ProblemYou want to be able to quickly get to Control Panel applets without having to navigate numerous menus. SolutionUsing a graphical user interfaceYou can speed up the time it takes to get to Control Panel applets by forcing Windows XP to display them in a cascading menu when you choose Control Panel from the Start button, as shown in Figure 5-11. Figure 5-11. To speed up access to Control Panel applets, force XP to display them as a cascading menuHere's how:
DiscussionDisplaying the Control Panel like this will make it easier to get to specific Control Panel applets quickly. But it won't reorganize the Control Panel for you. So the applets will still stay organized the way that XP organizes them by default. Some people may get more out of the Control Panel by hiding Control Panel applets altogether, or recategorizing them, as you'll see in the next recipe. And, in fact, combining this recipe with the next one may be the best solution for many to getting the Control Panel under control. If you hide and recategorize applets in the way shown in the next recipe, you'll only display those applets that you really use, and you'll have them displayed in the most organized way possible. Then if you display them in a cascading menu, your favorite ones will be within immediate reach. See AlsoRecipe 5.13 to hide and recategorize control panel applets |