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!

**JacobM5727** · February 10th, 2003, 12:40 AM

i just save any pic i want to use as bmp (so i can pic it out easier since i dont use active desktop.. no real reason)
i have around 300mb of wallpapers.. how big is incredibly large? the only pics i have very big are the wallpapers and they are only 2-3mb.... maybe you guys who have the high res stuff

after reading your post: oh you do say save.. still, i use bmp

edit 2: meh, i have more resource issues to worry about then a background, besides, someone optimal would have no background... ask sandra

**Beemer** · February 10th, 2003, 12:45 AM

This is for those of us that want to utilize our resources optimally.

Cheers!

**BobOmega** · February 10th, 2003, 12:52 AM

well i guess thoes Xp'ers need to get all the system free that they can

(sorry i had to say it) anyway. i never have a problem with my wallpapers eating up memory. my current one is over a MB in jpg form. i don't want to see it in bmp.

my 2 wallpaper folders only = 194mb in 524 files
the other scarered ones i have = ~4 mb in about 10 files. but i have instant a wallpaper manager so i can get a random one on demand and one every startup.

**Inanis** · February 10th, 2003, 01:08 AM

In my experience using Active Desktop used more memory, slowed the system down and presented a security risk.

If I wanted a web browser as my desktop, I would just open Internet Explorer.

:P

**Beemer** · February 10th, 2003, 03:27 AM

So does anyone know if there are more resources used by Active Desktop for sure? Or is this an old wives tale? My icons don't even flinch when I close down a screen using the way above. I used to get a flicker using the .bmp.

What security risks are there in using Active Desktop? (Since I.E.4 that is.)
As long as you have your security setup to at least prompt you of "Installation of desktop items", you shouldn't have any problems with or without.

I figure it is web content enabled and not web connected. Certainly not a browser in any way.

I just searched briefly for security problems of Active Desktop. I could only find info dealing with fixes on I.E. 4 and sp1.
Keyword criteria: active desktop security.

Cheers!

**Beemer** · February 10th, 2003, 03:45 AM

Originally posted by JacobM5727
...besides, someone optimal would have no background... ask sandra

Well. You got me there. Lets say optimally for those that use wallpaper images on their desktop, anyway.

Cheers!

**Beemer** · February 10th, 2003, 12:02 PM

I've edited my first post. Take a peek.

So does anyone know if there are more resources used by Active Desktop for sure? Or is this an old wives tale? My icons don't even flinch when I close down a screen using the way above. I used to get a flicker using the .bmp.

What security risks are there in using Active Desktop? (Since I.E.4 that is.)
As long as you have your security setup to at least prompt you of "Installation of desktop items", you shouldn't have any problems with or without.

I figure it is web content enabled and not web connected. Certainly not a browser in any way.

I just searched briefly for security problems of Active Desktop. I could only find info dealing with fixes on I.E. 4 and sp1.
Keyword criteria: active desktop security.

Cheers!

Any numbers out there for interest sake?

Cheers!