How to Change Your Windows 7 Starter Edition Desktop Background to a Solid Color

You can give your desktop a solid color background.

One shock to Windows 7 Starter Edition netbook buyers is that Windows 7 Starter Edition does not allow you to perform the basic function of personalizing your desktop background. The option of right clicking on a photo and clicking Set as Background deceptively still shows on the menu but it no longer functions in the Starter Edition version of Windows 7. However, you can still change your Windows 7 desktop background to a solid color and remove the default Windows logo background without adding software or going into the Windows registry.

Things You'll Need

• Computer with Windows 7 Starter Edition

Instructions

1. Access your "Start" menu by clicking the round Microsoft logo in the bottom left-hand corner of the screen.

2. Click "Control Panel." Alternatively, you can type "Control Panel" into the search box and click the link that comes up.

3. Click on the "Ease of Access" icon.

4. Click the second icon in the list, "Make Computer Easier to See (Optimize visual display"), under the "Explore All Settings" menu.

5. Scroll down to the bottom and click the "Remove Background Images (Where available") box. Click "Apply" and then "OK."

6. Open up the Control Panel, then click the "Display" icon.

7. Click the option "Change Color Scheme," then click the "Advanced" button.

8. Select "Desktop" under the "Item" bring-down menu.

9. Choose a color for your desktop in the "Color 1" bring-down menu. Click "OK" to close the "Advanced" menu, then click "OK" to close the "Color and Appearance" window and to set your chosen desktop background color.

References

• Microsoft: Personalize your Computer