Vista - Public Folder Icons - Restore Default Icon

**Brink** · **User Folder** **Shell Command**

How to Fix a Public Folder Displayed as a Standard Yellow Folder Icon in Vista

Information

If you open the C:\Users\Public folder, and the Public Destop, Public Documents, Public Music, Public Pictures, or Public Videos folder has a standard yellow folder icon instead of the default special folder icon, then this will show you how to restore the default icon for that particular Public folder.

Note

The Favorites and Public Desktop folders are hidden by default.
The Favorites, Public Downloads, and Recorded TV folders just use the standard yellow folder by default, so there is no need to change these.

EXAMPLE: Public Folder Icons
NOTE: Only the Public Desktop, Public Documents, Public Music, Public Pictures, and Public Videos folders have a special folder icon.

STEP ONE

Shell Command

1. Open the Start Menu.

2. Type in the Shell command (see table below) for the Public folder and press Enter..
User Folder Shell Command
Public Desktop shell:Common Desktop
Public Documents shell:Common Documents
Public Music shell:CommonMusic
Public Pictures shell:CommonPictures
Public Videos shell:CommonVideo
3. This will open the Public folder from it's location.

4. Close the Public folder window.

5. Check to see if the Public folder has turned back to the special defualt folder.
A) If yes, then your done.

B) If not, proceed to STEP TWO below.

STEP TWO

Replace Desktop.ini File for Public Folder

1. Have Show hidden files and folders dotted and Hide protected operating system files (Recommended) unchecked in Folder Options.

2. Click on the download button below to download the Public_Folders.zip file, then click on Save and save it to the Desktop.

3. Right click on the Public_Folders.zip file (on Desktop) and click on Open.

4. Extract the same folder(s) for the Public folder name with the standard yellow icon displayed to the Desktop.

5. Open the extracted folder and right click on the desktop.ini file and click on Copy. (See screenshot below)
NOTE: This file is set as a hidden file. This is why it is faded.

6. Open the Public folder (Step One) that has the standard yellow folder icon displayed.
A) Right click on a empty area in the folder's window and click Paste.
NOTE: If you are asked if you want to replace the old desktop.ini file, then click Copy and Replace. (See screenshot below)

B) Repeat step 5 for each Public folder you need to fix.

7. Close all windows.

8. Open a elevated command prompt.

9. In the elevated command prompt, type the command below (see table below) for the user folder name you need to fix. (See screenshot below table)
NOTE: This will set the Public folder as Read-only. You can Copy and Paste these to make it easier for you.
User Folder Command
Public Desktop attrib +h +r "C:\Users\Public\Desktop"
Public Documents attrib +r "C:\Users\Public\Documents"
Public Music attrib +r "C:\Users\Public\Music"
Public Pictures attrib +r "C:\Users\Public\Pictures"
Public Videos attrib +r "C:\Users\Public\Videos"

10. Repeat step 9 for each Public folder that you replaced the desktop.ini file for in steps 5 and 6.

11. Close the elevated command prompt.

12. Restart the computer, or log off and log on again for the changes to take effect.

13. Confirm that the folder icon is back to normal.

14. You can now delete the downloaded folders on the desktop and set your hidden files and folders settings back to normal in step 1 above.

That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

**leo87** · 05-09-2011

Well my icons seem to be correct, but I have a problem with the Public Documents folder when I choose anything above "medium icons" under the Views dropdown menu in the explorer window: The Public Documents' icon seems to remain in its 'medium' size. (see attachment)

I'm using Vista Business 32 bit right now, but I think the same problem exists in my Vista Home Premium 64bit machine.

I tried the above procedure hoping that it would also solve my problem but that wasn't the case. Any ideas?

**Brink** · 05-09-2011

Hello Leo, and welcome to Vista Forums.

Strange, it must be that way by default. I get the same thing.

It using a smaller icon out of the %SystemRoot%\system32\SHELL32.dll file.

If you like you can right click on the folder, click on the Customize tab, Change Icon button, copy and paste the path below in the field box below and press Enter. Next, you could select the same icon below, or another icon if you like, then click on OK. Click on OK again in the folder properties window to apply.

%SystemRoot%\system32\imageres.dll

Hope this helps,
Shawn

**leo87** · 05-09-2011

Hi Shawn,

At least this confirmed that its not only me who has this problem.

So... I've checked %SystemRoot%\system32\SHELL32.dll with IcoFx's extract feature and it seems someone forgot to include the 256px version in the Public Documents icon. ¬¬

Guess using a custom icon is the only way to fix this.

I think I had downloaded a zip with all 256x256 vista icons in png format. Maybe I'll find the right icon there... If I do, I'll post it here.

Thanks,
Leo

**Brink** · 05-09-2011

I hope you do find it, or one that will work for you.

05-09-2011
leo87 Vista Business 32bits 2 posts	Re: Public Folder Icons - Restore Default Icon Well my icons seem to be correct, but I have a problem with the Public Documents folder when I choose anything above "medium icons" under the Views dropdown menu in the explorer window: The Public Documents' icon seems to remain in its 'medium' size. (see attachment) I'm using Vista Business 32 bit right now, but I think the same problem exists in my Vista Home Premium 64bit machine. I tried the above procedure hoping that it would also solve my problem but that wasn't the case. Any ideas? Attached Thumbnails
My System Specs

05-09-2011
Brink Vista x64 Ultimate SP2, Windows 7 Ultimate x64 SP1 29,811 posts Texas, USA	Re: Public Folder Icons - Restore Default Icon Hello Leo, and welcome to Vista Forums. Strange, it must be that way by default. I get the same thing. It using a smaller icon out of the %SystemRoot%\system32\SHELL32.dll file. If you like you can right click on the folder, click on the Customize tab, Change Icon button, copy and paste the path below in the field box below and press Enter. Next, you could select the same icon below, or another icon if you like, then click on OK. Click on OK again in the folder properties window to apply. %SystemRoot%\system32\imageres.dll Hope this helps, Shawn
My System Specs

05-09-2011
leo87 Vista Business 32bits 2 posts	Re: Public Folder Icons - Restore Default Icon Hi Shawn, At least this confirmed that its not only me who has this problem. So... I've checked %SystemRoot%\system32\SHELL32.dll with IcoFx's extract feature and it seems someone forgot to include the 256px version in the Public Documents icon. ¬¬ Guess using a custom icon is the only way to fix this. I think I had downloaded a zip with all 256x256 vista icons in png format. Maybe I'll find the right icon there... If I do, I'll post it here. Thanks, Leo
My System Specs

05-09-2011
Brink Vista x64 Ultimate SP2, Windows 7 Ultimate x64 SP1 29,811 posts Texas, USA	Re: Public Folder Icons - Restore Default Icon I hope you do find it, or one that will work for you.
My System Specs

Similar topics to: Public Folder Icons - Restore Default Icon
Tutorial	Category
Folder Icon - Change Vista Default Folder Icon	Tutorials
Folder Icon In vista public desktop location	General Discussion
Restore default User folder icons	General Discussion
help me to restore the securitysetting of c:\users\public and default	Vista General
Folder Icons...Restore to default?	Vista General

Vista - Public Folder Icons - Restore Default Icon

Public Folder Icons - Restore Default Icon

Public Folder Icons - Restore Default Icon problems?