XP Your Way

So you’re new to Windows XP? Or, maybe you’ve been working with Windows XP long enough to find some really confusing and annoying things you’d like to change. Well, there are plenty of built-in ways to customize the look, feel, and performance of Windows XP, and there are several must-have add-ons that you can get for free.

Let’s start with the Start Menu! Do you have a picture of some chess pieces at the top of it? Would you rather have a picture of something else? You? Your dog? Anything at all but chess pieces? You can do that. Go to Start Control Panel User Accounts Change Account and select the account you want to change. Click on Change Picture. You can either select one of the pictures that are included with XP, or click on Browse for more pictures to select another picture on your computer. (Windows will size it for you.) OK your way out.

You can also change the size of the icons on your Start menu. Right-click on a blank area of the Taskbar, and select Properties. Next, select the Start Menu tab. Click on Customize, and the General to choose either large or small icons. If you click on the Advanced tab, you’ll see many more options you can play with. Try different combinations until you are happy with what you see (and don’t see). If you really can’t get used to the XP menu, you can pretend you’re still using Windows 98 by checking Classic Start Menu on the Start Menu Tab, and then clicking OK.

When you’re through with the Start Menu, you can make some changes to the way files and folders are organized. For instance, open up the My Documents folder. You’ll see a bunch of icons in there. Try this: On the Menu Bar at the top of the window, click on View, then Details. Now you have a little more information about each of the files, but they’re probably all jumbled together. If you now click on View, then Name and put a check next to Show In Groups, you’ll have a much clearer idea of what’s in that folder. Try View, then Type, then Show In Groups. Try different combinations. You can always change the View to suit whatever it is you’re doing.

Some people find it helpful (I am one!) to have Windows display common tasks down the left side of a window. You can turn that on (if it’s not already) by clicking on Start Control Panel Appearances and Themes Folder Options. On the General Tab, under Tasks, click Show common tasks in folders. You can always go back and turn that off if you don’t like the way it works out for you.

If you have a laptop, as I do, and if you wear progressive lenses, as I do, you might like to turn on Microsoft’s ClearType. You’ll notice a nicer, crisper look to the words on your screen. Right-click on the desktop, and select Properties Appearance Effects. Select ClearType from the second drop-down menu, put a check in the box to enable it, and OK your way out. You probably have to restart the computer for it to take effect.

If you want more tweaks, check out Microsoft PowerToys for Windows XP. There are some fun applications here. One of my favourites is TweakUI, which lets you turn lots of things on and off easily. I also just got the Power Calculator. The Alt-Tab replacement is great. Try some of these tools and tell me which ones you like! Are there other free utilities that you would have to have with you on a desert island? Let me know! Email me

This article is written by or on behalf of an outsourced columnist and does not necessarily reflect the views of Castanet.