Windows XP System Utilities

1. Windows XP System Utilities 70-270: MCSE Guide to Microsoft Windows XP Professional

2. Control Panel Overview (Page 1) • Control Panel • One of most important centralized locations for in Windows XP management utilities • From Start menu, select Settings, then Control Panel • There are new applets in XP: • An applet is a small application designed for a limited range of functionality or capability

3. Control Panel Overview (Page 2) • There is a new "Category view" (default) as well as the original "Classic" view • A hyperlink in the upper left corner of each window facilitates switching between the two views

4. Control Panel in Category View

5. Control Panel in Classic View

6. Control Panel Overview (Page 3) • In Category view, selecting any option displays dialog window with two sections: • "Pick a task" • Displays links to launch wizards which guide user through a specific task • "Pick a Control Panel icon" • Displays names of the commands for that group from the Control Panel "Classic" view

7. Control Panel Categories

8. Accessibility Options (Page 1) • Special interface features for the visual-, audio-, or movement-impaired user • Select the "Keyboard" tab for: • StickyKeys—enables pressing <Ctrl>, <Shift> and <Alt> once without holding them down • FilterKeys—enables ignoring quick or repeated keystrokes • ToggleKeys—audible tone plays when <Caps Lock>, <Scroll Lock> and <Num Lock> are down

9. Accessibility Options (Page 2) • Select the "Sound" tab for: • SoundSentry—displays visual clues when system plays a sound • ShowSounds—displays captions showing the system has played a specific sound • Select the "Display" tab for: • High Contrast—creates contrast between text and background to improve reading • Cursor Option—modifies cursor blink speed and cursor width

10. Accessibility Options (Page 3) • Select the "Mouse" tab for: • MouseKeys—alters the numeric keypad function so that it controls the movement of the mouse

11. Accessibility Options (Page 4) • Select the "General" tab for: • Automatic reset—automatically turns off accessibility options if idle for specified time • Notification—sets whether or not to give a visual or audible warning before turning off accessibility options • SerialKey devices—for configuring and selecting serial port for alternative key or mouse input devices (including baud rate) • Administrative options—apply all the settings to logon desktop and/or new users

12. The Accessibility Folder (Page 1) • Additional accessibility tools found by selecting Start  Programs Accessories Accessibility • Accessibility Wizard • Self-prompting applet that asks for special needs including text size, color, display, configuration, sound, and pointer settings • Magnifier • Zooms in on specific items

13. The Accessibility Folder (Page 2) • Narrator • Limited text-to-voice application • On-Screen Keyboard • For keying text with a pointing device • Utility Manager • Applet which can activate "Magnifier", "Narrator" and "On-Screen Keyboard" automatically each time user logons on

14. Add Hardware (Page 1) • Every time the system starts up, it polls the entire computer for new devices • XP's attempt to identify a new device is called Plug and Play (PnP): • Always install new device first; then turn on system and wait to see if it is detected • Installs driversautomatically or prompts for alternative source path (a disk or CD/DVD)

15. Add Hardware (Page 2) • The "Add Hardware" Wizard • Used for manual configuration • Only use: • If PnP fails and … • After discovering there is no vendor-supplied installation utility • Wizard is not difficult to follow

16. Device Manager (Page 1) • After devices are installed, this applet can manage, configure, trouble-shooting and removing them • Discussed later in the chapter • To run Device Manager: • Click "System" icon in Control Panel • Select "Hardware" tab • Click <Device Manager> button in the "Device Manager" group

17. Device Manager (Page 2) • Also found in "My Computer": • Select "View system information" then continue with steps 2 and 3 above • Or right-click "My Computer" and select Properties from shortcut menu • Then continue with steps 2 and 3

18. Add or Remove Programs (Page 1) • Change or Remove Programs • Displays installed applications, disk space for the application, and usage frequency • Only if application's setup routine includes a partial or optional setup method • Add New Programs • From vendor supplied disk • From Microsoft Update website • Over Internet through "Intellimirror" and "Windows Installer"

19. Activity—try removing and then reinstalling "MSN Explorer" (need XP install disk) Add or Remove Programs (Page 2) • Add/Remove Windows Components Wizard: • Add XP components not included in the initial installation, i.e. • Faxing service, Indexing service, Internet Information Services (IIS), etc. • Remove components no longer needed

20. Administrative Tools • Shortcut to Administrative Tools option which is discussed briefly in this chapter, as well as in subsequent chapters

21. Date and Time (Page 1) • For setting date, time, and time zone • Clock setting is maintained directly in the system’s BIOS • The reason the clock usually is close to the correct time whenever the computer boots • Time Zone tab • World map and pull-down list of time zones • Automatically updates for daylight savings time if checked

22. Date and Time (Page 2) • On non-domain computers, Internet Time tab defines a server on the Internet to which clock automatically synchronizes … • Machines on domains synchronize time automatically to the domain server (the tab may not be visible)

23. Display (Page 1) • Used to make interface changes • Also accessed by right-clicking desktop and selecting "Properties" from shortcut menu

24. Activity—feel free to make changes on other tabs to be saved as a new theme Display (Page 2) • Themes tab: • Overall visual styling including background, icons, sounds and other elements • Starts with two basic themes: Windows XP and Windows Classic • User creates new themes by modifying elements on the four other tabs • Then click <Save As…> button and name the new personalized theme • Additional themes can be downloaded from the Internet

25. Display (Page 3) • Desktop tab: • Select wallpaper graphic, center, stretch or tile it

26. Display (Page 4) • Desktop tab (con.): • Click <Customize Desktop…> button to: • On the "General" tab: • To select if icons display on the Desktop for My Documents, My Computer, My Network Places and Internet Explorer • Change desktop icons for the applications listed above as well as for Recycle Bin • Enable/disable Desktop Cleanup Wizard to clean up unused icons every 60 days • On the "Web" tab to select a webpage to display on the Desktop

27. Display (Page 5) • Screen Saver tab: • Define and set wait period before screen saver activates • Sets energy-saving features including wait time to shut down monitor and hard drive, when to standby or hibernate • Additional battery monitoring features for notebooks and portables

28. Display (Page 6) • Appearance tab: • Window and button scheme, color scheme, and font size • Select the <Effects…> button to modify effects including transitions for menus and tool tips, large icons, etc • Select the <Advanced> button to modify individual appearance elements • I.e. Desktop, menus, tool tips, etc.

29. Display (Page 6) • Settings tab: • Screen resolution, the higher the resolution, the better the image but the smaller the images • I.e. 800 x 600, 1024 x 768, 1280 x 800, etc. • Color quality (16-bit or 32-bit) • Click <Troubleshoot…> button to launch the Microsoft "Help and Support Center"

30. Advanced Display Settings (Page 1) • Clicking <Advanced> button on "Settings" tab of Display applet accesses dialog for setting video card and monitor properties • Available tabs vary depending upon the installed hardware and drivers • There are five (5) default tabs

31. Advanced Display Settings (Page 2) • The General tab: • Sets DPI (dots per inch)—default is 96 • Sets system restart options when modifying DPI: (1) restart required; (2) restart not required—some applications may not display correctly; or (3) ask before restart • The Adapter tab: • Displays video card information • Click <Properties> button to access the Device Manager's dialog for the video card

32. Advanced Display Settings (Page 3) • Monitor tab: • Displays and sets screen refresh rate • Click <Properties> button to access the Device Manager's dialog for the monitor • Troubleshoot tab: • Displays and sets hardware acceleration of video card • Adjust level downward to solve problems with corrupted images, shadowed cursors, etc.

33. Advanced Display Settings (Page 4) • Color Management tab: • For installing color profiles which fine-tune video card and monitor for color clarity and trueness • Predefined profiles may be included with the card driver set, or available from the video card and/or monitor vendor • Additional tabs are hardware dependent based upon installed display components

34. Advanced Display Settings (Page 5) • "Dualview" is XP's capability to use multiple display devices (monitors) • Up to 10 monitors may be connected to a single computer

35. Activity 3-3: To Add Additional Monitors to Your Configuration • Objective: Add monitors to your configuration • Use Display applet to specify that the computer is for home use • Use Settings to add monitors to display • Select each monitor; select "Extend my Windows desktop onto this monitor"

36. Folder Options (Page 1) • Options for all folders on all drives • The General tab: • Show common tasks in common folders or use Windows classic folders (Task Menu at the left of the window) • Open each folder in the same window or a separate window • Open folders by single- or double-clicking • Single-clicking option displays each file as though it were a hyperlink in a webpage

37. Folder Options (Page 2) • The View tab: • A series of checkboxes which determine how file information is displayed in a folder (the functional and visual parameters) • "Hide extensions for known file types" can make it more difficult to know which file belongs to a specific application

38. Folder Options (Page 3) • The View tab (con.): • Folder views group near the top only from Folder Options… in the Tools menu when viewing a folder in "Windows Explorer" … • I.e. Tiles, Icons, List or Details • "Apply to All Folders" the setting for the current folder • "Reset All Folders" to their defaults

39. Folder Options (Page 4) • The File Types tab: • Associate file extensions with applications • When a specific file is selected, software application to which that particular file type is associated will launch • File extensions can be added or deleted from the list • The <Advanced> button allows alternate operations to be performed on the file rather than opening it

40. Folder Options (Page 5) • The Offline Files tab stores network files on the local machine so the user can work with them even when not online • Covered in Chapter 4

41. Fonts • Lists all currently installed fonts • Add fonts from the Install New Font… command in the File menu on menu bar • The file with the font must be available • Remove fonts like any other file • Delete command from File (or shortcut menu) or <Delete> key on keyboard • Select a font; then File Open (or shortcut menu) to launch "Windows Font Viewer" • Click <Print> button for font samples

42. Windows Font Viewer

43. Game Controllers • Install and configure • Joysticks • Other gaming controls • Connected to sound cards and serial ports • The dialog offers device-specific properties and troubleshooting aids

44. Internet Options • Define settings for Internet Explorer • Settings for general Internet access • Applet is discussed in Chapter 8

45. Keyboard • The Speed tab: • Character repeat group • "Repeat delay"—how long before a key that is held down starts repeating • "Repeat rate"—how fast will that key repeat • There is a textbox for testing the settings • Cursor blink rate group sets the insertion point from no blink ("None") to "Fast" • Visible insertion point is used to test settings • The Hardware tab for troubleshooting and updating the keyboard device and driver

46. Mouse (Page 1) • The Buttons tab: • Button configuration—to make right button the primary for selecting and dragging • Double-click speed—from "Slow" to "Fast" • ClickLock—activates the ability to use the mouse to highlight or drag without holding down the button • <Settings> button use used to modify how long mouse button must be down initially before the feature activates

47. Mouse (Page 2) • The Pointers tab enables changing the viewable pointer to different images: • There is a drop-down list of different styles of groupings—the default is "Windows Default (system scheme)" • Any grouping can be modified or new style groups created • Click <Browse> button to find new images • Click checkbox to Enable pointer shadow

48. Mouse (Page 3) • The Pointer Options tab: • "Motion" setting is how fast screen pointer moves when mouse is dragged • When "Snap to" is on, mouse automatically moves to the default button for a dialog when that window opens • The "Visibility" group can: • Enable a trail when mouse pointer moves • Hide pointer while typing • Highlight the mouse location when the <Ctrl> key is clicked

49. Mouse (Page 4) • The Wheel tab is used to control how far documents scroll for each click of the mouse wheel: • Either a specific number of lines up or down in the document … • Or one page up or down • The Hardware tab for troubleshooting and updating the mouse device and driver

50. Network Connections • Manage all network connections • Includes: • LAN (local area network) connections which is where the IP address information is entered for Internet connectivity • RAS • WAN • Applet is discussed in Chapters 7 and 8