how to de-"active"-ate my desktop

[Saudades]

Somehow I mistakenly set my desktop to "active desktop" and all the icons
are highlighted. I hate it. How can I switch it back?

Thanks,
s.

 

[Vanguard]

Somehow I mistakenly set my desktop to "active desktop" and all the icons
are highlighted. I hate it. How can I switch it back?

Start -> Help and Support, search on "active desktop".

 

[Rick \Nutcase\ Rogers]

Hi,

It has nothing to do with being an "active" desktop. Right click the
desktop, choose "arrange icons by", and look at "lock web items on the
desktop". If it is checked, click on it to uncheck it.

Go to the Control Panel/System applet/Advanced tab, click on the performance
settings button. On the Visual Effects tab, scroll to near the bottom,
ensure that "use drop shadows for icon labels on the desktop" is checked. If
it isn't, check it and apply/ok your way out.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Associate Expert - WindowsXP Expert Zone

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org

 

[Saudades]

There is no obvious entry in the help/support index, and the suggestions
given by Rick don't work. There has to be some easy solution to
de-highlight all the icons...any one else have any ideas?

Thanks,
s.

 

[Sharon F]

There is no obvious entry in the help/support index, and the suggestions
given by Rick don't work. There has to be some easy solution to
de-highlight all the icons...any one else have any ideas?

Two more places to check that I can think of...

Display Properties> Desktop> Customize Desktop> Web: Uncheck everything in
this list.

Folder Options> General> Click items as follows: If using single click,
move radio dot to underline icon titles only when you point to them.

 

[Saudades]

Arghh! It's still happening....

s.

Two more places to check that I can think of...

Display Properties> Desktop> Customize Desktop> Web: Uncheck everything in
this list.

Folder Options> General> Click items as follows: If using single click,
move radio dot to underline icon titles only when you point to them.

 

[Sharon F]

Arghh! It's still happening....

Sorry. I'm out of ideas. The settings that Rick mentioned and these are the
only ones that I know of that will show "holes" in the wallpaper or make it
appear as if all desktop icons are active.