Use Desktop Themes

Themes let you quickly apply wholesale changes to the entire fit and finish of Windows XP. Each Theme includes a desktop background color and/or picture, a color scheme for windows, title bars, menus, and buttons, and specific fonts that shape the text that appears.

Previous versions of Windows shipped with a big selection of Themes. Windows XP, however, comes standard only with two: the Windows XP Theme and the Windows Classic Theme. The Classic Theme sets windows and buttons to look more like older versions of Windows, especially Windows 2000. Other Themes are available online, unless you've installed Microsoft Plus. We will discuss the online themes later.

Here's how to change a desktop Theme:

1.	Right-click on an empty space on the Desktop and choose Properties.
2.	The Display Properties dialog box appears. Select the Themes tab, as shown in Figure 5-1. Figure 5-1. Using the Themes tab.
3.	Click the drop-down menu titled Theme: and select a new Theme. The Sample window below will give you a preview of your selection.
4.	Click OK to commit your changes, and then click Close to return to the desktop.

You can use the More Themes Online… selection to retrieve more desktop Themes from the Internet.

And there's yet another way you can change your scheme. You can also open the Control Panel and click on the Appearance and Themes item if using the "XP Style" Control Panel. From the ensuing dialog box, click on the "Change the computer's Theme" link. You then get the Display Properties dialog box, where you can make your changes.