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Windows 2000 Changing the Appearance of Windows 2000

This document will show you how to change display settings in order to customize the appearance of Windows 2000 for your own personal use. This document will also familiarize you with Windows 2000 Screensavers and Backgrounds and show you how to change them to fit your individual needs.

NOTE: UW-Eau Claire does not use roaming profiles, so students cannot save display settings to their SGS account. However, changing and saving display settings for off-campus or non-networked computers is still possible.

return to topLogging On

Before you can make the changes described in this document, you must log in.

  1. Press [Ctrl]+[Alt]+[Delete]

  2. In the User name text box, type your Windows user name
    This is the same as your email user name.

  3. In the Password text box, type your password
    Your initial password is UWEC followed by your pin#.
    EXAMPLE: UWEC1234
    NOTE: For information on passwords, including how to change your password, see Windows 2000 Passwords.

  4. Verify the domain is UWEC
    If not, from the pull-down list, select UWEC.

  5. Click OK

return to topAccessing the Display Properties Dialog Box

The screen you see after logging in is called the desktop. You can personalize the desktop to fit your needs by changing settings available in the Display Properties dialog box, which include Background, Screen Saver, Appearance, Web, Effects, and Settings.

  1. From the Start menu, select Settings » Control Panel » Displaydisplay icon
    The Display Properties dialog box appears.

OR

  1. Right click anywhere in a blank part of the desktop
    The Quick menu appears.

  2. From the Quick menu, select Properties...
    The Display Properties dialog box appears.
    Display Properties dialog box

return to topChanging the Appearance of Windows

It is easy to change the display settings of windows. You can choose color options from the palette, modify font size, and change the size and style of dialog boxes. You can also adjust the resolution with the sliding bar in the Display Area to make text appear larger or smaller on the screen. These settings are found in the Display Properties dialog box.

NOTE: Selections will often be based on your individual computer set-up (e.g., operating system, video card, etc.).

UW-Eau Claire does not use roaming profiles, so students cannot save display settings to their SGS account. However, changing and saving display settings for off-campus or non-networked computers is still possible.

Some computers require that they be restarted before setting changes are applied.

Changing General Appearance

  1. Access the Display Properties dialog box (see Accessing the Display Properties Dialog Box)

  2. From the Display Properties dialog box, select the Appearance tab

  3. OPTIONAL: From the Scheme list, select a scheme you like
    Your choice is reflected in the preview box at the top of the dialog box.

  4. OPTIONAL: From the Item list, select a Windows item that you would like to change
    Depending on the item you have selected, you will be able to make adjustments to the size or color of the item. You may also be able to adjust the font style, size, and color.

  5. To activate the changes you have made, click APPLY

  6. If you are satisfied with the changes, click OK
    If dissatisfied, repeat steps 3-4

Changing Display Settings

  1. Access the Display Properties dialog box (see Accessing the Display Properties Dialog Box)

  2. From the Display Properties dialog box, select the Settings tab

  3. OPTIONAL: In the Settings tab, from the Colors pull-down list, select an option

  4. OPTIONAL: In the Screen Area window, click and move the sliding button to adjust the desktop size

  5. OPTIONAL: To test the settings, click Apply
    After you have viewed the new settings, a window verifying your decisions will appear.
    1. If you approve of the new settings, click YES

    2. If you are not satisfied, click NO
      NOTE: You will only have fifteen seconds to decide, then Windows will convert the desktop back to its original settings

  6. Repeat steps 1-5 as many times as necessary

  7. Click OK

Changing Font Settings

  1. Access the Display Properties dialog box (see Accessing the Display Properties Dialog Box)

  2. From the Display Properties dialog box, select the Settings tab

  3. At the bottom of the dialog box, click ADVANCED...  
    The Color Monitor and Graphics dialog box appears.

  4. Select the General tab

  5. In the Font size pull-down list, select the appropriate size

  6. OPTIONAL: In the Compatibility portion of the window, select from three display options:
    • Restart the computer before applying the new display settings 
    • Apply the new display settings without restarting 
    • Ask me before applying the new display settings 

return to topChanging Screen Savers

A screen saver is an image that prevents screen burn-in when a computer is not in use. Screen savers can be changed in the Display Properties dialog box.

NOTE: UW-Eau Claire does not use roaming profiles, so students cannot save screensavers to their SGS account. However, changing and saving screensavers for off-campus or non-networked computers is still possible.

  1. Access the Display Properties dialog box (see Accessing the Display Properties Dialog Box)

  2. From the Display Properties dialog box, select the Screen Saver tab

  3. From the Screen Saver pull-down list, select a screen saver
    A thumbnail preview appears in the dialog box.

  4. OPTIONAL: For a full-screen preview, click PREVIEW
    NOTE: Preview continues until you move your mouse.

  5. If satisfied with the screen saver preview, click APPLY
    If dissatisfied, repeat steps 2-3

  6. Click OK

Adjusting Screen Saver Settings

Screen saver settings that you can change include the Wait option and the Energy manager. The Wait option designates how long the computer will sit idle before the screen saver turns on. The Energy manager allows you to set the computer monitor in stand-by mode and then later turn it off. These settings are found in the Display Properties dialog box.

  1. Access the Display Properties dialog box (see Accessing the Display Properties Dialog Box)

  2. From the Display Properties dialog box, select the Screen Saver tab

  3. To adjust the wait time before the screen saver activates, in the Wait text box, type the number of minutes

  4. To change settings unique to your screen saver click SETTINGS

  5. When done, click OK

  6. To preview the screen saver, click PREVIEW
    NOTE:     Preview continues until you move your mouse.

  7. If satisfied with the screen saver preview, click APPLY

  8. If dissatisfied, repeat steps 2-5

  9. Click OK

Adjusting Energy Management

  1. Access the Display Properties dialog box (see Accessing the Display Properties Dialog Box)

  2. From the Display Properties dialog box, select the Screen Saver tab

  3. At the bottom of the window, click POWER
    The Power Options Properties window opens.

  4. Select the Power Schemes tab

  5. In the Power Schemes pull-down list, select the best description of your computer

  6. In the Settings for (selected computer) power scheme portion of the window, use the pull-down list to determine when your monitor and hard disks will turn off

  7. Click APPLY

return to topChanging and Applying Backgrounds

The background image on the desktop, which is often a plain solid color, can be changed to something unique. This can be done using the Background tab in the Display Properties dialog box. Background images are often referred to as wallpaper.

NOTE: UW-Eau Claire does not use roaming profiles, so students cannot save different background or wallpaper settings to their SGS account. However, changing and saving background or wallpaper settings for off-campus or non-networked computers is still possible.

  1. Access the Display Properties dialog box (see Accessing the Display Properties Dialog Box) 

  2. From the Display Properties dialog box, select the Background tab

  3. To change the pattern of the background, in the Display Properties dialog box, click PATTERN...
    The Pattern dialog box appears.

  4. From the Pattern list that appears, select a pattern you like

  5. Click OK
    The pattern of the desktop changes.

  6. OPTIONAL: To change the wallpaper (background image):  in the Display Properties dialog box, from the Wallpaper list, select a wallpaper you like
    OR  
    click BROWSE to locate an image file
    Navigate through the Browse dialog box until you locate the appropriate image file.

  7. To activate the wallpaper, click APPLY

  8. If you are satisfied with the background, click OK
    If dissatisfied, repeat steps 2-5.

Setting Wallpaper

Once you have found an image or background you would like to apply, you must set it as wallpaper. For more information on using images as wallpaper, see Using Images from the Internet.

  1. Access the Display Properties dialog box (see Accessing the Display Properties Dialog Box)

  2. From the Display Properties dialog box, select the Background tab

  3. Click BROWSE...
    The Browse dialog box appears.

  4. Select a drive from the pull-down menu

  5. Find your image and select it

  6. Click OPEN

  7. Click APPLY

  8. Click OK
    Your image is now set as wallpaper.

return to topUsing an Image from the Internet

A good place to find detailed 3D backgrounds on the internet is at Digital Blasphemy.com, but you can follow this procedure with any image on the web.

WARNING: Some background files tend to be quite large, from 500KB to over 5MB. Keep this in mind when choosing backgrounds, to avoid using too much space on your hard-drive. If you are unable to tell how much space an image uses, you can find out by viewing info about the image.

NOTE: UW-Eau Claire does not use roaming profiles, so students cannot save different background or wallpaper settings to their SGS account. However, changing and saving background or wallpaper settings for off-campus or non-networked computers is still possible.

To determine the file size of an image:

  1. Using your Internet browser, locate an image

  2. Right click the image

  3. From the quick menu that appears, select View Infoor View Frame Info

  4. To see how much space it uses, look at Content Length or Decoded Size

  5. To close the dialog box when done, click the X in the upper right corner 

To select an image:

  1. Using your Internet browser, locate an image

  2. Right click the image

  3. From the quick menu, select the option Set as Wallpaper

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