By George Norman
Added on 05 Nov 2009(878 Views)



You can customize the way the Windows 7 looks by activating one of the numerous themes Microsoft has made available. Windows 7 users can activate one of the themes that come bundled with the operating system, or they can get one of the themes available online in the Personalization Gallery.

Some of you might not like the fact that certain themes change the OS’s icons and mouse cursor. With a siple trick you can prevent this from happening. Just follow the step-by-step instructions presented below:

Step 1. Minimize all open windows and all open applications. Better yet, save what you’re doing and close every window.

Step 2. Right click an empty space on the desktop.

Step 3. From the right click context menu, select Properties.

Step 4. Now click Change desktop icons from the left hand side of the Personalize window.

Step 5. In the Desktop Icon Settings window that appears, uncheck the box next to Allow themes to change desktop icons. Click Apply.

Step 6. Return to the Personalize window and click Change Mouse Pointers.

Step 7. The Mouse Properties window will appear -> click the Pointers tab.

Step 8. At the bottom of the window, uncheck the box next to Allow themes to change mouse pointers.

Step 9. Click Apply -> click OK and you’re done.

Tips and warnings
  • The tutorial presented above can be tackled by any Windows 7 user: beginner, intermediate and advanced. Chances are that advanced users don’t need to read this tutorial to figure out how to change a theme without changing the mouse cursor and icons.
  • The right click context menu (when you right click an empty space on the desktop) also features a Screen Resolution option. You can use this option to, well, change the screen resolution of your monitor. If the option bothers you, you can remove it from the context menu.




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Tags: Microsoft, Windows 7, Themes, Mouse cursor, Icons

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