Cant get files to show content pics i choose !

Ok since clean install i wanted to change the folder views i had on music files movie files ect . i.e i choose a file in my music files situated on external hd ,click properties /customise tab/ in folder pictures i choose file select image then apply /ok and it wont change i can change icon for file .needless to say this feature worked fine before clean install is there a setting im missing on folders appearance im overlooking or could it be something else

I'm pretty sure you have to have it in .ico format.

This program here will convert your pictures to .ico format so you can use them like you want to.
IcoFX - The Free Icon Editor

Is this what your trying to do, The first two below?
I started to do my movies folder like this but got lazy.

thanks for response i think imay have you confused, to show the album sleeve or cover of a film in the open file i use the method i described to change the file to an image ie my games file shows an xbox controller the my games sub folders would show image or cover of the game ie folder of music cover and files as ico images also i can change file to ico but not the image in a folder this music folder has saved from before i clean insalled but loads of other folders have reverted to default images

no prob i didnt explain myself very well its late here ive had a long day and im still shell shocked at having to reset my entire system and the amount of glitches ive had since install ars unbelievable my pc even booted me into a temp users account as it wouldn't load my user profile WTF ive never had that before in vista or win7 (been using 7 since oct)

thanks

bit of an update on this prob , if i create a new folder rename and cut and paste the content of an old one i cant change the image for, then it will allow me to change the image on the new folder. anyone any ideas as to why this may be happening?

update ,after a long time of putting up with not being able to show an image i chose in a folder i was messing about with Iconpackager and in options i clicked reset icons cache, later when i opened my music folder all the album art was showing as it should , so i guess its possible to repair icons cache in windows without using third party software and this would be the solution to my issue .thought i would share this in case anyone else has a similar issue in the future.