Windows 98 comes with a version of Desktop Themes that works with Task Scheduler to let you change themes according to a schedule. For a monthly change, double-click the Desktop Themes icon in Control Panel, check the Rotate theme monthly box, and click OK. Windows will ask for your permission to keep Task Scheduler running (if it isn't already), and to do the rest of the configuration itself. But suppose you want to change themes on a whim? Or what if you don't want to keep Task Scheduler running every day for this occasional task?

To change to a random theme at will, follow the previous tip's steps but use the /r switch in place of the /s switch and don't bother adding a theme file name to the Command line. To make the theme change each time you start Windows, move the shortcut to the StartUp folder. (Note: this tip doesn't work with Microsoft Plus for Windows 95. Also, themes.exe doesn't come with Win 98 SE, so if you're upgrading to that OS, you'll need to make a copy of the old themes.exe file first.)