Windows Xp Tips & Tricks

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Speed up menu display


Microsoft Windows XP uses many visual effects to provide a rich, friendly interface. One of these settings allows menus to fade into view when you open them. This visual effect is so smooth that you may never have noticed it; however, the effect does cause menus to take a little longer to appear.

On a fast computer, this shouldn't be an issue. But on a computer that isn’t responding as quickly as you'd like, you can make menus display faster.

To speed up menu display

1.


Click Start. Right-click My Computer, and then click Properties.

My Computer shortcut menu with Properties selected

2.


Click the Advanced tab. In the Performance area, click Settings.

System Properties dialog box Advanced tab with Settings button selected

3.


On the Visual Effects tab in the Performance Options dialog box, clear the Fade or slide menus into view check box.

Visual Effects tab in Performance Options dialog box with Fade or slide menus into view selected

4.


Click OK.

5.


In the System Properties dialog box, click OK.

Advanced tab in System Properties dialog box with OK selected

Now when you click a menu, it will appear almost instantly.

Set your windows so they all have the same view

Published: September 7, 2006

Microsoft Windows XP lets you show the contents of folders in a variety of ways, such as a simple or detailed list of the files, or as thumbnail images. Each folder in My Computer or My Documents can have its own view. That’s useful for folders like My Music or My Pictures, because you can look at your digital photos in Thumbnails or Filmstrip view, and see your song titles in Tiles view. But changing the view for every folder can be time-consuming.
If you prefer to have all your folder contents displayed in a particular way, you can save yourself some time by changing the view for all the folders on your computer at once.
To set your windows so they all have the same view

1.	Click Start, and then click My Documents.
2.	Click the Views button, and then click the view you want to apply to all folders. Note: For more information about views, read Specify how folders open.
3.	Click Tools, and then click Folder Options.
4.	Click the View tab, and then click Apply to All Folders.
5.	Click Yes.
6.	Click OK.

The next time you open a folder, it will be displayed using the view you chose. To restore your original folder settings, repeat steps 1-3. Then, in step 4, click Reset All Folders.



If all the walls in your home are white, stop reading. If you've never accessorized an outfit, customized your car, or pierced your body, this article isn't for you. But if you like adjusting your environment to fit your mood and sense of style, you'll likely enjoy the number of ways Microsoft Windows XP lets you change the look of your operating system.
You can change everything at once by choosing a theme. There are themes for hundreds of movies, TV shows, sports teams, games, cars, musicians, and anything else people get enthusiastic about. Or you can totally customize the appearance of Windows XP by tuning individual settings.

How to change the theme

Themes can change every aspect of your computer's appearance, including colors, sounds, pointers, and the desktop background. To change your theme, first find one that appeals to you. The Microsoft Download Center has many themes, or you can search the Web. To find a theme on a particular topic, search for "Download XP Themes topic." After you download a theme, just install it as you would any other program.
After you've installed a theme, you can change it manually.
To change a theme

1.	Right-click your desktop, and then click Properties.
2.	In the Display Properties dialog box, click the Themes tab. Click the Theme list, and then select the theme you want to use.
3.	Windows XP shows a preview of the theme. If you like how the preview looks, click OK. Otherwise, click Cancel. Go back to step 2 and choose another theme.

The new theme takes effect immediately.

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How to tune your screen's appearance

Themes can change every aspect of your computer screen's appearance. Sometimes you just want to change one or two things, like the color of your windows or the font size.
To tune the appearance of Windows XP

1.	Right-click the desktop, and then click Properties.
2.	In the Display Properties dialog box, click the Appearance tab.
3.	To change the colors used in your screen's appearance, click the Color scheme list and then click a new color.
4.	To change text size, click the Font size drop-down box, and then click a new size.
5.	Click the Advanced button.
6.	In the Advanced Appearance dialog box, click the Item list to select what aspect of the appearance you want to change. The most important items are: • 3D Objects. The color of buttons and windows. • Desktop. The color of your desktop if you don't have a picture. • Active Title Bar. The color, size, and font on the title bar of the window you're currently using. You can fade between two different colors. • Icon. The size and font of the icons on your desktop. • Inactive Title Bar. The color, size, and font on the title bar of the windows you aren't currently using. You can fade between two different colors. • Menu. The size of the text in menus. • Scrollbar. The width of scrollbars. • ToolTip. The size of text that appears when you hover your pointer over an object. After you've set all your Advanced Appearance settings, click OK.
7.	In the Display Properties dialog box, click Apply to test your settings. Click Cancel, and return to step 5 to change any settings you don't like.
8.	Click OK to close the Display Properties dialog box.

If you get tired of your computer's new look, you can always change the theme again, or you can select the Windows XP theme to return to the familiar blue. If other people in your home use your computer but don't share your sense of style, you can set up accounts for each of them. Then everyone can have a look all their own.

Work with shortcuts

Published: September 7, 2006

You can’t be in more than one place at a time, but—with shortcuts—your files can. Shortcuts are links to programs, documents, files, or Web sites that you can add to your desktop or Start menu. Rather than searching through folders or the Internet every time you want to open a particular file or Web site, simply create a shortcut.
You may not know it, but you use shortcuts all the time. When you click the Start menu, every icon you see is a shortcut. The icons on your desktop are also shortcuts. Without these shortcuts (which are created by Windows or the programs you install), you would have to do a lot of extra work every time you wanted to open a program or empty your recycle bin.
You open a shortcut exactly as you would open a file: by double-clicking it. When you open a shortcut, Windows locates and opens the original file. If you delete the shortcut, the original file is still right where it was.
Find out how to:

•	Add a shortcut to your desktop.
•	Add a shortcut to your Start menu.
•	Add a shortcut that links to a Web site.
•	Change a shortcut icon.

How to add a shortcut to your desktop

If you use your desktop frequently, you should consider adding shortcuts to your favorite files to your desktop.
To add a shortcut to a file on your desktop

1.	Browse your My Documents folder and subfolders to find the file you want to create a shortcut for.
2.	Right-click the file you want to link to from your desktop, click Send To, and then click Desktop.

Your file stays in the same place, but you now have a shortcut to that file on your desktop. Notice that the icon on your desktop has an arrow in the lower-left corner. This arrow indicates that you are clicking a shortcut and not the actual file.

If your desktop gets cluttered with too many shortcuts, you can organize and clean up your desktop.

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How to add a shortcut to your Start menu

In addition to being able to add shortcuts to your desktop, you can also add shortcuts on your Start menu. Shortcuts to your favorite files can appear alongside your programs.
To add a shortcut to your Start menu

1.	Browse your My Documents folder and subfolders to find the file you want to create a shortcut for.
2.	Drag the file to the Start button and hold it for about one second.
3.	When the Start menu opens, drag the file to the location where you want to add it.
4.	Drop the file where you want the shortcut, and a shortcut icon appears.

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How to add a shortcut to a Web site

In addition to linking to files on your own computer, you can create shortcuts to your favorite Web sites. Double-click the shortcut, and the Web site will open in your browser.
To create a shortcut to a Web site

1.	Open the Web site in Microsoft Internet Explorer.
2.	Click and drag the Internet Explorer icon in the Address bar (next to the URL) to your desktop or to the Start menu. For more detailed instructions, watch the video Creating a desktop shortcut to a Web site. Watching the video requires that you have Windows Media Player.  Watch the video now.

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How to change the icons in your shortcuts

Shortcuts include a picture called an icon, which can help you find a program or file faster. For example, the My Computer shortcut shows a computer icon, and the Recycle Bin shortcut shows a trash can icon.

When you change your Windows theme, the new theme might include a set of custom icons that complement the look of the new desktop. For example, a jungle theme might change your My Computer icon to a giraffe. If you want, you can change one or more icons to something more interesting to you.
The method for changing an icon depends on the icon type. You can:

•	Change a system icon.
•	Change any other icon on your computer.

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How to change system icons

To change system icons

1.	Right-click your desktop, and then click Properties.
2.	In the Display Properties dialog box, click the Desktop tab. Then click Customize Desktop.
3.	On the General tab, click the icon you want to change. Then, click Change Icon.
4.	Click the Browse button, and select the folder to which you saved your icons. Click the View Menu button, and then click Thumbnails.
5.	Click the icon you want to use, and then click Open.
6.	Click OK.
7.	Repeat steps 3 through 6 to change other icons. When you are finished changing your icons, click OK twice.

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How to change non-system icons

To change icons other than system icons

1.	Find icons that suit your sense of style. For example, enter "download Windows icons" in your favorite Internet search tool.
2.	Download the icons and save them to your computer.
3.	Right-click the shortcut for which you want to change the icon, and then click Properties.
4.	On the Shortcut tab in the Internet Explorer Properties dialog box, click Change Icon.
5.	Click the Browse button.
6.	Select the folder to which you saved your icons. Click the View Menu button, and then click Thumbnails.
7.	Select the icon you want to use, and then click Open.
8.	Click OK.
9.	In the Internet Explorer Properties dialog box, click OK again.
10.	Repeat steps 3 through 9 to change additional icons.

Increase the clarity of text

Published: September 7, 2006

You can make text much easier to read on your computer screen by enabling ClearType. This technology, included with Microsoft Windows XP, changes the way fonts look on your screen to make them easier to read. The following sample shows standard text on the left and ClearType text on the right.

Example of standard text on left and ClearType text on right

To enable ClearType

1.	Right-click the desktop, and then click Properties.
2.	In the Display Properties dialog box, click the Appearance tab.
3.	Click the Effects button.
4.	Click the Use the following method to smooth edges of screen fonts check box (if it is not already selected), click the down arrow, and then click ClearType.
5.	Click OK.
6.	In the Display Properties dialog box, click OK again.

ClearType improves the clarity of most fonts; however, there are several fonts that do not support this technology. You can still use those fonts—they just won't look as clear to you as those that support ClearType.

Customize your Start menu

Published: September 7, 2006

The Start menu is the gateway to your programs, your computer's settings, and the Internet. Over time, however, the Start menu can get so cluttered that you have to work to find what you need. If you've ever stared at your All Programs menu for more than a second trying to find a program, it's time to organize it.
To make your Start menu more manageable, you can:

•	Pin (or attach) commonly used programs to the Start menu
•	Reorganize the folders in your All Programs menu

The sections that follow describe each of these techniques. Even if you have just a few minutes to spare, read the first section—it will save you time over the long run.

Pin commonly used programs to the Start menu

If you have a hard time finding applications in your All Programs menu, you can "pin" your favorite applications to the Start menu (you are actually pinning the applications' icons to the Start menu). This way, they will appear in the Start menu when you click the Start button. Then you can start the application with just two mouse clicks—without opening the All Programs menu.
To pin a program to the Start menu

1.	Click the Start button.
2.	Click All Programs.
3.	Right-click the program you want to pin to the Start menu, and then click Pin to Start menu.

The program appears on the upper-left side of the Start menu. To start the program, click the Start button, and then click the program.
To remove (or unpin) a program icon that you've pinned to the Start menu

1.	Click the Start button.
2.	Right-click the program you want to remove from the Start menu, and then click Unpin from Start menu.

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Reorganize the folders in your All Programs menu

When you install a new program, Microsoft Windows XP adds it to the bottom of your All Programs menu. That's like a library shelving books according to when they were published—you might have a hard time finding the one you're looking for. Luckily, you have total control over the organization of your All Programs menu; you just need to take a minute and arrange it.
To reorganize your All Programs menu

1.	Right-click the Start button, and then click Explore. Windows XP opens an Explorer window showing your Start menu. In the Programs subfolder, you can create organizational folders, such as Games, Media, and Internet. Later, you can move programs into those folders according to their categories.
2.	Create a subfolder of the Programs folder: • a. Click Programs. • b. Click the File menu, click New, and then click Folder. • c. Type a name for the folder, and then press ENTER. • d. Repeat steps a-c to add more organizational folders, if needed.
3.	Now that you have created your organizational folders, you can move programs into those folders: • a. Click the Programs folder. • b. In the right pane, drag the program icon or folder you want to move into your organizational folder. • c. Repeat steps a-b to move more programs, if needed.

Now, browse through your All Programs menu to test your new organization. You may see programs in your All Programs menu that did not appear in the Explorer window. These programs were installed for anyone who uses your computer, while the programs you organized in steps 1-3 were installed for just your user account.
To organize the programs that all users can access

1.

Right-click the Start button, and then click Explore All Users.

2.

Follow the steps outlined in the preceding section, beginning with step 2. You may notice that programs reappear in the Start menu after you have moved them. When you install a program update, the update will sometimes restore the original links. You can safely delete these links by right-clicking them in the All Programs menu and then clicking Delete. The links from your customized Programs folders will remain intact.

Customize your mouse settings

Published: September 7, 2006

Some people like their mouse pointer to move fast, while others prefer slow and precise mouse movement. The Microsoft Windows XP default mouse settings are designed to meet the needs of the average user, but you may want to change the settings. By adjusting your mouse settings, you can change your mouse and scroll wheel speed, the size and shape of your pointer, and how quickly you double-click.
To customize your mouse settings

1.	Click Start, and then click Control Panel.
2.	Click Printers and Other Hardware.
3.	Click Mouse.
4.	In the Mouse Properties dialog box, click the Buttons tab.
5.	Drag the Double-click speed slider to adjust how quickly you want to click. Test the setting by double-clicking the folder icon. Then click Apply.
6.	On the Pointers tab, click the down arrow in the drop-down box to choose a pointer scheme. Windows Standard (extra large) or Magnified are good choices if you have a high-resolution monitor or if you have difficulty seeing your cursor. Dinosaur is perfect if you have kids, and Conductor is fun for musicians. Click Apply to immediately change your cursor.
7.	The Pointer Options tab gives you access to several additional settings. You can: • Drag the Select a pointer speed slider to change how fast your mouse moves. • Select the Automatically move pointer to the default button in a dialog box check box if you use a notebook computer. • Select the Display pointer trails and Show location of pointer when I press the CTRL key check boxes if you ever have a difficult time finding your cursor.
8.	After you make your changes, click Apply.
9.	On the Wheel tab, increase the number to make your scroll wheel move faster, or decrease the number to make it move slower. Then click Apply.
10.	Once you’ve made your changes, test them using your favorite program. If you like your changes, return to the Mouse Properties dialog box and click OK.

To allow everyone who uses your computer to have their own mouse settings, create separate accounts for each person. After you use your new mouse settings for a few days, you may decide to fine-tune them further and change them again.

Change your toolbars

Published: September 7, 2006

If your computer had one button on the screen for everything it could do, you'd have nothing but a screen full of buttons. So Microsoft Windows XP uses toolbars that show only the buttons you're most likely to use. A toolbar is a collection of buttons that launch a program, save a file, print a document, or just about anything else.
Almost all Windows XP programs include toolbars. For example, the Microsoft Internet Explorer toolbar includes buttons for moving backwards or forwards, searching the Internet, and printing the Web page you're currently on.

Similarly, the Microsoft Outlook Express toolbar has buttons for creating, sending, and receiving e-mail.

If you don't use a specific toolbar, you can turn it off to make room for other windows. You can also drag and drop your toolbars to rearrange them. Some programs even let you change the buttons on your toolbars to remove unused buttons and add more useful buttons.

How to turn toolbars on and off

Programs often have multiple toolbars. For example, Internet Explorer has three toolbars enabled by default: Standard Buttons, Address Bar, and Links. Outlook Express has two toolbars: the Standard toolbar and the Views Bar, which is hidden by default. Additionally, other programs might add their own custom toolbars.
To turn a toolbar on or off
Right-click a toolbar. The shortcut menu lists the available toolbars. Toolbars that are currently visible are displayed with a check mark.

To remove a toolbar, clear the check mark next to it by clicking the toolbar you want to remove.

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How to move toolbars

You can also rearrange toolbars.
To move a toolbar

1.	Right-click a toolbar. If you see Lock the Toolbars on the menu and it is selected, unlock the toolbar by clicking Lock the Toolbars.
2.	Click on the dotted handle on the left side of the toolbar, and drag it to where you want to put the toolbar.

For more detailed instructions, watch the video How to Move a Toolbar.
Watching the video requires that you have Windows Media Player.
Watch the video now.

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Customize the buttons on your toolbars

Toolbars have buttons for the tasks most people use, but you may want to personalize yours. Fortunately, you can customize toolbars by rearranging, adding, and removing buttons.
To customize a toolbar in some programs

1.	Right-click the toolbar, and then click Customize.
2.	Use the Customize Toolbar dialog box to add, remove, and rearrange the buttons on your toolbar. Some programs also give you the option of adding text to your toolbar buttons, and using large or small buttons. This dialog box is different for every program.
3.	When you have finished changing your toolbar, click the Close button to close the Customize Toolbar dialog box.

Some programs use a different process for customizing toolbars, and others do not allow you to change the toolbars. When in doubt, you can always try right-clicking on a toolbar to see what options are available.
Windows XP includes the Quick Launch toolbar to enable you to launch programs without opening the Start menu. Follow these instructions to display the Quick Launch toolbar.

Working with menus

Published: September 7, 2006

Windows uses menus to group a collection of related actions under a single heading. Most applications have menus. For example, Microsoft Internet Explorer has the menus File, Edit, and Help at the top of the window. Clicking a menu displays the commands that are available for a particular type of activity, such as working with files or editing documents.

In addition to the menus you'll find in your software programs, Microsoft Windows XP has the Start menu, which you open by clicking the Start button in the lower-left corner of your computer screen. When you do, Windows displays a menu of programs and actions.

Like many other menus, the Start menu contains submenus. Submenus display a small arrow, pointing right, that indicates they can be expanded. To expand a submenu, click the arrow. For example, on the Start menu, you can click to expand the All Programs or My Recent Documents submenus.

The Start menu has multiple levels of submenus. For example, to start Windows Media Player, click Start, point to All Programs, point to Accessories, point to Entertainment, and then click Windows Media Player.

Some menus contain many items, and viewing them all might make it hard to quickly find the menu item you need. Windows hides infrequently used items to make it easier for you to find the menu items you use the most. You will know there are hidden menu items when you see a downward-pointing double arrow at the bottom of a menu.

If you don't see the menu item you're looking for, click the double arrow to expand the menu and show the hidden menu items. Because Windows adapts to how you use your computer, the menu items you use most will be automatically displayed in the future. So the next time you open the menu, you might not need to expand it.
In Microsoft Office programs, you can set menus to always display all commands.
To always display all commands when you click a menu in any Office program

1.	Open an Office program.
2.	Click the Tools menu, and then click Customize.
3.	On the Options tab, select the Always show full menus check box.
4.	Click Close.

You can also open menus by right-clicking almost any object. For example, if you right-click My Computer, you will see a list of actions that relate to your computer.

Tip: If you're ever unsure how to do something, try right-clicking. The shortcut menu that appears may provide you with the answer you need.

You may even want to customize some aspects of the default Windows behavior. You can:

•	Speed up menu display
•	Customize your Start menu
•	Add new programs to your Start menu in alphabetical order

Optimize your computer's performance

Published: September 7, 2006

Windows XP has a rich user interface with menus that slide into view, shadows that create three-dimensional effects, and rounded corners that soften the appearance of windows. If you have an older computer, these visual effects may noticeably slow down it's performance. For example, dialog boxes and menus might not open smoothly. To help improve the performance of your computer, you can disable some or all visual effects. When you disable visual effects, you change only the graphical elements on your desktop; you can still do everything you've always done with your computer—only faster.

How to disable specific visual effects

To control which visual effects Windows XP uses

1.	Click Start, right-click My Computer, and click Properties.
2.	The System Properties dialog box appears. Click the Advanced tab. In the Performance area, click Settings.
3.	The Performance Options dialog box appears. On the Visual Effects tab, select the Custom option.
4.	Clear the check boxes for the visual effects you want to disable.
5.	Click OK.
6.	You are returned to the System Properties dialog box. Click OK.

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How to disable all visual effects

To disable all visual effects for the best performance

1.	Click Start, right-click My Computer, and click Properties.
2.	The System Properties dialog box appears. Click the Advanced tab. In the Performance area, click Settings.
3.	The Performance Options dialog box appears. On the Visual Effects tab, select the Adjust for best performance option.
4.	Click OK.
5.	You are returned to the System Properties dialog box. Click OK. Working Remotely with Windows XP Get as much work done on the road as you can in the office. Find out how to use the mobility features of Windows XP Professional here. Using Remote Desktop With Remote Desktop, you get full access to your work computer via an Internet or network connection. For example, you can connect to your office computer from home and work with files, programs, and resources as though you were in front of your computer at work. • The Next Best Thing to Transporter Beams Remote Desktop in Windows XP Professional lets you control your computer remotely using another PC. • Windows XP Remote Desktop Web Connection Overview With the Remote Desktop Web Connection in Windows XP, you can run Remote Desktop session from within Microsoft Internet Explorer. • Set Up Your Computer for Remote Desktop Read up on the three things you need to set up your computer to use Remote Desktop. • Enable Your Computer as the Host Learn how to turn on the Remote Desktop feature on your office computer so that you can control it remotely from another computer. • Install Remote Desktop Communications Client If you're running Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows 98 Second Edition, Windows Me, Windows NT 4.0 or Windows 2000, you'll need to install the Remote Desktop communications client. • Start a Remote Desktop Session Once you have enabled your Windows XP Professional computer to allow remote connections, and installed client software on a Windows-based client computer, you are ready to start a Remote Desktop session. • Frequently Asked Questions About Remote Desktop Get answers to common questions about the Remote Desktop feature in Windows XP. Stay Productive When You're Offline • Offline Files Save the Day Using offline files to work with shared documents and encrypt them to secure data. • Use Offline Files When You're off the Network Windows XP: How to use Offline Files • Make Web Pages Available for Offline Viewing Windows XP: Making Pages Available for Offline Viewing • Use Hibernate and Standby to Conserve Batteries Here's how to use the Hibernate and Standby functions in Windows XP Professional to make the batteries in your laptop computer last longer. More • Managing One Laptop for the Office and Home How to set up a Windows XP-based laptop to make an easy transition between your home and office networks. • Ready for the Road Windows XP is designed to make mobile computing easier, providing access to offline files while youre on the road. • On the Road Describes how to set up multiple dial-up connections when traveling using Windows XP. • On the Road Again How to get on the Internet in airports and hotels while traveling with your Windows XP computer. • GPS and Your Laptop Explains how to use Global Positioning System technology on a laptop running Windows XP. • Use Virtual Private Networks for Secure Internet Data Transfer Windows XP: How to use virtual private networks. for more details pl visit microsoft sit यहाँ पोस्ट किये गए डाटा Microsoft से लिए गए है और इनका उद्देश्य केवल आपको educational जानकारी देना है ना की ब्वाव्साय करना !