Desktop settings

[John]

In the grand scheme of things, this isn't a big deal, but it's
annoying me:

By default, the labels under XP desktop icons use white lettering on a
transparent background (i.e., it looks like the letters are just
sitting on the wallpaper). Somehow, while trying to do something
else, my wife changed the setting so I now have either white or black
lettering on a colored background. I can see how to change the color
of the background using the Desktop tab of the desktop Properties.
But I can't figure out how to get it back to transparent.

Can somebody help me or point me to where I can find the trick?

Thanks.

Reply-to address is real
John

 

[Alan Edwards]

Re: Desktop settings

Four things are required for transparent icon backgrounds:

1.Control Panel-System-Advanced-Performance Settings.
Check "Use drop shadows for icon labels on the desktop" on the Visual
Effects tab.

2.Right-click on Desktop - "Arrange Icons by" and ensure Lock Web
items is cleared.

3.Transparency will not work if you have web content on your desktop,
Control Panel - Display Properties - Desktop tab - Customize Desktop -
Web tab. Clear all check boxes.

4. Ensure the Wallpaper is an image file not HTML.

....Alan
--
Alan Edwards, MS MVP Windows - Internet Explorer
http://dts-l.com/index.htm



On Thu, 29 May 2008 20:54:04 -0400, in
microsoft.public.windowsxp.general, John <fakeaddress@nowhere.com>
wrote:

>In the grand scheme of things, this isn't a big deal, but it's
>annoying me:
>
>By default, the labels under XP desktop icons use white lettering on a
>transparent background (i.e., it looks like the letters are just
>sitting on the wallpaper). Somehow, while trying to do something
>else, my wife changed the setting so I now have either white or black
>lettering on a colored background. I can see how to change the color
>of the background using the Desktop tab of the desktop Properties.
>But I can't figure out how to get it back to transparent.
>
>Can somebody help me or point me to where I can find the trick?
>
>Thanks.
>
>Reply-to address is real
>John

 

[John]

Re: Desktop settings

On Fri, 30 May 2008 11:13:35 +1000, Alan Edwards
<edwards@southcom.com.au> wrote:

>Four things are required for transparent icon backgrounds:
>
>1.Control Panel-System-Advanced-Performance Settings.
>Check "Use drop shadows for icon labels on the desktop" on the Visual
>Effects tab.
>
>2.Right-click on Desktop - "Arrange Icons by" and ensure Lock Web
>items is cleared.
>
>3.Transparency will not work if you have web content on your desktop,
>Control Panel - Display Properties - Desktop tab - Customize Desktop -
>Web tab. Clear all check boxes.
>
>4. Ensure the Wallpaper is an image file not HTML.
>
>...Alan

That did it, thank you! (It was the second step -- lock web items --
that was misconfigured.)

Thanks for the help, Alan, I'm sure I would never have figured that
one out myself.

Reply-to address is real
John