Microsoft points out that people who buy Windows XP are free to set up their own shortcuts and icons on the screen to any programs they wish. In fact, "if you want to take your desktop and make it ...

PC makers that ship Windows XP with icons on the desktop will have to include at least three Microsoft-mandated icons: MSN, Internet Explorer and Windows Media Player. Aug. 8, 2001 8:20 p.m. PT ...

PC makers that choose to ship Windows XP with icons on the desktop will have to include at least three Microsoft-mandated icons, the company said. News of the requirement that PC makers include an ...

Right-click an empty area on your desktop and select "Properties" from the context menu. The Display Properties window will appear. Click the "Appearance" tab at the top of the window to switch to it.

Desktop Settings Highlighted icons may happen when a Windows XP desktop is set to use a Web page as the background. Right-click on a blank corner of the desktop, and click Properties in the menu.

Figure 2. Windows Personalization Screen Now you should click on the Change desktop icons menu option as shown by the red arrow in Figure 2 above.

The Aero theme in Windows Vista updates the desktop look and feel with softer edges and translucent windows. There are several downloads that can help you achieve the Aero look on XP.

While Windows 2000 Service Pack 3 integrated changes as well, the Windows XP desktop OS is increasingly being bundled on consumer and business PCs and has been the focus of government trustbusters.