How to Create a "Folder Options" Shortcut in Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8

   Information
This tutorial will show you how to create or download Folder Options shortcuts that can open directly to the General, View, and Search tabs in Folder Options in Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8.

   Warning
Under the View tab in Folder Options, the Apply to Folders button will be grayed out unless you open Folder Options from within the same Windows Explorer window that you want applied to all folders with the same folder template.


EXAMPLE: Folder Options
NOTE: Opened to the General, View, and Search tab in Windows 7 Folder Options.
Folder Options Shortcut - Create-general.jpgFolder Options Shortcut - Create-view.jpgFolder Options Shortcut - Create-search.jpg



OPTION ONE

To Download a "Folder Options" Shortcut


1. Folder Options Shortcut that Opens to the General Tab
A) Click/tap on the download button below to download the file below.
Folder_Options_General_Tab.zip
2. Folder Options Shortcut that Opens to the View Tab
A) Click/tap on the download button below to download the file below.
Folder_Options_View_Tab.zip
3. Folder Options Shortcut that Opens to the Search Tab
A) Click/tap on the download button below to download the file below.
Folder_Options_General_Tab.zip
4. Save the .zip file to your desktop.

5. Open the downloaded .zip file and extract the Folder Options shortcut to your desktop.

6. Unblock the extracted Folder Options shortcut.
Folder Options Shortcut - Create-unblock.jpg
7. In Vista and Windows 7, you can now Pin to Taskbar (Windows 7 only) or Pin to Start Menu, add to Quick Launch, assign a keyboard shortcut to it, or move this shortcut to where you like for easy use.

8. In Windows 8, you can Pin to Taskbar on desktop, Pin to Start screen, add to Quick Launch, assign a keyboard shortcut to it, or move this shortcut to where you like for easy use.

9. When done, you can delete the downloaded .zip file on the desktop if you like, or save it to use again.






OPTION TWO

To Manually Create a "Folder Options" Shortcut


1. Right click or press and hold on an empty area on desktop, and click/tap on New and Shortcut.


2. Copy and paste the location below into the location area for what tab you want the Folder Options shortcut to open to, and click/tap on the Next button. (See screenshot below)
  • General Tab - C:\Windows\System32\rundll32.exe shell32.dll,Options_RunDLL 0
  • View Tab - C:\Windows\System32\rundll32.exe shell32.dll,Options_RunDLL 7
  • Search Tab - C:\Windows\System32\rundll32.exe shell32.dll,Options_RunDLL 2

Folder Options Shortcut - Create-step1.jpg
3. Type Folder Options for the name, and click/tap on the Finish button. (See screenshot below)
NOTE: You can name this anything you would like though.
Folder Options Shortcut - Create-step2.jpg
4. Right click or press and hold on the new Folder Options shortcut, and click/tap on Properties.

5. Click/tap on the Shortcut tab, then click/tap on the Change Icon button. (See screenshot below)
Folder Options Shortcut - Create-step3.jpg
6. In the line under "Look for icons in this file", type C:\Windows\System32\imageres.dll, and press Enter. (See screenshot below)
Folder Options Shortcut - Create-step4.jpg
7. Select the icon highlighted in blue above, and click/tap on OK. (See screenshot above)
NOTE: You can use any icon that you would like instead though.

8. Click/tap on OK. (See screenshot below)
Folder Options Shortcut - Create-step5.jpg
9. In Vista and Windows 7, you can now Pin to Taskbar (Windows 7 only) or Pin to Start Menu, add to Quick Launch, assign a keyboard shortcut to it, or move this shortcut to where you like for easy use.

10. In Windows 8, you can Pin to Taskbar on desktop, Pin to Start screen, add to Quick Launch, assign a keyboard shortcut to it, or move this shortcut to where you like for easy use.
That's it,
Shawn