Install EasyIcons 98, then run it. It will ask you to locate certain icons, for use basically anywhere. So do your stuff in there, get the icons the way you want it, it may take a while though. Once you are done, take a look at your desktop. Wow, we've gone a long way.
Ok lets fix that next.
There is a program called Transparent , that makes the icons text background transparent. When you download it, there will be multiple .exe files in there. Remember the one that you like the most, and add it to your start up folder, in your Windows, startmenu directory. Don't worry, after you select them, they will stay blue, until you put open a folder or something that covers it, then they become back to normal, you'll get used to it, don't worry. Ok Lets fix that.