# WinXP rainbow mouse pointer?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/winxp-rainbow-mouse-pointer/230168>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [February 20, 2004, 6:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/winxp-rainbow-mouse-pointer/230168 "2004-02-20T06:17:49Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![ElwoodCuse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/edb3f5/32.png) [@ElwoodCuse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElwoodCuse)\
**Post date:** [February 20, 2004, 6:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/winxp-rainbow-mouse-pointer/230168/1 "2004-02-20T06:17:49Z")

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Sometimes in Windows XP, my mouse pointer turns into an animated rainbow (colors cascade inside the pointer shape). It’s not part of any theme I’m using, and it only lasts for a second or two. But I can’t figure out what triggers it, what it means, or why it happens. What’s the deal?

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**Author:** ![typhoon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ed8c4c/32.png) [@typhoon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/typhoon)\
**Post date:** [February 20, 2004, 8:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/winxp-rainbow-mouse-pointer/230168/2 "2004-02-20T08:35:06Z")

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That’s the default pointer when you’re using the Windows Animated theme.