Changing Your Desktop Wallpaper

Wallpaper is a file that is used as a backdrop on your “desktop” or the first screen you see when you start your computer. Computers come with a default, but you can change that. In versions of Windows prior to XP (2002) this file had to be a bitmapped file, or a file format created by some graphics programs, among them the program Paint that is part of the Windows accessories (To access it, click on Start>Accessories>Paint). In XP or Vista, beside bmp file you can use either a “gif” “jpeg” “jpg” or “png” file. Many people use a picture for wall paper, it works best if the picture is wider than long (landscape version) or you can use a graphics file to create your own.

Windows Vista

  1. Click the Start Button>Control Panel
  2. Open Personalization]
  3. Open Desktop Background
  4. Browse to the location of the file you wish to use
  5. Select the picture and click on "Open"
  6. Click "OK"

Windows XP

  1. Click on the Start Button
  2. Click on control panel
  3. Double click on appearances and themes
  4. Click on change the desktop background.
  5. Click on the Desktop tab.
  6. Scroll down the background box. To see what a background will look like, select it.
  7. If you have another image that you wish to use as a background, click on Browse to find it. Once located, click on Open." (Note: You may need to change the position if the image is small.)
  8. When you find one you like, click "Apply."
  9. To uninstall, select "None" from the list.
  10. When the settings satisfy you click "OK."

Windows 95 or 98

  1. Click the start button.
  2. Click settings and then control panel.
  3. Double click "Display."
  4. Click the "Background " tab.
  5. If you want to:
    1. Change the pattern: click on that drop down box and make a selection.
    2. Change the wallpaper: click on that drop down box and make a selection.
    3. Get rid of wallpaper, click on none. You can have both a pattern and wallpaper.
  6. If you have created your own bitmapped file to use as wallpaper, click on browse and locate it in the file structure, then select it.
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Updated April 21, 2009

 

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