Introduction

The Visual QuickProject Guide you're reading offers a unique way to learn new skills. Instead of drowning you in long text descriptions, this Visual QuickProject Guide uses color screen shots with clear, concise, step-by-step instructions to show you how to complete a customization project in a matter of minutes.

The projects in this book personalize different aspects of Windows XP, so that your computer looks and acts the way that best fits your personal style of working. We'll dig into some of the many configuration dialog boxes to expose the plethora of options available to you. In fact, one problem confronting many people is the fact that Windows XP offers so many options that it can become overwhelming. To narrow it down, we'll focus in on the settings that make Windows XP more intuitive and useful. You may not care for every customization feature presented in this book, but by following along with each project, you'll learn some of the possibilities Windows XP offers. Once you see how configuration works, you'll be able to continue to explore the other customization options available to you.

We will be working with the standard settings dialog boxes to make changes to a variety of different parts of Windows, including the Desktop and Start menu, files, folders and windows, and the way you work with the Internet.