Switching themes in Windows can have a few side effects that only become apparent after working with the system for some time. Yesterday’s switch to the Royale theme for Windows XP has the negative side effect that the text of the icons on the computer’s desktop were not transparent but showing in black which did not suite the white background image of the desktop.
The decision was made to search for the setting that would make desktop icons transparent in Windows. It was there, somewhere that was sure but it is sometimes hard to remember if the setting was a standard Windows feature or available through so called Windows tweaking tools.
The option to make desktop icons transparent is a Windows feature which means that every user can set it in his version of Windows without having to install third party software.
It can be found in Control Panel > System. A click on the Advanced tab and Performance loads the menu where the parameter can be changed. The Visual Effects menu contains the entry Use Drop Shadows For Icon Labels On The Desktop. Activating that option will make desktop icons transparent.
This setting reset the theme of the computer which can be easily fixed in the Display Properties.
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Here’s a related tip :
If your icons become corrupted, simply change the color depth temprorarily in display properties, apply then change back. This rebuilds the icon cache.
I tried to get rid of the color behind the icon text to make it transparent bu it did nothing. Help!!!
I followed the steps posted by Martin, but my icon’s backgrounds are not transparent. Apparently Dave is having the same problem but it does not look like he got any help.
I have a Dell Dimension E510, MS Windows XP Hoome Service Pack 3 and IE 7.
If you need further information please e-mail me and I will respond as soon as possible.
Thanks.
Carl M. Barlow, Jr.
carlbarlow.jr@live.com
This “tip” is all over the Internet. Obviously, not working
I recently found a nice photo on Flickr I wanted to use as the background image on my desktop. I copied the image and then pasted it in Photoshop and resized it to fit my desktop (1680×1050). After doing this I noticed there was still a background color behind my icon text. After spending all morning browsing Google and all the solutions offered (including the one here) I finally figured out what was wrong.
When saving the image in Photoshop I had used the “Save for Web” dialogue. Instead I saved the same image again only this time using “File>Save As” and picked “JPG” as the file type. Then I went to my desktop, right-clicked, chose Properties, Desktop tab, browsed to the saved image, and applied.
Viola! Transparent icons.
Right click desktop>arrang e icon’s by->remove check mark on Lock Web Item On desk top..
if the problem not solved then
display properties(via desktop or control panel)->Desktop->customize Desktop->Under Web TAb Delete the extra address under web pages.