Welcome

If you are here, you are interested in personalizing your Windows desktop. With a couple of easy to use applications, you can accomplish this. If all you would like to do is add some cool effects to your desktop and find a great wallpaper, I suggest you just read through the download section. This tutorial is intended for those who want to completely upgrade their desktop. This means removing the Windows taskbar, replacing it with your own, and adding desktop components to maximize both aesthetics and functionality.

Before we begin, we will first evaluate the current state of your computer desktop and toolbar. At this time, minimize this page and stare at your empty desktop background until you realize it is completely boring. Seriously. Keep staring until this hits you. Your featureless, icon cluttered desktop is the same sterile and inefficient user interface as 1.25 billion other Windows machines[1]. Follow me to evolve your desktop GUI from the mundane and arbitrary environment Microsoft has built for you, to one bound only by your imagination. (and processor speed).

Windows Desktop

My Desktop

Downloads

Rainmeter

Rainmeter is an application that allows you to add skins to your desktop that can display useful information or perform various functions. A skin is basically an image that is technically a desktop icon on steroids. Each skin has a code that allows is to do anything from giving the time of day, to monitoring your internet download speed, to adjusting the system volume. There are thousands of skins you can download online, and you can also write skins yourself once you learn how. Rainmeter is a powerful program that is extremely easy to customization.

Download Rainmeter.

More Rainmeter Information

Cool Rainmeter Examples

ObjectDock

ObjectDock is one of several application launchers that somewhat resembles the Mac bottom icon dock. Launch applications, show running applications, and many more functions are easy to do with ObjectDock. In addition, there are several other similar desktop launchers. Stardock is the other really popular one (I think) but ObjectDock works great for me. I even spent a couple bucks on ObjectDock Plus, although this is mostly unnecessary.
Download ObjectDock
ObjectDock Customization Options
Alternative Launchers

Wallpapers

Of course, you will need a nice wallpaper. I really recommend picking a simple one. Too much action makes your desktop look sloppy

http://onlyhdwallpapers.com/
http://digitalblasphemy.com/
http://wallbase.cc/#

Once you download these applications, you are going to want to play around with them for a while. There are plenty of skins and dock themes out there so have fun and explore for a while. Take a week and come back here after you have had a bit of fun. Next, I will go over the important design features necessary to create your own desktop. Until then, have fun customizing.