Windows 11 not creating Desktop.ini files, not updating folder preview.

I use a lot of custom folder preview files. For important stuff I create a custom cover .png file for the subject. I used Customizer God to change the folder icon image to show a full image instead of a preview. A few problems:

• Sometimes when I go to the folder Properties and Choose a new file for the folder picture it will not change. I have the folder optimized for pictures.
• In some folders Windows will not create a new Desktop.ini file, which is very strange.
• Sometimes when I try to reset icons I'll find entire subfolders set with the icon of the higher folder, as in the example.

I'd appreciate some advice please. Thanks in advance!

The desktop.ini file is a hidden file used to store information about the arrangement of a Windows folder. Essentially, if the layout or settings for a folder are changed, a desktop.ini file is automatically generated to save those changes.

Thanks, I know that it's supposed to, and yet it doesn't. Here's a folder with Hidden Files shown. I moved things around, changed the folder type, changed the folder image. Still no desktop.ini. Plus in some other folders when there is a desktop.ini files the folder ignores its settings. I haven't seen Windows do this before, and I've used every version since 3.11.

Andacar said:

I moved things around

Click to expand...

Might it be possible that in your moving the file, the original file path has become corrupted?

Possible, I suppose. But the weird thing is there are other folders that haven't had a desktop.ini file for a long time. Also to FreeBooter, I looked at the instructions you posted (thanks!) and it requires making every folder a system folder, which is a weird requirement.

I've been copying and pasting a desktop.ini file into folders missing it and it helps. It doesn't explain why they're missing in the first place.

First of all if you did not know Desktop.ini is hidden file.

The desktop.ini is a part of the operating system you can either choose to delete or hide it, but cannot stop it from being generated.

Even if you delete it, the file is generated automatically after the folder settings have been changed to default.

Andacar said:

Possible, I suppose. But the weird thing is there are other folders that haven't had a desktop.ini file for a long time.

Click to expand...

Those are what I believe are called hard linked, buried somewhere they work better than shortcuts, but when the hard-links get brkn and iirc the os then creates the .ini .
I used to be more involved back in the 3.11 days, I'm rusty as hell now, used to help in the 7F BSOD forum aka organized chaos, it was fun.

Andacar said:

I've been copying and pasting a desktop.ini file into folders missing it and it helps. It doesn't explain why they're missing in the first place.

Click to expand...

There should be a PS Cmd to do what you want to do, chk if the .ini is missing. If yes then add to file, if no go to next.
3.11 was where I used the Cmd line a lot.

Something like this: Add a newline only if it doesn't exist | Stackoverflow

Desktop.ini is a file that has a System, Hidden attribute.

To show them, enable "Show protected operating system files" on the File Explorer Folder options.

jbcarreon123 said:

Desktop.ini is a file that has a System, Hidden attribute.

To show them, enable "Show protected operating system files" on the File Explorer Folder options.

Show Hidden Files, Folders, and Drives in Windows 11

This tutorial will show you how to hide or show hidden files, folders, and drives and protected operating system files for your account in Windows 11. Hidden files, folders, and drives do not show by default in Windows. Hidden files, folders, and drives are marked with the hidden attribute...

www.elevenforum.com

Click to expand...

That is no longer an option.

What happened recently?

I all of a sudden see those ini files even tho I have the "Hide protected operating system files (recommended)" option turned on (box checked, therefore the files invisible). But I do have the other option in options that allows less crucial hidden files to be visible turned on ("show hidden files, folders and drives"). in the past this wasn't enough to make desktop.ini files visible. One reallyt had to uncheck or disable the "Hide protected..." option. Otherwise even with the "show hidden files" option turned on, desktop.ini files remained hidden. That's how it was for 20+ years (I have used Microsoft Windows since it was invented. Those desktop.ini files are very old and have always been totally hidden until this year. It seems like Microsoft has now decided to "downgrade" them from potected system + hidden status to merely "hidden" status very recently. It happens this new year in February or something. So now I see those damn ini files everywhere despite me continuing to have the "protected system" files still in invisible mode.