Windows Vista
The Control Panel folder contains all the programs for changing your computer’s settings, adding programs and hardware, network functions, etc. • • • Click the Start button Click the Control Panel on the right side Click the Classic View link underneath Control Panel Home in the left pane Note: If this is your first time using Windows Vista, it may be helpful to start by exploring the Welcome Center. To learn about Windows features, new and old, and how to start using them: • • Double click the Welcome Center icon Click on an icon in the "Get started with Windows" section
Control Panel
Personalize Windows
The Personalization icon is used to change the way Vista looks; e.g., the Desktop background, colors and the screen saver. • Double click the Personalization icon
The Personalization dialog box includes several links: Window Color and Appearance (color and style of windows, fonts, etc.), Desktop Background, Screen Saver, Mouse Pointers, Theme (visual and auditory elements) and Display Settings (monitor resolution and hardware settings). Desktop Background The Desktop Background link allows you to alter the pattern or background image, even if a theme is already selected. To use a pre-installed image: • • Click the Desktop Background link In the Background box select a picture to make it your Desktop background or, if you would like to choose a background from a file on your computer, • • • Choose a picture location and click the Browse button Choose from one of the three position options at the bottom of the window Click the OK button
Screen Saver To turn on a screen saver: • • Click the Screen Saver link Select a screen saver from the pull down menu
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In the Wait box, set the number of inactive minutes for the computer to wait before starting the screen saver A sample of the screen saver will be displayed on the monitor or you can click the Preview button to see the full screen display.
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If you clicked the Preview button, press the spacebar to return to the Screen Saver Settings dialog box Click the Apply button to save the setting Click the OK button
Note: Another way to access the Desktop options is to click the right mouse button anywhere on the Desktop and then select Personalize from the Shortcut menu Themes Themes are coordinated graphic schemes that include elements from the other links in the Personalization dialog box. Vista allows you to choose between the Vista theme or revert to the Windows Classic appearance that approximates the look of Windows XP. You may also download themes from the Internet. • • Click the Theme link Use the pull-down menu to change to a new theme A sample is displayed in the window. • Click the Apply button to change to the new theme
Display Settings The Display Settings link is used to change display resolution and other hardware settings. The higher you set the display resolution, the smaller objects on your screen will appear, therefore allowing a larger desktop area. Usually 800x600 is a good resolution for 15” monitors, 1024x768 for 17” monitors and 1280x960 for 19” monitors. However, individual tastes dictate whether to raise or lower the resolution. • • • Click the Display Settings link Move the slider under Screen resolution to the left to lower resolution or to the right to increase resolution Click the Apply button to preview the new resolution The screen will blink and a dialog box will appear. • • If you wish to keep the resolution, click the Yes button, otherwise click the No button Click the OK button to close the Display Settings dialog box
Note: If your monitor does not display correctly or stays blank after clicking Apply, wait over 15 seconds without clicking anything and the resolution will revert back to the original setting.
User Accounts
User Accounts allows different people to log into a single computer with different Desktop appearances, different Documents folders and different levels of file access. There are two types of users: Standard User and Administrator. A Standard User cannot change important system files, nor install programs. This can protect against accidental damage to the system. To change system settings or install programs, an Administrator account must be used. • Double click the User Accounts icon
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To add a new user: • • • • • Click the Manage another account link Click the Create a new account link Type a name for the account Choose either Standard User or Administrator to set the account access level Click the Create Account button
To edit your account or another account (ie., to change password, picture, account type, name, or delete account): • • • Click the Manage another account link Click the account you wish to change Make the appropriate changes
To access account password options: • Click the Change (or Create) the password for your account link
User Accounts Control User Accounts Control (UAC) is a new feature of Windows Vista that prevents unauthorized changs to your computer. When you try to make certain changes, the User Account Control dialog box will appear asking for your permission to continue or asking for an Administrator password. UAC is turned on by default to help protect your computer. It can be turned off by using the Turn on User Account Control on or off link in the User Account Controls dialog box.
Additional Control Panel Options
Date and Time Used to change the computer’s date and time, and to change settings for automatic Internet time synchronization. Internet Time is a feature that synchronizes your computer’s clock to an online server that stores the accurate time. This feature is turned on by default. • Double click on the Date and Time icon
Ease of Access Center This is new Vista feature used to make you computer easier to use. This feature is especially helpful to the blind, vision impaired and individuals with other sight related difficulties and conditions. • • Double click on the Eace of Access Center icon Explore all of the settings or if you are not sure where to start, • • Click the Get recommendations to make your computer easier to use link Follow the directions, checking the boxes that apply to you You will receive a list of personalized recommendations. 3
Keyboard Used to customize keyboard settings, such as the cursor blink rate and the character repeat rate. • Mouse Used to control the speed of double clicking, button configuration (left-handed versus right-handed), type of pointer icon, pointer speed and special options for features like a scroll wheel. • Double click the Mouse icon Double click the Keyboard icon
Programs and Features Used to uninstall or change programs on your computer. • • • Double click the Programs and Features icon Select a program from the list Click "Uninstall," "Change," or "Repair" Note: Programs and Features has replaced the Add or Remove Programs option in Windows XP. Sound Used to change the sound volume and sound hardware settings. It is most useful to either change or eliminate the sounds that play when certain events occur in your computer. • • Click the Sounds icon Click the Sounds tab
If you wish to change certain sounds, consider choosing a sound scheme. To change sounds one by one: • • Select the program event for which you wish to change the associated sound Use the Sounds pull down menu to select a pre-installed sound or the “None” option or • Click the Browse button to select a sound file on your computer
If you wish to eliminate all sounds: • • Select the "No Sounds" scheme from the Sound Scheme pull down menu Click the OK button to close the window
Information Technology Services June 2007
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Macalester College Saint Paul, Minnesota