Customizing Your Computer

    This chapter provides information about customizing your computer by changing settings in Windows and adding new hardware devices.

    You can:

Change screen and display settings
Change the background and screen saver

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 LCD displays. Various image types require various color depths for optimum appearance on your LCD. 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 for your LCD. We recommend that the 16-bit High 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 16-bit High Color, if necessary.

HelpSpot

For more information on adjusting the color depth, double-click the HelpSpot icon on your desktop.

To change the color depth:

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

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

    3. Click the Settings tab.

    1. Select a setting from the Colors list. For most purposes, the color depth should be 32-bit True Color.

    2. If you want to save your changes, click OK. Windows tells you it will apply your changes when you click OK again.

    3. Click OK.

       

Adjusting the screen area

    You can change the screen area to a size you prefer. For example, you can increase the screen area to fit more icons on your desktop, or you can decrease the screen area to make reading and identifying objects on the display easier. The larger the screen area, the smaller individual components of the screen, such as icons and menu bars, appear.

HelpSpot

For more information on adjusting the screen area, double-click the HelpSpot icon on your desktop.

To change the screen area:

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

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

    3. Click the Settings tab.

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

    2. If you want to save your changes, click OK. Windows tells you it will apply your changes when you click OK again.

    3. Click OK.

       

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.

HelpSpot

For more information on applying a color scheme, double-click the HelpSpot icon on your desktop.

To select a color scheme:

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

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

    3. Click the Appearance tab. If you want to apply one of Windows' color schemes, go to Step 6.

    1. If you want to create a new scheme, select various items from the Item list and change their settings.

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

    3. Select a color scheme from the Scheme list. An example of the scheme appears in the window above the list.

    4. Click OK.

       

Changing the desktop background

    The Windows desktop background can be changed to either a picture or HTML document. Windows provides several background pictures. You can also use pictures or HTML documents that you have created or retrieved from other sources.

Important

If Active Desktop is turned on and you have chosen to display Web content, the standard desktop background will be partially or completely hidden, so you may not be able to see changes you have made in the background. For more information about Active Desktop, see HelpSpot.

HelpSpot

For more information on changing the desktop background, double-click the HelpSpot icon on your desktop.

To change the desktop background:

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

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

    3. Click the Background tab.
    1. Select a background picture from 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, select Tile from the Picture Display list.

    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, selecting a pattern from 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 screen 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.

HelpSpot

For more information on changing the screen saver, double-click the HelpSpot icon on your desktop.

To select a screen saver:

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

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

    3. Click the Screen Saver tab.

    1. Select a screen saver from the Screen Saver list. Windows previews the screen saver.

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

    3. If you want to password protect your screen saver, select the Password protected checkbox, click Change, type your password, confirm it, then click OK.

    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.