Number 259 - December 2004

Windows XP Desktop
by Carl Tenning, Tacoma Open Group for Microcomputers, November 2004
After upgrading to Windows XP from Windows 98, or Windows ME for that matter, I found that the desktop settings no longer had the option to display a pattern, but only the wallpaper backgrounds. I liked the thatched desktop pattern available in Windows 98 and Windows ME. [To set or view the desktop display settings, right click on any unused space on the desktop and select "Properties". When the "Display Properties" box appears, select the "Desktop" tab.] The options in Windows XP are a list of background images or "(None)". When "(None)" is selected, it is able to select the color. Actually, the previous patterns available in Windows 98 and ME are still listed in the Windows XP registry. To enable a desktop pattern requires editing the Windows XP registry, but it is a relatively easy modification.	In order to set the desktop background to a pattern, first select the "(None)" option under backgrounds. Then from "Start", "Run", open the registry editor by typing "regedit" without the quotes. Find the key "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Patterns". You will see the list of patterns available. Do not change anything here. Just write down the data for the one you wish to install. Then find the key "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop". Here you will need to right click on "Desktop", select "New" and "String Value". Name the string "Pattern". Then right click on the new key and select "Modify". Enter the value that you copied earlier from "Patterns" key. Now exit regedit and restart the computer. The new pattern should now be visible.
Number 259 - December 2004