Lots of Vista users are facing a strange problem and I'm getting lots of mails asking for the solution. The problem is, the folder icons in User folder change from special glass icons to simple folder icons.
Look at the following screenshot:
This is how the icons look in User folder which can be accessed using "%userprofile%" command or just select your username in Startmenu (just below the user pic).
But sometimes these icons (all or some) become simple default folder icons. It happens when "Desktop.ini" file becomes corrupted. Actually all these special glass icons are displayed using "desktop.ini" file which is present in each folder (hidden). Sometimes a few software make this file corrupt and these folders start showing simple folder icon.
The solution is very simple. Just replace "desktop.ini" file present in the corrupt folder with default one. The default "desktop.ini" file for each folder is given below, just download the desired desktop.ini file (Right-click on the file and select "Save Link As..." or "Save Target As...") and paste in the folder which is showing corrupt icon.Windows will ask to overwrite the existing file, select "Copy & Replace".
Contacts - Desktop.ini
Desktop - Desktop.ini
Documents - Desktop.ini
Downloads - Desktop.ini
Favorites - Desktop.ini
Links - Desktop.ini
Music - Desktop.ini
Pictures - Desktop.ini
Saved Games - Desktop.ini
Searches - Desktop.ini
Videos - Desktop.ini
NOTE: Log off or End Task of "explorer.exe" from Task Manager to see the changes.
Complete list of AskVG articlesThis article was posted in Troubleshooting, Windows Vista.
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VG
^^ Hi Carlo
This tutorial will not help as its only for the folders appearing in your User folder.
Can you please tell me in details what exact problem are you facing? Did you try to clear icon cache?
Mike
Any suggestions for fixing this problem with 'desktop.ini'?: CSI 0000016a [SR] Could not reproject corrupted file [ml:520{260},l:40{20}]"\??\C:\Windows\fonts"\[l:22{11}]"desktop.ini"; source file in store is also corrupted.
Tried a repair with the Vista DVD but did not correct the problem.
Thanks.
Mike
Alex
I have a number of sub-folders in my Music folder. I have customised them all with different folder icons but one will not stay customised. It will stay customised for a while but then will revert back to a plain folder. Can this be fixed?
Regards, Alex
VG
Try following:
Open regedit and goto:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell
Delete "Bags" and "BagMRU" keys. Now try to customize the folders again. It might work now.
Alex
I was hoping for a simpler solution, something paticular to the folder I was having trouble with. I don't really want to mess with the Registry. In any case I think it will return all folders to a default icon. I have spent too much time looking for photos of artists for my music sub-folders and I don't want to risk losing them. I'll just live with the problem for the time being.
Thanks anyway, VG.
VG
^^ The above registry code will remove all user defined folder customization. Actually its a bug in Vista. It forgets user defined customization for folder which you are facing currently.
djducky
You can also use Tune-Up Utilities
Emanuel
Hmmm it´s not working for me, the icon of "desktop" it's still shows in the wrong way.
I tried everything but is the same.
Any help please?
randyman
Most of my Icons have changed to the same icon. No matter what type of program.
Hi, I have Vista Home Prem. You know when you right click on a Icon and you can choose to open all like files you know like all music files with the one program, well I chose that and nearly all Icons in the entire computer turned that one type of icon.
And these programs don't start, but what ever the icon is will try to start.
HELP!!
Randyman
VG
^^ Try to restore your system to an earlier state using System Restore.