Member Avatar for mikeandike22

there is a blue shadow underneath my icons on my desktop. i looked at the visual styles but couldn't find anything how do i get rid of it.

here is a pic
[img]http://img150.exs.cx/img150/3243/screen8eo1.png[/img]

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  • Latest Post Latest Post by _Rosco_

Dani AI

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Several replies in this thread point to the usual culprits—icon‑label transparency, Active Desktop / web items, and visual‑effects settings (see posts by , , , and @Rosco). Those are sensible first checks. The note below provides a short diagnostic sequence and a few additional, less‑obvious steps that help isolate the cause without repeating the exact instructions already posted.

Recommended diagnostic sequence:

  • Create a fresh local user account and log in. If the blue boxes disappear under the new account, the issue is limited to per‑user settings (desktop files, icon cache or shell extensions).
  • Boot to Safe Mode or do a Clean Boot (msconfig selective startup). If the artifact vanishes, a third‑party shell extension or startup utility is likely responsible. Disable non‑Microsoft shell extensions selectively (tools exist for that) or uninstall recently added desktop/visual utilities.
  • Check for third‑party theming/wallpaper managers (WindowBlinds, icon packagers, wallpaper rotators). Those frequently alter how icons and label backgrounds are drawn; disabling them is a quick test.
  • Test the display driver: update or roll back the driver, or switch to the generic Microsoft display driver to rule out a graphics driver rendering bug.
  • Inspect the Desktop folder for .htm/.html files and for a hidden desktop.ini; move suspected files out temporarily. If a web/HTML desktop item is present it can force non‑transparent label boxes.
  • Rebuild the icon cache as a last step: stop Explorer, remove the icon cache file appropriate for the Windows version in use, then restart Explorer. Back up before removing files.

Perform each change one at a time, restarting Explorer or rebooting between tests, and keep backups of desktop files. If the rectangle color exactly matches the wallpaper, that confirms a non‑transparent label and narrows troubleshooting to per‑user desktop/web items, shell/extensions or theming utilities as discussed by the members above.

Recommended Answers

All 10 Replies

Member Avatar for caperjack

picture not woking ,

Member Avatar for mikeandike22

I think image shack stopped hosting it

try this link

Member Avatar for Rueful Rogue

There is still no image viewable. Cut & paste as a .jpg. If you need help to capture the screen image, tell us.

Member Avatar for mikeandike22

clcik on the link

Member Avatar for caperjack

rite click mycomputer/properties/advanced /performance /settings/ ,make sure its checked off to use dropdown shadowes for icon lables on desktop ,sjould be 2nd from the bottom in the list .

Member Avatar for mikeandike22

that box is already unchecked. i am going to try checking it aplying the style then unchecking it again if that doesn't work i will see if there is an update for my display driver.

Member Avatar for twroblewski

I had this same problem: tried everything suggested, turned off active desktop, etc. Just before smashing my computer, I tried this and it worked:

Start -> Control Panel -> Performance and Maintenance -> System
-> Advanced Tab -> Performance Settings -> Visual Effects -> Click Adjust for Best Appearance.

Cleared it up right away.

Member Avatar for gerbil

...this is what is happening.... you are seeing the solid colour of ur wallpaper background in a box sized to suit the icon labels. This box shows thru ur current wallpaper, ie the dog's breakfast that u have currently.. :) [ dunno what the prob is, i can see it...]. You can either tone down the colour of your background to something u like via desktop properties [rightclick the desktop], or go to control panel > system > advanced > performance settings and ticking the "use drop shadows for icons..." box if u wish to have a custom setting, or select the best performance button..

Member Avatar for PcTechPetru

there is a blue shadow underneath my icons on my desktop. i looked at the visual styles but couldn't find anything how do i get rid of it.
Here's the FIX. Althought you can start with no 3 wich worked in my case, try 1,2 too if necessary.

FIX SOLUTION for blue shadow

To have transparent icons:

1) Right-click My Computer. On the "Advanced" tab, under "Performance" click "Settings."

On the "Visual Effects" tab, make sure
the box "Use drop shadows for icon labels" is checked.

2) Right-click on the Desktop, and make sure that "Arrange Icons by" "Lock
Web items" is not checked.

3) Right-click on the Desktop, and choose Properties. Othe "Desktop" tab,
click "Customize Desktop," then on the "Web" tab, uncheck all boxes.

Make sure any Wallpaper is an image file. Html will stop the transparency.

Good Luck ! PcTechPetru:icon_lol:

Member Avatar for _Rosco_

there is a blue shadow underneath my icons on my desktop. i looked at the visual styles but couldn't find anything how do i get rid of it.

here is a pic
[img]http://img150.exs.cx/img150/3243/screen8eo1.png[/img]

Hi,

Here's a documented solution.

Basically the problem is caused by Locked Desktop icons. I've also heard that DropShadow can cause the problem too.

Hope this helps.

Rosco

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