Microsoft created
a Wonderful Operating System.
Then they Applied their Creativity.
(This Could Ruin Everything.)
Microsoft's Windows XP is a technological
marvel, but the interface that it presents drives many users
to the wall, and beyond. We have heard sincere gestures of hatred
toward the Windows XP interface, and understand why. Without
modifications, you are virtually unable to search for files,
manage the contents of folders, or efficiently use shortcuts
for programs.
The mystery
of why the Windows XP interface is so awful may extend to Apple's
Jaguar OS X "Aqua" interface. Apple made dramatic interface
choices that defy easy explanation, and then locked down the
interface so important functions could no longer be "tweaked".
Oddly enough, with Windows XP Microsoft now has a far more customizable
computer system than Apple's OS X.
Our suggestions for customizing Windows XP
can be summed up in one sentence - "Set Everything on Classic".
There are options for setting both the Folder View and Start
Menu into Classic mode, we suggest that these changes be made.
NOTICE: The changes suggested below
are our recommendations. However, Windows XP in the default mode
is functional for many users (most users do nothing to customize
the interface), and may represent a preferred setting for your
organization. Below are only suggestions.
Start
Menu Changes, to Classic:
Right-click on the Start
button, and choose Properties.
You should now be on the Start Menu tab of the "Taskbar
and Start Menu Properties" screen.
Click the button to set the Start Menu on Classic.
Press the Customize button.
Scroll down the "Advanced Start menu options" list
of check box items.
Turn OFF Personalized Menus.
Turn ON "Small Icons in Start Menu"
Press OK to put the "Customize Classic" dialog away.
Press OK to close the "Taskbar and Start Menu Properties"
dialog away.
Set the Folder Options to Classic:
Open any standard folder window (such as My Documents) to begin
this process. We will adapt the toolbar, and the folder's view
settings. Then we will set them to be the default for all the
folders.
Start by Customizing the toolbar with minimum icon sizes. This
will shrink the size of the toolbar, and allow you to see more
of the contents of each window. If you need to know what each
toolbar item does (and they ARE quite useful), just rest your
mouse over each icon for a reminder popup "Tip".
Go to the View menu, and select
Toolbars.
If the submenu has a check next to "Lock the Toolbars",
select this now to turn off the lock.
Go back to the View>Toolbars menu, and select "Customize".
In Text options, set it to "No text labels".
in Icon options, set it to "Small icons"
Press the Close button to save the changes to your toolbars.
Is the Address Bar shown? Go to the View>Toolbars menu and
turn it on if it is not.
Does the Address bar appear in the right place? Sometimes it
is jammed into the upper right, and the toolbars are Locked by
default.
Assuming the Toolbars are no longer locked, find the Address
Bar. There is a control on the left side of the toolbar which
can be used to drag it back to a reasonable place.
(It is your option if you wish to lock the
toolbars again afterwards.)
In the View Menu, turn ON the Status Bar for the bottom of the
window.
Again in View, set the folder's View on either Icons, List, or
Detail.
Then go to the Tools Menu, and select Folder Options.
Turn on the Classic folder view.
Click the View tab.
Set the File Options to Show Extensions. (We LIKE to see extensions.)
(Your option to Show Hidden Files and Show System Files.)
At the top of this dialog, press the button to make this folder's
settings the default for all folders.
Press the OK button to save these changes.
This concludes configuring Folder Views to Classic.
Other important changes include:
Show
the Quick Launch Toolbar:
The Quick Launch toolbar is a very convenient place to put icons
which are used most frequently. We suggest that shortcuts should
be copied into this space for:
Web Browser (such as Internet Explorer's Blue "E")
Email Program (Outlook, Outlook Express, Eudora, etc.)
Word Processor (Word, WordPerfect, etc.)
Company Database (Access, SQL, Excel, GoldMine, FM Pro, etc.)
Both programs and folder shortcuts can be placed here. If more
shortcuts are placed in the Quick Launch toolbar than can be
displayed, a vertical menu will appear with a mouse click at
the end of the toolbar.
Locate the Taskbar, which includes
the Start menu button.
Where
is the Taskbar?
The Taskbar is normally shown as a gray bar across the bottom
of the screen which includes the Start menu button. This is the
default; the taskbar can be moved to the side of any screen by
clicking and dragging in a gray region. The Taskbar can also
be shrunk to a five-pixel gray line on the edge of the screen,
which can be restored by dragging with the mouse. Can't find
the Taskbar? Use CTRL-ESC or the Windows Key to pop up the Start
menu. The Taskbar is always along the same window edge as the
Start menu. |
Right click on a gray area in the Taskbar.
From the context menu, select Properties. This will show the
"Taskbar and Start Menu Properties" screen.
The screen should open on the Taskbar tab.
Turn OFF "Lock the Taskbar".
Turn ON the Quick Launch toolbar.
Say OK to put away this dialog.
The Quick Launch toolbar should now appear just to the right
of the Start button. (If it does not, you may need to move the
OTHER toolbars to the right of Quick Launch by dragging them.
There is a control on the left side of every toolbar.)
Edit the icons here. As a default, Windows XP places only Shortcuts
in the Quick Launch menu.
About
Shortcuts and Quick Launch:
There should only be SHORTCUTS in the Quick Launch menu. As Shortcuts
are not themselves actual programs, files, or folders but only
pointers to the actual items, they should be safe to delete.
Be careful that only Shortcuts are placed INTO the Quick Launch
menu from now on. The Quick Launch toolbar can also accept folders,
files, and programs. This may cause serious confusion. To install
a Shortcut, right-drag any file (including OTHER Shortcuts) into
the Quick Launch menu, and release the mouse button. A menu will
appear, select "Create Shortcut(s) Here". |
To identify the icons in the Quick Launch toolbar, rest the mouse
over each icon. A pop-up will tell you the name of each one.
A context menu will appear if you Right Click on an icon; from
this menu you can choose Delete.
Below shows the Quick Launch Toolbar's context menu about
to delete a shortcut for Windows Media Player:
We suggest you first either delete or move to the last place:
"Windows Media Player" and "Show Desktop"
icons.
You may also want to delete the Outlook Express shortcut (if
you don't use Outlook Express), and any other icons here that
don't look particularly useful.
HOT
TIP: Show Desktop is Windows Key-D
Show Desktop can be replaced by the "Windows Key-D"
key combination- Try it!
One press minimizes all windows to the Taskbar;
on the next press the windows are restored. Very useful for minimizing
all windows and showing a full view of your Desktop.
In addition, a right-click on the Taskbar will
give a context menu with a "Show Desktop" option. |
Quick Launch's toolbar is "prime real
estate" on your Windows XP system. Make sure the icons it
holds reflects your immediate concerns and interests.
Adding some better Shortcuts to the Quick Launch
Menu:
Right-click on the Start Menu.
At the bottom, select "Open All Users".
Open the "Programs" folder.
Right-Drag shortcut icons from here into the Quick Launch toolbar,
and choose the "Create Shortcut(s) Here" option from
the context menu that appears after you release the mouse button.
This will safely duplicate these shortcuts into the Quick Launch
menu.
Drag them around to change the order and better meet your needs.
Fix the Find Function in the Search Toolbar
Windows XP has such a "fancy" search system for files
and folders that it is almost completely unusable without modification.
Below describes how to change the Windows Search Toolbar to a
more reasonable setting with standard options.
|
NOTE: THIS CHANGE MAY NOT
BE EASILY REVERSED. Note
that once the Search Window is set into the Advanced mode, you
may find it difficult to return to the "default" Standard
mode search screen with an animated character. Oddly enough,
we have not yet found a control (other than in the Registry)
to restore XP's default search options! |
Open any window, such as the My
Documents windows.
Press CTRL-F to bring up the Search toolbar.
Press the link for "Without an animated character."
Wait while the doggie runs away; this takes
a few seconds.
Now we want to set on "Advanced settings" to get reasonable
search options. This involves several levels of changes.
Adapted From Microsoft's Help Screen:
Click Start, point to Search, and then click For
Files or Folders.
(Or use CTRL-F in any window to bring
up the Search toolbar.)
Click Change preferences.
Click Change files and folders search behavior.
Click Advanced to display search options.
Would
you like Windows XP Menus to move Faster?
Turning off Transparent Menus and eliminating the Shadow under
menus can result in a dramatic performance increase, especially
on slower machines. To make these changes, open the Display control
panel. This can be done from the Start Menu>Settings>Control
Panel>Display control, OR just right-click on a blank area
on the Desktop and choose "Properties." Go to the "Appearance"
tab. Click on the "Effects" button.
Remove the check from "Show shadows under menus."
Remove the check from "Use the following transition effect
for menus and tooltips".
Although "Clear Type" is a nicer way to view fonts
on laptops and LCD screens, there may be little benefit on traditional
CRT monitors. "Clear Type" also takes away processing
time, a major concern on older computers. You may consider turning
this off as well to improve performance, especially on slower
computers.
Press the OK button in the "Effects" dialog.
This returns you to the Display control panel screen.
NOW PRESS THE APPLY BUTTON to save this change.
Then press the Display control panel's OK button.
You are done; your menus should now be much more "snappy".
(These minor changes make all the difference for some users.)
Click Here for our Windows
XP Configuration Links |
|
|
