Not sure what you're saying, but I only saw this thread because of Mack's
post. More than a few shades of karma in that one, I can tell you.

I don't like leaving you wondering. What acronyms or phrases, etc., did you
not understand?

I doubt it's intended. Perhaps *necessary* in order to avoid bigger
problems, and most probably the unintended side-effect of some bit of code
that if you knew what it was you'd say, "Well, I like that, too." In short,
a "bug".

It's not forbidden to post links to information or utilities you've tried
out and found useful, provided there's no hint of you personally benefitting
(i.e., you're not selling it.) Otherwise it would be considered SPAM.
However, it is precisely these kinds applications (tabbed Explorer? Whoa!)
that are FULL of uninstended consequences. While I think your original issue
is a bug, and I strongly recommend that you do what you can to report it as
such to MS, it could *also* be the unintended consequence of another
application's presence.

If I get bored today, or tomotrrow or whatever, I'll see if I can replicate
it on my reasonably pristine Vista test installation. If I can, I'll let you
know, and maybe even see about officially bugging it with Microsoft through
other channels. Problem is, my installation isn't *totally* pristine, and to
file an honest bug report, I'd have to flatten and reinstall to see if it
still happens, and if not, repeat my previous installation of apps and see
which one triggers the behavior. In short, don't expect any answers from me
any time soon, or ever, for that matter.

Threshold,

I did replicate your issue, but only in two instances. I'm sure I could keep
playing, but it's not as simple and straightforward as you report.

I created 6 folders on the desktop and gave them distinctive icons. Opened
them all, maximized the first, created and added text to a TXT file, saved
it, and the icon changed just as you said (can't recall if it was at the
time of saving or upon normalizing the size of the window.)

But then I couldn't get any of the other folders to repeat the behavior no
matter how many different way I tried it. So I closed them all, opened them
all again, and still could not repeat the behavior, until I accidentally
opened WMP in the tray instead of Windows Mail. I knew what I'd done and
closed WMP before it half finished opening, really, then looked down to see
*all* of the folders had switched to that icon of the folder with
upward-pointing arrow.

It's a bug, no doubt, but as to it's source, that would take an awful lot of
testing. I can't say if it's strictly a Vista bug, as opposed to being
caused by some 3rd-party addition, without installing a fresh copy and
that's not something I want to do right now. Maybe next week. (I *do* have
to flatten this one soon.) If it *is* strictly a Vista bug, you'll just have
to hope to get lucky and run into the person who can explain it based upon
past experience and a lot of time in the NGs, or even an MSFT or beta tester
(who isn't constrained by an NDA) who noticed it, bugged it, perhaps even
determined the source of the issue. I can't say because while I signed up
for those programs, and occasionally played with a build for a day or two,
my bad health kept me from full participation.

Or MS may not even know about it. So, after I've tested on a fresh
installations of various versions of Vista, starting with the most minimal
install of the most basic versions, then working through additions of
features, upgrades, etc., until I run into the behavior again, then I'll
pass this thread along to my Lead (MVP Program primary contact for my
section) and see if it goes anywhere from there. A KB article, if nothing
else, if it turns out to be caused by certain specific conditions that a
user might conceivably want to avoid.

What I'd like to know is just what that icon of the folder with the
upward-pointing arrow is intended to signify, though it's possible, too,
that it's being that icon is entirely coincidental.