Windows Tutorial 3

Personalizing Your Windows Environment

COMPREHENSIVE

Objectives
Access common tools on the desktop Customize Windows Sidebar Create and use shortcuts on the desktop Use Control Panel Customize the desktop

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Objectives
Activate a screen saver Change display settings Modify the taskbar Customize taskbar toolbars Change Start menu settings Pin items on the Start menu

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Accessing Common Tools on the Desktop

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Displaying Standard Desktop Icons

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Right-click an empty area of the desktop, then click Personalize on the shortcut menu In the left pane of the Personalization window, click Change desktop icons In the Desktop Icon Settings dialog box, click to select a check box for each icon you want to add to the desktop Click the OK button

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Displaying Standard Desktop Icons

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Using the Windows Sidebar

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Windows Sidebar is a long vertical bar displayed by default on the right side of your desktop

New Perspectives on Microsoft Windows Vista

Using Shortcuts

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You can create shortcuts to access drives, documents, files, Web pages, programs, or other computer resources such as a printer

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Using Shortcuts

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New Perspectives on Microsoft Windows Vista

Using Control Panel

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The Control Panel is a window that contains specialized tools you use to change the way Windows Vista looks and behaves To open the Control Panel window, double-click the Control Panel icon on your desktop

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Using Control Panel

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Using Control Panel

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Changing the Desktop Background

Open the Control Panel window and switch to Category View, if necessary Click Change desktop background in the Appearance and Personalization category Select an image in the Desktop Background window or click the Picture Location arrow or the Browse button to select images stored in a different location Select a positioning option, if necessary Click the OK button

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Changing the Desktop Background

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Changing the Appearance of Desktop Elements

Window Color and Appearance

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A color scheme is a set of colors you apply to Windows elements

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Activating a Screen Saver

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A screen saver blanks the screen or displays a moving design whenever you havent worked with the computer for a specified period of time

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Changing Display Settings

The Display Settings dialog box has a Resolution slider bar that lets you change the size of the desktop area

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Moving and Resizing the Taskbar

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Make sure the taskbar is unlocked. To do so, right-click any blank spot on the taskbar, and then click Lock the Taskbar on the shortcut menu to remove the check mark To move the taskbar, click a blank spot on the taskbar, hold down the left mouse button, and drag the taskbar to a new location (the top, bottom, left, or right edge of the desktop) To resize the taskbar, point to a taskbar border until a resize pointer appears, and then drag the border to a different height or width
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Moving and Resizing the Taskbar

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Working with Taskbar Toolbars

One way to customize the taskbar is to use it to display toolbars

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Customizing the Quick Launch Toolbar

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Creating a Custom Taskbar Toolbar

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To create a custom toolbar, right-click a blank area of the taskbar, point to Toolbars, and then click New Toolbar In the New Toolbar choose a folder window, click the folder or object you want to turn into a toolbar, and then click the Select Folder button

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Customizing the Start Menu

To customize the Start menu, right-click Start button on the taskbar, then click Properties; click the Customize button

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Pinning an Item to the Start Menu

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Selecting Start Menu Settings

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Selecting Start Menu Settings

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