This brief tutorial explains how to add a background image to any folder in Windows XP.
First, make sure all hidden files are visible on your system. Then, open the folder for which you wish to add a background image. Within the folder, right-click and select Properties » Customize tab » Customize. There, choose any icon, click Apply and OK.
That process should have created a "desktop.ini" file. Open that file with a text editor and add these lines of code:
[ExtShellFolderViews]
{BE098140-A513-11D0-A3A4-00C04FD706EC}={BE098140-A513-11D0-A3A4-00C04FD706EC}
[{BE098140-A513-11D0-A3A4-00C04FD706EC}]
IconArea_Image=C:\path\folder\background.jpgTo customize this according to your needs, edit the path in the last line to reflect to the location of the image you wish to use as the background image for that folder. Refresh the folder and the new background should appear.
Finally, to remove the default icon chosen during the creation of the desktop.ini and restore the default folder icon, delete these lines of code from within the desktop.ini file:
[.ShellClassInfo]
IconFile=%SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll
IconIndex=(some number)
26 Responses
Bernd – October 28, 2006
Nice tip but … this njust tiles the image. How about a tip to scale it instead to window size. And aside from that how about some insight into what the long codes mean and how they function?
Perishable – October 29, 2006
Bernd,
Thank you for the feedback. Here are few more tips for you (I sure hope they help!):
1. Scaling images >> according to virtualplastic.net,
..Although, in that same article the author provides several additional tips that may help you. Perhaps you could employ some sort of image editor to "manipulate" your image into something that works for you..?
2. Microsoft code >> To be quite honest with you, I have no idea "what the long codes mean and how they function." But if I did, I would definitely share my insights with you, Bernd.
3. Other resources >> Of course, there is always the internet, which may provide you with additional sources of information. When I went there, I found this article to be of some help, insofar as the tool provided seemed to automate the process to some relative degree. You may also try searching for a program called Windowpaper XP.
Good luck, Bernd!
Faiz – January 7, 2007
how to Change Windows xp start button Text
Perishable – January 7, 2007
Faiz,
Remember, always search before commenting ;)
Ahmed – January 17, 2007
i tried, but that doesn’t work. i could’nt find any file named desktop.ini. is there any way to add a background.
Perishable – January 21, 2007
Ahmed,
It is likely that Windows is "hiding" your system files. Go to
Tools > Folder Options > View taband check "Show hidden files and folders". Windows should then display all files, including thedesktop.inifile referenced in this article. Then, after you have finished editing, you may return to theView taband "hide" the system files again.zabu – February 10, 2007
i have a dark image on my folder and i’ve put this to make the text white IconArea_Text=0xffffffff the problem is that the file’s name continues being black and the only white area of the text is the one that shows the file size and that stuff.
zabu – February 10, 2007
Sorry i fixed it the text should have said IconArea_Text=0x00ffffff
Perishable – February 11, 2007
zabu,
Try this instead:
ICONAREA_TEXT=16777215zabu – February 11, 2007
ok thanks. is there a difference?
Perishable – February 12, 2007
Yes, in this case, the color "white" is represented in "decimal" notation. For more information on color encoding for the web, check out this article at Wikipedia.
David – July 29, 2007
Got the result I was looking for. Thanks for your help.