Minimized Icons Revert to Program Manager Format in Windows (74988)

This article was previously published under Q74988

Under Windows 3.0, when you change the program icon for an MS-DOS based application by choosing Properties from the File menu and choosing the Change Icon button, the icon change is only active while the icon is displayed in its program group. Once the application is started and then minimized on the desktop, the original icon contained in PROGMAN.EXE is used.

NOTE: This behavior does not affect Windows applications.

The opposite problem occurs under Windows 3.1. If you change a Windows application's icon, it reverts to its original icon when minimized. An MS-DOS application, however retains its new icon both on the desktop and when running minimized. For example, under Windows 3.1, if you change the icon for Notepad, run it, then minimize it, it reverts back to the original Notepad icon despite the fact that you changed it and it appears changed in the Accessories group. If you change the icon for the MS-DOS prompt, it retains this new icon both in the Main Group (not running) and when it is minimized on the desktop (running).