Customizing Your Computer

    This chapter provides information about customizing your computer by changing settings in Windows. Read this chapter to learn how to:

Change screen and display settings
Change the background and screen saver
Adjust the touchpad settings
Add, change, and switch user accounts in Windows XP

Adjusting the screen and desktop settings

    Adjusting the color depth and screen area are two of the most basic display settings you may need to change. You can also adjust settings such as the screen background and screen saver.

Adjusting the color depth

    Color depth is the number of colors your screen displays. Various image types require various color depths for optimum appearance. For example, simple color drawings may appear adequately in 256 colors while color photographs need millions of colors to be displayed with optimum quality.

    Windows lets you choose from several color depth settings. We recommend that you use the 32-bit True Color setting at all times.

    If the color in your images seems "false" or "jumpy," especially after you have played a game or run a video-intensive program, check the color depth setting and return it to 32-bit True Color, if necessary.

To change the color depth:

    1. In Windows XP, click Start, then click Control Panel. The Control Panel window opens. If your Control Panel is in Category View, click Appearance and Themes.
      - OR -
      In Windows 2000, click Start, Settings, then click Control Panel. The Control Panel window opens.

    1. Click/Double-click the Display icon. The Display Properties dialog box opens.

    2. Click the Settings tab.

    1. Click the arrow button to open the Color quality or Colors list, then click the color depth you want.

    2. To save your changes in Windows XP, click OK, then click Yes.
      - OR -
      To save your changes in Windows 2000, click OK, then click OK again.

    Help and Support

    For more information about adjusting display settings in Windows XP, click Start, then click Help and Support.

    Type the keyword changing display settings in the HelpSpot Search box , then click the arrow.

    Adjusting the screen resolution

      You can increase the screen resolution to fit more icons on your desktop, or you can decrease the resolution to make reading the display easier. The higher the resolution, the smaller individual components of the screen (such as icons and menu bars) appear.

    To adjust the screen resolution:

      1. In Windows XP, click Start, then click Control Panel. The Control Panel window opens. If your Control Panel is in Category View, click Appearance and Themes.
        - OR -
        In Windows 2000, click Start, Settings, then click Control Panel. The Control Panel window opens.

      1. Click/Double-click the Display icon. The Display Properties dialog box opens.

      2. Click the Settings tab.

      1. Drag the Screen resolution or Screen area slider to the size you prefer.

      2. To save your changes in Windows XP, click OK, then click Yes.
        - OR -
        To save your changes in Windows 2000, click OK, then click OK again.

      Help and Support

      For more information about adjusting screen resolution in Windows XP, click Start, then click Help and Support.

      Type the keyword changing screen resolution in the HelpSpot Search box , then click the arrow.

      Changing the colors on your Windows desktop

        You can change the colors of Windows desktop items, such as the background color and dialog box title bars.

      To change desktop colors in Windows XP:

        1. Click Start, then click Control Panel. The Control Panel window opens. If your Control Panel is in Category View, click Appearance and Themes.

        2. Click/Double-click the Display icon. The Display Properties dialog box opens.

        3. Click the Appearance tab.
        1. Click the arrow button to open the Color scheme list, click the color scheme you want, then click OK. The new colors appear on your desktop.
          - OR -
          If you want to create a new color scheme as part of a desktop theme:

          1. Click Advanced. The Advanced Appearance dialog box opens.

          2. Click the arrow button to open the Item list, then click the item you want to change.

          3. Change the color or font settings for the item.

          4. Click OK, then click the Themes tab.

          5. Click Save As, type a name for the new theme, then click OK twice. The new colors appear on your desktop.

      To change desktop colors in Windows 2000:

        1. Click Start, Settings, then click Control Panel. The Control Panel window opens.

        2. Double-click the Display icon. The Display Properties dialog box opens.

        3. Click the Appearance tab.
        1. If you want to apply one of Windows' color schemes, click the arrow button to open the Scheme list, click the scheme you want, then click OK. The new scheme appears on your desktop.
          - OR -
          If you want to create a new color scheme:

          1. Click the arrow button to open the Item list, then click the item you want to change.

          2. Change the color or font settings for the item.

          3. Click Save As, type a name for the new scheme, then click OK.

          4. Click OK again. The new colors appears on your desktop.

      Changing the desktop background

        In Windows XP, you can change the Windows desktop background picture. Windows provides several backgrounds, or you can use pictures that you have created or retrieved from other sources.

        In Windows 2000, you can change the Windows desktop background to a picture or an HTML document. Windows provides several background pictures. You can also use pictures or HTML documents that you have created or retrieved from other sources.

      To change the desktop background in Windows XP:

        1. Click Start, then click Control Panel. The Control Panel window opens. If your Control Panel is in Category View, click Appearance and Themes.

        2. Click/Double-click the Display icon. The Display Properties dialog box opens.

        3. Click the Desktop tab.
        1. Click a background picture in the Background list.
          - OR -
          Click Browse to select a background picture from another location.

        1. If you want the picture you chose to cover the entire screen, click the arrow button to open the Position list, then click Stretch or Tile.

        2. If the picture you chose does not cover the entire screen and you did not choose to stretch or tile the image in Step 5, you can change the solid color behind the picture by clicking the arrow button to open the Color list, then clicking a color.

        3. Click OK.

        Help and Support

        For more information about changing the desktop background in Windows XP, click Start, then click Help and Support.

        Type the keyword changing desktop background in the HelpSpot Search box , then click the arrow.

        To change the desktop background in Windows 2000:

          1. Click Start, Settings, then click Control Panel. The Control Panel window opens.

          2. Double-click the Display icon. The Display Properties dialog box opens.

          3. Click the Background tab.
          1. Click a background picture in the Select a background picture or HTML document as Wallpaper list.
            - OR -
            Click Browse to select a background picture from another location.

          1. If you want the picture you chose to cover the entire screen, click the arrow button to open the Picture Display list, then click Tile.

          2. If the picture you chose does not cover the entire screen and you did not choose to tile the image in Step 5, you can change the solid color behind the picture by clicking Pattern, clicking a pattern in the Pattern list, then clicking OK.

          3. Click OK.

        Selecting a screen saver

          You can use a screen saver to keep others from viewing your display while you are away from your computer. Windows supplies a variety of screen savers that you can choose from, and many more are available from the Internet and as commercial products.

        To select a screen saver:

          1. In Windows XP, click Start, then click Control Panel. The Control Panel window opens. If your Control Panel is in Category View, click Appearance and Themes.
            - OR -
            In Windows 2000, click Start, Settings, then click Control Panel. The Control Panel window opens.

          1. Click/Double-click the Display icon. The Display Properties dialog box opens.

          2. Click the Screen Saver tab.

          1. Click the arrow button to open the Screen Saver list, then click the screen saver you want. Windows previews the screen saver.

          2. If you want to customize the screen saver, click Settings, then make your changes . If the Settings button is not available, you cannot customize the screen saver you selected.

          3. In Windows XP, if you want to display the Welcome (Login) screen whenever you exit the screen saver, click the On resume, display Welcome screen check box.

          4. If you want to change the time before the screen saver is activated, click the up or down arrows next to the Wait box.

          5. Click OK.

          Help and Support

          For more information about selecting a screen saver in Windows XP, click Start, then click Help and Support.

          Type the keyword screen savers in the HelpSpot Search box , then click the arrow.

          Changing the touchpad settings

            You can adjust the double-click speed, pointer speed, left-hand or right-hand configuration, and other touchpad settings.

          To change your touchpad settings:

            1. In Windows XP, click Start, then click Control Panel. The Control Panel window opens. If your Control Panel is in Category View, click Printers and Other Hardware.
              - OR -
              In Windows 2000, click Start, Settings, then click Control Panel. The Control Panel window opens.
            1. Click/Double-click the Mouse icon. The Mouse Properties dialog box opens.

            1. Click the Advanced Features tab, then click Settings to change your touchpad settings.

            2. To modify a touchpad setting, click the + in front of a setting, then modify the setting.

            1. To assign a function to the rocker switch, click the + in front of Button Actions, click the up or down button, then click the action you want.

            2. Click OK to save changes.

            Help and Support

            For more information about changing mouse settings in Windows XP, click Start, then click Help and Support.

            Type the keyword mouse settings in the HelpSpot Search box , then click the arrow.

            Adding and modifying user accounts

              In Windows XP, you can create and customize a user account for each person who uses your computer. You can also switch (change) user accounts without turning off your computer.

            User account tips

            If you want to create an account for someone, but you do not want that user to have full access to your computer, be sure to make that account limited. Remember that limited accounts may not be able to install some older programs.
            If a program or peripheral device is installed in one account, it may not be available in other accounts. If this happens, install the program or device in the accounts that need it.
            Files created in one account are not accessible from other accounts unless the files are stored in the Shared Documents folder. The Shared Documents folder is accessible from all accounts on that computer and from other computers on the network.

            To add, delete, or modify user accounts in Windows XP:

              1. Click Start, then click Control Panel.

              2. Click/Double-click the User Accounts icon. The User Accounts window opens.

              3. Follow the on-screen instructions to add, delete, or modify a user account.

              Help and Support

              For more information about user accounts in Windows XP, click Start, then click Help and Support.

              Type the keyword user accounts in the HelpSpot Search box , then click the arrow.

              To switch user accounts in Windows XP:

                1. Click Start, then click Log Off. The Log Off Windows dialog box opens.

                1. Click Switch User. The Windows Welcome screen opens.

                2. Click the user account that you want to use. When you switch between user accounts, any programs that were running for the previous user continue to run.