Open Folder Icon

INFO: This will change all the active folder icons to a different icon when you open the folder in a folder tree. For example, in the Navigation Pane and Start menu All Programs. It makes it easier to navigate when the open folder icon is different than all the other folder icons.

NOTE: You must be in a Administrator account or apply Administrator privileges (Run as administrator) for this to work.

RELATED LINKS:
1. How to Change a Shortcut Folder or File Icon in Vista

2. How to Change a Folder Icon in Vista

3. How to Change a Folder Preview Picture in Vista

4. How to Select Files Using a Check Box in Vista Windows Explorer

5. How to Change a Icon in the Control Panel Icon Vista

6. How to Change a Drive Icon in Vista

7. How to Restore and Change a Desktop Icon in Vista

8. How to Change the Desktop Control Panel Icon in Vista

9. How to Change a Default Open Window Size for a Shortcut in Vista

10. How to Rebuild the Icon Cache in Vista

11. How to Turn the Navigation Pane On or Off in Vista

12. How to Hide or Show the Navigation Pane Folders Tree Lines in Vista

13. How to Enable or Disable the Translucent Selection Rectangle in Vista

14. How to Enable or Disable Full Row Select in Vista Windows Explorer


Before.jpgAfter.jpgStart_Menu.jpg
BEFORE -------------------- AFTER --------------------- AFTER


METHOD ONE:
Through a Download:
NOTE: To use a icon of your own, see step 7D in the Manual Way below.

1. To Change the Active Folder Icon -
A) Open Folder.reg < Click to Download

2. To Restore the Default Active Folder Icon -
A) Remove_Open_Icon.reg < Click to Download

3. Click on Save, and save the .reg file to the Desktop.
4. Right click the .reg (On Desktop) file and click Merge.
5. Click on the Run button for Security Warning pop-up.
6. Click on Continue (UAC), Yes, and then OK when prompted.
7. Logoff and logon, or restart the computer to apply the changes.
8. When done, you can delete the .reg file (On Desktop).


METHOD TWO:
The Manual Way:
1. Open Start Menu.
2. In white line (Start Search) area, type regedit and press Enter.
3. Click Continue for UAC prompt.
4. In regedit, go to: (See screenshot below)
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\explorer

5. In left pane, right click explorer and click New and click Key.

Reg_explorer.jpg

6. Type Shell Icons and press Enter. (See screenshot below)

Reg_New_Key.jpg

7. To Change the Active Folder Icon -
A) In the right pane of Shell Icons, right click on a empty area and click New and click String Value.
(See screenshot below)

Reg_Shell_Icons.jpg

B) Type 4 and press Enter. (See screenshot below)

New_String_Value.jpg

C) In the right pane, right click on 4 and click Modify. (See screenshot below)

String_Value_4.jpg

D) Type C:\windows\system32\Shell32.dll,137 and click OK. (See screenshot below)
NOTE: If you want to use a icon of your own, then type in the full path of where you saved the icon instead.


Modify.jpg

E) The registry will now look like this.

Shell_Icons_After.jpg

8. To Restore the Default Active Folder Icon -
A) In the left pane, right click on Shell Icons and click Delete. (See screenshot above)
B) Click Yes to confirm the deletion.

9. Close regedit.
10. Logoff and logon, or restart the computer to apply the changes.


That's it,
Shawn