Free Hidden Windows 7 Themes and Backgrounds

[Hooch Tan]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://tweaks.com/articles/39943/unlock-hidden-windows-7-themes/' target='_blank'>http://tweaks.com/articles/39943/un...ndows-7-themes/</a><br /><br /></div><p><em>"There are a number of regional themes with multiple unique background images hidden from Windows 7 users.&nbsp; On a Windows 7 install with United States regional settings only the United States theme is shown but there are actually four more themes hidden from view."</em></p><p><img src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com//dht/auto/1251920471.usr20447.png" style="border: 0px solid #d2d2bb;" /></p><p>Microsoft seems to feel that what you'd like to look at as you slave away on your PC depends on where you live.&nbsp; While I can see some logic in that, there is no reason to stop users from getting access to lots of other blissful backgrounds.&nbsp; Fortunately, Tweaks.com shows you how to get at those hidden backgrounds.&nbsp; While handy, I think that many of you that do use backgrounds probably have something much more customized to your tastes.&nbsp; I have definitely seen some questionable backgrounds, and some that make perfect sense.&nbsp; For me, owing to a stubborn habit, I have no background, or desktop icons, for that matter.&nbsp; It comes from growing up when background images made the computer chug and draw things line by line, so my background is extremely boring.&nbsp; Anyone have a really good background they could share?</p>

[Bob12]

My desktop wallpaper is a photo of the Yellowstone River at the brink of the Upper Falls in Yellowstone National Park. ( http://www.bob12.net/portfolio53.html ) I have all the icons turned off on the desktop and have them sorted into custom toolbars which set on the auto-hidden taskbar at the left side of the screen. I figure if I'm going to have a nice picture there, why clutter it up with all those icons.

[Jason Dunn]

For me, owing to a stubborn habit, I have no background, or desktop icons, for that matter. It comes from growing up when background images made the computer chug and draw things line by line, so my background is extremely boring.

Hehe...time to break free Hooch! :D Come on, put a picture up there, I dare you! :)

[Philip Colmer]

I've normally been one for a plain background - I certainly don't like to have too many icons on the desktop - but I love the Themes capability in Windows 7. They've really put a lot of thought into the concept and the photos are stunning! I particularly like the fact that you can build a set of photos and have the computer flick through them as a nice slow slideshow effect.

This is a nice tweek, finding those themes on the computer. I love the elephant photo in the South Africa set.

There are some additional themes available online; if you right-click on the desktop and choose Personalize, then click on "Get more themes online" which is in the bottom right-hand corner of the My Themes section. The web site currently says "Themes and backgrounds provided during this release are for testing purposes only. A greater selection will be available at the time of final release of Windows 7." so let's hope there will be more next month.

--Philip