Vista - Restore default User folder icons

hey, (im running vista 32bit SP1, i hope its not too out of place to ask a question in a 64bit forum)
this looks like the closest i've found to a forum w/ my prob.
essentially i backed up my HD on an external (western digital) using "second backup" as the backup software.
i noticed after backing up that all my folder icons (favorites, contacts, music, pictures, etc...) reverted to the generic yellow folder.
i was able to change one or two (and only those in the shortcuts in "favorite links" heading of a windows explorer window) by right click -> properties -> change icon but all the folders (in their actual location eg. c:\users\"username") remain the ugly yellow folder.
changing them one by one seems inefficient and if annoying if it were to occur again.

i've done the right-click on destop -> personalize -> change desktop icon -> restore default, no result (tho i didnt really expect one since the desktop icons arent really the issue)
i've rebuilt the icon cache, no luck.
i've re-written the desktop.ini for a couple of them, no result (tho i didnt really expect one)
system restore isn't an option, i dont have an old enough restore point (hense the need for backing up).

i'm wondering of a systemic way to essentially restore the default icons for all these folders (music, video, downloads, etc...) and their respective shortcuts.

thoughts?

Hello Loulou, and welcome to Vista Forums.

This may be able to help you fix these.

Personal User Shell Folders

Hope this helps,
Shawn

stellar! this did work, but i wonder if there was a simpler way... and what happened in the first place, so i can avoid it in the future.
nominal work shawn!! thanks

You're welcome Loulou. I'm happy to hear that you got it sorted.

The easiest way I know of to fix this is with the .reg file downloads for the folders in that tutorial. Usually this happens if the hidden desktop.ini file in the folder gets deleted, changed, or corrupted.