Folder Background Images in WinXP
by Jeff Starr on Monday, October 16, 2006 – 26 Responses
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)![[ Jeff Starr ]](http://images.monzilla.biz/serious/jeff-starr.png)
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26 Responses
Bernd – #1
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 – #2
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 – #3
how to Change Windows xp start button Text
Perishable – #4
Faiz,
Remember, always search before commenting ;)
Ahmed – #5
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 – #6
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 – #7
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 – #8
Sorry i fixed it the text should have said IconArea_Text=0×00ffffff
Perishable – #9
zabu,
Try this instead:
ICONAREA_TEXT=16777215zabu – #10
ok thanks. is there a difference?
Perishable – #11
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 – #12
Got the result I was looking for. Thanks for your help.
Perishable – #13
You’re quite welcome — glad to be of service!
P0t3nk – #14
How to center a folder background? Please tell me as soon as possible
asd – #15
can we make the background stretch and does not repeat itself???
Perishable – #16
P0t3nk and asd:
As far as I know, Windows XP provides no native method for applying such properties to the background images displayed in folders.
However, using your favorite image-editing software and a little imagination, creating a workable solution should be relatively simple.
Good luck ;)
CandyShopGirl – #17
Wazzup!
What do you think about love? >:)
Perishable – #18
Wow — good question..
I think that God is love, and that in order to know love, we must first know God. ;)
Thanks for the stimulating comment!
Trey – #19
Thank you for the help I downloaded a little program that did this for me however I prefer to do it the old fashioned way. It just seems more stable to me. Thank you for the information. I feel a little more reassured about this program now that I know what it is doing.Oh, the name is IESHWIZ I dont sponsor website so do a search and see if you like it. It is automated but for some computers you may not have the privelege to change certain settings mabey this will let you get through that problem. Good Luck, and Happy Coding.
Perishable – #20
Trey, thanks for the heads up on IESHWIZ. Something like that may be just the ticket for quite a few folks. I totally agree with you, however, about preferring “the old fashioned way” of tweaking Windows. Any opportunity to avoid the installation of yet another unnecessary software program is most welcome, especially when direct configuration is possible. Thanks for the feedback! ;)
light – #21
i have a question about the desktop.ini… how could you be permanent in the usb.. ive seen this before in my friends usb.. w/out changing the address of an usb ..tnx..hope you can help me about this..
Perishable – #22
light,
I am not exactly sure as to what you are referring. Frankly, I am not certain that I could answer the question even if you had been crystal clear.. Have you tried searching around on Google? Sorry I couldn’t offer more help.
borneo headhunter – #23
is there by chance a code to make the background image fixed while scrolling?
enche rajoo – #24
ive show hidden file,but there no desktop.ini…izit any ways i can create desktop.ini?
Perishable – #25
Hi enche rajoo,
The
desktop.inifile may already be there, but it might be hidden from view. Try going intoTools > Folder Options > Viewand checking the option to “Show hidden files and folders”. After doing that, check for the file, and if you still don’t see it, you will have to create it. Simply right-click within the target directory/window and select “New > Text Document”. Name the new file “desktop.ini” and you are good to go!enche rajoo – #26
thanx pal!:)