User Folders - Restore Default Icon

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    User Folders - Restore Default Icon

    User Folders - Restore Default Icon

    How to Restore Default User Folder Icons in Windows 7 and Windows 8
    Published by
    Designer Media Ltd


    How to Restore Default User Folder Icons in Windows 7 and Windows 8

       Information
    This tutorial will show you how to restore the default folder icon for all of your personal user folders icons in the Start Menu (Windows 7 only) and C:\Users\(user-name) locations in Windows 7 and Windows 8.


    EXAMPLE: Default Personal User Folders Icons
    User Folders - Restore Default Icon-example.jpg

    User Folders - Restore Default Icon-windows_8_1.jpg



    OPTION ONE

    To Restore Default User Name Profile Folder Icon

    1. Open the change Desktop Icon Settings window. (See screenshot below)
    User Folders - Restore Default Icon-user-1.jpg
    2. In the lower box, click/tap on your User Name folder to highlight it in blue. (See screenshot above)

    3. Click/tap on the Restore Default button. (See screenshot above)
    A) Click/tap on Apply, and go to step 5 below.
    NOTE: If it did not restore the default User Name folder icon, then proceed to step 4.
    4. Click/tap on the Change Icon button. (See screenshot below step 1)
    A) If not already in the top line, click/tap on the Browse button, and navigate to C:\Windows\system32\imageres.dll. (See screenshot below)
    User Folders - Restore Default Icon-user-2.jpg
    B) Select the default User Name folder icon, and click/tap on OK. (See highlighted in blue icon in the screenshot above)
    5. Click/tap on OK. (See screenshot below step 1)



    OPTION TWO

    To Restore Default User Folders Icons




    METHOD ONE

    Through User Folder Properties

       Note
    This option will be for all of the user folders in the C:\Users\(user-name) folder except the User Name folder itself (OPTION ONE).
       Tip
    To be able to change the Contacts and/or Desktop user folder icon, you can click on the Download button below to download the .reg files that enable the Customize tab in these user folders Properties page. After you download the .reg file, double click on it to merge it. You can then follow the steps in this OPTION below to change the icon.

    • To Restore (remove Customize tab) Default Contacts User Folder -
    • To Enable (add Customize tab) Changing Contacts User Folder Icon -
    • To Restore (remove Customize tab) Default Desktop User Folder -
    • To Enable (add Customize tab) Changing Desktop User Folder Icon -

    1. Open the C:\Users\(user-name) folder.
    WARNING: This must be done at this location. It will not work by opening the user folder from the Start Menu location.
    User Folders - Restore Default Icon-example1.jpg
    2. Right click or swipe down on the user folder icon that you want to restore to default, and click/tap on Properties. (See screenshot above)

    3. Click/tap on the Customize tab, and click/tap on the Change Icon button. (See screenshot below)
    User Folders - Restore Default Icon-step1.jpg
    4. Click/tap on the Restore Defaults button. (See screenshot below)
    User Folders - Restore Default Icon-restore-1.jpg
    5. Click/tap on OK. (See screenshot below step 3)

    6. If the user folder icon has still not been restored to the default icon, then do Method Two below.



    METHOD TWO

    Through Desktop.ini File


    NOTE:This option will be for all of the user folders in the C:\Users\(user-name) folder except the User Name folder itself (OPTION ONE).
    1. Press the Windows + R keys to open the Run dialog.

    2. Type in the Shell command (see table below) for the User folder icon that you want to restore to default, and press Enter.
    NOTE: This will open the personal user folder.

    User Folder Shell Command
    Contacts shell:Contacts
    Desktop shell:desktop
    Documents shell:Personal
    Downloads shell:downloads
    Favorites shell:Favorites
    Links shell:Links
    Music shell:My Music
    Pictures shell:My Pictures
    Saved Games shell:SavedGames
    Searches shell:Searches
    SkyDrive (Windows 8.1) shell:skydrive
    Videos shell:My Video
    3. In Folder Options, set protected operating system files to show.
    NOTE: Use step 4 in OPTION ONE at the link in this step. You must be logged in as an administrator to be able to do this step.

    4. Click/tap on the Download link below to download the default Desktop.ini file, in a ZIP file, for the User folder icon that you want to restore to default.
    NOTE: The Desktop.ini file is a .txt file that contains the user folder settings in it.5. Save the ZIP file to your desktop.

    6. Extract and open the folder in the ZIP file.

    7. Right click or swipe down on the Desktop.ini file in the extracted folder, and click/tap on Properties, click/tap on General tab, the Unblock button, and click/tap on OK. (See screenshot below)
    NOTE: If there is not an Unblock button, then it already is unblocked. Proceed to step 8.
    User Folders - Restore Default Icon-unblock.jpg
    8. Right click or swipe down on the Desktop.ini file, and click/tap on Copy.
    User Folders - Restore Default Icon-desktop_ini.jpg
    9. Right click or press and hold on an empty space in the main part of the user folder window from step 2 above, and click/tap on Paste.

    10. If prompted, click on Copy and Replace, then close the user folder window from step 2. (See screenshot below)
    User Folders - Restore Default Icon-copy_replace.jpg
    11. Open a command prompt in Windows 7 or Windows 8.

    12. In the command prompt, type the command below for the user folder icon that you want to restore to default. (See table below)
    NOTE: This will set the user folder as Read-only. You can Copy and Paste these to make it easier for you.
    WARNING: If you had changed the default location of your user folder, then you will need to type the full path of it's new location after attrib +r instead of the default %USERPROFILE% location below. For example, attrib +r D:\New location

    User Folder Command
    Contacts attrib +r -s -h %USERPROFILE%\Contacts /S /D
    Desktop attrib +r -s -h %USERPROFILE%\Desktop /S /D
    Documents attrib +r -s -h %USERPROFILE%\Documents /S /D
    Downloads attrib +r -s -h %USERPROFILE%\Downloads /S /D
    Favorites attrib +r -s -h %USERPROFILE%\Favorites /S /D
    Links attrib +r -s -h %USERPROFILE%\Links /S /D
    Music attrib +r -s -h %USERPROFILE%\Music /S /D
    Pictures attrib +r -s -h %USERPROFILE%\Pictures /S /D
    Saved Games attrib +r -s -h %USERPROFILE%"Saved Games" /S /D
    Searches attrib +r -s -h %USERPROFILE%\Searches /S /D
    SkyDrive (Windows 8.1) attrib +r -s -h %USERPROFILE%\SkyDrive /S /D
    Videos attrib +r -s -h %USERPROFILE%\Videos /S /D
    13. Close the command prompt.

    14. Log off and log on, or restart the computer to apply.

    15. Confirm that the folder icon is back to normal.

    16. In Folder Options, set protected operating system files to be hidden again.
    NOTE: Use step 5 in OPTION ONE at the link in this step. You must be logged in as an administrator to be able to do this step.

    17. You can now delete the downloaded files (step 4) on your desktop if like.
    That's it,
    Shawn Brink






  1. Posts : 44
    Windows 7 Professional
       #1

    Excellent tutorial,
    I had problems with folders in one pc, followed your tutorial, method two, and solved almost everything, althoug, there's one folder that I didn't solve "Saved Games"
    Can you help me with this, please?
    Also, when entering the command (eg. attrib +r -s -h %USERPROFILE%\"Saved Games" /S /D), I always receive a message saying "The parameter format is not correct -"
    I would appreciate your help with this.
    Thanks,
    Jorge
    Last edited by Jorge Martins; 03 Apr 2010 at 07:16. Reason: revise
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 71,988
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #2

    Hello Jorge, and welcome to Seven Forums.

    Not sure why it's not working for you.

    Double check to make sure that you are using a elevated command prompt (right click & "run as administrator). You can also try this command as well:

    attrib +r -s -h "%USERPROFILE%\Saved Games" /s /d

    Hope this helps,
    Shawn
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 44
    Windows 7 Professional
       #3

    Thanks Brink,
    I don't know why it didn't work, but after posting I entered the "Saved Games" folder properties, then clicked to change the folder icon and clicked restore predefinition.
    It solved the issue.
    Thank you very much for your help and this great tutorial,
    Jorge
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 71,988
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #4

    Jorge, I'm happy to hear that you got it sorted. I guess it may have just need a bit to reset itself to allow it.
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 310
    Microsoft Windows 7 Ultimate 64 bits 7601 Multiprocessor Free Service Pack 1
       #5

    This is madness...

    It's so easy to accidentally delete the "downloads" (link and carptet) but so bloo#$# complicated to restore it, thanks Microsoft im gonna have to reinstall windows again.
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 71,988
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #6

    Hello Psikofunkster,

    You should tried OPTION TWO in the tutorial below to try and restore your user folder with a easy to do REG file. It sure will beat reinstalling everything for a simple fix.

    User Folders - Restore Default Location

    Hope this helps,
    Shawn
      My Computer


  7. kwe
    Posts : 3
    Win 7 Basic
       #7

    Hi Shawn,

    I lost download icon when I move the downloads folder by: right click download folder, properties, location, move tab.
    I changed it to another partition without making a new downloads folder first, so the downloads folder dissapear replaced with D: (the destination folder)

    I'm a "win 7 basic" user

    I tried to restore it but this appear:
    "falied to build the list of regular subfolder under "D:\System Volume Information" Access is denied"

    I tried your "option one": I don't have personalize option because my win 7 basic.
    I tried your "option two-method one": everytime I make new downloads folder it ask me to merge with new folder, and it dissapear right away.
    I tried your "option two-method two": I found that your "downloads icon" link is empty, it contain no "desktop.ini" file.

    I've tried almost all way, but I can't fix it.

    Can you help me please.

    Mesakh
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 71,988
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #8

    Hello Mesakh, and welcome to Seven Forums.

    For this, you might see if using OPTION TWO in the tutorial below instead to try and restore the default location of your Downloads folder.

    User Folders - Restore Default Location

    Hope this helps,
    Shawn
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 6
    Windows 8.1 Enterprise
       #9

    Your option 2 method 2 save my life. Thanks man and it works on Windows 8 too...
      My Computer


 
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