How to Customize Your Mouse Pointer

1. Click Start and select Settings.
2. Control Panel.
3. Double-click the Mouse icon to display Mouse Properties.
4. Click the Pointers tab.
5. Click the down arrow on the right of the Scheme field to display the different pointer designs.

Start by trying all of the schemes. When you choose a scheme, scroll the box of specific pointers associated with specific tasks or events (much as sounds are). Find the scheme that you want to work with.

You can customize individual pointers within a scheme (just as you could change individual sounds within one scheme). Select the pointer and click the Browse button, which opens a window on the Cursors folder. Choose Medium Icons for a slightly distorted preview of each pointer.

Filenames give some indication of the scheme and intended use, but you can mix and match and use any pointer for any purpose. Cursor files are of the type .CUR and .ANI (animated). You will find many more on the Web, as well as programs for creating your own. Select a pointer and click Open. If you want to undo your choice, click the Use Default button.