How to Set Your Desired Wallpaper as Folder Background Image in Windows XP

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Do you remember the good old Windows 98? In Windows 98, we could change the background color, image, fonts, etc in any folder but this facility was removed from Windows XP. It was a good feature and many people still miss that feature in Windows XP.

So here we are posting 3 methods to have any desired wallpaper as background image in any folder in Windows XP:

A. Using Desktop.ini Hack to Set a Wallpaper as Folder Background Image:

1. Open Command Prompt and set folder attribute to "system". Suppose there is a folder "Setup" in "D:\" drive, in which you want to set a wallpaper as background image. So give following command in Command Prompt:

attrib +s D:\Setup

It'll change the attribute to "system".

2. Now open Notepad and paste following code:

[ExtShellFolderViews]
{BE098140-A513-11D0-A3A4-00C04FD706EC} = {BE098140-A513-11D0-A3A4-00C04FD706EC}

[{BE098140-A513-11D0-A3A4-00C04FD706EC}]
Attributes=1
IconArea_Image=path_of_the_wallpaper
IconArea_Text=0x00000000

Now change "path_of_the_wallpaper" to the exact path of the wallpaper which you want to set as background. Suppose the wallpaper is stored in "D:\Wallpaper\Image1.jpg", then the code will be as following:

[ExtShellFolderViews]
{BE098140-A513-11D0-A3A4-00C04FD706EC} = {BE098140-A513-11D0-A3A4-00C04FD706EC}

[{BE098140-A513-11D0-A3A4-00C04FD706EC}]
Attributes=1
IconArea_Image=D:\Wallpaper\Image1.jpg
IconArea_Text=0x00000000

NOTE: If you copy the wallpaper in the same folder which you are editing, then you can simply put the wallpaper name in the file. e.g. if you copy the "Image1.jpg" file in "Setup" folder, then the code will be as following:

[ExtShellFolderViews]
{BE098140-A513-11D0-A3A4-00C04FD706EC} = {BE098140-A513-11D0-A3A4-00C04FD706EC}

[{BE098140-A513-11D0-A3A4-00C04FD706EC}]
Attributes=1
IconArea_Image=Image1.jpg
IconArea_Text=0x00000000

"IconArea_Text" stands for the text color, you can change it to white, yellow, blue, black or any other color. You just need to know the hexa-decimal number of the color and then replace the code in "IconArea_Text" section. A few most used color codes are as follows:

Black - 0x00000000
White - 0x00FFFFFF
Green - 0x0000FF00
Blue - 0x00FF0000
Purple - 0x00C000C0
Red - 0x000000FF
Yellow - 0x0000FFFF
Indigo - 0x00FFFF00

3. Now save the file with name "Desktop.ini" (including quotes) and copy the file in the desired folder which is "Setup" in our example.

4. Thats it. Close the folder and re-open it. Now it should show the wallpaper as background.

B. Using the Same Method of "IEShwiz.exe" file used in Windows 9x/NT/2000:

1. Copy "IEShwiz.exe" file from Windows 98/Me/NT/2000 and paste in "%windir%" directory (C:\Windows, if your Windows is installed in C:\ drive).

2. Now Type regedit in RUN dialog box and press Enter. Now goto:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Directory\shell\

Now under this key, create a new key "Customize This Folder". Now select this newly created key and create another key under it with the name "Command". Select this new key "Command" and change the value of "Default" in right side pane to IESHWIZ.EXE %1

3. That's it. Now open any folder and right-click, you'll get an option "Customize This Folder". Click on it and follow the wizard and you'll be able to set a wallpaper as the background and to change font color.

C. Using 3rd party software "Windowpaper XP" to do the task easily:

1. Download "Windowpaper XP" from following link:

Download Link

2. Install the software and you can easily change the folder background and font colors.

Other similar articles that may interest you:

This article was posted by VG in following section: Software, Windows XP.

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Totor

Hi reed, it's normal if you can't do this with My computer, it's a system folder and even if it is sometime possible with some kinds of folders such as My documents i would advice you not do it, it can crash your computer and if don't back up the initial "desktop.ini" file it won't be possible to remake it like it was...
Does anybody know how i could put a fixed background ? I mean a way where the wallpaper wouldn't scroll if there is a lot of files...
(sorry if there are mistakes i am french :)
chetan jain

gr8 software u r provided thanks a lot for this.
Back1Ply

Thanks A Lot,But There Is One Little Thing

I Have Put The Folder Background Successfully But It's Too Big

How Can I Make It Smaller
irfan

i want to set wallpapers on my computer background hot can i do this
:.DFA.: Freezing-Freddy

Hey thx its a excelent program just what i was looking for :P
Louch Ruki

tnx..
Pushpendra

thanks a lot buddy u wr amazing
jumer

tnx is so nice,., great j0b
Balagurunath

Hi Vishal! This is a small settings in which we can set a background image on explorer toolbar

Open your registry and find the key below.
Key: [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Toolbar]

Create a new string value, or modify the existing value, named 'BackBitmapShell' and set the value to the location & filename of the bitmap file you want to use.

ENJOY......
YaS2G

in the 2nd method, i think that it's impossible to name the file with quotes like "Desktop.ini" !!! am i wrong ?