Take your desktop theme to any PC

Helpline Q&A Directory

Our office has several Windows 95 and 98 computers, all of which are used by a number of people, but we don't like each other's desktop settings. Can I transfer my PC settings to another computer and easily switch between my settings and someone else's?

Windows XP lets you do this automatically. Different users log in under their own 'accounts' and XP loads up their own specified desktop settings. For Windows 98 and Windows 95, however, you have to create and distribute desktop themes. A number of programs will let you do this, but we recommend Desktop Architect. This program is available for download from www.rocketdownload.com/details/grap/5235.htm.

Windows doesn't install desktop themes by default. Windows 98 users can install themes from the Control Panel's Add/Remove Programs applet. The 'official' way for Windows 95 users to add themes is to buy Microsoft Plus 95 - no easy feat, since the program is no longer sold. After you install Desktop Architect, you'll be able to use, save and distribute themes.

To save your current settings as a theme, launch Desktop Architect and select File, Save. Select a location and give the file a name. Now you've got a theme but, unless its wallpaper, sounds, fonts and other files all come with Windows, simply transferring your theme file to another PC won't work. You have to transfer all the other files it uses as well.

That's where Desktop Architect beats Windows 98's own Themes tool. To bring files together, select Tools, Package. A wizard will walk you through the creation of either a ZIP or an EXE file for putting the individual files your theme requires in the right place. We recommend creating an EXE file for easy distribution.

The target computer will have to support Desktop Themes, whether via Windows 98, Plus 95 or Desktop Architect. To add your own theme, run the EXE file you created in Desktop Architect then right-click your desktop. Select Properties, click the Themes tab and click on your theme from the pull-down menu.

One final note: switching back and forth between themes is easiest if you have put them all in the same folder. By default, that folder should be c:\Program Files\Plus\Themes.