Windows XP Folder Icon for Windows 7

[Livingston]

Hey all,

Just wondering if there is any way to get the Windows XP folder preview Icon for Windows 7?

I've seen a lot of packs that have various Icons, but I don't want to have to download a hundred of these packs and wade through all the icons to see if there is something similar.

I specifically want these for my music files.

In Windows XP I had a file with all my music in it. In that file I have folders for each different artist. For each artist's folder I had their most popular album as the preview picture for that folder. In each of the artists folders I had folders for all of their separate albums. On each album folder I had the picture of the album cover.

This made it very easy to navigate as I could find my music by looking for the album covers. And it looked really cool to have all the album covers there for display...

Now I'm stuck with a half open folder with a little sliver of the picture sticking out of it.

This is the only thing I have seen in Windows 7 that doesn't make it superior to XP.

So does anyone know where I can get an Icon that will either do a full display by previewing whatever .jpg (or other image file) is in the folder, or one that you can select an image file to display?

I know how to switch out the Icon once I have it, I just don't know where I can find one like this.

I really hate that they didn't include this option with Windows 7.

 

[Arc]

Hey all,

Just wondering if there is any way to get the Windows XP folder preview Icon for Windows 7?

I've seen a lot of packs that have various Icons, but I don't want to have to download a hundred of these packs and wade through all the icons to see if there is something similar.

I specifically want these for my music files.

In Windows XP I had a file with all my music in it. In that file I have folders for each different artist. For each artist's folder I had their most popular album as the preview picture for that folder. In each of the artists folders I had folders for all of their separate albums. On each album folder I had the picture of the album cover.

This made it very easy to navigate as I could find my music by looking for the album covers. And it looked really cool to have all the album covers there for display...

Now I'm stuck with a half open folder with a little sliver of the picture sticking out of it.

This is the only thing I have seen in Windows 7 that doesn't make it superior to XP.

So does anyone know where I can get an Icon that will either do a full display by previewing whatever .jpg (or other image file) is in the folder, or one that you can select an image file to display?

I know how to switch out the Icon once I have it, I just don't know where I can find one like this.

I really hate that they didn't include this option with Windows 7.

First of all, I also believe that there should be a folder thumbnail view in win 7. But if you push the slider a little up from large icons view to extra large icons view, the album art preview in the half open folder will become more prominent.

I think u know how to display a single image file in folder preview. Just rename it as Folder.jpg and place it in the target folder, you will get a single image file displayed in the folder. If the image is resized to a square resolution (say 500*500), the display will be good enough.

Moreover, a music tag editor makes the music file icon converted to the album art preview. I use mp3tag to edit my music tags.

 

[Livingston]

First of all, I also believe that there should be a folder thumbnail view in win 7. But if you push the slider a little up from large icons view to extra large icons view, the album art preview in the half open folder will become more prominent.

Well yeah it's bigger, but it doesn't show any more of the artwork, which is what I'm after. Also if I make it that big, it defeats the speed that I can find the files by looking at the art, as I have to scroll down a lot more.

I think u know how to display a single image file in folder preview. Just rename it as Folder.jpg and place it in the target folder, you will get a single image file displayed in the folder. If the image is resized to a square resolution (say 500*500), the display will be good enough.

Moreover, a music tag editor makes the music file icon converted to the album art preview. I use mp3tag to edit my music tags.

Yeah, I'm not worried about the music files themselves, just the folder.

I just can't believe there's no way to get a straight, even, full picture view. It was so much better in XP.

 

[Jacee]

If you right click on the folder can you change the icon to what you want?

 

[Livingston]

If you right click on the folder can you change the icon to what you want?

Not exactly. You have to click in the folder that the folders you want to change are in. And when you do that you can switch the icons to other ones that are provided, or ones you have downloaded (though there's more to that process), but they don't provide icons like the ones used in Win XP. And I don't know of any that I can download that will replicate them, hence my dilemma.

 

[Jacee]

Something like this?

 

[Livingston]

Something like this?

Yes exactly like that. Is that using a Windows 7 Icon, and if so where can I get it?

 

[Livingston]

Buller?

Seriously? You're just going to leave me hanging? (d)

 

[Arc]

Something like this?

It is a XP folder in thumbnail view, with a picture file contained in it named Folder.jpg, or album artwork tag edited. I think it is not possible in Vista or windows 7 to have that icon view.

 

[zedman]

Hi,

I have the same dilemma as Livingstone has about this to change "folder icon view". And it is absolutely unbelievable that this dumb "half-opened folder icon" is the only one option to see a folder.jpg image contained folder icon view... :shock:

Is it sure? Can't use an XP like folder icon view thumbnail??

 

[Arc]

Hi,

I have the same dilemma as Livingstone has about this to change "folder icon view". And it is absolutely unbelievable that this dumb "half-opened folder icon" is the only one option to see a folder.jpg image contained folder icon view... :shock:

Is it sure? Can't use an XP like folder icon view thumbnail??

Perhaps not, as far as I know.
The half opened folder is called live folder, and still now I haven't found any way to make it similar like xp thumbnail view.

 

[Livingston]

*Sigh* That makes me cry inside...

 

[Arc]

*Sigh* That makes me cry inside...

Dont let your heart to break, friend! Still you have a way out, but you have some resources in your hand.
1. Windows xp bootable cd
2. A virtualisation program like virtual box or vmware
Install virtual box (its free), and install xp in it.
but if your win7 is either professional or ultimate, you can get xp mod in it, its free.

 

[chrisscan]

Just wondering

Hi - have the same problem especially with the music files where the cover design helps recognizing the music - and by the way it is much prettier than the half opened covers. Bad Microsoft even have the choice "classic style" in the icon choices.

There must be a patch to make xp-folder design in win7 - haven't found it yet but am still looking for it. Will post it here when I find it.

Greetings from Denmark.

 

[Arc]

There must be a patch to make xp-folder design in win7 - haven't found it yet but am still looking for it. Will post it here when I find it.

Greetings from Denmark.

Not till date Hope one day it must be there

 

[blue skies]

Hi - have the same problem especially with the music files where the cover design helps recognizing the music - and by the way it is much prettier than the half opened covers. Bad Microsoft even have the choice "classic style" in the icon choices.

There must be a patch to make xp-folder design in win7 - haven't found it yet but am still looking for it. Will post it here when I find it.

It's not a patch, and it's super time-consuming if you have a lot of folders... but you can change the icons to just the album art or other photo manually. You have to make an .ico file of the photo you want to use, which is what Window uses for the icon. I used a free program called IcoFX to make the .ICOs. Then you have to go the the actual folder location, choose properties, then customize to change the folder icon to the .ico file you made for that folder.

Has anyone here done that? I posted it about it on another thread: http://www.sevenforums.com/general-...ic-thumbnail-preview-xp-style.html#post836803

For me, the slanted picture in a folder thumbnails were a huge annoyance... so it was worth the time and trouble to convert them.

ETA: IcoFX is now loaded with spyware. You can find the old, free version here instead - http://filehippo.com/download_icofx/6890/ I changed the link above also.

Or the old version portable app here - http://portableapps.com/apps/graphics_pictures/icofx_portable

 

[Fathther Jack]

Basically the same as Blue Skies. In desperation I made a 512x512.png file. All Album art is sized to 450x450. I lay this on top of the 512x512 in Icon Workshop and then make an icon containing 256x256, 64x64, 48x48, 32x32, 24x24 & 16x16. With in excess of 500+ music folders to modify/change, it seems a daunting task to start, but by plugging away at say 10 or 15 at a time you can soon build up a good rhythm. AND, if you store your music on a separate HDD or partition, it's a one off event.
If the files are of any use to anyone, zipped file below, and....... Consider the Des O'Connor icon a gift!!

 

[blue skies]

Oh cool! I never thought to overlay the picture over a folder like that. Actually, when I first started converting them, it did occur to me that it would be nicer to have the folder border around them so it would be obvious that it was a folder and not just a photo... I just didn't consider how to actually do it.

I am a little bit tempted to redo my icons like that. Although at this point I am very familiar with the picture icons in My Documents and the folders they represent, so I probably won't bother. It is very nice of you to share that Fathther Jack.

 

[Sympatico]

Nice One F.J., I have a script that'll work nicely with that. PM me????

 

[Sympatico]

Ooops! you're banned