Vista - Desktop Icon font color change

Scooter415 · 12-16-2008

This will work, but its kind of quirky.
1- Right Click on your desktop and goto Personalize
2- Click on Desktop Background
3- In the location field select "Solid Colors"
4- If you want "Black" text choose the "white" solid color background
5- If you want "White" text choose a "black" background
6- In the location field select "Windows Wallpapers"
7- Choose the Wallpaper you want
8- Your Text should stay the same color it was when you chose you background color in steps 4 or 5.
9- Apply your background changes.

Yes, this is quirky, but it works. Well, at least it works with my Vista Business Setup.
I agree that there should be a place to do this setting and can't believe that Microsoft forgot to let us make a Font Color Setting for the Desktop... I'm sure they will fix it eventually...

Hoping this helps ya all...
Scooter

**TrillianK** · 01-12-2009

So glad you posted on this, I was having the same issue. Of all the things to not let users control, the font colour on their desktop..fail

Thanks for the info guys!

Monica · 02-26-2009

Thanks Rebdk for the resolution

Good job ........you made my day ...

**Imperfect1** · 02-27-2009

Quote: Originally Posted by Robert Runyon

Shawn,

My desktop changes daily (I know a resource eater, but I like having a new image greeting me everyday), and many have white or very light backgrounds. Bob

Apologies for being OT, but Robert, what application or setting are you using to change your Desktop daily? I would love to be able to do that!

cozezien · 02-27-2009

Thanks for all the advice from everyone regarding fixing this. I found the easiest way to get the background colour changed is to goto:

Control Panel -> Personalization -> Window Color and appearance -> Advanced -> item: desktop color 1 (I set it to white)

Hope this helps other people.

**dylana** · 05-07-2009

Quote: Originally Posted by Brink

Quote: Originally Posted by runspruel

I had almost all of the check boxes unchecked to speed my system up. I did not have transparent unchecked but I did uncheck it and the box for color change on the icons is still grayed out. Microsoft has a long way to go yet. There should be a way to change the font color since they know the background would be changed by users. All I want right now and I did say now is a way to change the font color from white to black even if I have to edit the registry. If this be the Case I will need to know where and what to put in to change the font color. Maybe in the next upgrade or update they will add this little nicety.
Thanks for the help thou.

Ron Spruell Sr.

Ron,

I found this free little program D-Color XP 1.2 that will you change the desktop icon text or background to whatever color you want them all to be. It was made for XP, but I tested it and it works fine on Vista 32 bit and 64 bit. After you install it and run it, you will see a tray icon. Click on it to change the colors.

Dindo Liboon's Website

Shawn

wow thanks for this little program. im using vista 32bit as well . and it works fine too

time88 · 07-05-2009

Hello my apologies, missed a step in the previous msg. Pls see below.

You can customise your desktop fonts, colours etc by doing the following:

1. Right click your desktop and select "Personalization"
2. Click on "Window Color and Appearance"
3. Scroll down and click on "Open classic appearance properties for more color options"
4. Click on "Advanced".
5. Now, say you want to change the font color of your desktop icon, click the tab and scroll to the word "icon". Then you can change the font colour, type etc. using the colour palettes.

Regards,
Time88

camzy · 10-21-2009

I download D-Color XP 1.2, and nothing is happening. I have installed and run the program, set icon colours, and still nothing, not a single change. Im not sure what im doing wrong, and am following all the steps. Could you please help me, as i too have icons that are hard to read.

Regards Cameron

**Imperfect1** · 10-21-2009

Quote: Originally Posted by time88

You can customise your desktop fonts, colours etc by doing the following:

1. Right click your desktop and select "Personalization"
2. Click on "Window Color and Appearance"
3. Scroll down and click on "Open classic appearance properties for more color options"
4. Click on "Advanced".
5. Now, say you want to change the font color of your desktop icon, click the tab and scroll to the word "icon". Then you can change the font colour, type etc. using the colour palettes.

Regards,
Time88

Actually, when you go to Icon, you can change everything EXCEPT the color of the font. You can change the icon size, font type, and font size, but NOT the font color.

12-16-2008	#11 (permalink)
Scooter415 Vista Business, Home Server, Vista Ultimate, 2008 Server with Other Virtual Servers 1 posts	Re: Desktop Icon font color change This will work, but its kind of quirky. 1- Right Click on your desktop and goto Personalize 2- Click on Desktop Background 3- In the location field select "Solid Colors" 4- If you want "Black" text choose the "white" solid color background 5- If you want "White" text choose a "black" background 6- In the location field select "Windows Wallpapers" 7- Choose the Wallpaper you want 8- Your Text should stay the same color it was when you chose you background color in steps 4 or 5. 9- Apply your background changes. Yes, this is quirky, but it works. Well, at least it works with my Vista Business Setup. I agree that there should be a place to do this setting and can't believe that Microsoft forgot to let us make a Font Color Setting for the Desktop... I'm sure they will fix it eventually... Hoping this helps ya all... Scooter
My System Specs

01-12-2009	#12 (permalink)
TrillianK Vista Home Premium 32bit 7 posts	Re: Desktop Icon font color change So glad you posted on this, I was having the same issue. Of all the things to not let users control, the font colour on their desktop..fail Thanks for the info guys!
My System Specs

02-26-2009	#13 (permalink)
Monica Vista home premium 1 posts	Re: Desktop Icon font color change Thanks Rebdk for the resolution Good job ........you made my day ...
My System Specs

02-27-2009	#14 (permalink)
Imperfect1 Vista Home Premium x64 (SP2) 198 posts	Re: Desktop Icon font color change Quote: Originally Posted by Robert Runyon Shawn, My desktop changes daily (I know a resource eater, but I like having a new image greeting me everyday), and many have white or very light backgrounds. Bob Apologies for being OT, but Robert, what application or setting are you using to change your Desktop daily? I would love to be able to do that!
My System Specs

02-27-2009	#15 (permalink)
cozezien Vista 64 1 posts	Re: Desktop Icon font color change Thanks for all the advice from everyone regarding fixing this. I found the easiest way to get the background colour changed is to goto: Control Panel -> Personalization -> Window Color and appearance -> Advanced -> item: desktop color 1 (I set it to white) Hope this helps other people.
My System Specs

05-07-2009	#16 (permalink)
dylana vista home premium 32bit 35 posts	Re: Desktop Icon font color change Quote: Originally Posted by Brink Quote: Originally Posted by runspruel I had almost all of the check boxes unchecked to speed my system up. I did not have transparent unchecked but I did uncheck it and the box for color change on the icons is still grayed out. Microsoft has a long way to go yet. There should be a way to change the font color since they know the background would be changed by users. All I want right now and I did say now is a way to change the font color from white to black even if I have to edit the registry. If this be the Case I will need to know where and what to put in to change the font color. Maybe in the next upgrade or update they will add this little nicety. Thanks for the help thou. Ron Spruell Sr. Ron, I found this free little program D-Color XP 1.2 that will you change the desktop icon text or background to whatever color you want them all to be. It was made for XP, but I tested it and it works fine on Vista 32 bit and 64 bit. After you install it and run it, you will see a tray icon. Click on it to change the colors. Dindo Liboon's Website Shawn wow thanks for this little program. im using vista 32bit as well . and it works fine too
My System Specs

07-05-2009	#17 (permalink)
time88 Vista Home Premium 32bit 1 posts	Re: Desktop Icon font color change Hello my apologies, missed a step in the previous msg. Pls see below. You can customise your desktop fonts, colours etc by doing the following: 1. Right click your desktop and select "Personalization" 2. Click on "Window Color and Appearance" 3. Scroll down and click on "Open classic appearance properties for more color options" 4. Click on "Advanced". 5. Now, say you want to change the font color of your desktop icon, click the tab and scroll to the word "icon". Then you can change the font colour, type etc. using the colour palettes. Regards, Time88
My System Specs

10-21-2009	#18 (permalink)
camzy Window Vista Ultimate 32bit. 2 posts	Re: Desktop Icon font color change I download D-Color XP 1.2, and nothing is happening. I have installed and run the program, set icon colours, and still nothing, not a single change. Im not sure what im doing wrong, and am following all the steps. Could you please help me, as i too have icons that are hard to read. Regards Cameron
My System Specs

10-21-2009	#19 (permalink)
Imperfect1 Vista Home Premium x64 (SP2) 198 posts	Re: Desktop Icon font color change Quote: Originally Posted by time88 You can customise your desktop fonts, colours etc by doing the following: 1. Right click your desktop and select "Personalization" 2. Click on "Window Color and Appearance" 3. Scroll down and click on "Open classic appearance properties for more color options" 4. Click on "Advanced". 5. Now, say you want to change the font color of your desktop icon, click the tab and scroll to the word "icon". Then you can change the font colour, type etc. using the colour palettes. Regards, Time88 Actually, when you go to Icon, you can change everything EXCEPT the color of the font. You can change the icon size, font type, and font size, but NOT the font color.
My System Specs

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