How to Change the Appearance of Desktop Folder Icons in Windows 98

In Microsoft Windows 7 and Vista, the ability to change the appearance of folder icons is a configurable option. However, in earlier versions of Windows such as Windows 98, this feature is absent. Folder icons may be changed in Windows 98 by inserting a few lines of code into a file named "desktop.ini." This file is then copied to the folder for which the new icon will appear.

Instructions

1. Click "Start" and choose "Programs," "Accessories" and then the "Notepad" option to open the text editor application.

2. Copy the following code into the text file:

   [.ShellClassInfo]

   IconFile=C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\shell32.dll

   IconIndex=41

   InfoTip=An optional description for the folder that displays in a pop up tip and Web view when selected

   Note: Shell Icons are the default icon set provided in the operating system. The "IconIndex" field defines which of the shell icons will be displayed for the folder. A list of the shell icons and their corresponding index codes may be found on the Serenity Macros site at mvps.org/serenitymacros/. Click "Icons" in the left navigation pane and then click "Shell Icons" to view the list.

3. Save the file with the name "desktop.ini," with quotes, into the folder where the icon will be changed.

4. Click the "Start" button and then click "Run." Type the following command into the input box and press the Enter key to set the folder to Read-Only (substitute your folder's name for "Foldername"):

   Attrib +r Foldername

   ()

   The folder icon's appearance is now changed.

References

• MVPS.org: Serenity Macros