Go to Start then Settings then click Control Panel

In the Control Panel, double-click Display

The Display Properties window should pop up. Choose the Appearance tab.

The quickest way of changing the sizes and colours of your WIMP components is to select a pre-made theme from the list.

Click on the Scheme drop-down box. Scrolling through the list of schemes, you should see Windows Standard (Extra Large). Click on this.

The preview window shows an example of the scheme before you apply it. If you like the look of it, click Apply.

Windows should now have switched to the new mode.

Fortunately, it's easy to make you own scheme. This way you can get the exact colours and sizes of all the different components. It's a good idea to start with a scheme that is similar in component size from this list and then modify it. There are three pre-made sizes:

1. Windows Standard
2. Windows Standard (Large)
3. Windows Standard (Extra Large)

Choose the one that suits you closest.

Now click on the Items drop-down box. This contains 16 components of Windows (not including horizontal and vertical icon spacing).

Alternatively, you can click on the components in the preview window. You can then adjust the size and colour of these items.

For example, to give Windows a White-on-green look I would do the following:

Choose a pre-made scheme to work with. I'll choose Windows Standard (Extra Large)

Click on the grey area of the message box in the preview window. I've marked this area with a red cross in the image, left.

The Items drop-down box should read 'message text'. Try changing the size of the font. The preview window should reflect this so you'll be able to see just how large you're making it. Notice that if you put the font size up too high then the text doesn't fit very well in the window. You can also change the font type, colour, and style (bold/italic)

I'll choose Tahoma, size 13, colour white.

Next click on the OK button next to the red cross. Now you have the option to change the background colour of your windows, and the font colour of buttons. I've labelled the screenshot on the left to show you where these options are.

I'm going to set the font colour to white, and the background colour to dark green.

Now click on the bit that says 'Active Window'. This is the title bar of the active Window. Here you can set the font colour and the background colours for the Window that your currently working with. There are two background colours as windows fades from one colour to another, left to right.

I'm going to set the font colour as white, the background colours as 1. black, and 2. dark green.

Last of all click on large white square left in the preview window. This is how the contents of windows are displayed. You can set the font colour and background colour again.

I'm going to set it to white on dark green, as before.

Now click on the Normal menu.

I'll apply the same formatting again.

It's a good idea to save these settings now before something happens. Click on the Save As button. Type in a name.

I'll put "Emerald Island"

Click OK and windows should update with your preferences.