Customizing Your Notebook

    This chapter provides information about customizing your computer by changing settings in Windows.

    You can:

Change screen and display settings
Change the background and screen saver
Adjust the touchpad settings
Program the multi-function buttons on the keyboard
Add, modify, and switch user accounts

Adjusting the screen and desktop settings

    Adjusting the color depth and screen area are two of the most basic display settings you may need to change. You can also adjust settings such as the screen background and screen saver.

Adjusting the color depth

    Color depth is the number of colors your screen displays. Various image types require various color depths for optimum appearance. For example, simple color drawings may appear adequately in 256 colors while color photographs need millions of colors to be displayed with optimum quality.

    Windows lets you choose from several color depth settings. We recommend that the 32-bit True Color setting be used at all times.

    If the color in your images seems "false" or "jumpy," especially after you have played a game or run a video-intensive program, check the color depth setting and return it to 32-bit True Color, if necessary.

To change the color depth:

    1. In Windows XP, click Start, then click Control Panel. The Control Panel window opens. If your Control Panel is in Category View, click Appearance and Themes.
      - OR -
      In Windows 2000, click Start, Settings, then click Control Panel. The Control Panel window opens.

    1. Click/Double-click the Display icon. The Display Properties dialog box opens.

    2. Click the Settings tab.

    1. Click the arrow button to open the Color quality or Colors list, then click the color depth you want.

    2. To save your changes in Windows XP, click OK, then click Yes.
      - OR -
      To save your changes in Windows 2000, click OK, then click OK again.

Adjusting the screen resolution

    You can increase the screen resolution to fit more icons on your desktop, or you can decrease the resolution to make reading the display easier. The higher the resolution, the smaller individual components of the screen (such as icons and menu bars) appear.

To adjust the screen resolution:

    1. In Windows XP, click Start, then click Control Panel. The Control Panel window opens. If your Control Panel is in Category View, click Appearance and Themes.
      - OR -
      In Windows 2000, click Start, Settings, then click Control Panel. The Control Panel window opens.

    1. Click/Double-click the Display icon. The Display Properties dialog box opens.

    2. Click the Settings tab.

    1. Drag the Screen resolution or Screen area slider to the size you prefer.

    2. To save your changes in Windows XP, click OK, then click Yes.
      - OR -
      To save your changes in Windows 2000, click OK, then click OK again.

Applying a color scheme

    A color scheme is a set of colors that you can apply to your Windows environment. For example, you can change the appearance of such things as the desktop, windows, and dialog boxes. You can select an existing scheme or create your own.

To select a color scheme in Windows XP:

    1. Click Start, then click Control Panel. The Control Panel window opens. If your Control Panel is in Category View, click Appearance and Themes.

    2. Click/Double-click the Display icon, then click the Appearance tab.
    1. Click the arrow button to open the Color Scheme list, click the color scheme you want, then click OK.

To select a color scheme in Windows 2000:

    1. Click Start, Settings, then click Control Panel. The Control Panel window opens.

    2. Double-click the Display icon. The Display Properties window opens.

    3. Click the Appearance tab.
    1. If you want to apply one of Windows' color schemes, click the arrow button to open the Scheme list, click the scheme you want, then click OK. The new scheme appears on your desktop.
      - OR -
      If you want to create a new scheme:

      1. Click the arrow button to open the Item list, then click the item you want to change.

      2. Change the color or font settings for the item.

      3. Click Save As, type a name for the new scheme, then click OK.

      4. Click OK again. The new scheme appears on your desktop.

Changing the desktop background

    In Windows XP, you can change the Windows desktop background picture. Windows provides several alternative backgrounds, or you can use pictures that you have created or retrieved from other sources.

    In Windows 2000, you can change the Windows desktop background to either a picture or an HTML document. Windows provides several background pictures. You can also use pictures or HTML documents that you have created or retrieved from other sources.

To change the desktop background in Windows XP:

    1. Click Start, then click Control Panel. The Control Panel window opens. If your Control Panel is in Category View, click Appearance and Themes.

    2. Click/Double-click the Display icon, then click the Desktop tab.
    1. In the Background list, click a background picture.
      - OR -
      Select a background picture from another location by clicking Browse.

    1. If you want the picture you chose to cover the entire screen, click the arrow button to open the Position list, then click Stretch or Tile.

    2. If the picture you chose does not cover the entire screen and you did not choose to tile or stretch the image in Step 4, you can change the solid color behind the picture by clicking the arrow button to open the Color list, then clicking a color.

    3. Click OK.

To change the desktop background in Windows 2000:

    1. Click Start, Settings, then click Control Panel. The Control Panel window opens.

    2. Double-click the Display icon. The Display Properties dialog box opens.

    3. Click the Background tab.
    1. Click a picture name on the Select a background picture or HTML document as Wallpaper list.
      - OR -
      Select a background picture from another location by clicking Browse.

    1. If you want the picture you chose to cover the entire screen, click the arrow button to open the Picture Display list, then click Tile.

    2. If the picture you chose does not cover the entire screen and you did not choose to tile the image in Step 5, you can change the solid color behind the picture by clicking Pattern, clicking a pattern on the Pattern list, then clicking OK.

    3. Click OK.

Selecting a screen saver

    You can use a screen saver to keep others from viewing your display while you are away from your computer. Windows supplies a variety of screen savers that you can choose from, and many more are available from the Internet and as commercial products.

To select a screen saver:

    1. In Windows XP, click Start, then click Control Panel. The Control Panel window opens. If your Control Panel is in Category View, click Appearance and Themes.
      - OR -
      In Windows 2000, click Start, Settings, then click Control Panel. The Control Panel window opens.

    1. Click/Double-click the Display icon. The Display Properties dialog box opens.

    2. Click the Screen Saver tab.

    1. Click the arrow button to open the Screen Saver list, then click the screen saver you want. Windows previews the screen saver.

    2. If you want to customize the screen saver, click Settings, then make your changes. If the Settings button is not available, you cannot customize the screen saver you selected.

    3. In Windows XP, if you want to display the Welcome (Login) screen whenever you close the screen saver, click the On resume, display Welcome screen check box.

    4. If you want to change the time before the screen saver is activated, click the up or down arrows next to the Wait box.

    5. Click OK.

Changing the touchpad settings

    You can adjust the double-click speed, pointer speed, left-hand or right-hand configuration, and other touchpad settings.

To change your touchpad settings:

    1. In Windows XP, click Start, then click Control Panel. The Control Panel window opens. If your Control Panel is in Category View, click Printers and Other Hardware.
      - OR -
      In Windows 2000, click Start, Settings, then click Control Panel. The Control Panel window opens.
    1. Click/Double-click the Mouse icon. The Mouse Properties dialog box opens.
    1. Click one of the tabs to change your touchpad settings:
Touch lets you customize the tap response and sensitivity of the touchpad.
Edge Motion lets you customize the long distance pointer motion of the touchpad.
Scrolling lets you customize the virtual scrolling capabilities of the touchpad.
Tap Zones lets you assign specific actions to zones on the touchpad.
More Features lets you control special features of the touchpad.
    1. To assign a function to the rocker switch, click the Button Actions tab. Click an arrow button to open a rocker switch list, then click the action you want.
    1. Click OK to save changes.

Programming the multi-function buttons

    The Multi-function Keyboard Utility lets you change the actions of the multi-function buttons. For a description of the buttons, see "Multi-function buttons".

To program the multi-function buttons:

    1. In Windows XP, click Start, then click Control Panel. The Control Panel window opens. If your Control Panel is in Category View, click Switch to Classic View.
      - OR -
      In Windows 2000, click Start, Settings, then click Control Panel. The Control Panel window opens.
    1. Click/Double-click the Multi-function Keyboard icon. The Gateway Multi-function Keyboard Utility dialog box opens.

    1. Click the tab corresponding to the multi-function button you want to program. To see which button each tab corresponds to, see "Multi-function buttons".

    2. Click a program in the list.
      -OR-
      Click Browse to select a program not in the list.
    1. Click OK to change the function, then click OK again.

Adding and modifying user accounts

    In Windows XP, you can create and customize a user account for each person who uses the computer. You can also switch (change) user accounts without turning off your computer.

    Help and Support

    For more information about adding, deleting, and modifying your user accounts in Windows XP, click Start, then click Help and Support.

    User account tips

    If you want to create an account for someone, but you do not want that user to have full access to the computer, be sure to make that account limited. Remember that limited accounts may not be able to install some older programs.
    If a program or peripheral device is installed in one account, it may not be available in other accounts. If this happens, install the program or device in the accounts that need it.
    Files created in one account are not accessible from other accounts unless the files are stored in the Shared Documents folder. The Shared Documents folder is accessible from all accounts on that computer and from other computers on the network.

    To add, delete, or modify user accounts in Windows XP:

      1. Click Start , Control Panel , then click/double-click User Accounts . The User Accounts window opens.

      2. Follow the on-screen instructions to add, delete, or modify a user account.

    To switch user accounts in Windows XP:

      1. Click Start, then click Log Off. The Log Off Windows dialog box opens.

      1. Click Switch User. The Windows Welcome screen opens.

      2. Click the user account that you want to use. When you switch between users, any programs that were running for the previous user continue to run.