with basic you are programming in 100% DOS, with C++ you are programming in a win32 Console.
I dont think you can change the background of the console but u can change the foreground and background of the text.
you have to include stdio.h or stdlib.h, i cant remember which one.
Code:
HANDLE hStdout;
hStdout = GetStdHandle(STD_OUTPUT_HANDLE); // Put this at the top of your code
SetConsoleTextAttribute(hStdout,BACKGROUND_RED|FOREGROUND_RED|FOREGROUND_GREEN|FOREGROUND_BLUE); //This will give you White on RED
this is one of the ways