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re: If the ''use drop shadows for icon labels'' option has no effect: Thursday, March 21, 2002 at 8:55 pm Posted by JJ (1 messages posted) I had a web item on my desktop, but it wasn't locked and still the transparancy did not work. Removing the web item fixed it. [Reply or follow-up to this message] re: If the ''use drop shadows for icon labels'' option has no effect: Sunday, July 21, 2002 at 7:50 am Posted by Kenneth Iversen (1 messages posted) What if you dont have the web tab there? [Reply or follow-up to this message] re: If the ''use drop shadows for icon labels'' option has no effect: Wednesday, April 2, 2003 at 8:34 pm Posted by Roberto Racca (1 messages posted) I have another tip regarding this matter. Even after doing all the things suggested (not locking web desktop items and not having web items on the desktop in the first place) XP may "stick" to the non-transparent setting for desktop icon labels. I have been able to return to the transparent setting with drop shadows by first unchecking the "use drop shadows for icon labels on the desktop" box under System > Advanced > Performance Settings and then checking it again. This may scramble your desktop icons a little and you'll have to drag them back where you want them, but the transparent backdrop and drop shadows will be restored. On Friday, February 1, 2002 at 6:24 pm, Shadow D. Wolf wrote: >Make certain that you do *not* have "Lock desktop items" enabled. You can find this >option by going to to Display Properties, then clicking on the "Desktop" tab and >clicking the "Customize Desktop" button (below the list of wallpapers). > >A second dialogue will appear, and you will need to click the "Web" tab and uncheck >"Lock desktop items." Now your icon text should be rendered with transparent backgrounds. [Reply or follow-up to this message] re: If the ''use drop shadows for icon labels'' option has no effect: Thursday, May 15, 2003 at 3:07 pm Posted by Roger E. Lewandowski (1 messages posted) I have unchecked "Lock desktop items" and still no effect on icons On Friday, February 1, 2002 at 6:24 pm, Shadow D. Wolf wrote: >Make certain that you do *not* have "Lock desktop items" enabled. You can find this >option by going to to Display Properties, then clicking on the "Desktop" tab and >clicking the "Customize Desktop" button (below the list of wallpapers). > >A second dialogue will appear, and you will need to click the "Web" tab and uncheck >"Lock desktop items." Now your icon text should be rendered with transparent backgrounds. [Reply or follow-up to this message] re: If the ''use drop shadows for icon labels'' option has no effect: Friday, May 23, 2003 at 6:32 am Posted by SaintSinner (1 messages posted) Remember that some programs are using Active Desktop. So if you install any software check if it using avtive desktop and uncheck this option to get destop icons transparent. [Reply or follow-up to this message] re: If the ''use drop shadows for icon labels'' option has no effect: Thursday, June 5, 2003 at 12:32 pm Posted by mualam (1 messages posted) Can somebody please post solution to this problem. I would like to use web page on desktop and trasparent icon text background. thanks. On Thursday, March 21, 2002 at 8:55 pm, JJ wrote: > > >I had a web item on my desktop, but it wasn't locked and still the transparancy did >not work. Removing the web item fixed it. [Reply or follow-up to this message] re: If the ''use drop shadows for icon labels'' option has no effect: Thursday, August 7, 2003 at 8:30 pm Posted by Morpheus (2 messages posted) Only works for bmp files. On Friday, May 23, 2003 at 6:32 am, SaintSinner wrote: >Remember that some programs are using Active Desktop. So if you install any software >check if it using avtive desktop and uncheck this option to get destop icons transparent. [Reply or follow-up to this message] re: If the ''use drop shadows for icon labels'' option has no effect: Thursday, October 9, 2003 at 4:06 pm Posted by Bob (1 messages posted) Having spent a week trying to make this work, I finaly discovered that a wallpaper has to be selected before the drop shadows reveal themselves On Thursday, June 5, 2003 at 12:32 pm, mualam wrote: >Can somebody please post solution to this problem. I would like to use web page >on desktop and trasparent icon text background. > >thanks. > > > [Reply or follow-up to this message] re: If the ''use drop shadows for icon labels'' option has no effect: Thursday, November 20, 2003 at 5:02 pm Posted by bliytz (1 messages posted) windows considers jpg files to be web, requiring the use of active desktop On Thursday, August 7, 2003 at 8:30 pm, Blackskull wrote: >Only works for bmp files. > > [Reply or follow-up to this message] re: If the ''use drop shadows for icon labels'' option has no effect: Tuesday, March 2, 2004 at 3:00 pm Posted by Jon Outram (1 messages posted) Actually, if your still getting the background boxes after trying everything on here, its because your background isnt a JPEG... On Friday, February 1, 2002 at 6:24 pm, Shadow D. Wolf wrote: >Make certain that you do *not* have "Lock desktop items" enabled. You can find this >option by going to to Display Properties, then clicking on the "Desktop" tab and >clicking the "Customize Desktop" button (below the list of wallpapers). > >A second dialogue will appear, and you will need to click the "Web" tab and uncheck >"Lock desktop items." Now your icon text should be rendered with transparent backgrounds. [Reply or follow-up to this message] re: If the ''use drop shadows for icon labels'' option has no effect: Monday, May 17, 2004 at 11:47 pm Posted by Martin Glass (1 messages posted) To make background transparent behind the text under your desktop icons you must not have any web items on your desktop. Right click on your desktop, click "Properties", select the "Desktop" tab, at the bottom left of this tab click on "Customize Desktop", this will open a new window called "Desktop Items", in this new window select the "Web" tab and make sure that there are no items checked in the "Web pages:" frame. [Reply or follow-up to this message] re: If the ''use drop shadows for icon labels'' option has no effect: Sunday, August 1, 2004 at 7:47 am Posted by Gian-Pa (1 messages posted) I have the same problem (but using Windows XP Pro italian version) I have: -unlocked desktop items in desktop -Selected in VISUAL EFFECTS ''use drop shadows for icon labels'' -Not selected anything in Web tab of the desktop settings... BUT NOTHING :'( I can't find a solution... PS: I get the shadow only for bmp wallpapers :( (and thats ugly) On Monday, May 17, 2004 at 11:47 pm, Martin Glass wrote: >To make background transparent behind the text under your desktop icons you must >not have any web items on your desktop. Right click on your desktop, click "Properties", >select the "Desktop" tab, at the bottom left of this tab click on "Customize Desktop", >this will open a new window called "Desktop Items", in this new window select the >"Web" tab and make sure that there are no items checked in the "Web pages:" frame. [Reply or follow-up to this message] re: If the ''use drop shadows for icon labels'' option has no effect: Sunday, November 7, 2004 at 1:42 pm Posted by Jonny (2 messages posted) Everyone now knows that drop shadows is enabled through the advanced tab of System Properties (Windows Key + Pause/Break), under performance, section titled visual effect, AND that items must be unlocked and active desktop enabled (well documented). A recently opened user account will have drop shadows as default. What about the poor souls who do not wish to create a new account to reduce application data related headaches, but texts is still in a solid colored box ? someone mentioned registry keys re: active desktop, i think my problem must be under current user, as new accounts appear unaffected. Tried re-enabling themes, no avail. Use TweakUI and Tweaking Toolbox XP, minimal services. Both tweaking apps. only relate to desktop settings re icon colors and active desktop. Please help ! [Reply or follow-up to this message] re: If the ''use drop shadows for icon labels'' option has no effect: Thursday, January 20, 2005 at 1:07 am Posted by DeBeast (1 messages posted) You are a god! Thats been annoying me for a least 24 hours!!!! On Friday, February 1, 2002 at 6:24 pm, Shadow D. Wolf wrote: >Make certain that you do *not* have "Lock desktop items" enabled. You can find this >option by going to to Display Properties, then clicking on the "Desktop" tab and >clicking the "Customize Desktop" button (below the list of wallpapers). > >A second dialogue will appear, and you will need to click the "Web" tab and uncheck >"Lock desktop items." Now your icon text should be rendered with transparent backgrounds. [Reply or follow-up to this message] re: If the ''use drop shadows for icon labels'' option has no effect: Friday, April 1, 2005 at 11:51 am Posted by Derek Bain (1 messages posted) That worked for me too. Thank you very much. I've had a few client's computers that had this problem and i wasn't able to fix it. Great find! Derek On Thursday, March 21, 2002 at 8:55 pm, JJ wrote: I had a web item on my desktop, but it wasn't locked and still the transparancy did not work. Removing the web item fixed it. [Reply or follow-up to this message] re: If the ''use drop shadows for icon labels'' option has no effect: Tuesday, April 26, 2005 at 4:55 am Posted by Thur (1 messages posted) Thank you! i tried for over an hour to find this! It worked! On Friday, February 1, 2002 at 6:24 pm, Shadow D. Wolf wrote: >Make certain that you do *not* have "Lock desktop items" enabled. You can find this >option by going to to Display Properties, then clicking on the "Desktop" tab and >clicking the "Customize Desktop" button (below the list of wallpapers). > >A second dialogue will appear, and you will need to click the "Web" tab and uncheck >"Lock desktop items." Now your icon text should be rendered with transparent backgrounds. [Reply or follow-up to this message] re: If the ''use drop shadows for icon labels'' option has no effect: Monday, September 12, 2005 at 6:09 pm Posted by John (1 messages posted) How do you check if the program is using active desktop or not? I right clicked on the program .exe file in the program folder on the "C" but could not find any such option that would indicate linkage. My problem with transparent-drop-shadow beneath desktop icons started when I draged a picture from a MS Word document to a desktop. That action instanly caused my transparent-drop shadow efect to go bue-bue and instead, the ugly rectangulars showed up. I am afraid permanetly...(Don't you hate that? ) Now, so far, I checked and tried ALL, and I mean ALL mentioned options which are offered (as a soulution) here and on few other sites, and the cool drop shadow efect is still not coming back. My desktop picture is JPG nad it worked fine with the efect before I draged that picture forma Word document. I even tried to convert this picture in more Window friendly BMP picture and is still not working so i switched back to JPG. Having those rectangular boxes is so anoying, I wish someone would have a better, new idea that would work. (I even reinstalled Windows XP (not a fresh install), lost SP2 and even that didn't fix the problem) Any new idea , perhaps regisry fix or something else? On Friday, May 23, 2003 at 6:32 am, SaintSinner wrote: >Remember that some programs are using Active Desktop. So if you install any software >check if it using avtive desktop and uncheck this option to get destop icons transparent. [Reply or follow-up to this message] re: If the ''use drop shadows for icon labels'' option has no effect: Tuesday, November 8, 2005 at 3:49 am Posted by anil (1 messages posted) it worked thanks a lot whoever written this...... To make background transparent behind the text under your desktop icons you must not have any web items on your desktop. Right click on your desktop, click "Properties", select the "Desktop" tab, at the bottom left of this tab click on "Customize Desktop", this will open a new window called "Desktop Items", in this new window select the "Web" tab and make sure that there are no items checked in the "Web pages:" frame. On Sunday, August 1, 2004 at 7:47 am, Gian-Pa wrote: >I have the same problem (but using Windows XP Pro italian version) >I have: >-unlocked desktop items in desktop >-Selected in VISUAL EFFECTS ''use drop shadows for icon labels'' >-Not selected anything in Web tab of the desktop settings... > >BUT NOTHING :'( >I can't find a solution... >PS: I get the shadow only for bmp wallpapers :( (and thats ugly) > > > > [Reply or follow-up to this message] re: If the ''use drop shadows for icon labels'' option has no effect: Saturday, November 26, 2005 at 2:03 am Posted by Alex (4 messages posted) Anything from here didn't work. I try to find that program TweakUI but i didn't find it. thank for your help [Reply or follow-up to this message] re: If the ''use drop shadows for icon labels'' option has no effect: Saturday, November 26, 2005 at 2:17 am Posted by Alex (4 messages posted) I find TweakUI program. I downloaded ,but i don't know where from to change that option!! Please help me! Alex [Reply or follow-up to this message] re: If the ''use drop shadows for icon labels'' option has no effect: Wednesday, November 30, 2005 at 9:14 pm Posted by Dennis (1 messages posted) Alex, I had the same problem as you. I tried ALL of the suggestions here and everywhere. None worked. And then I remembered a program I once used called TweakXP. Go to http://www.tweakxp.com/ Once installed, click the "Desktop" button on the left side menu. Under Active Desktop, click the "Disable Active Desktop" button. Logoff. Logon. Problem solved. This is by far the easiest fix. On Saturday, November 26, 2005 at 2:03 am, Alex wrote: >Anything from here didn't work. I try to find that program TweakUI but i didn't find >it. > >thank for your help [Reply or follow-up to this message] re: If the ''use drop shadows for icon labels'' option has no effect: Thursday, December 29, 2005 at 1:24 pm Posted by migs212 (2 messages posted) If none of the above worked for you... and you don't want to install software just to solve this issue... go to this registry key and set it to 0 HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer\ForceActiveDesktopOn On Wednesday, November 30, 2005 at 9:14 pm, Dennis wrote: >Alex, I had the same problem as you. I tried ALL of the suggestions here and everywhere. >None worked. And then I remembered a program I once used called TweakXP. Go to http://www.tweakxp.com/ > >Once installed, click the "Desktop" button on the left side menu. Under Active Desktop, >click the "Disable Active Desktop" button. Logoff. Logon. Problem solved. > >This is by far the easiest fix. > > > [Reply or follow-up to this message] re: If the ''use drop shadows for icon labels'' option has no effect: Thursday, December 29, 2005 at 1:27 pm Posted by migs212 (2 messages posted) Sorry for my mistake... the right key is HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer\NoActiveDesktop Set it to 1 ... (true) Log off and Log on ... and it's gone On Thursday, December 29, 2005 at 1:24 pm, migs212 wrote: >If none of the above worked for you... and you don't want to install software just >to solve this issue... go to this registry key and set it to 0 > >HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer\ForceActiveDesktopOn > > > > > [Reply or follow-up to this message] re: If the ''use drop shadows for icon labels'' option has no effect: Tuesday, January 3, 2006 at 6:05 pm Posted by Tasos (1 messages posted) It's very simple. Go to "C:\Documents and Settings\[your accound folder]\Local Settings\" and delete the file "desktop.ini". Then make all mentioned settings and ... that's it! (sorry for my english) On Friday, February 1, 2002 at 6:24 pm, Shadow D. Wolf wrote: >Make certain that you do *not* have "Lock desktop items" enabled. You can find this >option by going to to Display Properties, then clicking on the "Desktop" tab and >clicking the "Customize Desktop" button (below the list of wallpapers). > >A second dialogue will appear, and you will need to click the "Web" tab and uncheck >"Lock desktop items." Now your icon text should be rendered with transparent backgrounds. [Reply or follow-up to this message] re: If the ''use drop shadows for icon labels'' option has no effect: Tuesday, January 17, 2006 at 7:55 pm Posted by DiGaHoLe (1 messages posted) I have also noticed that in order for the drop shadow effect to work, you need to make sure that you are using your wallpaper as "centered", and NOT "Stretched". This did the trick for me! On Tuesday, January 3, 2006 at 6:05 pm, Tasos wrote: > >It's very simple. Go to "C:\Documents and Settings\[your accound folder]\Local Settings\" >and delete the file "desktop.ini". Then make all mentioned settings and ... that's >it! (sorry for my english) > > [Reply or follow-up to this message] re: If the ''use drop shadows for icon labels'' option has no effect: Thursday, January 19, 2006 at 8:15 pm Posted by J. Miller (1 messages posted) This was the answer that worked for me. I had saved a web page to my desktop for later ref. -- Problem solved, thanks very much! On Monday, May 17, 2004 at 11:47 pm, Martin Glass wrote: >To make background transparent behind the text under your desktop icons you must >not have any web items on your desktop. Right click on your desktop, click "Properties", >select the "Desktop" tab, at the bottom left of this tab click on "Customize Desktop", >this will open a new window called "Desktop Items", in this new window select the >"Web" tab and make sure that there are no items checked in the "Web pages:" frame. [Reply or follow-up to this message] re: If the ''use drop shadows for icon labels'' option has no effect: Monday, February 6, 2006 at 9:24 am Posted by anon (8 messages posted) ***Figured it out!!!*** ... in the web tab of *customize desktop* make sure *My Current HomePage* is unchecked, then click the *properties* BUTTON to the right... then make sure *Make this page available offline* is UNchecked... APPLY and say OK to the remaining property sheets... you may have to refresh the desktop... worked after doing all the reccomended settings on this topic, and still not working... also verified that it can cause the problem by re-enabling the checkbox...sure enough, it was the problem. Hope this helps guys.... [Reply or follow-up to this message] re: If the ''use drop shadows for icon labels'' option has no effect: Saturday, February 11, 2006 at 1:23 am Posted by Jiramate (1 messages posted) Amazing. The thing works. I have been trying to find a cure for it for ages. cheers [Reply or follow-up to this message] re: If the ''use drop shadows for icon labels'' option has no effect: Monday, February 27, 2006 at 2:13 pm Posted by John Snow (1 messages posted) I too have tried all of the tips here to no avail. Even TweakXP would not work. Strangely when I go to display properties ,ect. no web option pops up at all. I cannot unlock the desktop as no (Unlock Desktop) option is available. This is the second machine that I have found to behave this way. I cleared all displays from the desktop and chose a blank screen, nothing worked. Finally, I found one of the registry hacks on a different site than this did work on a different machine. Then , I forgot to save the registry tweek and now I don't know which it was and I need to use it on another computer that fails to behave properly. I did not realize how ubiquitus this bug is. Now I'm up to three XP machines that have this problem. I intend to try deleting the suggested ini file and then if that doesn't work I'll make a pilgramage to the famous city of Redmond where the richest software /bug maker resides. Perhaps he can fix this insectoidal software he calls XP. On Tuesday, January 3, 2006 at 6:05 pm, Tasos wrote: > >It's very simple. Go to "C:\Documents and Settings\[your accound folder]\Local Settings\" >and delete the file "desktop.ini". Then make all mentioned settings and ... that's >it! (sorry for my english) > > [Reply or follow-up to this message] re: If the ''use drop shadows for icon labels'' option has no effect: Friday, March 10, 2006 at 7:47 am Posted by Brian (1 messages posted) If you've ever used the Remote Desktop feature to access the computer with this issue, then try this solution, it worked for me: Go to the System control panel Under the Hardware tab, open the Device Manager Expand the Display Adapters Disable the Microsoft SMS Mirror Driver Restart You can re-enable this again after the restart if having it disabled bothers you. On Monday, February 27, 2006 at 2:13 pm, John Snow wrote: >I too have tried all of the tips here to no avail. Even TweakXP would not work. Strangely >when I go to display properties ,ect. no web option pops up at all. I cannot unlock >the desktop as no (Unlock Desktop) option is available. This is the second machine >that I have found to behave this way. I cleared all displays from the desktop and >chose a blank screen, nothing worked. Finally, I found one of the registry hacks >on a different site than this did work on a different machine. Then , I forgot to >save the registry tweek and now I don't know which it was and I need to use it on >another computer that fails to behave properly. I did not realize how ubiquitus this >bug is. Now I'm up to three XP machines that have this problem. > >I intend to try deleting the suggested ini file and then if that doesn't work I'll >make a pilgramage to the famous city of Redmond where the richest software /bug maker >resides. Perhaps he can fix this insectoidal software he calls XP. > > > [Reply or follow-up to this message] re: If the ''use drop shadows for icon labels'' option has no effect: Tuesday, March 21, 2006 at 12:10 pm Posted by Adam Edmondson (1 messages posted) This tip worked for me and I have been trying to get this working for a while now. Thanks!!! On Friday, March 10, 2006 at 7:47 am, Brian wrote: >If you've ever used the Remote Desktop feature to access the computer with this issue, >then try this solution, it worked for me: >Go to the System control panel >Under the Hardware tab, open the Device Manager >Expand the Display Adapters >Disable the Microsoft SMS Mirror Driver >Restart > >You can re-enable this again after the restart if having it disabled bothers you. > > > > [Reply or follow-up to this message] re: If the ''use drop shadows for icon labels'' option has no effect: Friday, April 14, 2006 at 8:38 am Posted by bennettjc (1 messages posted) This sent me in the right direction but didn't quite work. What did work, though, was to use the Delete tab to delete something listed under "Web pages" that was there other than "My Current Home Page." Thanks! [Reply or follow-up to this message] re: If the ''use drop shadows for icon labels'' option has no effect: Monday, May 1, 2006 at 1:01 pm Posted by Marshmallow (1 messages posted) Thx to DiGaHole!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I wont say anything bad about Windows, its good, I wont say anthing about PC hardware, because its marvellous, I wont say anything about the weather, because its just fine, ....but if you would ask me if I mind about those Windows programmers, especially those, who forgot to implement the algorithms for setting properties in a proper logical way..... I WOULD SAY YeeeeeeeeeS *"$"§$%&§$ On Friday, April 14, 2006 at 8:38 am, bennettjc wrote: >This sent me in the right direction but didn't quite work. What did work, though, >was to use the Delete tab to delete something listed under "Web pages" that was there >other than "My Current Home Page." > >Thanks! [Reply or follow-up to this message] re: If the ''use drop shadows for icon labels'' option has no effect: Saturday, May 6, 2006 at 1:18 pm Posted by crazy Banana (1 messages posted) I fixed it by right click on the desktop, goto "Properties" click on "desktop" tab on the top. then goto "Customized Desktop" then click on " Web" uncheck everything. On Friday, May 23, 2003 at 6:32 am, SaintSinner wrote: >Remember that some programs are using Active Desktop. So if you install any software >check if it using avtive desktop and uncheck this option to get destop icons transparent. [Reply or follow-up to this message] re: If the ''use drop shadows for icon labels'' option has no effect: Friday, July 7, 2006 at 5:00 am Posted by Barrie smart (1 messages posted) Worked for me too, thank you, it was driving me nuts. On Tuesday, November 8, 2005 at 3:49 am, anil wrote: >it worked >thanks a lot whoever written this...... > >To make background transparent behind the text under your desktop icons you must >not have any web items on your desktop. Right click on your desktop, click "Properties", >select the "Desktop" tab, at the bottom left of this tab click on "Customize Desktop", >this will open a new window called "Desktop Items", in this new window select the >"Web" tab and make sure that there are no items checked in the "Web pages:" frame. > > > [Reply or follow-up to this message] re: If the ''use drop shadows for icon labels'' option has no effect: Monday, July 17, 2006 at 11:59 am Posted by Marshall Allen (1 messages posted) Thank you very much, After trying numerous approaches I was successful in restoring transparency with your solution. On Friday, March 10, 2006 at 7:47 am, Brian wrote: >If you've ever used the Remote Desktop feature to access the computer with this issue, >then try this solution, it worked for me: >Go to the System control panel >Under the Hardware tab, open the Device Manager >Expand the Display Adapters >Disable the Microsoft SMS Mirror Driver >Restart > >You can re-enable this again after the restart if having it disabled bothers you. > > > > [Reply or follow-up to this message] re: If the ''use drop shadows for icon labels'' option has no effect: Monday, August 21, 2006 at 5:02 pm Posted by rupert (2 messages posted) I tried all the solutions and then figured it out for myself. First the problem starts when you copy of certain type of files to the desktop. You may not have noticed but it did ask you if you wanted something or other. If you said yes then you got the file on the desktop but you also got blue shadows around every icon. Now what you have to do is get ride of that file, not only by eliminating the icon but by changing the settings which allowed it. Control Panel - System - Advanced Options- Web- and eliminate the name of the file which caused all the trouble in the first place. Look, I know I don't remember exactly because I am not a geek. But the way I found how to do it it was I went back to the Word file that caused caused all the trouble and tried to copy and paste it on my desktop once again to see what happened. I then got a Windows error message that I could not do this because that file was alreadd allowed on the Active Desktop. It then gave instructions as to how to get rid of the file. As soon as I did all the blue shadows went away. I would repeat the experiment for you in order to get the exact instructions but I really don't want to play with fire. But it is in the Control Panel, System and something to do with Web [Reply or follow-up to this message] re: If the ''use drop shadows for icon labels'' option has no effect: Monday, August 21, 2006 at 5:21 pm Posted by rupert (2 messages posted) I have remembered the procedure: Start - Control Panel - Display/Screen - Personalize Desktop - Web and then delete the file you see there that is causing all the trouble [Reply or follow-up to this message] re: If the ''use drop shadows for icon labels'' option has no effect: Sunday, September 24, 2006 at 4:43 am Posted by Khalid (1 messages posted) Thanks a lot , it worked for me , after this I unchecked the recommended boxes , and it worked . On Monday, May 17, 2004 at 11:47 pm, Martin Glass wrote: >To make background transparent behind the text under your desktop icons you must >not have any web items on your desktop. Right click on your desktop, click "Properties", >select the "Desktop" tab, at the bottom left of this tab click on "Customize Desktop", >this will open a new window called "Desktop Items", in this new window select the >"Web" tab and make sure that there are no items checked in the "Web pages:" frame. [Reply or follow-up to this message] re: If the ''use drop shadows for icon labels'' option has no effect: Monday, October 30, 2006 at 5:51 am Posted by Sean (1 messages posted) Thanks, this has annoyed my organization for some time. All other methods would not work and this method did the trick. On Friday, March 10, 2006 at 7:47 am, Brian wrote: >If you've ever used the Remote Desktop feature to access the computer with this issue, >then try this solution, it worked for me: >Go to the System control panel >Under the Hardware tab, open the Device Manager >Expand the Display Adapters >Disable the Microsoft SMS Mirror Driver >Restart > >You can re-enable this again after the restart if having it disabled bothers you. > > > > [Reply or follow-up to this message] re: If the ''use drop shadows for icon labels'' option has no effect: Tuesday, October 31, 2006 at 2:42 am Posted by theTiger (1 messages posted) But I do have a computer using a JPG file as wall paper and displaying desktop labels without any problems. In fact, the computer I am using now had always use JPG as wall paper and only started to displayed colored boxes around labels recently, strangely. On Thursday, November 20, 2003 at 5:02 pm, bliytz wrote: >windows considers jpg files to be web, requiring the use of active desktop > > But I do have a computer using JPG files as wall paper and displaying desktop labels without any problems. But I do have a machine that uses JPG file as wall paper and does not have any problems displaying desktop labels. [Reply or follow-up to this message] re: If the ''use drop shadows for icon labels'' option has no effect: Wednesday, December 20, 2006 at 1:02 am Posted by 2re (1 messages posted) Thanks a million!! been struggling with this problem for over a week and this solution worked perfectly for me! On Thursday, December 29, 2005 at 1:24 pm, migs212 wrote: >If none of the above worked for you... and you don't want to install software just >to solve this issue... go to this registry key and set it to 0 > >HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer\ForceActiveDesktopOn > > > > > [Reply or follow-up to this message] re: If the ''use drop shadows for icon labels'' option has no effect: Monday, January 8, 2007 at 11:06 pm Posted by Tiguan (1 messages posted) OK - I spent about 3 weeks trying to suss this and final this is the only thing that worked. Nice one. On Wednesday, April 2, 2003 at 8:34 pm, Roberto Racca wrote: >I have another tip regarding this matter. Even after doing all the things suggested >(not locking web desktop items and not having web items on the desktop in the first >place) XP may "stick" to the non-transparent setting for desktop icon labels. I have >been able to return to the transparent setting with drop shadows by first unchecking >the "use drop shadows for icon labels on the desktop" box under System > Advanced >> Performance Settings and then checking it again. This may scramble your desktop >icons a little and you'll have to drag them back where you want them, but the transparent >backdrop and drop shadows will be restored. > > [Reply or follow-up to this message] re: If the ''use drop shadows for icon labels'' option has no effect: Monday, January 15, 2007 at 8:04 am Posted by Paul (1 messages posted) Likewise for me... following the original instructions had no effect and the text for my desktop icons still had a solid background color, but removing a item under the Web tab of Desktop Items fixed it. Thanks for posting! On Friday, April 14, 2006 at 8:38 am, bennettjc wrote: >This sent me in the right direction but didn't quite work. What did work, though, >was to use the Delete tab to delete something listed under "Web pages" that was there >other than "My Current Home Page." > >Thanks! [Reply or follow-up to this message] This works!!!! Friday, March 2, 2007 at 4:57 pm Posted by Mulder (1 messages posted) And then I remembered a program I once used called TweakXP. Go to http://www.tweakxp.com/ Once installed, click the "Desktop" button on the left side menu. Under Active Desktop, click the "Disable Active Desktop" button. Logoff. Logon. Problem solved. This is by far the easiest fix. This really solves the problem, I did it. Thank you man. [Reply or follow-up to this message] re: If the ''use drop shadows for icon labels'' option has no effect: Thursday, May 24, 2007 at 6:01 am Posted by Franck (1 messages posted) On the subject of SMS / Remote Desktop. Those of you using PC-ANYWHERE. Keep in mind you need to ACTIVATE the icon background transparency PRIOR to installing PC-ANYWHERE host. (you can safely install the host after the setting is to your liking) On Friday, March 10, 2006 at 7:47 am, Brian wrote: >If you've ever used the Remote Desktop feature to access the computer with this issue, >then try this solution, it worked for me: >Go to the System control panel >Under the Hardware tab, open the Device Manager >Expand the Display Adapters >Disable the Microsoft SMS Mirror Driver >Restart > >You can re-enable this again after the restart if having it disabled bothers you. > > > > [Reply or follow-up to this message] re: If the ''use drop shadows for icon labels'' option has no effect: Saturday, June 9, 2007 at 10:40 pm Posted by Julio Alvarez (1 messages posted) >The only thing that worked for me was eliminating the web icons and restablishing the "best appareance settings" on System Options. THANKS TO THE FORUM!!!!! > [Reply or follow-up to this message] re: If the ''use drop shadows for icon labels'' option has no effect: Friday, June 22, 2007 at 11:01 am Posted by Jesh (1 messages posted) Hello, Follow these few steps in order to resolve the issue: Steps: 1.Right click on the Desktop->Click "Properties" 2.Select "Desktop" menu 3.Click "Customize Desktop" 4.Select 'Web" menu 5.Now uncheck the checkboxes under "Web Pages" 6.Also, uncheck "Lock Desktop Items" 7.Click OK 8.OK On Monday, August 21, 2006 at 5:02 pm, rupert wrote: >I tried all the solutions and then figured it out for myself. > >First the problem starts when you copy of certain type of files to the desktop. >You may not have noticed but it did ask you if you wanted something or other. If >you said yes then you got the file on the desktop but you also got blue shadows around >every icon. > >Now what you have to do is get ride of that file, not only by eliminating the icon >but by changing the settings which allowed it. > >Control Panel - System - Advanced Options- Web- and eliminate the name of the file >which caused all the trouble in the first place. > >Look, I know I don't remember exactly because I am not a geek. > >But the way I found how to do it it was I went back to the Word file that caused >caused all the trouble and tried to copy and paste it on my desktop once again to >see what happened. I then got a Windows error message that I could not do this >because that file was alreadd allowed on the Active Desktop. It then gave instructions >as to how to get rid of the file. As soon as I did all the blue shadows went away. > >I would repeat the experiment for you in order to get the exact instructions but >I really don't want to play with fire. But it is in the Control Panel, System and >something to do with Web [Reply or follow-up to this message] If the ''use drop shadows for icon labels'' option has no effect Friday, October 12, 2007 at 5:20 pm Posted by Karl (1 messages posted) I am dealing with the same issue for quite sometime and fortunately found a work around. Here are some few things I did. - open the image you want to be use as your wallpaper using windows paint. - save the file using .bmp (any type of bitmap) then place the file on this path [C:\WINDOWS\Web\Wallpaper]. - Change your wallpaper by using the new edited image. - Check if the same problem will still persist. [Reply or follow-up to this message] re: If the ''use drop shadows for icon labels'' option has no effect Friday, October 19, 2007 at 12:08 am Posted by BC (1 messages posted) My problem cause by diabling Windows Pictures & Fax Viewer (From Tweak - WinXP Manager). Reenable it to solve the problem. [Reply or follow-up to this message] re: If the ''use drop shadows for icon labels'' option has no effect: Sunday, November 18, 2007 at 9:19 pm Posted by Trisha (5 messages posted) Franck, you are GREAT! I had been trying to DISABLE icon drop shadows and had tried everything here in reverse (well, kind of ... LOL). I removed the Printer Anywhere icon from my desktop, went back in and reset the Performance Settings. Drop Shadows GONE! I then added the Printer Anywhere Icon back to my desktop and checked again and everything stayed as I set it last! THANK YOU SO MUCH!! On Thursday, May 24, 2007 at 6:01 am, Franck wrote: >On the subject of SMS / Remote Desktop. Those of you using PC-ANYWHERE. Keep in mind >you need to ACTIVATE the icon background transparency PRIOR to installing PC-ANYWHERE >host. (you can safely install the host after the setting is to your liking) > > > [Reply or follow-up to this message] re: If the ''use drop shadows for icon labels'' option has no effect: Tuesday, January 8, 2008 at 4:55 am Posted by sooojaded (1 messages posted) THANK YOU~! Instead of deleting it, I opened desktop.ini and cleared everything in it and saved. And the ugly boxes are finally gone!!! On Tuesday, January 3, 2006 at 6:05 pm, Tasos wrote: > >It's very simple. Go to "C:\Documents and Settings\[your accound folder]\Local Settings\" >and delete the file "desktop.ini". Then make all mentioned settings and ... that's >it! (sorry for my english) > > [Reply or follow-up to this message] re: If the ''use drop shadows for icon labels'' option has no effect: Friday, February 29, 2008 at 9:49 am Posted by llamaza (1 messages posted) Just already find the solution on my system. You need to make sure that High Contrast is not selected under Accessibility \ Display Options in your Control Panel. Great!!! On Monday, January 15, 2007 at 8:04 am, Paul wrote: >Likewise for me... following the original instructions had no effect and the text >for my desktop icons still had a solid background color, but removing a item under >the Web tab of Desktop Items fixed it. Thanks for posting! > > > [Reply or follow-up to this message] re: If the ''use drop shadows for icon labels'' option has no effect: Tuesday, March 11, 2008 at 1:32 am Posted by Seleucia (1 messages posted) I did everything else in this thread; changing my desktop from a .png file to a .bmp file was the only thing that worked. Thanks! On Thursday, August 7, 2003 at 8:30 pm, Morpheus wrote: >Only works for bmp files. > > [Reply or follow-up to this message] re: If the ''use drop shadows for icon labels'' option has no effect: Wednesday, July 30, 2008 at 8:23 pm Posted by Charles (3 messages posted) This worked for me. I had to created the REG-DWORD "NoActiveDesktop" value in that hive and then set it to "1" but it worked! On Thursday, December 29, 2005 at 1:27 pm, migs212 wrote: >Sorry for my mistake... the right key is > >HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer\NoActiveDesktop > >Set it to 1 ... (true) > >Log off and Log on ... and it's gone > > > > [Reply or follow-up to this message] solved problem!! Sunday, August 24, 2008 at 11:29 am Posted by matt (1 messages posted) if you have tried everything here and still have the problem... right-click on the task bar and click on the "lock the taskbar" option for some reason this refreshes the desktop and the dropshadows appear! After you can right-click on the taskbar again and change the lock back. the dropshadows will remain though! YAAA! [Reply or follow-up to this message] re: If the ''use drop shadows for icon labels'' option has no effect Saturday, September 13, 2008 at 5:52 pm Posted by Moose (1 messages posted) ***SOLVED*** It appears there are many solutions and obviously all are dependant upon the actual original CAUSE. CAUSE (mine). Windows picture & fax viewer not working thus causing desktop problems. If you share the same problem here's the fix that worked for me. To Re-Enable Pic/fax viewer: Start - Run - regsvr32 shimgvw.dll To DisablePic/fax viewer: Start - Run - regsvr32 /u shimgvw.dll Then go back into Display settings/desktop & reset choices (now you should have .bmp & any jpeg files showing in menu (assuming you have some)), the goto System properties>advanced & check 'use drop shadows for icons'>apply etc... Then log-off, log-on, then you may need to reset setting again (may be required twice as it didn't stick for me 1st time around). On Friday, October 19, 2007 at 12:08 am, BC wrote: >My problem cause by diabling Windows Pictures & Fax Viewer (From Tweak - WinXP Manager). >Reenable it to solve the problem. [Reply or follow-up to this message] re: If the ''use drop shadows for icon labels'' option has no effect: Friday, September 26, 2008 at 1:06 pm Posted by TJ (1 messages posted) Of the dozens of ways to fix this, this is the one that worked. Thanks On Friday, February 29, 2008 at 9:49 am, llamaza wrote: >Just already find the solution on my system. You need to make sure that High Contrast >is not selected under Accessibility \ Display Options in your Control Panel. > >Great!!! > > > [Reply or follow-up to this message] re: If the ''use drop shadows for icon labels'' option has no effect: Saturday, January 3, 2009 at 11:02 am Posted by David (2 messages posted) Hi. I still can't get my icons to have transparent backgrounds. I've checked the "Use drop shadows..." button in the System, and I've unchecked the Lock Desktop Items as you instructed. Nuts! If you have any other suggestions, it would be appreciated. Thanks, and Happy New Year! On Friday, February 1, 2002 at 6:24 pm, Shadow D. Wolf wrote: >Make certain that you do *not* have "Lock desktop items" enabled. You can find this >option by going to to Display Properties, then clicking on the "Desktop" tab and >clicking the "Customize Desktop" button (below the list of wallpapers). > >A second dialogue will appear, and you will need to click the "Web" tab and uncheck >"Lock desktop items." Now your icon text should be rendered with transparent backgrounds. [Reply or follow-up to this message] re: If the ''use drop shadows for icon labels'' option has no effect: Saturday, January 3, 2009 at 11:32 am Posted by David (2 messages posted) Thank you! I've had this issue for over a year, and have spent about 7 hours trying to correct it. This did it! Thanks, thanks, thanks!!! [Reply or follow-up to this message] re: If the ''use drop shadows for icon labels'' option has no effect: Thursday, March 5, 2009 at 8:04 pm Posted by i_r (1 messages posted) check Display Properties->Desktop->Customize Desktop->Web: if there is any web page listed (just found one on mine, removed and icon text is transparent now) On Saturday, January 3, 2009 at 11:02 am, David wrote: >Hi. I still can't get my icons to have transparent backgrounds. I've checked the >"Use drop shadows..." button in the System, and I've unchecked the Lock Desktop Items >as you instructed. Nuts! If you have any other suggestions, it would be appreciated. > Thanks, and Happy New Year! > > > [Reply or follow-up to this message] re: If the ''use drop shadows for icon labels'' option has no effect: Saturday, March 7, 2009 at 10:26 am Posted by Dave (1 messages posted) I had the same experience. In my case, the ''use drop shadows for icon labels'' was already checked and the "Lock desktop items" was already unchecked but my text boxes remained blue with white text. In the display properties->desktop->web web pages listing there was a web page listed that pointed to a mysterious directory that did not exist (in my case it was ~Local Settings\Temp\msohtml1\18\clip_image002.jpg (I had no subdirectory 18). This web page was checked. When I unchecked this box, my text box turned transparent. I deleted this web page from the list with no apparent ill effect. On Saturday, January 3, 2009 at 11:02 am, David wrote: >Hi. I still can't get my icons to have transparent backgrounds. I've checked the >"Use drop shadows..." button in the System, and I've unchecked the Lock Desktop Items >as you instructed. Nuts! If you have any other suggestions, it would be appreciated. > Thanks, and Happy New Year! > > > [Reply or follow-up to this message] re: If the ''use drop shadows for icon labels'' option has no effect: Thursday, July 30, 2009 at 6:29 am Posted by satish (1 messages posted) My Computer > Properties> System Properties>Advanced> Perfomance Option then Visual Effects > Use drop shadows for icon labels on desktop And also try gpedit.msc >User configuration >administrative templates> windows components> windows explorer> Turn on Classic shell “ON”. Hope this works On Thursday, June 5, 2003 at 12:32 pm, mualam wrote: >Can somebody please post solution to this problem. I would like to use web page >on desktop and trasparent icon text background. > >thanks. > > > [Reply or follow-up to this message] Tip: Use one of the [Reply or follow-up to this message] links above to add a message to this thread Search this forum Start a new thread on a different subject Report abuse of the forum Return to the Windows XP Discussion Forum