How to Set a Background for the Desktop on a Dell
By Filonia LeChat
When you boot up your Dell you may be greeted with a large blue Dell screen or black Dell logo in a circle, depending on version and release number. If you'd prefer to stare at something other than advertising for the company that made your computer, set the desktop to a new background. The desktop is the area on the computer monitor that shows when no windows or programs are opened. It is where the clickable program icons collect and it may even show through title bars or to the sides of smaller windows. Choose your own background with a couple of quick clicks.
Step 1
Close or minimize any open applications, windows and programs on the Dell by clicking either the minus-sign or x button at the top-right corner of each window. The desktop should be visible.
Step 2
Right-click anywhere on the desktop (not on any of the icons). Select Personalize from the menu. The Personalization window will open.
Step 3
Click the Desktop Background link at the bottom of the window.
Step 4
Click the "Browse" button and navigate to a picture or photo to use for the desktop background. Double-click the image to have it appear in the picture window.
Step 5
Click the "Change background color" link and select a colored square from the Color window to fill any space left on the desktop background. This step is optional.
Step 6
Click "OK" to close the Colors window and click "Save changes" to close the personalization window. The desktop background will now be set.
References
Tips
- This process for setting the background on a Dell works for just about every other Windows-based PC running Windows 7, the latest release as of February 2011. In earlier systems right-clicking an image brings up the Set as Background option, and right-clicking the desktop brings up the Properties option, which you can use to choose a background image.
Writer Bio
Fionia LeChat is a technical writer whose major skill sets include the MS Office Suite (Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Publisher), Photoshop, Paint, desktop publishing, design and graphics. LeChat has a Master of Science in technical writing, a Master of Arts in public relations and communications and a Bachelor of Arts in writing/English.