How to Install Windows XP Color Schemes

Customizing color schemes on your computer is simple and fun.

Customizing the color schemes on your computer is easy to do and enjoyable as well. You can make your computer unique to your personal style or tastes with just a few clicks of the mouse. Whether you simply want to change your desktop background, or do an entire computer makeover, complete with font size and color, Windows XP makes personalizing all aspects of your computer possible.

Instructions

1. Open the start menu, and click on the "Control Panel" menu icon to open the control panel. From the control panel click on the "Appearance and Themes" category. Choose the "Display" option. The Display Properties window will appear. You can also access this window by right-clicking anywhere on the desktop. In the right-click menu that pops up, click "Properties."

2. Click on the downwards pointing arrow next the the text box labeled "Themes." In the drop menu that pops up, select the theme that you want displayed on your computer. Themes include customized background desktop, screen saver, taskbar color, desktop icons and other similar graphical elements. When you have selected the desired theme, a preview of what your computer will look like is displayed in the "Preview" box. Click the "Apply" button at the bottom of the Display Properties window, followed by the "OK" button.

3. Personalize your color scheme by accessing the Display Properties window as previously described. Click on the "Appearance" tab. Select the desired window and button style, color scheme and font size using the drop menus labeled. If you have the "Windows Classic" style selected, you can further customize the colors by clicking on the "Advanced" button. In the "Advanced Appearance" window that appears, you can customize the colors used for virtually every graphical element show on your computer, including active and inactive title bars, window background color, and font color. When you have selected the desired appearance settings, click "OK" in the Advanced Appearance window, and then "Apply" and "OK" in the Display Properties window beneath.

References

• Microsoft: Windows XP Support: Show Your Style! Make Windows Look the Way You Want
• Microsoft: Windows XP Support: Personalize your System with Windows XP