How to Change the Active Open Folder Icon in Vista
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:
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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
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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