Custom icon for subfolder in a portable USB storage device

I want to add a custom icon to a sub-folder on an external portable USB storage device
and retain the custom icon irrespective of the PC the HD is "attached" to.

I have created an autorun.inf file

Code:

[autorun]
ICON=Square_blue.ico

Both the INF and ICO files are located in the target folder. eg, F:PortableUSB\Folder1\Folder2
"Folder2" is to display the custom-icon

Disconnected > reconnected the USB storage device, but the icon has not worked.

The "autorun.inf" was saved as ANSI and not Unicode format.
I have found Permanent Custom Folder Icon? ... and ... Rename a Drive in ~ Win7 ~
But not what I am looking for.

I want to apply my custom icon (Square_blue.ico) to any sub-folder in my portable USB HD, and hopefully in the odd folder in thumb-drives too.

What am I dong wrong or am I expecting the impossible ?
-----
Is there an easy way of applying the custom icon randomly to other folders.
Copy paste the INF and ICO files into another folder ?

I would be grateful for any help :)
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SPECS
Toshiba Satellite C665
OS:= Windows 7 Home Premium (32-bit), sp1 (Build 7601) OEM
UI:=Classic Shell Start + Classic Explorer
Windows Indexing = disabled (I am using FileSearchEX + Everything apps)

If you follow this it will work Permanent Custom Folder Icon?


Save as Unicode and use Folder.ico not Square_blue.ico, name the .ico Folder.ico

[.ShellClassInfo]
ConfirmFileOp=0
IconFile=Folder.ico
IconIndex=0

This only works if you move(Cut, Ctrl+X) and paste in the folder not if you copy and paste.
You need to make a new 1 for each folder not copy and paste.

I have done it see screenshots all the test are folders.

Jerry

Thanks Bongo :)

Followed your Permanent Custom Folder Icon? to the letter, incl save-as "Unicode"

Got this result


Is the problem spaces in the "F:\_Current\Dell - Jo's Win7" path-string?

Text reader:
Created INI file in Notepad + saved as "Unicode" file format in the target folder

I use Metapad-3.6 text editor. I had always assumed it was brilliant but I am discovering Metapad has its limitations.
eg, to create a Uncode file --- open metapad orphan > change file format to "Unicode" > close orphan > open a new orphan (is now Unicode format) ... and so on.

But my Metapad default file format is DOS, and I reopened the INI file in Metapad (DOS) ... no alerts.
Would this have sabotaged the INI file ?
(I will change file associations for INI to Notepad)
-----
Will this folder icon persist when portable HD is attached to other PCs ?

Thank you :)

What is the name of the folder you want changed?
What is your user name?
You can only do one folder at a time on the Desktop and then you have to move (cut) and paste into the thumb drive or external hard drive of your choice.

And yes it will move from computer to computer if you do it right.

Only change what is in the red.
This is all you need:

attrib +s C:\Users\YOUR USER NAME\Desktop\FOLDER YOU ARE CHANGING



Do not use "F:\_Current\Dell - Jo's Win7" path-string?

Jerry

Thanks Bongo :)
Finally got it ... up at 3:30am to get it!

I assumed my previous process would change the icon on the existing target folder on my USB drive. I was wrong.

What I didn't understand ...

• We create a new folder on the Desktop with a custom icon
• In cmd window converted/set the custom icon to the "NewTarget" folder
• then moving the new folder onto the external HD
• then cut the contents from the original folder and paste them into the custom-icon'd folder

How I did it:

1. Created a new folder on Desktop, named "NewTarget"
2. In "NewTarget" folder pasted my custom ICO file and renamed it "Folder.ico"
3. Opened "Notepad"
4. Pasted this code into Notepad
   
   Code:

   [.ShellClassInfo]
   ConfirmFileOp=0
   IconFile=Folder.ico
   IconIndex=0

5. Saved the Notepad orphan ...
   * must be done on Notepad or a smart text reader that provides "Unicode" file format
   Path:= the "NewTarget" folder on Desktop (eg, C:\Users\Russell\Desktop\NewTarget)
   Saved As:= desktop.ini
   FileFormat:= Unicode
6. Start > Search:=cmd
7. cmd.exe (opened)
8. In Command window typed .....
   
   Code:

   attrib +s C:\Users\Russell\Desktop\NewTarget

9. Enter key
   * Desktop folder "NewTarget" changed to my custom icon
10. NewTarget ... folder, now with custom icon
    Moved "NewTarget" folder to my external USB drive by ...
11. Cut (Ctrl+X) to clipboard ... cannot be copied
12. Selected my external USB HD
13. Pasted clipboard onto my my external USB HD
    this is the a new moved empty folder with the custom icon
14. Located my "DataFolder" (which I want to have the custom icon)
15. Copied all contents of the DataFolder >> pasted into "NewTarget" folder
16. Deleted DataFolder
17. Renamed "NewTarget" as "DataFolder"
18. Safely removed USB storage device
19. Reconnected the USB storage device
20. DataFolder now has the custom icon

Thank you Jerry for your patience :)

You're welcome, good to hear you got it.

The way you ended up doing it is the way I explained it, the move (cut)and paste into the external hard drive was meant for the whole new folder not the contents.

Jerry