Chapter two. Changing the Way Windows Looks and ActsIN THIS CHAPTER Understanding and Using the Control Panel 46 Fine-Tuning the Display 50 Configuring the Desktop 53 Working with Desktop Shortcuts 60 Working with Toolbars, the Taskbar, and the System Tray 65 Managing the Start Menu 72 Changing Your Cursors 78 Changing Your Click 79 Using a Screen Saver 80 Changing System Sounds 82 Adding and Removing Fonts 83 Configuring Other System Settings 85 Changing Default Applications 87 Even More Personalization with Tweak UI 88 Making Windows XP Look Like Windows 9X/Me 90 The Bottom Line 92 If you're like me, one of the first things you do when you install a new version of your operating system is fiddle around with the desktop and display settings. You want to personalize Windows so that it looks and feels more comfortable to you. The good news is that Windows XP includes a number of new customization options so that you can personalize your system in ways you couldn't before. The bad news is that these options are scattered all over the operating system. You cannot go to one place to do all your customizing. Some customization options are accessed from the Display Properties utility. Other options are accessed from the System Properties utility. Still more are found in the Taskbar and Start Menu Properties dialog box and in the Folder Options dialog box. I'm not sure why Microsoft did such a poor job in drawing attention to all these neat ways to personalize their operating system. They did a great job in bringing formerly hidden features to the forefront in other areas of the OS, but took a giant step backward with their configuration options. What were they thinking? Well, if Microsoft doesn't make it easy for you, I will. In this chapter I show you all the different ways to personalize your Windows XP desktop and interface. The only customization I don't cover here is folder customization. For that, you have to turn to Chapter 3, "Managing Files." |