What's the Windows XP PowerToys Fun Pack?

A. On April 22, 2003, Microsoft released the XP PowerToys Fun Pack. The Fun Pack contains the Windows XP Desktop Wallpaper Changer PowerToy, which changes your desktop wallpaper automatically at a set interval, and the Windows XP Video Screen Saver PowerToy, which lets you play videos as your computer screen saver. You can download the complete Fun Pack or the individual PowerToys for free at the Microsoft Web site.

After you install the PowerToys, XP adds the Desktop Wallpaper Changer PowerToy to the Startup group so that the PowerToy will launch each time you log on. To configure the Desktop Wallpaper Changer PowerToy, right-click the PowerToy icon in the taskbar notification area, then select Configure Wallpaper.

You configure the Video Screen Saver PowerToy just as you'd configure a regular screen saver. The PowerToy is labeled "XP Video Powertoy" under the Screen Saver tab of the Display properties. After you select the PowerToy from the screen-saver list, click Settings to select the video clip and configure the screen-saver settings. The Video Screen Saver PowerToy options let you loop the video forever, mute the video's audio track, and select the playback size and speed. You can select multiple video files by selecting a playlist instead of a specific movie file.

If you attempt to install the XP PowerToys Fun Pack and either PowerToy isn't available on your system, you might need to install the PowerToys individually by selecting the relevant installer (go to Start, Programs, Windows XP Creativity Fun Packs, then click Windows XP PowerToys).