Changing your Desktop Scheme in Windows 98

(Or "Making Over Your Puter")

Tired of the same old, boring desktop?  I just learned how to fix that!  This is really simple and easy for giving a new fresh look.  You can change everything from the box colors to the text size and colors.

  1. Close all open programs.  On your desktop, right click.  Under Active desktop/Customize My Desktop/ in the Display Properties, click on the Appearance tab.
  2. There you will find many different preset schemes.  You can also create your own scheme, using the colors and fonts of your choice.  I created one that I saved as "Mossgreens".  Once you've decided on a background color, go to the Item box, and scroll up to the Desktop item.  Click on the color box, /other and choose your color.  I chose a soft green.
  3. Next go back to the Item box and scroll to the top of the list.  The first item I changed was the Active Title Bar.  I left it at size 19, and changed the color to a shade darker than my background.  I also chose an even darker green under "color 2" for the gradient in the box tops.  Next I changed the font to one I like, Comic Sans (Western), size 9.  

    You may have to experiment with the size, depending on the font you choose.  Some are very tiny and some are very wide.   I chose white for the color.  As you change things, you'll notice the example windows change along with you, so you can see how it will appear.

  4. Ok, now we can move down the list, and make more changes. I left the Active Window Border the same, but changed the Application Background to a very light green. I left the Icon items the same,  but changed the Inactive Title bar to font Comic Sans, size 9 and a medium green color.  I didn't change the Inactive Window Border.  I changed the font for menu to Comic Sans, size 9, color black.
  5. Keep moving down the list and change all the text items to Comic sans or the font you've chosen.   I chose size 11 for the Message Box, black color.  The Palette Title also is font size 9.  The Selected items is also Comic Sans, size 9, white.  The last item I changed was the Window.....I chose white and font color black.  You can choose whatever colors you like and they will all be used in every program you open in Windows.

  6. Once you've made all your changes, click on "Save as", and name your scheme.  I named mine "Mossgreens".  It will be saved for you to use anytime.  Click on "Apply", and check out your new look.  If something isn't quite right, go back and change it in the desktop settings.

Here is an example of how my desktop now looks in my favorite program, Paint Shop Pro.

I hope this little tutorial is useful and you've enjoyed learning more about the desktop in Windows 98 :)  If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to email me :)

 

All my tutorials are original works created by me.

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©Angie's Arts 2000, May 2001

 

 

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