| tip  | If you share your computer with other users, make sure to create separate user accounts before making any dramatic changes to the interface. |
The taskbar, although small in size, actually tells you a lot. It lets you know which programs are running and which windows are open. It tells you the time and shows icons when other activities are going on. For example, if you see a printer icon, you know that your computer is sending data to the printer. If you see a connection icon, you know that you are connected to the Internet. Windows XP enables you to customize the taskbar and system tray. To make any changes, display the Taskbar and Start Menu Properties dialog box by following these steps: 1. | Right-click a blank part of the taskbar and select the Properties command from the pop-up menu. You'll see the Taskbar and Start Menu Properties dialog box (see Figure 13.1).
Figure 13.1. Use this dialog box to customize the taskbar and system tray. 
| 2. | Make any changes.
You can lock the taskbar so that it can't be moved, or unlock it so that it can be moved. Check or uncheck Lock the taskbar.
You can hide the taskbar so that you have more room on the desktop. Check Auto-hide the taskbar. When the taskbar is hidden, you can always redisplay it by pointing to the bottom of the desktop.
You can also select to show the clock, hide inactive icons, keep the taskbar on top of all windows, group similar taskbar buttons into one stacked button, and show a Quick Launch toolbar with buttons for sending email and logging on to the Internet. Check any options to turn them on. Uncheck them to turn the options off.
tip | You can also move the taskbar to another location on the desktop and change its size. To move the taskbar, put the mouse pointer on a blank part of the taskbar and drag it to the location you want. To resize the taskbar, put the mouse pointer on the border and drag to resize it. To do this, the taskbar must be unlocked. (The Lock the Taskbar option should not be checked.) |
| 3. | When you are finished making changes, click OK.
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The Taskbar and Start Menu Properties dialog box also enables you to customize the Start menu by selecting which items are displayed. For information on these changes, see Chapter 14, "Setting Up Programs." |
