Solved: desktop.ini file not working properly

Recently, I customized some of my folders backgrounds, font colors etc. with the desktop.ini files. However, I came to know that it works only for a few folders and not everyone. e.g.: When I copy the desktop.ini file from one folder to say 5 other folders, it works only for 2-3 of them and not all of them. I tried changing the attributed of folders to read only etc. but nothing happened. Moreover, I'm the administrator of the pc. Kindly shed some light as to why this is happening. Really confused with it.

 

The desktop.ini should have the attrib of system, and the folder containing it also needs to have the attrib of system for it to have an effect.
The folders it's working in for you have likely been previously customized and already been changed to a system attribute.

Simplest way to do what you want is to simply change the icon of the folder using Properties>Change icon. That will create a desktop.ini in the folder and set the system attribute.
Open the desktop.ini and copy>paste what you want into it.
Basically, let Windows do the work.

Alternatively, you can set the system attrib using Command Prompt.
Start>Run>type cmd.exe>OK.
At the prompt, type attrib +s "full path to folder" and press Enter.
The "full path to folder" would be, for example, C:\Documents and Settings\username\My Documents\foldername, wrapped in quotes.

 

thanks a lot throoper!!! it works now. However, is it possible to make a newly and manually created desktop.ini file to automatically (or by default) have the system attributes? Moreover, is it possible to provide the desktop.ini file to possess the system attributes (I mean only the desktop.ini file not the folder)? just out of curiosity.

 

It's the folder that NEEDS the system attribute, not the Desktop.ini.
You can create a new text file and rename it to Desktop.ini and it should work in any folder with the system attribute.
The only reason to make the Desktop.ini a hidden system file is to "super hide" it, so you don't have the "ghost" file image if you normally have hidden files and folders showing (it will only show if you've unchecked "Hide protected operating system files" in the Folder Options).

 

hmmm... got it. thanks a lot for the help throoper!!!
btw, I can't find any "thanks" or "rep-up" button here for your profile.
This forum needs to provide them soon.