The Taskbar, the Start Menu, and Other Tools


The taskbar is the command center for your user environment under Windows XP. With few or no desktop icons after initial setup, everything you do within Windows XP has to start with the taskbar. The taskbar (refer to Figure 4.4) is host to several other highly useful tools, such as the Start menu, the Quick Launch bar, the open application buttons, and the system tray.

The Start menu is the control center for Windows XP. Most native applications and installed applications will have an icon within the Start menu used to launch or access them. The Start menu has two columns of access elements. The left column includes Internet and E-mail access on top and a list of most recently used applications on bottom. By default, it displays the six most recently accessed applications. A fresh installation of Windows XP will include pre-stocked items in this list, such as Windows Media Player, MSN Explorer, Windows Movie Maker, Tour Windows XP, and Files and Settings Transfer Wizard. This leaves room for only a single recently accessed application. These prestocked items will eventually disappear, but that can take up to 60 days. You can forcibly remove them one at a time by issuing the Remove from This List command from the right-click pop-up menu.

At the bottom of the left column is All Programs, which is an access point to the rest of the Start menu. Those of you from Windows 9x/Me/NT/2000 will recognize this as the Programs section of their Start menus. The Start menu's right column lists My Documents, My Recent Documents, My Pictures, My Music, My Computer, (optionally) My Network Places, Control Panel, Printers and Faxes, Help and Support, Search, and Run. Below both columns are the Log Off and Shut Down buttons. Log Off is used to either fully log off the system or switch user contexts. The Turn Off Computer command replaces Shutdown and is used to power down (turn off), restart, or hibernate the computer.

TIP

Pressing Ctrl+Esc or the Windows key opens the Start menu as though you clicked the Start button. Once open, navigate using the arrow keys. The Enter key is used to launch or access the selected item.


The top-level of the Start menu is managed by the system itself; you don't get to change what is displayed there, other than launching applications so they show up in the most recently used (MRU) list.

It should be obvious that clicking on any of the items listed on the Start menu either launches an application or opens a new dialog box or menu. Most of the items on the top-level of the Start menu are discussed later in this chapter.

The organization of the All Programs section of the Start menu can be altered as you see fit. This is done through a series of drag-and-drop operations. New items are added to the Start menu by dragging the item from My Computer or Windows Explorer over the Start menu button, then over All Programs, and then to the location where you wish to drop it. The Start menu can even be manipulated from as a set of files and shortcuts through My Computer or Windows Explorer. You'll need to go to the system root (usually C:, but it could be anything on multi-boot systems), and drill down through to \Documents and Settings\<username>\Start Menu\Programs (where <username> is the name of the user account whose Start menu you wish to modify).

The area immediately to the right of the Start menu is the Quick Launch Bar. Microsoft sticks links to Internet Explorer and Windows Media Player here by default, as well as the Show Desktop tool, which minimizes all open windows. You can add your own link just by dragging and dropping an application icon over this area. The Quick Launch Bar is not enabled by default. To enable this handy tool, open Taskbar and Start Menu Properties, select the Taskbar tab, and then mark the Show Quick Launch check box.

To the far right on the taskbar is the system tray. Some services, OS functions, and applications place icons into this area. These icons provide both instant access to functions and settings as well as status displays. For example, when working on a portable system, a battery will appear in the system tray that indicates how much juice is left. The clock is also located in the system tray.

Between the Quick Launch Bar and the system tray are the active application buttons. These are grouped by similarity, not by order of launch. Plus, if the taskbar becomes crowded, multiple instances of similar applications will be cascaded into a single button.

NOTE

You can reposition the taskbar on the right, left, or top of the screen. Just click any part of the taskbar other than a button and drag it to the edge of your choice. The Taskbar and Start Menu Properties dialog box includes a locking option to prevent the taskbar from being moved accidentally. Be sure to deselect this option before attempting to relocate the taskbar (right-click the taskbar and clear the check mark next to the Lock the Taskbar option).


You can further control and modify the taskbar and Start menu through their Properties dialog boxes.

For more information on customizing the taskbar and Start menu,


Special Edition Using Microsoft Windows XP Professional
Special Edition Using Microsoft Windows XP Professional (3rd Edition)
ISBN: 0789732807
EAN: 2147483647
Year: 2003
Pages: 450

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