Twenty tips to customize Windows XP and Vista

[TheGreatOne]

Twenty tips to customize Windows XP and Vista

1. Find display properties

In Windows XP to Vista, the settings on the appearance of officers are gathered in one place.It is from this window that must be completed detailed manipulation then.


With XP
Place the cursor on the desktop, right-click and choose Properties from the menu.The Display Properties window appears.


With Vista
Right-click on the desktop and select Customize. Personalization window opens.



2. Repainting the windows

With XP
By default, this color blue dominates in Windows XP.n the Themes tab, select the Windows Classic theme. Then go to the Appearance tab to replace it with new colors.The first option is to choose from the menu, color model, another model ready for use.

Second possibility: fun to choose your own color by clicking the Advanced button. With the drop-down menu, setting the color of each element (gradient colors, font, font size).In a few clicks, the result is there.


With Vista

Click Color and appearance of windows. If the color Windows Aero is that used, the window that appears is called Color and appearance of the window. It can handle color and transparency of windows.f you want more colors, click View mixing colors. When you are done, click the OK button. If, subsequently, transparency is much too memory for your computer, return to this window and deselect Enable transparency.

In addition to being greedy, Aero is not available on all computers equipped with Vista.When it is not activated, the settings window that opens appearance.If the window Aero is enabled, click Open classic appearance properties for additional color options for the show.It is identical to the properties window display of Windows XP.Select the style Windows Vista Basic if your computer has problems with Aero.

Unfortunately, it is impossible to change the colors further, at least to choose the style Windows Standard or Windows Classic. In this case, we are back to the introduction of Windows XP


3. Change the image of Office

With XP
In the Desktop tab, the background images available to beautify appear in list form.To use rather one of your images, click the Browse button, select the image you want, validate by Open. With the menu position, specify its disposal: Center (it is centered without deformation), Mosaic (it is repeated if it is smaller than the surface of the Bureau), stretch (it is distorted to cover exactly the Bureau).


With Vista

Click on the link desktop background. You can select one click an image ready for use, or click the Browse button to select a more personal.In this case, point your mouse over and click Open. All images of the same folder appear as thumbnails.

Choose how to place the image by clicking on one of three possible positions represented by a drawing in the Fit to screen, Mosaic Center. Then, click Change background color to determine the background color of the Office and give the image.Select a square of color and click OK. Click OK.


4. Decide which put icons on the desktop

With XP

Open the Desktop tab and then click the Customize Desktop button. On the General tab of the new window, select the icons to appear on the desktop.Click OK.


With Vista

In the left pane of your window, click Change Desktop Icons. Then select the icons you want on your desktop.Finally, confirm by clicking the OK button.


5. Enjoy the screensaver with your photos

With XP

In the Screen Saver tab, the menu lists the possibilities.Select My photo album. Then click Settings: the sliders to adjust the length of the interval between two photos and their display size.With the Browse button, select the folder where the draw pictures.Click OK.


With Vista

Click Screensaver. In the menu screen saver, select Photos. Then click the Settings button.

Select, if necessary, "Use images and videos. Click the Browse button and point to the folder where the content should be displayed, for example, the Pictures folder. Then click OK and then click Save. You can also specify the period of inactivity after which the screen saver must be activated, for example 5 minutes. Validate all at the click OK.

[TheGreatOne]

6. Move the Taskbar

With XP and Vista

The taskbar where the Start button is not doomed to remain at the bottom of the screen.It may well be located on one of the other three sides.Beforehand, we must unlock the taskbar. Right-click free space on the taskbar If the option Lock the Taskbar is selected (a check mark appears in front), click it.Click on an area free of the taskbar (avoid the Quick Launch). Hold the mouse button down and drag the taskbar to one of three sides of the screen. When the bar is moved to the desired location, release the mouse button


7. A toolbar takes place Desktop

With XP and Vista

My work identifies the discs and players on the computer.It is possible to make them available in a toolbar permanently.Open the Start menu, then drag the shortcut to the My Computer to the right side of the screen.Release the button: a new toolbar appears, equipped with direct-access buttons for discs and players.


8. A system of check boxes

With Vista

Not always easy to select multiple files with the mouse.Not to deceive, Vista offers a system of check boxes, although practice.In a Windows Explorer, pull down the Organize menu, click Folder Options and research. In the View tab, select Use checkboxes to select items. Click OK.

Fly over a file or folder with the mouse: a box in the upper left appears.Click the box to check.


9. Increase the font size

According screens and a user, it is possible to adjust the font size used by Windows.In addition to increasing its size, this setting adjusts the size of all elements of Windows accordingly. Shortcut icons are larger and the task bar higher.

With XP

On the Settings tab, click the Advanced button. On the General tab of the new window, scroll down and select PPP Setting the size of your choice from possibly through custom settings. Then click OK. It is necessary to restart the computer to reflect the change.

With Vista

In the left pane, click on Adjust the font size (PPP). Then select the option larger scale (120 dpi). To further increase the size, click on a personal scale. Then adjust the percentage depending on your needs, according to the summary.Click OK to close all windows and restart the computer to take into account the changes that have been made.


10. Three sites to find amazing wallpapers

1. DeviantART: mandatory diversion. Bringing together a strong community of designers, DeviantArt is an amazing images.To find wallpapers that come in full screen, you can specify the required dimensions.The wallpapers are recovered in the form of compressed files.


2nd. FlickR: reservoir of images. The site for sharing photos, is a mine Thematic groups to own wallpaper (wallpaper in English) were created.We have picked one, but feel free to look for yourself.When an image you like, click the thumbnail and then click the magnifying glass above the image.Finally, click on the Download size Large.


3rd PC Tips: posters for offices. More classical in form and in content, the gallery wallpapers PCastuces site addresses all the issues. Animals, movies, landscapes, sports, celebrities, video games, it there is truly something for everyone.The images are downloaded as zip files.

[TheGreatOne]

11. Change the Start menu

With XP and Vista

The Start menu concentrates many shortcuts: to software available on the computer, to the most important cases, to the main windows settings. Remember to click OK to validate all of your changes.

1. His appearance and its contents are customizable through a single window.To open, click the right mouse button on the Start button and select Properties. The Start Menu tab is open. Select Start Menu. Click the Customize button. In Windows XP only,open the Advanced tab.


2. Usually, when you click on the Start menu on a shortcut for a folder (My Documents, My Pictures, My Music, Control Panel, etc.), It will open a window of the Windows Explorer. . At the scene, it may reveal its contents as a menu. Simply select, for each option show as a menu rather than show as a link.


With Vista, in the size of the Start Menu window, you can increase or decrease the number of recent programs to display. This is the number of shortcuts to fast software, visible in the Start menu. In Windows XP, this option can be found on the General tab.

Add shortcuts to the Start menu

With XP

Click successively on the Start button and select All Programs. Then click the shortcut you want and drag it below the icons of messaging software and browser, just above the line of separation.A small plus sign appears on the icon you can then release the left mouse button.


With Vista

From the Start menu. Then click All Programs. Then right-click the shortcut software to move, then, in the context menu, click Add to the Start menu.


12. Increase the size of icons on the desktop

With XP

Right-click on the desktop and then click Properties. In the Properties window display, go to the Appearance tab. Click on Advanced. In the menu item, select Icon. Specify 48 instead of 32 for size. Click OK to close windows and take into account the change.



With Vista
Click on the desktop. Press the Ctrl key and roll the mouse wheel upwards to increase the size, down to decrease. This trick works to display the contents of files.


13. Enjoy bottom Explorer

Windows Explorer is used to move folders and files stored in the computer.It takes the form of a window that can address the information displayed.Before trying the following manipulations, open, for example, the My Documents folder on XP, Vista Papers.

Adjust the display of files

Whatever version of Windows, and several modes display content of the files are available.

With XP

From the menu bar, click View and select one of five modes available: Thumbnails, Tiles, Icons, List, Details. The last can see all the information about each file and each file now.


With Vista

Pull down the View menu by clicking the arrow attached to the right. Sept display options are available, similar to those of Windows XP, with several potential size of icons. Select your choice.

View more information in the records

Depending on the content of files, some missing information should be visible. For example, it may be useful to read the dimensions of photos stored in the My Pictures folder (in Vista Pictures). On the View menu, click Details. Then right-click on the line of column headers. To access the complete list of possible details, click More. Check the details of your choice, in our example Dimensions. It may, in the same way, to remove certain details deemed unnecessary by clearing the list. Validate, finally, OK.


After explaining the details and how to display a folder, you can pass the settings to all subfolders. For example, the My Pictures folder (or pictures) to all folders that contain pictures. To do this, open the folder. In XP, pull down the Tools menu and click Folder Options. In Vista, pull down the Organize menu and click Folder Options and research. Then, for both Windows, open the View tab of the new window. Then click the Apply button to records. In the dialog box that appears, click Yes. However, if you want to cancel all settings, click Reset records.

Sort content displayed

With Vista

Thanks to the details of files, you can sort the content in a very precise way to display only files that meet a set of criteria. Open a folder, Images, for example. Move the mouse over one of the column headers, for example Type. Click on the arrow that appears to the right of the header. The different types of files appear. Select those you want to see the display is instantly updated. It is possible to define criteria for sorting in several headers at a time.

Create links to your favorite files

With Vista

The left pane of the Explorer contains a Favorite Links, which are shortcuts to direct a series of personal files. You can add shortcuts to other folders. In a Windows Explorer, browse the folders to the one you want to add to favorites. Click and drag it into the left pane in the Favorite Links. Tooltip Create a link in the Links appears.Release the mouse button: link is established. You can now click to open the folder, or drag files over to move or copy (by pressing the Ctrl key).


Change the disposal of Windows Explorer

With XP

By default are displayed in the left pane actions related to the contents of the folder. The component may be used differently. On the View menu, click to Explorer.. Select the display options, the one you want: Search (to search for a file), Favorites (for always on hand your Internet shortcuts), history (the history of consultation files and Internet browsing) , Folders (to reveal the structure of hard disk).On the other Tip of the day, it displays at the bottom of the window Windows tips.


With Vista

The possibilities are less than Windows XP. Pull down the Organize menu, click Layout. The most interesting is Menu Bar. Clicking found the Menu of XP retracted into Vista

The files appear

With XP and Vista

Mode Thumbnails view in XP or icons (very large, large, small and medium) of Vista, the icon of each folder views of multiple files stored in it. On the View menu in XP, select Thumbnails.. For Vista, you must choose one of the methods Icons (large, small, medium) in the Views menu.


Then, with the right mouse button, click the folder from which the summary should be changed. Then, in the context menu that appears, click Properties. In the Customize tab of the new window, click Choose an image (Select a file in Vista). Select the image, press OK. Finally, click OK.


14. Faster access to the contents of a folder in the taskbar

With XP and Vista

Move the mouse over the taskbar, then right-click. In the menu that appears, select Toolbars, and then click New Toolbar. Point to the folder to display, press OK. To view the contents of the folder, click the rafters next to his name.


15. Use the Quick Launch bar

With XP and Vista

Located next to the Start button, the Quick Launch bar hosts shortcuts to launch a click software most employees, but not all types of shortcuts (to files, folders) can take place.

Prior to display the Quick Launch bar, right-click free space on the taskbar. Click on Toolbars and then click Quick Launch in order to check this option. Then, to add shortcuts, create them on the desktop before the drag on the Quick Launch bar. You can then change the order of icons by dragging the bar in drag and drop.

[TheGreatOne]

16. Conquer the Windows Sidebar

With Vista

It is a new Vista compared to its predecessors: the Windows bar, located on the right side of the screen to start various small software, "gadgets" which, as their name suggests, range from useful to frivolous. To display the Windows Sidebar, pull down the Start menu... Click successively to All Programs, Accessories, Windows Sidebar.

Windows Vista comes with a sample of gadgets ready to use. Right-click the Windows Sidebar, and then click Add gadgets. The window that opens list gadgets available on the computer. Double-click the one you want or drag it onto the Windows Sidebar to view it. Then, to access its settings, click the right mouse and select Options. Of course, the list of gadgets available continues to grow. To download new gadgets, visit the Microsoft here to retrieve a gadget and install it on your computer, click the Download button.


17. Remove the names of shortcuts

With XP and Vista

To alleviate the Bureau and enhance the screen, here's a trick to remove the names of shortcuts.We must replace the space, invisible. Select a shortcut on the desktop. Press F2 to rename it. Hold down the Alt key and type 255. Release the Alt key and press Enter.This trick does not work with the Recycle Bin icon.


18. Reveal the start screen hidden

With Vista

The startup screen of Vista is identical to that of Windows XP, which is rather disappointing. But it is quite possible to activate another screen, well hidden that. From the Start menu and, in the Search box, type msconfig. In the new window opens, click Start. Click on the Do not start the graphical user interface. Then click OK and restart the computer. You will now entitled to a Northern Lights at each startup


19. Adapt the size of the cursor

To work with more comfort, it is interesting to grow the mouse pointer.Here's how.

With XP

Open the Control Panel, open the Start menu, and click Mouse. In the Mouse Properties window, open the Pointers tab. Unroll then the menu and select the model that suits you.Some are available in several sizes. Cliquez sur OK. Click OK.

With Vista

Right-click on the desktop and select Customize from the context menu. In the new window opens, click mouse pointer. In the Model menu, select the one you want. Aero, for example, is available in three sizes.Click OK.


20. Relooker Five software for Windows XP and Vista

1. Vista Shortcut Manager: no arrow for shortcuts

To give a more refined air to the Bureau, this utility makes less showy arrows on shortcuts, and even make them disappear. Just choose the option of choice, validate and restart the computer for the change to take effect.

Available on Download.com


2. IColorFolder: Folders take colors (XP and Vista)

Not always easy to find in crowded folders on the hard drive! It becomes possible to distinguish them by their color, thanks to this little program. After installation, right click on a folder reveals a new color option. There is more to choose between red, orange, yellow, green, blue, pink and gray. Then all the color codes are welcome degree of importance, type of music stored day of the week, identification of the owner, etc.. With Vista, it is necessary to restart the computer to apply the changes

Available on Download.com


3. Wallpaper: for a screen less boring (XP and Vista)

This utility handles change at regular intervals the screen of the Bureau.You select files and folders to scroll then in the Preferences, specify the rate of renewal at each startup or after a certain number of days, weeks or months, even minutes.

Available on Download.com


4. Launchy: find any two keys keyboard (XP and Vista)

This is not quite the equivalent of Windows Search, or a program like Copernic Desktop Search. Fast as hell, Launchy is a search bar that the discreet keyboard shortcut Alt + Space reveals. Type a few characters, and Launchy list illico the corresponding programs and Internet bookmarks (Firefox and Internet Explorer). It offers more advanced settings can also index files and other file types.You can even search on the Internet by specifying a keyword (YouTube, Wikipedia), followed by a tab and search term. Only disadvantage of this utility: it is in English, but the PDF documentation is complete.

Available on Download.com


5. Object Dock: as a taste of apple (XP and Vista)

A dock is a bar which brings shortcuts to programs, files and folders favorite. In principle, a dock, it is mainly reserved for the world of Mac. Quite because this utility allows to have one in Windows. And what dock! Frenchify You can easily add their own shortcuts, change their name, playing with transparency. A very nice to replacing the taskbar usual.As there is a version of this software, be sure to click on the Free Download page presentation.

Available on Download.com