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.
This article was posted in Troubleshooting, Windows Vista.
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mark harris
Thank's mate for the desktop.ini its been giveing me a pain for ages now i can just save the file so whenever i need it ,, nice
thanks very much-------
:hug:
Jas
Does'nt work for the downloads folder
Jas
Oh wait I just rechecked it and it DOES!
WEIRD...
Edmond
FYI: It works on non-english vistas. (I am using Traditional Chinese)
Perry
Hey.
I have tried everything here that has been posted in the comments and in the guide and my downloads folder icon is still the nasty yellow default. I also have System Restore disabled so I cannot use that to go back.
Any ideas?
Regards.
Matt
The tips didn't work for me, either. I know some programs that use the the folders directory, changes the folder's icon, but i have redirected those programs, uninstalled them and still nothing has changed the icons for my Links and Downloads folders. Oooh well.. seems that it just happened out of nowhere right after a recent Windows Update, though.
Matt
http://www.tune-up.com/products/tuneup-utilities/ -- works a lot better and safer that replacing the desktop ini
Nikolaj
i dont have probs with dokumens .etc i hav a prob wit my userfolder all other userfolders look like windows 7 ones
,
goodywitch
THANK YOU! This was such a little annoyance, but it was still bugging me. I hated seeing the contents of my download folder. After a couple of tries, it worked!
I came across this article while looking for a replacement icon.
Also, in case anyone is reading, always backup, and keep track of what you did so you can reverse it. A .ini file seems to be bascially text file, so there's not excuses.
Anthony
ok i did this, (restarted ECT..)
But then i deleted my music folder ;[
U know whats the problem?