How to Configure the Active Desktop

ID: Q171437

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Internet Explorer versions 4.0, 4.01, 5 for Windows 95
Microsoft Internet Explorer versions 4.0, 4.01, 5 for Windows NT 4.0
Microsoft Windows 98
Microsoft Internet Explorer version 5 for Windows 98

NOTE: The information in this article applies to Internet Explorer 5 users only if the Windows Desktop Update component is installed. This component is installed with Windows 98 or can be installed with Internet Explorer 4. For information about adding or removing the Windows Desktop Update component, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

   ARTICLE-ID: Q165695
   TITLE     : How to Add or Remove Windows Desktop Update

SUMMARY

You can use the Active Desktop to make your desktop act like your own personal Web page. You can display pieces of your favorite Web sites directly on your desktop and keep them up-to-date automatically. You can easily customize the Active Desktop at any time.

This article describes how to configure the Active Desktop. The following topics are discussed:

How to enable and disable the Active Desktop
How to add an Active Desktop item to the desktop
How to make a Web page the desktop wallpaper

MORE INFORMATION

How to Enable and Disable the Active Desktop

To enable the Active Desktop, right-click an empty area on the desktop, point to Active Desktop, and then click View As Web Page (a check mark appears). To disable the Active Desktop, click View As Web Page to clear the check mark.

How to Add an Active Desktop Item to the Desktop

An Active Desktop item is simply a Web page. It can contain active content that can change, such as a stock ticker or a weather map. To add an Active Desktop item, follow these steps:

1. Click Start, point to Settings, click Control Panel, and then

   double-click Display.

2. Click the Web tab, and then click New.

3. If you want to use an Active Desktop item from the Desktop Component

   Gallery on Microsoft's Web site, click Yes. If you want to use a Web
   site as an Active Desktop item, click No, and then either type the Web
   address for the Web site you want to use, or click Browse to search
   your hard disk.

How to Make a Web Page the Desktop Wallpaper

To make a Web page the desktop wallpaper, follow these steps:

1. Click Start, point to Settings, click Control Panel, and then

   double-click Display.

2. On the Background tab, click Browse.

3. In the Browse dialog box, click HTML Document.

4. Search for the .htm or .html file on your hard disk that you want

   to use, and then click Open.

5. Click OK.

NOTE: You can also right-click any graphic in a Web page, and then click Set As Wallpaper to make that graphic the desktop wallpaper.

How to Delete an Active Desktop Item from the Desktop

To delete an Active Desktop item, follow these steps:

1. Click Start, point to Settings, click Control Panel, and then

   double-click Display.

2. Click the Web tab.

3. Click appropriate Web site, and then click Delete.

4. Click Yes to confirm deletion.

5. Click OK.

NOTE: For Internet Explorer 4, this deletes all subscription content. For Internet Explorer 5, this deletes all content from the "Items to Synchronize" box.

Additional query words: 4.00 4.01 5.00 5.0

Keywords          : kbui msiew95 msient msiew98 
Version           : WINDOWS:
Platform          : WINDOWS
Issue type        : kbhowto

Last Reviewed: March 20, 1999