You can configure desktop themes in Windows 2000. Click Start | Run, type themes in the resulting dialog box, and click OK. Oddly themes seem to be an afterthought. You have to manually create a "Plus!" folder in which to store your desktop themes. To do so, go to C:\Program Files\ and create a subfolder named "Plus!" Next, create a subfolder under "Plus!" named "Themes."

Windows 2000 only recognizes themes with the .theme extension. It can use Win9x themes with a .the or .thm extension if you rename the extension to .theme.

You might want to consider Desktop Architect which is theme management software for Windows 95/98/ME/NT/2000. Desktop Architect gives you the power to create and use themes to give your desktop a personal look and sound. Best of all, it's completely free!

You also might want to check out Patti's Themes.

well written for beginning user of W2K Pro

Keywords: windows 2000 tip, w2k, desktop themes, plus!, .theme, .thm, .the