Change the Folder Background in Windows Explorer
Windows Explorer began in Windows 95 as a replacement for the older Windows 3.x File Manager. Over time the software evolved form being a simple file manager to a task-based file management system housing the operating system's search functionality and File Type associations (based on filename extensions), and is responsible for displaying the desktop icons and wallpaper, the Start Menu, the task bar, and the Control Panel, known as the Windows Shell. Adding attractive backgrounds to folders is more difficult than doing so on the Macintosh, but with the right know-how it can be done! Your folders will be looking singularly sharp in no time.
Steps
- Open the Customize Folder Wizard included in Windows 98. This guided program will help you configure the needed files without having to open and edit configuration files yourself.
- Download the wizard from the link below.
- Open a Command Prompt window
- Navigate to the folder where you downloaded and expanded the file.
- Type IESHWIZ path:\folder you want to customize
- Follow the on-screen instructions to choose a background picture for your folder.
Tips
- This feature is not included in the later versions of windows (i.e. XP and Vista). To customize folders in XP and Vista, right click on the folder, select "Properties", then choose the "Customize" tab.
- One idea is to add pictures that will help describe what the folder contains, for example using a Music Note to visually describe a music folder.
- You can also change the text color to better show against the new background.
Warnings
- Manually editing configuration files can seriously damage your operating system.
Related Articles
- Find Your MSN Messenger's Shared Background Images
- Change or Create Desktop Icons for Windows
- Make Windows Look Like Mac OS X
Sources and Citations
- windowsxp.mvps.org Customize Folder Utility
- msdn.microsoft.com MSDN Library for basic shell extensions, including instructions on manually editing the folder background images.
