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Wallpaper
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This page deals with the basics of Desktop
customization. Most users want their personal computer
personalized. Starting from a wallpaper background that
appeals to you artistically or esthetically, perhaps
that reflects your own interests or hobbies. Create a
collage of photographs or add your signature , name or
initials. If you share your computer, create multiple
desktops. It's easy.
The default location for desktop background images in
Win9.x/Me/XP is C:\WINDOWS\WEB\WALLPAPER. Make your
computer life easier by stashing yours in that folder.
When you right-click on the desktop, choose
'Properties,' the list of images under the 'Background'
tab are those located in that folder. It's a god idea to
investigate what Windows has placed there & delete
anything you don't like.
Any image can be used as a background with XP, but
Win95.98/Me can only use .bmp format pictures from your
hard drive. Convert any other format (.gif or .jpg) to
.bmp with any graphics program, such as Microsoft Paint
which comes with Windows. Whatever program is used, the
procedure is the same. Open the image, left-click on
'File' and choose 'Save As' from the drop-down menu.
Choose .bmp as the format and you're good to go.
A similar procedure may be followed with a collection of
different photographs and/or images, creating one master
picture and saving as a single image. Now you're on your
way to becoming a wallpaper artist. See Resources,
below.
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Icons
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While standard desktop icons (My Computer, My Documents,
Network Neighborhood and Recycle Bin) can be changed by
right-clicking on the Desktop and choosing 'Properties'
in Win98/Me, WinXP really got the message, enabling
further customization options, including the changing
virtually any individual icon. Win9,x/Me users must
create shortcuts to folders or program icons to
customize those shortcut icons (right-click/Properties/Change Icon).
One interesting option is to create folders on the C:\
drive which then contain shortcuts to similar programs.
Label the folders 'Graphics,' 'Utilities,' 'System
Tools,' Web Tools' and the like. In this fashion, access
to those programs will be one click away and from your
desktop rather than scanning through the uncategorized
list on the 'Start' menu. Alternately, these icons could
be placed on the task bar to free the desktop from any
icons whatsoever.
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More
Custom Stuff
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Software enables even greater customization, and while
the instructions for this one are written by someone to whom English
is a second language, TClock
allows for some personalization not possible otherwise, like
this.
Check the Windows Tricks
pages for some other methods of changing your computer
to suit you personally. For those running Windows XP (or
thinking about it) be certain to see the lengthy WinXP
Tips page.
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Resources
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The two major variables, then, that control the
appearance of the desktop as discussed here are the
wallpaper and Icons. While such graphics are widely
available, I've tried to locate some premium sources for
exceptional artwork. These are listed on the Links
page. Be sure to check Desktools
for more options.
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