Tech Support Forums - TechIMO.com - View Single Post - WinXP- Desktop Wallpaper via Active Desktop

Beemer · February 10th, 2003, 12:35 AM

Edit Note:
Since I posted this I have noticed CPU activity. I don't know how much resources this actually uses or if it is better than using the standard way of placing a image on your desktop.
/Edit

Although this is for WinXP, you can accomplish this with other O/S's.

That desktop picture you have may be incredibly large in file size. Windows has to boot that sucker. This takes time and resources. Just keeping that image on your desktop while you do other things with your PC uses valuable resources. Use Active Desktop instead of, "Set as background". This will save memory used by Wallpapers.

Selecting a wallpaper using the standard method by right clicking an image and, "Set as background", Windows converts this image to a huge .bmp file (even if you selected a .jpg). Then instead of having a nice 220K or less (the original file size just as an example) wallpaper, you get a 900KB file for your wallpaper effort. To improve on this, try using "Active Desktop's" web capabilities.

First, if you have an image that is already a .bmp, take it into your favourite graphics/image editing program and change it into a .jpg. Try to achieve a 100 to 200KB file size without loosing very much definition or colour. You might want to resize the image to allow a border around your image when set on the desktop. This creates an area around the image for your icons as not to let your desktop get busy with your image and icons all intermixing and making it hard to find anything. (Something like that last sentence.)

After you save your image, if you remade one, you can now proceed.

Right click on your desktop and select "Properties".
Select the "Desktop" tab.
Click on "Customize Desktop".
Select the "Web" tab.
Click on "New..."
Click on the, "Browse" button and navigate to your intended image and double click on it.
Make sure "Lock desktop items" is unchecked.
Click OK, and OK again.
Now your image is like another window. Drag it to where you want the image to reside on your desktop.
Right click on your desktop image and select "Arrange icons by" and then check, "Lock Web Items on Desktop".

That's it. Now you have a, "low memory usage wallpaper".

Add multiple images if you like. Add .gif's too! Just don't defeat the purpose by adding too much to your desktop.

Cheers!

February 10th, 2003, 12:35 AM	#1 (permalink)
Beemer Rather Large Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Vernon, BC, Canada Posts: 9,244	WinXP- Desktop Wallpaper via Active Desktop Edit Note: Since I posted this I have noticed CPU activity. I don't know how much resources this actually uses or if it is better than using the standard way of placing a image on your desktop. /Edit Although this is for WinXP, you can accomplish this with other O/S's. That desktop picture you have may be incredibly large in file size. Windows has to boot that sucker. This takes time and resources. Just keeping that image on your desktop while you do other things with your PC uses valuable resources. Use Active Desktop instead of, "Set as background". This will save memory used by Wallpapers. Selecting a wallpaper using the standard method by right clicking an image and, "Set as background", Windows converts this image to a huge .bmp file (even if you selected a .jpg). Then instead of having a nice 220K or less (the original file size just as an example) wallpaper, you get a 900KB file for your wallpaper effort. To improve on this, try using "Active Desktop's" web capabilities. First, if you have an image that is already a .bmp, take it into your favourite graphics/image editing program and change it into a .jpg. Try to achieve a 100 to 200KB file size without loosing very much definition or colour. You might want to resize the image to allow a border around your image when set on the desktop. This creates an area around the image for your icons as not to let your desktop get busy with your image and icons all intermixing and making it hard to find anything. (Something like that last sentence.) After you save your image, if you remade one, you can now proceed. Right click on your desktop and select "Properties". Select the "Desktop" tab. Click on "Customize Desktop". Select the "Web" tab. Click on "New..." Click on the, "Browse" button and navigate to your intended image and double click on it. Make sure "Lock desktop items" is unchecked. Click OK, and OK again. Now your image is like another window. Drag it to where you want the image to reside on your desktop. Right click on your desktop image and select "Arrange icons by" and then check, "Lock Web Items on Desktop". That's it. Now you have a, "low memory usage wallpaper". Add multiple images if you like. Add .gif's too! Just don't defeat the purpose by adding too much to your desktop. Cheers! Last edited by Beemer : February 10th, 2003 at 12:00 PM.