Windows xp desktop customisation

Then, using the up arrow in the Background box, go to the top of the list, and click on the first background. It will display in the preview area. Then use the down arrow key on your keyboard to view each background.

If you find one you like, click Apply. If you use a photograph of your own, it should have approximately the same height-width ratio as your monitor.

Write down the filename of the photograph e. My Pictures. Go to the Display Properties window as instructed above and click the Desktop tab. Click Browse, locate the photograph file see separate section on locating files if you need help , and click Open. Then, under Position, choose Stretch.

If your photo has the same height-width ratio as your monitor, the photo should fill the display preview area nicely. Click Apply. When finished with the Display Properties window, click OK. You may have noticed that when your monitor remains idle for a certain period of time, a screen saver - or moving image - activates.

It used to be harmful to monitors to sit idle with the same image on the screen. This may still be a concern if you use an older CRT cathode ray tube monitor, but the flat screen and laptop monitors are not susceptible to this problem.

Nevertheless, most folks use a screen saver just for fun. To change or activate a screen saver, click Start and click Control Program. Then click Display. Or, on a blank area of your desktop, right-click and click Properties. Then click the Screen Saver tab. Choose a screen saver and watch it in the preview window. Change the time period for the screen saver to become active in the box below the screen saver name. You can preview the screen saver on your display by clicking the Preview button.

And for some screen savers, you can adjust their speed by clicking the Settings button. When you have selected a screen saver, click Apply. Author: KeynoteSupport. If you are visually challenged, the Appearance tab on the Display Properties tab is where you want to go next.

Windows XP also supports what I call a standard interface, the kind of interface that most Windows users have come to expect. This chapter will show you how to convert from the simplified interface to the standard interface that many power users will want. In addition, we'll discuss how to obtain the Windows interface. Just because you're using Windows XP doesn't mean that you have to settle for an interface that doesn't suit your tastes. Part of using the standard interface is negotiating the Classic Start Menu, the one found in previous versions of Windows.

This chapter concentrates on the standard menu components as well as on the standard toolbars. In fact, I'll show you how to create your own toolbars to make working with Windows more efficient. Windows XP has two different Desktops.

The first is the standard desktop found in even the old versions of Windows 9x. The second is the relatively new Active Desktop. We'll discuss both desktops, and you'll discover how to make maximum use of the Active Desktop if you decide to take the plunge and use it. You learned in Chapter 2 that Explorer is one of the first tools you should learn how to use, and everyone should learn to use it fully. We only scratched the surface in Chapter 2. This chapter discusses advanced Explorer techniques.

You'll learn how to configure Explorer to suit your needs and use it to reconfigure your system, and you'll even get some customization tricks that no one should be without. Most importantly, you'll learn why this tool is so essential for novice and expert alike.

This chapter ends with a discussion of some important but miscellaneous interface configuration issues. You'll learn about the Startup folder and how to use it to make your system self-configuring at least to an extent.

Anyone who has read Chapter 2 will see the effects of using Web content in folders. You can change the appearance of the Web content to suit your needs, so the effects in Chapter 2 are only the beginning. These sections will also tell you about screen savers and themes.

If you used themes under Windows 9x and liked them, you really need to see how Microsoft has improved theme support for Windows XP. The simplified Windows XP interface has many appealing features, but it also hides some of the power of Windows.

If you perform the same tasks every day, the hidden features may not make much of a difference. An accountant who uses the same application all day to compute someone's tax bill won't worry much if he or she doesn't see the Administrative Tools folder.

However, many power users will find the hunt for their favorite administrative tool frustrating. Speed is of the essence for the power user. The standard interface is one that reflects the power of the original Windows 9x interface and the functionality of the Windows XP feature set. It allows a power user to find what he needs quickly. The same interface that confuses the novice and thwarts someone who performs the same task every day makes the power user more efficient.

I'm making these distinctions because the myth of the perfect interface seems to pervade the media. The perfect interface is a myth. There's only the interface that works best for you, which is why I'm happy to see that Microsoft is adding much-needed flexibility to Windows XP.

Enabling the standard interface is as simple as making a few changes to your environment. Begin by right-clicking the Start Menu and selecting Properties. Select Classic Start Menu, as shown in the figure. I'll show you how to customize this menu in the "Start Menu Customization" section of this chapter. You'll find that the Classic Start Menu has most of the same features of the Windows Start Menu, but that the look and feel of the Start Menu differs slightly.

You'll also need to consider other features for the standard interface, such as Taskbar configuration. Power users will often hide the Taskbar to free screen real estate for application use.

In addition, power users will often add standard and custom toolbars to their Taskbars. For example, I keep a list of folders on my desktops for all my current projects. I make those folders instantly available, even with applications open, by adding the Desktop toolbar to my Taskbar.

We'll discuss enhancements to the standard Taskbar in the "Using Toolbars" section of this chapter. Figure 3. A final user interface adjustment for the standard interface is to modify Windows Explorer. Awesome PC Accessories. Best Linux Laptops. Best Wireless iPhone Earbuds. Best Bluetooth Trackers. Best eReaders. Best VPN. Browse All News Articles.

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