I can't get transparent icon labels on the XP desktop. A google search turned up some tips, but they haven't worked for me. 'Lock web items on desktop' is not selected 'Use drop shadows for icon labels on the desktop' is selected I searched the registry and couldn't find anything for 'Lock web'. I found a 'Drop shadow' = 'FALSE' entry under Windows\Themes. I changed it to TRUE, but it didn't help. I did find some 'Use drop shadows for icon labels on the desktop' entries under Windows\Shellnoroam\MUIcache, which I assume is good. I downloaded and tried 'Transparent' and 'WindowFX'. I couldn't get either one of them to make the labels transparent Am I missing something, or is it just not possible when you use a desktop background picture? I am trying to use one of the 'wallpaper' selections in the desktop backgrounds options, but they all seem to disable transparency.

max00, It's possible that Active Desktop is enabled. To Disable Active Desktop. Open the Control Panel. Open Display Properties. Click the Desktop tab. Click the Customize Desktop button. Click the Web tab in the Desktop Items window. Make sure all checkboxes in this window are un-checked including My Current Homepage. Restart your computer. Tufenuf

Thanks Tufenuf. They are all unchecked and I have rebooted. They are still not transparent. I searched the Registry for an entry for 'active desktop', but didn't find anything showing it on or off. Can someone tell me if I am wasting my time or not. Is it possible to get transparent icon labels with a wallpaprer background? Sorry, I do not check for private messages

ham30, The istructions at the link below have always worked for me and many others. Remove icon border shadows on the desktop Since you may have altered your registry this may not solve it for you but give it a try. Tufenuf

Thanks again Tufenuf, but I already checked that. It's the things mentioned in the second paragraph of my first post. Do you know for a fact that it's possible to get rid of the colored icon labels when you use a wallpaper background? Sorry, I do not check for private messages

I think I probably didn't make the problem clear. The icon labels are transparent when I select a pattern background, but not when I choose any of the picture backgrounds, like 'Dangerous Creatures' for instance. I'm having this problem on two PCs. Also, sorry for the name change. I made a mistake by using someone else's PC for the original post. Sorry, I do not check for private messages

Yes, you should be able to get transparent labels with wallpaper, so something's wrong somewhere. Try unchecking 'use drop shadows...' in performance settings, OK your way out, then go back in and check it again.