Date: February 28, 2005
Subject: Customizing the Desktop

One of the nicer features of Microsoft Windows is the ability that it gives computer users to customize the appearance of their work environment. With this bulletin we will show you how to use this aspect of Windows to make your desktop appear just the way you want it to. These instructions are specific to Windows XP but users of other Windows versions should find them similar enough to their own to be able to use.

All of the hints below refer to the "Display Properties" dialogue. To open this program just right-click on any empty area of your desktop and select "Properties" from the drop down menu.

1 - Backgrounds - The simplest desktop customization is to change the background. Any image or pattern of any size can be used as a background although the most pleasing results occur when the resolution of your chosen background matches that of your display (especially if the image is being stretched to fit the display). To learn the resolution of your display click on the "Settings" tab of the "Display Properties" dialogue, the resolution will be shown about halfway down on the left. To set an image as your desktop background simply right-click on it and select "Set as Background" from the drop down menu. This will work with images stored on your system as well as those you discover over the internet. Numerous images were installed with Windows XP as well, these can be found by clicking on the "Desktop" tab of the "Display Properties" dialogue. Here you can also set whether the image will be tiled (the image will be tiled to fill the display), centered (the image will be centered in the display) or stretched (the image will be stretched to fill the entire display).

2 - Screensavers - Screensavers are programs that run when your computer has been idle for a set period of time. Windows XP ships with a number of screensavers which can be found under the "Screen Saver" tab of the "Display Properties" dialogue. Here you can also set the amount of time the computer must be idle before the screensaver begins as well as the optional password to type to be able to exit the screensaver and return to your normal display. Although not foolproof the password option can be a handy security feature when you have to leave your system unattended for a short period of time. Additional screensavers can be downloaded from a vast number of websites and any that are installed will be added to the list of available screensavers. Care must be exercised when downloading screensavers and installing them as some websites will circulate spyware as part of a screensaver package. Also, since the a screensaver is really a program which, like any software, can be either beneficial and harmful and may contain software you would rather not have running on your system.

3 - Themes - Beginning with Windows 95 computer users have been able to configure their desktop so that the background, icons, screensaver and desktop colours are consistent within a given theme. Again, Windows XP is installed with numerous themes which can be found under the "Themes" tab of the "Display Properties" dialogue. Many additional themes are available over the internet dealing with any imaginable topic. As will screensavers care must be taken when downloading themes as websites exist that will used themes and screensavers as bait to attract people so as to install spyware and/or viruses on their systems.

4 - Appearance - To change the overall appearance of your desktop without installing a theme you can click on the "Appearance" tab of the "Display Properties" and select from one of the pre-installed Windows default "Windows and buttons," "Color scheme" and "Font size." Many computer users find that their ability to read the display can be enhanced by simply trying various combinations of these settings. For direct control of a specific aspect of the Windows desktop click on the "Advanced" button on the lower right. A new window will open in which you can alter the appearance of almost every component of the desktop.

6 - Resolution - In order to increase displayed text size or show more information on your display you can modify the resolution by clicking the "Settings" tab of the "Display Properties" dialogue. A slider allowing you to alter the "Screen resolution" appears about halfway down on the left and can be adjusted to any value that is supported by your display and your video card. To increase the size of the displayed text you would reduce the resolution (move the slider to the left) and to increase amount of information that you can display you would increase the resolution (move the slider to the right). "Colour quality" (the accuracy of the colour that will be displayed) can also be chosen here. For basic text and data entry colour quality will not have a significant impact but if you work with images higher qualities will make your work more enjoyable. On older systems or systems with limited video memory reducing the colour accuracy may also moderately improve system performance. Be careful when adjusting these settings but if you find that you have chosen a setting that cannot be displayed simply wait for a minute or two and Windows will revert back to its previous settings.