When I first saw the default search pane in Windows XP, my instinct was to return
it to its classic look; that puppy had to go. Of course, I later discovered that a
doggie door is built into the applet. Click "Change preferences" then "Without an
animated screen character." If you'd rather give it a bare-bones "Windows 2000" look
and feel, fire up your Registry editor and navigate to:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER \ Software \ Microsoft \ Windows \ CurrentVersion \ Explorer \
CabinetState.

You may need to create a new string value labeled "Use Search Asst" and set it to "no".




How to make your Desktop Icons Transparent


Go to ontrol Panel > System, > Advanced > Performance area > Settings button Visual Effects
tab "Use drop shadows for icon labels on the Desktop"





Remove the Recycle Bin from the Desktop

If you don't use the Recycle Bin to store deleted files ,
you can get rid of its desktop icon all together.

Run Regedit and go to:


HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/SOFTWARE/Microsoft/Wi
ndows/CurrentVersion/explorer/Desktop/NameSpace


Click on the "Recycle Bin" string in the right hand pane. Hit Del, click OK.




How to Rename the Recycle Bin

To change the name of the Recycle Bin desktop icon, open Regedit and go to:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT/CLSID/{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E}

and change the name "Recycle Bin" to whatever you want (don't type any quotes).