Controlling the appearance of the desktop and most other elements of the graphical interface of Windows OS is collected in one component of the system. You can access it in different ways - the difference is mainly due to the version of the operating system used. In some cases, you cannot do without additional software.
Instructions
Step 1
Right-click the background picture on your desktop. If the computer is running Windows XP, in the bottom line of the pop-up context menu you will find the "Properties" item - select it.
Step 2
By default, the display properties window will open on the Themes tab - here you can change the entire set of design elements, including the background image and the style of icons on the desktop. The sound scheme, the design of the application windows, the appearance of the cursors and the splash screen will also be changed. If you decide to use this option, open the drop-down list with a list of available themes, select the appropriate one and click the "Apply" button. The changes you made will take effect, but if you don't like the result, try another option from the list.
Step 3
To change only the elements of the desktop, and not the theme in general, go to the "Desktop" tab. From the Wallpaper list, select a new image for the “wallpaper”, and click the “Customize Desktop” button to access the icon options. This button opens a separate window, the control elements of which allow you to change the composition of the system element shortcuts on the desktop and their appearance.
Step 4
In later Windows operating systems - Vista and Seven - instead of the "Properties" item in the desktop context menu, select the "Personalization" line. This item will bring up a window in which the themes will be presented with preview pictures, much more informative than the drop-down list in Windows XP. Select and click the theme icon. If you want to change only the background image of the desktop, open the corresponding dialog box by clicking on the leftmost icon under the table with theme options.
Step 5
In some "younger" versions of Windows, the ability to change the desktop design is disabled by the manufacturer. It is possible to circumvent this prohibition in a legal way using specialized programs. They can be found on the Internet and downloaded from there - for example, it can be WindowBlinds, DesktopX, StyleXP, ObjectDock, and a large number of other applications of this kind.
