Folder fonts changing colors in XP?

[Buz2b]

Ok, so this guy asks me why this happens and I have no idea. The example is in his Documents folder. If you right click and select to make a new folder, type the name and click, the name font color changes or becomes blue. 75% of his folders in Documents have the font name in black. He emptied out his Music folder and the font changed from black to blue.
Maybe it's some kind of simple setting but I've never seen it. Can you clear this up for me? Thanks in advance.

 

[montag451]

There may be a setting enable to show "encrypted" or "compressed" files in a different colour

 

[Buz2b]

Originally posted by: montag451
There may be a setting enable to show "encrypted" or "compressed" files in a different colour

Thanks for the reply. However, none of the files are encrypted or compressed. As a way of duplicated the situation, I created a new folder and the font came up blue. I have this awful feeling it is something simple but can't put my finger on it.

 

[montag451]

It still may be the encrypted/compressed thang...

If you create a folder under a folder that is blue, does your new folder come up as blue?
Do the same under a folder that is black, what colour does your new folder come up as?

 

[wpshooter]

Try unchecking the first box on the view tab under folder options in control panel.

 

[Buz2b]

Originally posted by: wpshooter
Try unchecking the first box on the view tab under folder options in control panel.

That one says "Automatically search for network folders and printers". Is that the one you are suggesting? Just curious as to the reasoning. But heck, I'll try anything to solve this for him.

 

[Buz2b]

Originally posted by: montag451
It still may be the encrypted/compressed thang...

If you create a folder under a folder that is blue, does your new folder come up as blue?
Do the same under a folder that is black, what colour does your new folder come up as?

Haven't tried that yet on his system. I'm going back to his place tomorrow and I'll give it a shot. BTW, what will this mean if something happens either way? Just curious.

 

[AsianriceX]

Blue folders are usually NTFS compressed folders.

More Info

 

[Buz2b]

Originally posted by: AsianriceX
Blue folders are usually NTFS compressed folders.

More Info

You (sort of) get the prize! I went back today and took a fresh look at things with all suggestions in mind. I opened My Computer and then Tools, Folder Options. The next to the last item under View is "Show Encrypted or Compressed NTFS files in color".
montag451 mentioed this first but as I said at that time, as far as I know these were not encrypted nor compressed. However, unchecking the box next to that seemed to cure problem. I guess that is my next question. If these files were neither, why did the problem go away once I unchecked that option I just mentioned? This guy wouldn't know how to encrypt or compress a file if his life depended upon it. Or does the NTFS file system do one of these automatically?

 

[montag451]

If he did a disk cleanup under windows, then it usually prompts to compress certain files.
The YES tab must have been pressed

 

[fire400]

are you sure this isn't an issue that a virus is triggering this kind of effect, versus the possibilities of system error from Windows?

 

[Buz2b]

Originally posted by: fire400
are you sure this isn't an issue that a virus is triggering this kind of effect, versus the possibilities of system error from Windows?

Yup! montag451 had it right. The guy had just done a system cleanup/defrag etc in preparation for a ghost backup. It coincided exactly with that. Once I changed that setting under folder options/view, everything went back to normal. Thanks again to all!