How to Modify a Windows Theme
Since the release of Windows XP--and continuing with Windows Vista and 7--Microsoft has given users the opportunity to modify settings in the operating system environment to create personalized themes. Individual themes consist of the desktop background, color schemes, sounds and screen savers--among other things. Windows 7 and Vista even give you tools to create your own color hues and saturations. After you finish creating and saving Windows themes, you only need to click one button to switch among those you want to display.
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
-
-
1
Click the Windows logo "Start" menu button. Begin to type "personalization" in the search box, then select "Personalization" from the search results list.
-
2
Click "Desktop Background." Click the "Picture location" drop-down menu and select an option such as "Windows Desktop Backgrounds," "Solid Colors" or your "Pictures Library." Click the checkbox next to the background picture you want or select multiple pictures to create a slide show. Click "Save Changes."
-
-
3
Select "Window Color." Click one of the color boxes to change the color of your window borders, as well as the Taskbar and Start menu. Click "Enable transparency," if desired. Slide the color intensity bar to the left or right to change the appearance of the color. Click "Show color mixer" if you want to modify the hue, saturation and brightness. Click "Save Changes."
-
4
Click "Sounds." Select the "Sound Scheme" drop-down menu and choose one of the default sound schemes. You could also click a program event (e.g., close program sound) from the list and click the "Sounds" drop-down menu to select an individual sound for that event. Click "Apply" and "OK" when finished.
-
5
Click "Screen Saver." Select the "Screen saver" drop-down menu and select either a default Windows screen saver option or choose "Photos" to browse and select personal photos from your computer. Click the "Settings" button to change individual screen saver settings, such as the speed for slide show screen savers. Click "Apply," then "OK."
-
6
Click "Change desktop icons" in the left column of the "Personalization" window. Click the "Allow themes to change desktop icons" checkbox. Click the checkbox next to each desktop icon you want displayed for the theme. Click each desktop icon image in the box and click the "Change Icon" button. Select an icon from the default list or click "Browse" to search your computer for additional images. Click "OK" to close the "Change Icon" box. Click "Apply" and "OK" when finished.
-
7
Click "Change mouse pointers" in the left column of the "Personalization" window. Click the "Allow themes to change mouse pointers" checkbox. Select a mouse pointer scheme from the "Scheme" drop-down menu to change the color and/or size of your pointer. Select a "Customize" option to change the appearance of your pointer. Click "Apply" and "OK" to close.
-
8
Save your modified theme. Click once to select the "Unsaved theme" icon from the theme box. Right click and select "Save Theme." Type a name in the "Theme name" box and click "Save."
-
1
