One of our readers wrote telling that in Windows Explorer some files are shown with tick mark in a green box and some with chevron in a blue box regardless of the file type. Here is a screenshot explaining the situation.
I inspected the ShellIconOverlayIdentifiers registry key which is located at:
(Note that the Icon Overlay handlers are registered under the ShellIconOverlayIdentifiers registry key.)
It showed the following GUIDs registered under it.
Subkey : OverlayExcluded
GUID : {4433A54A-1AC8-432F-90FC-85F045CF383C}
Subkey : OverlayPending
GUID : {F17C0B1E-EF8E-4AD4-8E1B-7D7E8CB23225}
Subkey : OverlayProtected
GUID : {476D0EA3-80F9-48B5-B70B-05E677C9C148}
After Googling the GUIDs, it was noted that the entries were added by Norton 360. Norton 360 v2 adds a feature called "Backup Status Indicators" which clearly identifies which files have been backed up, which files are pending backup and which are excluded from backup. This feature is responsible for the Tick mark (green box) and double arrow (blue box) overlay icons.
Quoting PCMag:
A check in a green box means the file’s backup is current, while a chevron (ยป) character in a blue box indicates a file that’s been changed since its last backup. Files excluded from the backup set display a slash in a gray box.
If you don’t need the backup indicators feature you can turn it off by clicking Settings in the Norton 360 main window, disabling the Backup Status Indicators check box and clicking Close.
Norton 360 Main window
No Norton 360, but have MozyHome Backup installed?
MozyHome Backup program adds a green checkmark overlay icon for files which are included in your backup list. To disable the overlay, select the following checkbox in Mozy Options:
Enabling this option hides the icons that displays next to files and folders in Windows Explorer when a file is included in your backup list.
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thankyou thankyou – those ticks were driving me mad – great blog this is !
Thanks to all who responded to my green tag problem. I spent countless hours trying to figure it out until Microsoft sent me to this site. This site is now in my Favorits
thank so much. I have been looking everywhere about the green tags. they are on my photos and I could find nothing until I saw you answered another question about these tags. The picture above helped me know this was also my problem. I never would have figured it from norton. I have tried everything at microsoft and photo gallery. Finally a solution!
Well, it’s been months of investigation for me. A quick query to microsoft and they sent me to this site. I was working with a new OS, new computer, new virus program I didn’t know where to start. Thanks for the great information.
Another techno dummy thanks you!! I could not figure out the source of these more than annoying icons. I dunned ACDsee, Photoshop, Windows. Never thought of Norton. Why they would think an icon 50% the size of the thumbnail is needed I can’t fathom. And, as usual “help” is of absolutely no use. THANK YOU!
I spent at least two hours looking through guides and tutorials and help menus – You saved a great amount of additional time and major frustration. You are a great friend to all of us “techrons” (in Florida we call tourists who are driving like morons, “Tourons” so I suppose it is fair that I be a techron. Thank You!