon? Do you wish to customize it across all computers without resorting to registry tweaks? Look no further than leveraging an Autorun file for the ultimate solution.
Steps
Craft or Discover Your Icon Online
Initiate Notepad for Autorun File Creation
Begin with Entering [AutoRun] on the First Line.
Name Your Drive on the Second Line: label=Name
Define Your Icon on the Third Line: ICON=your-icon-file.ico. If you wish to name your drive 'My USB Drive' with an icon called 'myusbdrive.ico'
Go to File, then Save As. Change the file type to 'All' and name it AUTORUN.inf
Your autorun.inf file will resemble this:
- [AutoRun]
label=My USB Drive
ICON=myusbdrive.ico
Remember to Match the ICON Name with Your Desired Icon Name.
Note:
- Depending on your chosen label and icon file location, you might need to enclose them in quotes (') for long filenames.
- It's been noted that on certain systems, your '.INF' file extension may need to be capitalized for proper functioning.
Ensure Both Your autorun.inf and .ico files Reside in the ROOT of Your Removable Drive, Unless Otherwise Specified in the .inf File.
Select both files. Right-click and choose properties, then set files to 'hidden' to conceal them from view.
Pro Tips
- After making changes, eject and reconnect the drive to view the updates.
- Use this method to bypass the '11 Character Drive Name' limitation.
- If the AUTORUN.inf and icon files bother you, hide them (right-click, select Properties, and check the 'Hidden' box).
Cautions
- This Autorun.inf file won't function if Autorun mode is disabled or if antivirus software alters or deletes it (e.g., Autorun.inf.ren).
- Ensure the icon is stored in the root directory along with the autorun file.
- Remember to save the autorun file as .inf instead of the default .txt format.
- This method isn't applicable to floppy drives as they lack an Autorun feature.
Essentials
- A removable drive
- An icon for your drive
- A text editor like Notepad/Notepad++
