The icon can be replaced by dragging the internet explorer icon from the start menu and placing it in the desktop. You can replace the icon in two methods.
Method 1:
Just click start and then drag the internet explorer shortcut from it and put it on your desktop.
Method 2:
- If you do not have an internet explorer icon in the start menu, then go to the location, "C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe".
- Right click iexplore.exe select create shortcut.
- Then cut this shortcut and then place it on the desktop.
Note that this can be done for all kinds of program shortcuts and not only for internet explorer.