How to Configure a Desktop Background
On a computer, the desktop background--also known as the "wallpaper"--is the large image that is displayed behind the desktop icons. Most operating systems allow you to configure the desktop background to be any desired image, giving you the ability to look at the picture you want as you use your computer. Configure your desktop background when you find yourself in the mood to visually change your computing experience.
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Instructions
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Configuring a Desktop Background in Windows
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1
Right click with the mouse pointer over an open area of the desktop, and click "Personalize" in Windows Vista and 7, or "Properties" in previous Windows versions.
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2
Click the "Desktop Background" link in Windows Vista and 7, or the "Desktop" tab in previous Windows versions.
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3
Click the drop-down menu next to "Location" in Windows Vista and 7 and select the category (e.g., "Windows Wallpapers") that you would like to select a desktop background from. If you are running a previous version of Windows, skip this step.
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4
Select the wallpaper image you would like to use by clicking on it. Alternatively, click the "Browse" button, navigate to the location of the image that you would like to use, and double click it.
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5
Click an icon on the bottom of the screen to select an orientation for the image (centered, stretched or tiled) in Windows Vista and 7. In previous versions of Windows, use the drop-down menu on the right side of the window to select the image orientation.
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6
Click "Save Changes" or "OK" to save your settings.
Configuring a Desktop Background in Mac OS
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7
Right click with the mouse pointer in an open area of the desktop, and click "Change Desktop Background." If you have a single-button mouse, hold the "Ctrl" key while clicking.
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8
Click a folder on the left side of the screen to select an image category (e.g., "Nature" or Abstract).
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9
Click an image thumbnail in the main area of the window to change the desktop background immediately.
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10
Close the window when you are pleased with your selection.
Configuring a Desktop Background in Ubuntu
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11
Right click with the mouse pointer in an open area of the desktop, and click "Change Desktop Background."
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12
Click the image that you would like to use as your wallpaper. If the image is part of a series, a right-facing green arrow appears below the image. Click the arrow to cycle through the images in the series. Each change is reflected on the desktop immediately.
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13
Click the drop-down menu next to "Style" to change the image orientation (e.g., tiled, zoomed or centered).
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14
Click the "Close" button when you are pleased with your selection.
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