How to Fix User Folders Showing Simple Yellow Folder Icon in Windows Vista?

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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 following ZIP file, extract it and copy the default desktop.ini file and paste it in the folder which is showing corrupt icon.Windows will ask to overwrite the existing file, select "Copy & Replace".

Download Link

NOTE: Log off or End Task of "explorer.exe" from Task Manager to see the changes.

Also check:

How to Fix Annoying Folder View Type Problem in Windows Vista and 7

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This article was posted by VG in following section: Troubleshooting, Windows Vista.

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Kouder

When I click "Save Link As.." it asks me where to save and i would just pick the corresponding file, but when i do and log off and back in, it is still the plain yellow folder for my Documents and Pictures. Is there anything I'm missing?

I'm using Home Premium
SilkTaco

oh ma gawd i was going insane with this. thank you so much!
Paultx

I couldn't find a solution for XP Pro, but this one did work. The only difference now is that the new Desktop.ini file in the My pictures folder here seems not to be a protected system file anymore.
perry

thank you. i've been suffering from this for so long.
alex

Thank you so much!!! i have been looking for this solution for 2 months, at least! Thanks man!
daniel300

hey i did what u said and it still did not work. i downloaded the correct file and everything but it still did not work. any ideas as to what's going on?
Sunny Islam

Thanks a lot buddy, you are real champ....
once again thanks a lot.
Looby

This didn't work for me. No matter what I do my Downloads folder is always yellow >< But when I copied it to an external hard drive as a backup, the correct icon is showing up in there! So I tried copying it from the backup to my computer to see if it would make any difference but it still doesn't. Please help!
Tania

hey, I know I must seem stupid but I have no idea about all this desktop ini and anything to do with the replacing of the corrupt folder etc

would you be able to write it really simply please

sorry to be annoying xx
needhelp!

Ahh!!! please help. when i go to my folders, and i try to look at all my pictures, it doesn't show them until i pop them all up individually! someone please HELP!! Thanks!