Home | Resource Guides | Tech Tips | Network Administration | Hardware | Certification

Tech Tips › Windows XP › Desktop and GUI

Tech Tips / Windows XP / Desktop and GUI

The Windows XP themes

With Windows XP, Microsoft introduced the ability to "skin" the OS to customize the appearance of the user interface. Skins, which Microsoft refers to as themes, allow you to completely change the look of the operating system. You can change the colors of the windows and dialog boxes, the icons that appear on windows (such as the Minimize and Close buttons), and the appearance of buttons and other controls (such as tabs, drop-down lists, checkboxes, etc.).

Windows XP ships with several themes, two of which are Windows XP style and Windows Classic style. The first one is the new Windows XP look, and the latter is the classic style you know from Windows 2000. In addition, the new Windows XP style supports three color schemes: Default (blue), Olive Green, and Silver.

But if you find yourself pining for the Windows Classic style, you can easily change themes on the desktop. Follow these steps:

1. Right-click the desktop and choose Properties.
2. Select the Themes tab.
3. In the Theme box, choose Windows Classic and click OK.