If you’ve been wondering why your XP desktop icons have a

background color, you’ll be glad to know you can flip a checkbox

and have them go back to a normal transparent background.

Here’s the two versions side by side.

To set the transparent background on the icons,

we’ll need to open System Properties in Control Panel

(or right-click on My Computer and select Properties).

In this dialog, click the Advanced tab, a

nd then the Settings button under the Performance section.

Now scroll down to the button where you’ll find a checkbox for “Use drop shadows for icon labels on the desktop”.

Make sure you check this box if you want transparent backgrounds

on the icons.

Why this option isn’t just labeled “Enable Transparent Icons On the Desktop”, I just can’t say.