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Desktop Tips

ACTIVE DESKTOP IN WINDOWS ME

Microsoft first introduced the Active Desktop in Windows 98, with the bringing out of version 4 of Internet Explorer. Users of Windows 95 could also have an Active Desktop if they downloaded both this version of IE and the "Desktop Update." Windows ME adds some new features to the Active Desktop, which I will now explain.

First, what does "Active Desktop" mean? It means you can add active web content to your Desktop. You can also add pictures. In order to use the Active Desktop, you right-click any empty spot on the Desktop, select "Active Desktop" from the context menu that scrolls up, and then select "Show Web Content" from the next scrolling context menu. There will be a check mark next to this item when it is selected. To turn off the Active Desktop, select it again, in order to remove the check mark.

Another way to do this is from a Windows Explorer window: select the Tools menu, then click on Folder Options. On the General tab, in the Active Desktop section, select the item "Enable Web Content On My Desktop." In this case you turn Active Desktop off by selecting "Use Windows Classic Desktop."