Need help changing icon images for Shared Folder and Users' Folders

I was able to change the Users' Home Folder icons using the Root account, but it does not reflect in all the other User accounts.

Then I supposed that using the Root User was wrong so I "cut" the icon from those folders in the Root account - then I rebooted and logged into a normal Administrator account and was still unable to change the icons to these folders.

I solved the problem by erasing my hard drive and installing OS X again. This time I installed OS X 10.00. Then I created ONE account and ONLY one account, which was an Admin account by default.

I updated to OS X 10.5.2 because it seems you HAVE to update to at least 10.5.2 to get the icons to work. Then just as I normally would, I applied the icons to the Shared Folder and to the other User account Home Folders. It seems to me if you do this with the Root account first, then you will screw up the system somehow because OS X seems to have been designed so that only the Administrator can assign icons to folders and not have the system go wacky.

Then you install this freeware to change the icons for the System Folder, Library, and Applications:

http://www.freemacsoft.net/LiteIcon/

Of particular note - After using LiteIcon to apply your new icons and your restart your Mac, you can then start adding new accounts - THEIR ICONS will be based on the ones you already assigned. You should not have to re-assign them to the new user's home folder or the Applications Folder icon, System folder icon, etc.

Please note - I did this using OS X version 10.5.2, before updating to 10.5.7. I just wanted to make absolutely certain my icons were made how I wanted them for all user accounts before I ran the next update.

The only additional icon you might want to change is the new User Home Folder icon as you add additional user accounts of different types.

LiteIcon also allows anyone to change the Dock's Trash Icon and the Finder icon.

So no need to buy CandyBar, which is a similar program.

One last notation -

There are several discussion threads about how to set up a Guest Account with your own preferences, such as here:

http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=6578902

I think it is far easier to set up a Standard User account, and then customize it the way you want by logging into the account and changing any Desktop Wallpaper and Icon settings, THEN logging out, and then logging into your Administrator account.

Then, when you go to System Preferences and choose "Parental Controls" (NOT the one found under "Accounts"), you can choose special options such as "Use Simple Finder" and turn off "can administer printers", "can burn CDs and DVDs", and "can change password". You can even limit what applications they can use.

If you want to know more about Simple Finder go to your Help menu in the Finder and type "Simple Finder" Choose the Apple help article entitled "Setting up a simple interface for an account".

After I set up my Standard account I tried to apply an icon to the Home Folder while I was logged in as an Administrator. Interestingly, I was not able to do so. But when I logged into the Standard Account I just made, I was able to apply the icon to the Standard User's Home Folder.

So now all my icons and User Accounts are set up perfectly. Now I will make a disc image back up of the hard drive, and then on to updating to OS X 10.5.7.

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