Customizing Your Notebook

    This chapter provides information about customizing your notebook by changing settings in Windows.

    You can:

Change screen and display settings
Change the background and screen saver
Adjust the touchpad settings
Program the multi-function buttons on the keyboard
Allocate system memory

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.

    Help and Support

    For more information on adjusting the screen and desktop settings, click Start, then select Help and Support.

    Adjusting the color depth

      Color depth is the number of colors your LCD displays. Various image types require various color depths for optimum appearance on your LCD. 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 for your LCD. We recommend 16-bit High Color setting be used 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 16-bit High Color, if necessary.

    To change the color depth:

      1. Click Start, then select Control Panel.

      2. Click Appearance and Themes, then click the Display icon. The Display Properties dialog box opens.

      3. Click the Settings tab.

      1. Select a setting from the Color Quality or Colors list.

      2. To save your changes, click OK, then click Yes.

         

    Adjusting the screen resolution

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

    To change the screen resolution:

      1. Click Start, then select Control Panel.

      2. Click Appearance and Themes, then click the Display icon. The Display Properties dialog box opens.

      3. Click the Settings tab.

      1. Drag the Screen Resolution slider to the size you prefer.

      2. To save your changes, click OK, then click Yes.

         

    Applying a color scheme

      A color scheme is a set of colors that you can apply to your Windows environment. For example, you can change the appearance of such things as the desktop, windows, and dialog boxes. You can select an existing scheme or create your own.

      Help and Support

      For more information on applying a color scheme, click Start, then select Help and Support.

      To select a color scheme:

        1. Click Start, then select Control Panel. Click Appearance and Themes.

        2. Click Display, then click the Appearance tab.
        1. Select a scheme from the Color Scheme list, then click OK.

           

      Changing the desktop background

        The Windows desktop background picture can be changed. Windows provides several alternative backgrounds, or you can use pictures that you have created or retrieved from other sources.

        Help and Support

        For more information on changing the desktop background, click Start, then select Help and Support.

        To change the desktop background:

          1. Click Start, then select Control Panel. Click Appearance and Themes.

          2. Click Display, then click the Desktop tab.
          1. Select a background picture from the Background list.
            - OR -
            Select a background picture from another location by clicking Browse.

          1. If you want the picture you chose to cover the entire screen, select Stretch or Tile from the Position list.

          2. If the picture you chose does not cover the entire screen and you did not choose to tile or stretch the image in Step 4, you can change the solid color behind the picture by selecting a color from the Color list.

          3. Click OK.

             

        Selecting a screen saver

          You can use a screen saver to keep others from viewing your screen 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.

          Help and Support

          For more information on changing the screen saver, click Start, then select Help and Support.

          To select a screen saver:

            1. Click Start, then select Control Panel.

            2. Click Appearance and Themes, then click the Display icon. The Display Properties dialog box opens.

            3. Click the Screen Saver tab.

            1. Select a screen saver from the Screen Saver list. Windows previews the screen saver.

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

            3. If you want to display the Welcome (Login) screen whenever you close the screen saver, select 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.

               

          Changing the touchpad settings

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

            Help and Support

            For more information on changing the mouse settings, click Start, then select Help and Support.

            To change your touchpad settings:

              1. Click Start, then select Control Panel.

              2. Click Printers and Other Hardware, then click the Mouse icon. The Mouse Properties dialog box opens.

              3. Click one of the tabs to change your touchpad settings.

              4. To assign a function to the rocker switch, click the Button Actions tab. Select the function for the Extended Button One (for the top rocker button) and Extended Button Two (for the bottom rocker button) from the lists.

              5. Click OK to save changes.

                 

            Programming the multi-function buttons

              The Multi-function Keyboard Utility lets you change the actions of some of the multi-function buttons. For a description of the buttons, see "Multi-function buttons".

              Help and Support

              For more information on programming the multi-function buttons, click Start, then select Help and Support.

              To program the multi-function buttons:

                1. Click Start, select Control Panel, then click Switch to Classic View.

                2. Click the Multi-function Keyboard icon. The Gateway Multi-function Keyboard utility window opens.

                3. Click the tab corresponding to the multi-function button to make changes to its function. To see which button each tab corresponds to, see "Multi-function buttons".

                4. Click OK.

                   

              Allocating system memory

                Graphics memory and system memory share the memory installed in your notebook. By default, your notebook allocates 8 MB of the total memory to graphics. Some programs, such as graphic intensive games, may require you to allocate more memory to graphics. You can choose to allocate up to 32 MB of the total memory for graphics.

                Caution

                Increasing the memory allocated to graphics decreases the system memory. Allocating too much memory to graphics may adversely affect the performance of your notebook.

                To allocate system memory:

                  1. Restart your notebook. As soon as you see a startup screen, press  F2. The BIOS Setup utility opens.

                  2. Click Advanced, then select Shared memory.

                  3. Select the graphics memory size you want to allocate, then click OK.

                  4. Exit the BIOS Setup utility by clicking Exit, then selecting Save and Exit.

                  5. Click OK.