Make Desktop Icons Transparent
Switching themes in Windows can have a few side effects that only become apparent after working with the system for some time. Yesterday's switch to the Royale theme for Windows XP has the negative side effect that the text of the icons on the computer's desktop were not transparent but showing in black which did not suite the white background image of the desktop.
The decision was made to search for the setting that would make desktop icons transparent in Windows. It was there, somewhere that was sure but it is sometimes hard to remember if the setting was a standard Windows feature or available through so called Windows tweaking tools.
The option to make desktop icons transparent is a Windows feature which means that every user can set it in his version of Windows without having to install third party software.
It can be found in Control Panel > System. A click on the Advanced tab and Performance loads the menu where the parameter can be changed. The Visual Effects menu contains the entry Use Drop Shadows For Icon Labels On The Desktop. Activating that option will make desktop icons transparent.
This setting reset the theme of the computer which can be easily fixed in the Display Properties.
Switching themes in Windows can have a few side effects that only become apparent after working with the system for some time. Yesterday's switch to the Royale theme for Windows XP has the negative side effect that the text of the icons on the computer's desktop were not transparent but showing in black which did not suite the white background image of the desktop.
The decision was made to search for the setting that would make desktop icons transparent in Windows. It was there, somewhere that was sure but it is sometimes hard to remember if the setting was a standard Windows feature or available through so called Windows tweaking tools.
The option to make desktop icons transparent is a Windows feature which means that every user can set it in his version of Windows without having to install third party software.
It can be found in Control Panel > System. A click on the Advanced tab and Performance loads the menu where the parameter can be changed. The Visual Effects menu contains the entry Use Drop Shadows For Icon Labels On The Desktop. Activating that option will make desktop icons transparent.
This setting reset the theme of the computer which can be easily fixed in the Display Properties.
