Suppose my win32 app is minimized...how would should I go about displaying an image on the desktop? Something similar to the clock in this picture:

You could also make window any shape it can even get hole in it - but this is still a window - other way is to get handle to desktop (which is i think also some kind of semi-window and draw to ist contents but it will be overwritten, as to detail check appriopriate tutorials and winapi documentation

It is a window. While it is typical to include borders, a title bar, and other features it isn't required.

There are many articles like this that can probably fill in the pieces you don't know.

thanks,that helped