How to Convert Macintosh Icons to Windows

There are some really good icons made for the Macintosh that would be great to have on your PC's Windows operating system.  The problem is finding a way to open Mac compressed files (SIT format) and then convert the actual icon to Windows' ICO format.  I will show how to do this step-by-step.

Opening SIT files

The Mac uses a file compression scheme that is not widely used on the PC.  These files have a file extension of SIT.  You will need to install a program on your computer that can decompress SIT files in Windows.  Go to Aladdin Systems web site and download their freeware StuffIt Expander program: http://www.aladdinsys.com/expander/.

After you install the software, run the program and go to the View menu.  Select Options from the drop-down menu.

Click on the Cross Platform tab.  If this tab is not shown, click the button that says More first.  The middle setting called "Save Macintosh files in MacBinary format" needs to be changed.  Select the Always radio button and then click OK.

Now you can use StuffIt Expander to decompress the SIT file you downloaded.

Converting the icons

All you need is a program called MacICO.  You can download a fully-functional shareware version from http://www.xemico.com/macico/.  The program is pretty straight forward to use.  Just run the program and browse to the icon file you want to open.  The icon will be displayed on the screen.  Just do File, Save, Cancel, then choose a filename and click Save.  That's it!

PowerPuff Girls Mac Icons

There are some really good PPG Mac icons from a website called Hell's Half Acre: http://www.hells-half-acre.com.  Go there and download the "standard folders" version of the icons.  Then convert them for your Windows operating system as described above.  Have fun!

Converted Icons

UPDATE: I converted them myself before the website went bye-bye.  Click here to download them in ICO format for Windows.