I was wondering if anyone knew how to put desktop items back to default. For example my desktop items all have the text in a highlighted colour (God knows how they went like that) and I want them to go back to normal where you can see the background behind the text and not a highlighted colour. Can anyone help?

Assuming you're using Windows XP. Right click on the desktop. Click Properties. Choose the theme "Windows XP" click apply. If you use the classic theme choose "Windows Classic".

If you want to disable that option only, go to System in the control panel. Go to the advanced tab, select performance settings. In the box, put a checkmark next to "Use drop shadows for icons on the desktop"

I changed the theme its still the same and I went to the performance settings and it is ticked already.

I know a certain format of image does this.. Try setting a different background if you already haven't.

This also happens to me when i "lock" my icons or whatever that option is on right click

Thanks Philip it worked, all sorted.