In Windows, what is Active Desktop, and how do I enable or disable it?

First available in Windows 98, Active Desktop allows a variety of file types to be displayed as the desktop Wallpaper. Previous versions of Windows could display only bitmap pictures (.bmp) files as Wallpaper, but Active Desktop supports web content, movies, and a range of graphical formats. However, these dynamic applications use more processor power than most users want to assign to their desktop background. As a practical matter, Active Desktop is mostly used only to display static images. Active Desktop was last issued with Windows XP; in Windows Vista it has been replaced by the Windows Sidebar, which runs various tasks from the desktop.

To enable or disable Active Desktop:

Windows XP

1. Click the Start button and choose either Control Panel, or Settings and then Control Panel.
   
   
2. Double-click Display.
   
   
3. Choose the Desktop tab, and then click Customize Desktop... .
   
   
4. Click the Web tab. Under "Web pages:", add the page that you want on your desktop and check the box next to it. This will enable the Active Desktop. If you wish to disable the Active Desktop, uncheck the box next to the web page.

Windows 2000

1. Click the Start button and choose Settings, then Control Panel.
   
   
2. Double-click Display.
   
   
3. In the Display Properties window, click the Web tab.
   
   
4. Check or uncheck View my Active Desktop as a web page. Click OK.

For more information, see article 190228, or search for Active Desktop, at the Microsoft Help and Support web site.

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