Why Are My Desktop Icons Highlighted in Blue? | .::APAJR::.

                         

When you spend hours at your computer every day, the slightest unexpected change on your desktop can throw you off balance. The blue highlighting of desktop icons can happen accidentally in Windows XP or may be a part of the newest style changes in Windows 7. No matter what the cause, you can regain the plain icons that you love.

Mouse Error

If you see your icons highlighted in blue and horizontal or vertical lines across the desktop, check your mouse. Do the buttons seem stuck, or do they click down and return to normal position with a clean, smooth motion? Your icons may be highlighted because of a sticky mouse button combined with movement across the screen. Click away from the icons and lines in a blank section of the screen or try a different mouse.

Desktop Settings

Highlighted icons may happen when a Windows XP desktop is set to use a Web page as the background. Right-click on a blank corner of the desktop, and click Properties in the menu. Click on the Desktop tab and the Customize Desktop button on that tab. Click on the Web tab. If you see any Web pages listed in the menu, deselect or delete them, and deselect Lock Desktop Items. This should unhighlight your icons.

Properties

Icons may look different when the Drop Shadow effect is enabled. This is one of many visual effects in Windows allowing you to customize the look of your computer desktop. This requires administrator access, so if you are on a network, you may require your admin’s assistance. Highlight the "My Computer" menu option and right-click. Select "Properties," click on the "Advanced" tab and choose "Settings." Click on "Visual Effects." Near the bottom of the menu, deselect "Use Drop Shadows for Icon Labels On the Desktop." The effect will go away, restoring your icons.

Windows 7

In Windows 7, a transparent blue square appears around any icon if you move the mouse slowly across it or if you select it with one click. To remove this feature, right-click on your desktop, select "Personalize" and click "Window Color." Windows 7 is flexible enough that you can change colors or change the intensity of the colors to suit your needs. You can also change your theme from an Aero theme to a Windows Classic theme, removing the transparent effect and making your icons and desktop look like Windows 98.