To keep better track of my work I decided to colour code my folders. I created a general folder icon (icon.ico) and put this in the folder. Depending on the status of the folder I change the colour of this icon and would like to have the folder change colour accordingly. For example:

Red = needs response
Yellow=awaiting followup
Green=finished

I have managed to change the folder icon. I am using the desktop.ini file to make sure the icon would always be found even if the station name would be different on a next boot. This is the content of my desktop.ini file

[.ShellClassInfo]
IconResource=.\icon.ico,0

Now, for the problem. I have a folder which is marked with red, I sent my response and tried changing the colour of the folder. So first I changed the colour in my icon file and expected it to automatically change the colour of my folder, which didn't happen... Then I tried to set the folder icon manually but still the colour remained the same, even though the icon file has been altered. I changed the folder icon to a completely different icon and changed back to the one I wanted after that and still the colour stayed red. Only when I change the name of my folder it would display the colour correctly.

So I figured the problem would be that windows kept some sort of database for these icons. After some searching it turned out this could be deleted with disk clean-up. Tried this, still no results.

Is there some way to have windows (using windows 8.1) react the way I want it to?

With kind regards.

The custom icon replaces the folder icon everywhere the folder name appears, it seems that original desktop.ini file still take effect unless you change the file name. not sure the reason, but maybe you can try this tool, it is easier to change the folder color as you want.

http://www.folderico.com/

• Marked as answer by Yolanda ZhuMicrosoft contingent staff, Moderator Thursday, December 05, 2013 1:28 AM

The "folderico" tool works fine - after click the icon change immediately. But how to achieve this form form C++? or form console ? After I change desktop.ini the it takes seconds or minutes after icon change.

Any Help ?