Windows 10 Customizing Folders

potplayer · 15 Jul 2019

I recently moved to Windows 10.
I have about 130 folders in Pictures.
I customized each folder with a pic from that folder using the following method:

right click on folder/properties/customize/choose file/open/apply/ok.

I have noticed today that about 20 of the folders are missing the pic that I used to customize the folders with, and have been replaced with a couple of pics from within the folder.

I am now unable to customize the folders in the usual way - Windows will no longer allow me to customize any folder.

Any ideas what has gone wrong please?

KeithM · 15 Jul 2019

potplayer said:

I recently moved to Windows 10.
I am now unable to customize the folders in the usual way - Windows will no longer allow me to customize any folder.

Has the option disappeared or just seem to have no effect?

Two things to check:

The folder has a desktop.ini file (hidden, system file). It should specify the folder picture:

Code:

[ViewState]
Mode=
Vid=
FolderType=Pictures
Logo=C:\Users\keith\Pictures\Chicago InterContinental\IMG_0557.JPG

The folder's read-only attribute is set (this tells Explorer to process the desktop.ini file, it does not affect file operatons). to ensure it is set, Shift+Right-click in the folder background & select Open PowerShell window here. Then type the following:
Code:
```
(gi .\).Attributes += 'ReadOnly'
```

Keith

Try3 · 15 Jul 2019

potplayer,

I had a similar symptom that I think indicates the same fault.
- My symptom was loss of Folder type settings such as setting Music folders.
- I rarely use folder icons and did not check for them when I had the fault condition.

So try setting a folder type to Music / Video / ... [anything but General items] then select a different folder to give the setting a chance to go wrong and come back to the one you have changed then see if it has retained your change. If it has reverted to a General items folder type then use
Reset Folder View Settings to Default - TenForumsTutorials
to fix it.

Denis

potplayer · 15 Jul 2019

Keith/Denis,
Thanks for responses.

Keith - If I go through the procedure i.e. right click on folder/properties/customize/choose file/open/apply/ok - all the options are still there but nothing happens.

When I look at the desktop.ini file as you mentioned, it indeed mentions the image (e.g..IMG_1234) but the image does not show on that folder.

There are a couple of folders that have no desktop.ini file??

Denis - Don't quite understand your post but if I create a New Folder and put some pics into it and carry out the procedure (right click on folder/properties/customize/choose file/open/apply/ok - all appears to be OK with that New Folder??
Still no joy with the original folders.

Try3 · 15 Jul 2019

potplayer,

No, I am not referring to your reported symptoms or even what you want to do. I am suggesting that you check something else because your symptoms are similar to those I know about but I want to be sure that using the same solution as me will help you.

So I am suggesting
right click on folder/properties/customize
then
Optimise this folder for
Music / Video / Documents / Pictures - [anything except General items]
then go away from this folder and then come back to it [or else the initial results can be misleading]
if the
Optimise this folder for
has reverted to
General items
then your symptoms match mine and I believe that that TenForumsTutorial link will solve your problem.

Denis

potplayer · 16 Jul 2019

Denis,

Did what you suggested - this is not the problem.

Try3 · 16 Jul 2019

OK, so it is not what I had. I am probably of no help to you then. Sorry.

When you wrote, "Windows will no longer allow me to customize any folder", what happens / fails to happen during your "right click on folder/properties/customize/choose file/open/apply/ok" procedure?

Denis

potplayer · 16 Jul 2019

Denis,

I go through the procedure - click OK - nothing happens.
Just to recap - I can't customize any of the many existing folders any more.
If I create a new folder, there is no problem??

Try3 · 16 Jul 2019

Have you perhaps changed to a different folder view on the affected folders? You can only see the assigned picture if the containing folder is set to
right click, View - Tiles, Contents, Medium+ icons

Denis

potplayer · 16 Jul 2019

Denis,
Once again - thanks for response, but that is not the problem.

BTW, I came across the following whilst scouring the Internet for answers:

Selected Folder
right click on folder/properties/customize/choose file/open/apply/ok.
Open said folder
Copy a file (any file) and paste into open folder.
Delete the file you have just pasted.
Exit folder.

Chosen pic is on the folder.

I don't understand why this works, but it does!!!!

Although this obviously works, it doesn't solve the original problem of why I can't customize existing folders in the usual way?