How to Customize Your

Computer’s Appearance

 

 

By

Andrea Meibos

February 24, 1999

English 316

 

Introduction

 

One of the most serious problems that plagues modern computer users is the impersonality of their computer desktops. The most common symptoms are a plain, teal-colored desktop and blue and gray windows (Figure 1).

Figure 1

While one could buy an expensive program like Microsoft Plus! to do this, it is much cheaper to customize by hand. Any plain computer can be personalized quickly and easily to a more enjoyable, more productive workspace. (Figure 2)

This guide assumes that you already know how to complete basic Windows tasks such as file management and opening applications.

Figure 2

The Wallpaper

 

  1. From the Start Menu, choose Settings, then Control Panel (Figure 3).

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    Figure 3

  2. Double-click the Display icon (Figure 4).

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    Figure 4

  3. Click one of the images listed under Wallpaper. A preview of the image will appear above.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Figure 5

  1. Click OK once more and then your image will be the desktop wallpaper!

The Colors

  1. Just as you did in steps 2 and 3 above, go into the Control Panel and choose Display.
  2. Click on the Appearance tab at the top of the Display window (Figure 6)

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    Figure 6

     

  3. Under Scheme, click on the down arrow and then choose a color scheme that matches your background (Figure 7).

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    Figure 7

  4. A preview of what these colors will look like will appear.

  1. To make your own scheme, click on the item whose color you wish to change in the preview area. For example, to change the color of the OK button and other similar objects, click on the OK button in the preview window (Figure 8).

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    Figure 8

     

  2. Under Color, click on the down arrow and choose another color (Figure 9)

    3.  

     

     


     

     

     

     

    Figure 9

     

  3. If you would like to use another color, click on the Other button to bring up the color chooser.

  4. Either click on one of the Basic colors on the left, or choose a different color by clicking on that color in the color blend on the right. To change the luminance, or brightness of a color, click and drag on the triangular slider on the far right (Figure 10). Click OK.

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    Figure 10

  5. Repeat steps 5-8 for each item whose color you wish to change.

  6. Save your color scheme by clicking on the Save As… button and typing a name for your scheme (Figure 11).

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    Figure 11

  7. Click OK. It may take a moment for the computer to apply your changes.
  8. You have now successfully purged your computer of its plague of monotony (Figure 12).

Figure 12

Conclusion

Not only does this procedure allow your to change your desktop’s wallpaper and colors, but it also gives you the skills necessary to customize other elements of your computer, such as the cursors, icons, and sounds.

Further Reference

http://www.digitalblasphemy.com – 3-D computer rendered wallpaper images.

http://www.themedoctor.com – Tools and resources for customizing sounds, wallpaper, icons, and cursors under Windows 95.

http://www.microsoft.com/windows95/downloads/contents/wutoys/w95pwrtoysset/default.asp?site=95– Download TweakUI, a program that allows you to customize more aspects of Windows 95.

http://www.winhacker.com/wh95/index.html – Download WinHacker, another Windows customizing program.

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