opaque background for desktop icons cannot be made transparent/desktop always active

[WaxhawRon]

All of the titles for my desktop icons have opaque backgrounds. I cannot change this. I have run AdAware, SpywareBlaster, AVG, Panda Active Scan, House Call--all in normal mode and in safe mode--and cannot find any malware in my computer. I have tried Iconoid software to change the backtrounds, but it says that it cannot make the background transparent because my desktop is active.

I have gone to control panel-display-desktop-customize-web and everything is unchecked, which means that my desktop should be inactive, but apparently it is now.

I have done a system restore, but that does not solve the problem.

I want to put my own choice of wallpaper back onto my desktop, but with opaque icon titles it is quite ugly.

Can you please help me to make the backgrounds transparent again? Thank you very much.

[WaxhawRon]

There are four ways to have this happen. Here's what you need to check.

1. Your desktop wallpaper can't be an html file, it needs to be an image file.

2. Right click on the desktop and move your mouse pointer up to Arrange icons
by. In the menu that pops out, make sure that "Lock Web Items on Desktop" is
unchecked. If it's checked, click on it to remove the check mark.

3. Go to Control Panel and double click on the System icon. Click on the
Advanced tab. On the Advanced page, click on the Settings button in the
Performance section. On the Visual Effect page, make sure there's a check mark
in the box next to "Use drop shadows for icon labels on the desktop".

4. Right click on your desktop and select Properties from the menu. In Display
Properties, click on the Desktop tab. On the Desktop page, click on the
Customize Desktop button. In Desktop Items, click on the Web tab. On the Web
page, make sure nothing is checked.

[WaxhawRon]

Thank you for your attempt. But...

1. The wall paper I want to install is a jpeg, but I have opaque desktop icon titles with any of the standard wallpapers also.

2. 'Lock Items On Desktop' is not checked.

3. There was not a check mark next to 'use drop shadows', but I have now checked it and clicked 'apply'.

4. on the Web page nothing is checked.

I then re-booted the computer just to be sure.

There are still opaque boxes under the titles for my desktop icons.

[WaxhawRon]

drop shadows is still checked. Desktop icons still on opaque background.

[WaxhawRon]

Thanks very much for the lead. After reading through all of the messages, there are two options presented that I havenot tried, but I don't know how to do them or don not know all of the consequences of doing them.

1. " If you've ever used the Remote Desktop feature to access the computer with this issue,
>then try this solution, it worked for me:
>Go to the System control panel
>Under the Hardware tab, open the Device Manager
>Expand the Display Adapters
>Disable the Microsoft SMS Mirror Driver
>Restart
>
>You can re-enable this again after the restart if having it disabled bothers you."

I don't know what Remote Deskto is to know if I have ever used it. Whether I have nor not, are there any other ramifications to trying this?

2. " to solve this issue... go to this registry key and set it to 0
>
>HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer\ForceActiveDesktopO n"

What are the ramifications of doing this?, and also, how do I do this? Also, someone else posted this same suggestion but said to change the registry key to 1 instead of 0

Please advise. Thank you very much.

Have a look at http://www.freedownloadscenter.com/Best/deskcolor_.html

I have this little program in my startup, can also change the color of
the text beneath the icons. Deskcolor can be found on a number of
places, just google.

Enjoy, Fred

[WaxhawRon]

Nepatsfan: (a) are you at New England patriots fan?
(b) I backed up my registry and went into it to check, and it the line was already set to 0. So, I guess this isn't the solution.

I also tried Kellys-korner and that didn't work. It said it did, but my icons stayed opaque. I then went to my Iconoid software and it also said my desktop was still active and would not change the icon name boxes to transparent.

Fred: I went to the site for deskcolor. I was re-directed when I went to their home page, but decided to live dangerously and then tried to download the program anyway, and again got re-directed. I'm now going to run my barrage of anti-mailware software, just in case the re-direction left anything behind in my computer.

[WaxhawRon]

Fred,

I found a bunch of tracking cookies but no other malware after using AdAware, AVG, and Panda Active Scan. Oddly when I google deskcolor, my AVG says that freedownloadcenter is a safe web page?

At any rate, can you recommend a safe site to download deskcolor from? Or recommend another software that will do the same thing? I prefer downloading software from download.com since I have never had any problems with anything I have downloaded from there.

Thanks,

As I said, just picked this site without knowing anything about it. I
just tried this one http://www.softsea.com/review/DeskColor.html and
my host file did not warn me. Perhaps you can give it a try.

I have no experience with other software to do the same. Again, google
is your friend. Use words like "transparent" "desk top icons" etc.

Enjoy, Fred

[WaxhawRon]

Fred,

Downloaded Deskcolor, but the instructions are not very clear about how do take the color boxes from behind the desktop icon names and make them transparent. The description of the software reads great, sounds like it should resolve the problem--if I can figure out what to do.

Any chance you can give me a tutorial on how to make the background boxes transparent? I'd sure appreciate it.

Thanks very much

If you have tried all of the normal options here like I did and nothing
worked, this is what worked for me. :
You need to make sure that High Contrast is not selected under Accessibility
\ Display Options in your Control Panel.

"WaxhawRon" wrote:

>
> All of the titles for my desktop icons have opaque backgrounds. I
> cannot change this. I have run AdAware, SpywareBlaster, AVG, Panda
> Active Scan, House Call--all in normal mode and in safe mode--and cannot
> find any malware in my computer. I have tried Iconoid software to
> change the backtrounds, but it says that it cannot make the background
> transparent because my desktop is active.
>
> I have gone to control panel-display-desktop-customize-web and
> everything is unchecked, which means that my desktop should be inactive,
> but apparently it is now.
>
> I have done a system restore, but that does not solve the problem.
>
> I want to put my own choice of wallpaper back onto my desktop, but with
> opaque icon titles it is quite ugly.
>
> Can you please help me to make the backgrounds transparent again?
> Thank you very much.
>
>
> --
> WaxhawRon
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> WaxhawRon's Profile: http://forums.techarena.in/members/53270.htm
> View this thread: opaque background for desktop icons cannot be made transparent/desktop always active
>
> http://forums.techarena.in
>
>

I've created a tutorial and included all the
information I could find. Let me know if it helps.

DESKTOP ICON TRANSPARENT BACKGROUND

Instructions:

1. Right-click on the desktop and, under
"Arrange Icons By", uncheck "Lock Web
Items on Desktop".

2. Right-click on the desktop and select
Properties. Select the "Desktop" tab.
Click the "Customize Desktop..." button.
Select the "Web" tab. Uncheck everything
on this page.

3. Right-click the desktop's "My Computer"
icon and select Properties. Select the
"Advanced" tab. Under "Performance",
click the "Settings" button. Scroll down
and check the "Use drop shadows for icon
labels on the desktop" box.

4. Apply, OK, OK.


Software:

Transparency 1.0 367 KB (Freeware)
Info: http://www.moonlight-software.com/freeware.htm
Download: http://www.moonlight-software.com/trans-free.exe

Windows 95/98/2000/NT/XP
"Colors don't match? Use transparency to
make your icon text transparent on your
desktop regardless of what wallpaper or
background color you use."


ju.c


"Anon" <Anon@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message news:4C8FD88F-E07C-45D4-9CE1-2FE24ED5E9C5@microsoft.com...
> If you have tried all of the normal options here like I did and nothing
> worked, this is what worked for me. :
> You need to make sure that High Contrast is not selected under Accessibility
> \ Display Options in your Control Panel.
>
> "WaxhawRon" wrote:
>
>>
>> All of the titles for my desktop icons have opaque backgrounds. I
>> cannot change this. I have run AdAware, SpywareBlaster, AVG, Panda
>> Active Scan, House Call--all in normal mode and in safe mode--and cannot
>> find any malware in my computer. I have tried Iconoid software to
>> change the backtrounds, but it says that it cannot make the background
>> transparent because my desktop is active.
>>
>> I have gone to control panel-display-desktop-customize-web and
>> everything is unchecked, which means that my desktop should be inactive,
>> but apparently it is now.
>>
>> I have done a system restore, but that does not solve the problem.
>>
>> I want to put my own choice of wallpaper back onto my desktop, but with
>> opaque icon titles it is quite ugly.
>>
>> Can you please help me to make the backgrounds transparent again?
>> Thank you very much.
>>
>>
>> --
>> WaxhawRon
>> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>> WaxhawRon's Profile: http://forums.techarena.in/members/53270.htm
>> View this thread: opaque background for desktop icons cannot be made transparent/desktop always active
>>
>> http://forums.techarena.in
>>
>>

On Sat, 27 Sep 2008 06:35:15 -0700, "ju.c"
<bibidybubidyboop@mailnator.com> wrote:

> I've created a tutorial and included all the
> information I could find. Let me know if it helps.


The information is insufficient. For transparent backgrounds for
icons, you need to do all of the following:

1) Hold down the Windows key and press Pause/Break. On the "Advanced"
tab, under "Performance" click "Settings." On the "Visual Effects"
tab, make sure the box "Use drop shadows for icon labels" is checked.

2) Right-click on the Desktop, and make sure that "Arrange Icons by"
"Lock Web items" is not checked.

3) Right-click on the Desktop, and choose Properties. On the "Desktop"
tab, click "Customize Desktop," then on the "Web" tab, uncheck all
boxes.

4) Make sure any Wallpaper is an image file. Html will stop the
transparency.



> DESKTOP ICON TRANSPARENT BACKGROUND
>
> Instructions:
>
> 1. Right-click on the desktop and, under
> "Arrange Icons By", uncheck "Lock Web
> Items on Desktop".
>
> 2. Right-click on the desktop and select
> Properties. Select the "Desktop" tab.
> Click the "Customize Desktop..." button.
> Select the "Web" tab. Uncheck everything
> on this page.
>
> 3. Right-click the desktop's "My Computer"
> icon and select Properties. Select the
> "Advanced" tab. Under "Performance",
> click the "Settings" button. Scroll down
> and check the "Use drop shadows for icon
> labels on the desktop" box.
>
> 4. Apply, OK, OK.
>
>
> Software:
>
> Transparency 1.0 367 KB (Freeware)
> Info: http://www.moonlight-software.com/freeware.htm
> Download: http://www.moonlight-software.com/trans-free.exe
>
> Windows 95/98/2000/NT/XP
> "Colors don't match? Use transparency to
> make your icon text transparent on your
> desktop regardless of what wallpaper or
> background color you use."
>
>
> ju.c
>
>
> "Anon" <Anon@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message news:4C8FD88F-E07C-45D4-9CE1-2FE24ED5E9C5@microsoft.com...
> > If you have tried all of the normal options here like I did and nothing
> > worked, this is what worked for me. :
> > You need to make sure that High Contrast is not selected under Accessibility
> > \ Display Options in your Control Panel.
> >
> > "WaxhawRon" wrote:
> >
> >>
> >> All of the titles for my desktop icons have opaque backgrounds. I
> >> cannot change this. I have run AdAware, SpywareBlaster, AVG, Panda
> >> Active Scan, House Call--all in normal mode and in safe mode--and cannot
> >> find any malware in my computer. I have tried Iconoid software to
> >> change the backtrounds, but it says that it cannot make the background
> >> transparent because my desktop is active.
> >>
> >> I have gone to control panel-display-desktop-customize-web and
> >> everything is unchecked, which means that my desktop should be inactive,
> >> but apparently it is now.
> >>
> >> I have done a system restore, but that does not solve the problem.
> >>
> >> I want to put my own choice of wallpaper back onto my desktop, but with
> >> opaque icon titles it is quite ugly.
> >>
> >> Can you please help me to make the backgrounds transparent again?
> >> Thank you very much.
> >>
> >>
> >> --
> >> WaxhawRon
> >> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> >> WaxhawRon's Profile: http://forums.techarena.in/members/53270.htm
> >> View this thread: opaque background for desktop icons cannot be made transparent/desktop always active
> >>
> >> http://forums.techarena.in
> >>
> >>

--
Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience
Please Reply to the Newsgroup

> "The information is insufficient."

You just repeated what I wrote.
What's different?


ju.c


"Ken Blake, MVP" <kblake@this.is.an.invalid.domain> wrote in message news:lmisd41g1tmud0uskgbk18vbpu0kn2j6l2@4ax.com...
> On Sat, 27 Sep 2008 06:35:15 -0700, "ju.c"
> <bibidybubidyboop@mailnator.com> wrote:
>
>> I've created a tutorial and included all the
>> information I could find. Let me know if it helps.
>
>
> The information is insufficient. For transparent backgrounds for
> icons, you need to do all of the following:
>
> 1) Hold down the Windows key and press Pause/Break. On the "Advanced"
> tab, under "Performance" click "Settings." On the "Visual Effects"
> tab, make sure the box "Use drop shadows for icon labels" is checked.
>
> 2) Right-click on the Desktop, and make sure that "Arrange Icons by"
> "Lock Web items" is not checked.
>
> 3) Right-click on the Desktop, and choose Properties. On the "Desktop"
> tab, click "Customize Desktop," then on the "Web" tab, uncheck all
> boxes.
>
> 4) Make sure any Wallpaper is an image file. Html will stop the
> transparency.
>
>
>
>> DESKTOP ICON TRANSPARENT BACKGROUND
>>
>> Instructions:
>>
>> 1. Right-click on the desktop and, under
>> "Arrange Icons By", uncheck "Lock Web
>> Items on Desktop".
>>
>> 2. Right-click on the desktop and select
>> Properties. Select the "Desktop" tab.
>> Click the "Customize Desktop..." button.
>> Select the "Web" tab. Uncheck everything
>> on this page.
>>
>> 3. Right-click the desktop's "My Computer"
>> icon and select Properties. Select the
>> "Advanced" tab. Under "Performance",
>> click the "Settings" button. Scroll down
>> and check the "Use drop shadows for icon
>> labels on the desktop" box.
>>
>> 4. Apply, OK, OK.
>>
>>
>> Software:
>>
>> Transparency 1.0 367 KB (Freeware)
>> Info: http://www.moonlight-software.com/freeware.htm
>> Download: http://www.moonlight-software.com/trans-free.exe
>>
>> Windows 95/98/2000/NT/XP
>> "Colors don't match? Use transparency to
>> make your icon text transparent on your
>> desktop regardless of what wallpaper or
>> background color you use."
>>
>>
>> ju.c
>>
>>
>> "Anon" <Anon@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message news:4C8FD88F-E07C-45D4-9CE1-2FE24ED5E9C5@microsoft.com...
>> > If you have tried all of the normal options here like I did and nothing
>> > worked, this is what worked for me. :
>> > You need to make sure that High Contrast is not selected under Accessibility
>> > \ Display Options in your Control Panel.
>> >
>> > "WaxhawRon" wrote:
>> >
>> >>
>> >> All of the titles for my desktop icons have opaque backgrounds. I
>> >> cannot change this. I have run AdAware, SpywareBlaster, AVG, Panda
>> >> Active Scan, House Call--all in normal mode and in safe mode--and cannot
>> >> find any malware in my computer. I have tried Iconoid software to
>> >> change the backtrounds, but it says that it cannot make the background
>> >> transparent because my desktop is active.
>> >>
>> >> I have gone to control panel-display-desktop-customize-web and
>> >> everything is unchecked, which means that my desktop should be inactive,
>> >> but apparently it is now.
>> >>
>> >> I have done a system restore, but that does not solve the problem.
>> >>
>> >> I want to put my own choice of wallpaper back onto my desktop, but with
>> >> opaque icon titles it is quite ugly.
>> >>
>> >> Can you please help me to make the backgrounds transparent again?
>> >> Thank you very much.
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> --
>> >> WaxhawRon
>> >> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>> >> WaxhawRon's Profile: http://forums.techarena.in/members/53270.htm
>> >> View this thread: opaque background for desktop icons cannot be made transparent/desktop always active
>> >>
>> >> http://forums.techarena.in
>> >>
>> >>
>
> --
> Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience
> Please Reply to the Newsgroup

[WaxhawRon]

Thank you all very much, but I have tried all of these suggestions and they did not work. So what I did was to create another identity on my computer and transfer all of my files to the new identity. I then deleted the old identity. Everything is working fine now. I have no idea what was causing this problem, but it is now solved.