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Customizing Your Computer |
This chapter provides information about customizing your computer by changing settings in Windows and adding new hardware devices.
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Change screen and display settings |
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Change the background and screen saver |
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Adjust the mouse settings |
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Program the multi-function buttons on the keyboard |
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Add, modify, and switch user accounts |
Adjusting the screen and desktop settings
You can adjust the screen settings for brightness, contrast, and horizontal and vertical image position using the controls on the front of your monitor. For more information about these adjustments, see your monitor guide.
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:
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In Windows 2000, click Start, Settings, then click Control Panel. The
Control Panel window opens.
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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:
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In Windows 2000, click Start, Settings, then click Control Panel. The
Control Panel window opens.
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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:
For more information about changing color schemes in Windows XP, click Start, then click Help and Support.
Type the keyword changing colors in the HelpSpot Search box, then click the arrow.
To select a color scheme in Windows 2000:
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If you want to create a new scheme:
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:
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Select a background picture from another location by clicking Browse.
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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.
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If the picture you chose does not cover the entire screen and you did not choose to stretch or tile 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.
- Click OK.
To change the desktop background in Windows 2000:
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Select a background picture from another location by clicking Browse.
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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.
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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.
- Click OK.
Selecting a screen saver
An image may get burned in on your monitor screen if you leave your computer on for long periods of time without using it. You should use a screen saver which constantly changes its image to avoid this damage. Flat panel displays cannot be damaged with image burn-in.
You can also 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.
To select a screen saver:
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In Windows 2000, click Start, Settings, then click Control Panel. The
Control Panel window opens.
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Click the arrow button to open the Screen Saver list, then click the screen saver you want. Windows previews the screen saver.
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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.
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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.
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If you want to change the time before the screen saver is activated, click the up or down arrows next to the Wait box.
- Click OK.
For more information about selecting a screen saver in Windows XP, click Start, then click Help and Support.
Type the keyword screen savers in the HelpSpot Search box, then click the arrow.
Changing the mouse settings
You can adjust the double-click speed, pointer speed, left-hand or right-hand configuration, and other mouse settings.
To change your mouse settings:
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In Windows 2000, click Start, Settings, then click Control Panel. The
Control Panel window opens.
For more information about changing mouse settings in Windows XP, click Start, then click Help and Support.
Type the keyword mouse settings in the HelpSpot Search box, then click the arrow.
Customizing the Millennium keyboard
All of the programmable buttons on the Gateway Millennium keyboard are pre-programmed to start actions such as playing a CD or opening your Web browser. Also, you can program some of the buttons to open a program or start an action you choose. For information about the location of the programmable button, see Special-function buttons.
To program your Millennium keyboard buttons:
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The Launch Button Customization dialog box opens.
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Type a path and file name or Web address in the Program path or Web
page address box.
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.
User account tips
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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. |
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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. |
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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:
For more information about changing user accounts in Windows XP, click Start, then click Help and Support.
Type the keyword user accounts in the HelpSpot Search box, then click the arrow.
To switch user accounts in Windows XP:
Power management
Computer equipment can account for a significant portion of energy use in the home and office environment. You may not want to shut down your computer each time you leave it, especially if you plan to be away for only a short time. Windows lets you use the following modes to conserve energy when the system is not in use:
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Standby - while your computer is in Standby mode, it switches to a low power state where devices, such as the monitor and drives, turn off and the entire system uses less power. (Not available in Windows 2000) |
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Hibernate - (also called save to disk) writes all current memory (RAM) information to the hard drive, then turns the computer completely off. The next time you turn on the computer, it reads the memory information from the hard drive and opens the programs and documents that were open when you activated Hibernate mode. |
Using power saving modes
Always save your work before using Standby mode (not available in Windows 2000). In Standby mode, your computer reduces or turns the power off to most devices except memory. However, the information in the memory is not saved to the hard drive. If power is interrupted, the information is lost.
Changing power settings
You can change power management settings, such as the power button function and power-saving timers, by changing power settings in Windows. You can also adjust power schemes and adjust advanced power settings.
Power schemes (groups of power settings) let you change power saving options such as when the monitor or hard drive is automatically turned off. You can also select one of the defined power schemes or create a custom power scheme.
Advanced power settings let you assign different power saving modes to the power button.
Changing the power scheme
To change the power scheme:
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In Windows 2000, click Start, Settings, then click Control Panel. The
Control Panel window opens.
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Click an arrow button for the System standby (not available in
Windows 2000), Turn off monitor, and Turn off hard disks timers, then click
the time you want. To save your custom power scheme, click Save As and
type a name for the scheme.
During idle times, Windows XP may perform system maintenance. If you set the System standby option to a time longer than 20 minutes, Standby mode may be delayed for up to several hours.
For more information about changing the power scheme in Windows XP, click Start, then click Help and Support.
Type the keyword power scheme in the HelpSpot Search box, then click the arrow.
Changing advanced power settings
To change advanced power management settings:
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In Windows 2000, click Start, Settings, then click Control Panel. The
Control Panel window opens.
Activating and using Hibernate mode
To activate Hibernate mode:
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In Windows 2000, click Start, Settings, then click Control Panel. The
Control Panel window opens.
To use Hibernate mode:
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To use hibernation as a power savings mode, open the Power Options dialog box, then click the Power Schemes tab. Click the arrow button to open a System hibernates list, then click the time you want to use. |
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Open the Power Options dialog box, then click the Advanced tab. Hibernate
is now an option in the Power buttons lists.
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To manually place your computer into hibernation: |
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In Windows XP, click Start, then click Turn Off Computer. Press and hold Shift, then click Hibernate. |
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In Windows 2000, click Start, then click Shut Down. Click the arrow button to open the What do you want your computer to do list, then click Hibernate. Click OK. |
For more information about using Hibernate mode in Windows XP, click Start, then click Help and Support.
Type the keyword hibernate in the HelpSpot Search box, then click the arrow.
Installing an uninterruptible power supply in Windows XP
To install an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) in Windows XP:
About installing a printer, scanner, or other peripheral device
Your computer has one or more of the following ports: IEEE 1394 (also known as Firewire® or i.Link®), Universal Serial Bus (USB), serial, and parallel. These ports are used for connecting peripheral devices such as printers, scanners, keyboards, mice, and digital cameras to your computer. For more information about port locations, see Checking Out Your Gateway Computer.
IEEE 1394 and USB ports support plug-and-play and hot swapping, which means that your computer will usually recognize such a device whenever you plug it into the appropriate port. When you use an IEEE 1394 or USB device for the first time, your computer will prompt you to install any software the device needs. After doing this, you can disconnect and reconnect the device at any time.
Your computer may have USB 1.1 ports, USB 2.0 ports, or a combination of the two. Any USB device will work in any USB port. However, if you plug a USB 2.0 device into a USB 1.1 port, the device may run slower than it will run if you plug it into a USB 2.0 port. To determine whether a rear USB port is a 1.1 or 2.0 port, look for the + sign on the rear USB port icon. Front USB ports may not have an icon. To determine whether a front USB port is a 1.1 or 2.0 port, look at the rear USB port icons. If any of the rear USB ports are USB 2.0, the front USB ports are also USB 2.0.
Parallel and serial port devices are not plug-and-play. Refer to the device documentation for detailed information and installation instructions.
For more information about installing peripheral devices in Windows XP, click Start, then click Help and Support.
Type the keyword installing devices in the HelpSpot Search box, then click the arrow.