Folder Colors

[Jeff]

This question seems ridiculously simple, yet I find myself
unable to discover an answer.

When I had Windows 98 I created a folder with custom
colors. I had a cool pattern background and lime green
names for the contents of the folder. It seemed a great
idea back then. However, after updating to XP, the
folder's background has disappeared, yet the lime green
content names remain. For those of you unaware, lime green
on white does not provide the easiest contrast for my eyes
to pick up on. Therefore, I wish to replace the lime
green, despite the greatness of this color, with black, in
order to ease the strain on my poor eyes. But, though the
task seems simple enough, I cannot seem to find any option
within the XP folder to change this setting. Can anyone
help? Thanks in advance.

 

[Wesley VogelX]

Jeff;

From XP HELP:
How to Change the Default Icons for Folders in Windows XP

SUMMARY
You cannot customize the default icon for a folder in Windows; however, you
can make a shortcut to a folder and change the look of the shortcut icon.
MORE INFORMATION
To make a shortcut to a folder and change the look of the shortcut icon:
1.. Open My Computer and browse to the folder that you want.
2.. Right-click the folder, and then click Create Shortcut. If you are
prompted to place the shortcut on the desktop, click Yes.
3.. Right-click the shortcut you created, click Properties, and then click
Change Icon.
4.. Click the picture of the icon you would like the shortcut to use, click
OK, and then click OK.
No Icons Available
If you click Change Icon, and there are no icons available, use the Browse
button to find Shell32.dll:
1.. Right-click the shortcut you created, click Properties, and then click
Change Icon.
2.. Click Browse, type %systemroot%\system32\shell32.dll in the File name
box, click Open, click the icon you want to use, click OK, and then click OK.

 

[Keith Miller]

Look for a file named 'desktop.ini' in the folder in question (it may be flagged hidden or system,
set your explorer view options accordingly). Open it for editing in notepad. Look for a line that
starts:

IconArea_Text=...

Changing the value that follows to 0x00000000 for black text.

You can still have individual folder backgrounds and text colors in XP, you just have to do it
manually:

http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_f.htm

Scroll down to "Folder Backgrounds - Customizing" for full instructions.

Keith