WINDOWS XP TIPS for PC's

WINDOWS XP TIPS for PC’s

Program Configuration
Does it take you forever to open all the programs that you use every day? If you always open the same programs when you start your computer, you can configure Microsoft Windows XP to start them automatically when you log on. This can save you time because you don't have to locate and start each program manually. If you are the only person who uses your computer, you can also configure your computer to automatically log on with your account. Then you can turn on your computer and let Windows XP handle everything for you.

To configure a program to start automatically

1. Right-click Start, and then click Explore. Windows Explorer opens and displays your Start menu.
2. In the left pane, click Programs. Browse to find the program you want to automatically open. In the right pane, right-click the program, and then click Copy.
3. In the left pane, click Programs, right-click Startup, and then click Paste.
4. Repeat steps 2 and 3 to add more programs to your Startup group.

The programs you add to the Startup group will start automatically the next time you log on to your computer.

Work with shortcuts

Shortcuts are links to programs, documents, files, or websites that you can add to your desktop or Start menu. Rather than searching through folders or the Internet every time you want to open a particular file or website, simply create a shortcut.

To add a shortcut to your desktop

If you use your desktop frequently, you should consider adding shortcuts to your favorite files to your desktop.

1. Browse your My Documents folder and subfolders to find the file you want to create a shortcut for.
2. Right-click the file you want to link to from your desktop, click Send To, and then click Desktop.

Your file stays in the same place, but you now have a shortcut to that file on your desktop. Notice that the icon on your desktop has an arrow in the lower-left corner. This arrow indicates that you are clicking a shortcut and not the actual file.

To add a shortcut to your Start menu

In addition to being able to add shortcuts to your desktop, you can also add shortcuts on your Start menu. Shortcuts to your favorite files can appear alongside your programs.

1. Browse your My Documents folder and subfolders to find the file you want to create a shortcut for.
2. Drag the file to the Start button and hold it for about one second.
3. When the Start menu opens, drag the file to the location where you want to add it.
4. Drop the file where you want the shortcut, and a shortcut icon appears.

To add a shortcut to a website

In addition to linking to files on your own computer, you can create shortcuts to your favorite websites. Double-click the shortcut, and the website will open in your browser.

1. Open the website in Microsoft Internet Explorer.
2. Drag the Internet Explorer icon in the Address bar (next to the URL) to your desktop or to the Start menu.

Change the icons in your shortcuts

Shortcuts include a picture called an icon, which can help you find a program or file faster. When you change your Windows theme, the new theme might include a set of custom icons that complement the look of the new desktop. For example, a jungle theme might change your My Computer icon to a giraffe. If you want, you can change one or more icons to something more interesting to you.
The method for changing an icon depends on the icon type. You can:
Change a system icon or Change any other icon on your computer.

1. Right-click your desktop, and then click Properties.
2. In the Display Properties dialog box, click the Desktop tab, and then click Customize Desktop.
3. On the General tab, click the icon you want to change, and then click Change Icon.
4. Click the Browse button, and select the folder to which you saved your icons.
5. Click the View Menu button, and then click Thumbnails.
6. Click the icon you want to use, and then click Open.
7. Click OK.
8. When you are finished changing your icons, click OK twice.
9. Find icons that suit your sense of style.
10. Download the icons and save them to your computer.
11. Right-click the shortcut for which you want to change the icon, and then click Properties.
12. On the Shortcut tab in the Internet Explorer Properties dialog box, click Change Icon.
13. Click the Browse button, and select the folder to which you saved your icons.
14. Click the View Menu button, and then click Thumbnails.
15. Click the icon you want to use, and then click Open.
16. Click OK.
17. In the Internet Explorer Properties dialog box, click OK again

Change Windows XP sounds

You can personalize the sounds that your computer makes when different tasks happen, such as when you turn on your computer or when you receive an email or an instant message.
To obtain sounds, you can search the web for sound clips from your favorite songs, TV shows, and movies, and then download the clips to your computer. If you want to record your own sound clips, copy sound clips from a CD or DVD, or save anything else you can hear through your computer speakers, you can use Sound Recorder, a basic sound program that comes with Windows XP.
Sounds have to be in the .wav format; you can't use .mp3 or .wma sounds. Once you've downloaded or recorded some sounds, you can set them up to play in Windows.

To change the sound associated with a program event

1. Log on to your computer as an administrator. Click Start, and then click Control Panel.
2. Click Sounds, Speech, and Audio Devices.
3. Click Change the sound scheme. The Sounds, Speech, and Audio Devices Properties dialog box appears.
4. In the Program events list, click an event. Then, click the Play button to listen to the sound currently assigned to the event.
5. To change the sound, click the Sounds list down arrow, and select a different system sound. To choose a sound that you have downloaded or recorded, click the Browse button, select the sound, and then click OK. Click the Play button again to preview the sound.
6. When you are satisfied with your sounds, click Save As.
7. In the Save Scheme As dialog box, type a name for your scheme, and then click OK.
8. In the Sounds and Audio Devices Properties dialog box, click OK.

Maintenance tasks that improve performance

Over time, computers get slower because files become disorganized and resources are consumed by unnecessary software. Microsoft Windows XP includes tools to clean up your computer and restore its performance.
Before you do anything, back up your computer!

Remove unused programs

First, remove programs you don't use anymore. Programs take up space on your computer, and some run in the background without your knowledge. Removing programs you don't use can help restore your computer's performance.

Install and run antispyware software

Most programs can be removed using the Add or Remove Programs function accessible from Control Panel, but spyware programs are more stubborn. Windows Defender (a free download from Microsoft) or another antispyware program can detect and remove these programs. You should always have an antispyware program installed, because spyware might install itself on your computer without your knowledge. After you install the antispyware program, run it to detect and remove any unwanted programs.

Free up wasted space

Removing unused programs is a great way to free up disk space, which will speed up your computer. Another way to find wasted disk space is to use the Disk Cleanup tool.

Defragment your hard disk drive

When a file is fragmented, it takes longer for the computer to read it because it has to skip to different sections of the hard disk drive. Defragmentation improves your computer's performance by reorganizing your files. While fragmentation looks complicated, it's easy to defragment your computer.

Disconnect unused network connections

The problem with network drives is that Windows XP will attempt to connect to the network drive when it starts up. If the remote computer does not respond immediately, Windows XP will wait, which will slow down your startup time. Additionally, some programs will attempt to connect to the network drive when you browse for files and folders. To reduce the problem, you can disconnect any unused drives.

If you have any other questions about XP, you can call WLACS at 310-839-1210 and we are happy to guide you through any questions you may have. Or just stop by!
West LA Computer Services: 10312 Culver Blvd, Culver City, 90232

  Our forensic machines and tools combined with the expertise of our service technicians results in a high success

This Week's Tip