How to Restore Windows XP Desktop Themes & Screensavers
A desktop theme on the Windows operating system contains various information about the look, feel, and sound of your operating system. It includes the background image on your main desktop display, the colors of various task bars, font sizes, and sounds that accompany warnings and notices that pop up on your screen. A screensaver is the image or animation that is displayed when your computer is idle for a determined period of time. All of these configurations can be customized by the user, but you may eventually want to change your desktop theme and screensaver back to the original Windows XP settings. This process is quick and easy following a few simple steps.
- Difficulty:
- Easy
Instructions
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1
Turn on your computer and let it load to the main desktop screen, or minimize all of your programs by clicking on the minus sign at the top right-hand corner of the window.
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2
Move your cursor to somewhere in the center of the screen over the background and away from any icons or task bars.
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3
Right-click on the screen and notice a window that pops up displaying words and phrases such as "Arrange Icons By" and "Refresh." Scroll down to the bottom and click on the "Properties" option.
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4
Observe a window that opens entitled, "Display Properties." This box will contain tabs at the top with names like "Desktop" and "Themes." Make sure you are currently under the "Themes" tab.
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5
Find a drop-down menu in the "Themes" tab underneath the word "Theme" and above the display sample. Click on the down arrow on the right of this drop-down menu, then highlight the option "Windows XP" and select it.
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Move your cursor to the bottom right of the window and click the "OK" button. This will change all of your desktop themes and screen savers back to the original Windows XP settings.
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1
Tips & Warnings
If you only wish to restore certain elements of the theme back to the Windows XP settings, you can go under other tabs in the "Display Properties" window and change them back to "Windows XP" individually. For example, to change your background image to the Windows XP original setting, go to the "Desktop" tab and select "Windows XP" from the list beneath the word "Background."
