Sams Teach Yourself Microsoft Windows XP in 24 Hours

By Greg Perry

• Table of Contents
  • Copyright
  • About the Author
  • Acknowledgments
  • Tell Us What You Think!
  • Introduction
  • Part I: Wake Up with Windows XP
  • Hour 1. Taking a Bird's-Eye Look at Windows XP
  • Hour 2. Getting Started with Windows XP
  • Hour 3. Managing the Windows XP Interface
  • Part II: Morning Windows Desktop Exploration
  • Hour 4. Working with the My Computer Window
  • Hour 5. Navigating Files with Windows Explorer
  • Hour 6. Calling for Help
  • Hour 7. Improving Your Windows Desktop Experience
  • Part III: Early Afternoon Windows Exploration
  • Hour 8. Installing Programs with Windows XP
  • Hour 9. Finding Files, Folders, and Friends
  • Hour 10. Using the Desktop Accessories
  • Part IV: Late Afternoon Internet Integration
  • Hour 11. Surfing the Web with Internet Explorer
  • Hour 12. Tying Windows into the Web
  • Hour 13. Networking with Windows XP
  • Hour 14. Managing E-mail and Newsgroups with Outlook Express
  • Part V: An Evening with Advanced Windows
  • Hour 15. Exploring Your Hardware Interface
  • Hour 16. Understanding Printing and Fonts
  • Hour 17. Using Windows on the Road
  • Hour 18. Giving Windows XP a Tune-Up
  • Hour 19. Managing Your Hard Drives
  • Hour 20. Tinkering with the Advanced System Tools
  • Part VI: Having Fun at Nighttime
  • Hour 21. Using Media Player
  • Hour 22. Picturing Windows XP Graphics
  • Hour 23. Making Movies with Windows XP
  • Hour 24. Advanced Windows XP Tips
    • Windows Desktop Tips
    • Make Yourself More Comfortable
    • Internet Explorer Tips
    • Outlook Express Tips
    • Printing Tips
    • Miscellaneous Tips
    • Summary
  • Part VII: Appendixes
  • Appendix A. Differences Between the Windows Home and Professional Edition
  • Appendix B. Glossary
  • Appendix C. Answers to Quizzes

Windows Desktop Tips

When you master this section's desktop tips, you'll more quickly select programs and manage your desktop. You will learn how to rearrange your Start menu and modify the Start menu so that it behaves the way you want it to.

Rearrange Start Menu Items

If you don't like the location of a menu item on one of your Start menus, drag the item to another location. When you've opened one of the Start menus, such as the More Programs, Accessories menu, you can click and drag any menu item to another menu.

Sometimes you will move a menu item from the Start menu's top level to one of the other menus further into the Start menu's structure. Windows XP warns you with Figure 24.1's message window that this move will affect all users of the system. Other users might be confused if they expect to find the menu item on the Start menu's top level and it's not there because you moved the item further down into the menu structure.

Figure 24.1 Some menu restructuring will hide menu items from the top level of the Start menu.

If you use a program frequently, place that program at the top of the Start menu. Suppose that you use WordPad a lot to edit text files and want to place the WordPad program at the top of your Start menu so that you don't have to traverse all the way over to the Accessories menu. Open the Accessories menu and drag the WordPad option to your Start menu. You'll notice that you cannot drop the item onto the lower section of the Start menu (the section with the Settings and Programs options). The cursor turns into the international Don't symbol if you attempt to place the WordPad item over a part of the Start menu that cannot accept menu items, such as the My Computer icon.

When you release your mouse button, the menu option appears on the Start menu.

Deleting Menu Items

To remove a menu item, click the taskbar's Show Desktop icon to minimize all open windows. Right-click over the menu item and select Delete. (If you remove a menu item from the left side of the Start menu, as opposed to removing the item from the More Programs portion of the menu, right-click the menu and select the option labeled Remove from This List.

If you want to rearrange more than one or two items from your Start menu, the following To Do item shows you one way to accomplish this without having to move each item individually as described above.

To Do: Rearranging Start Menu Items

1. Right-click the Start button and select Properties from the pop-up menu.
2. Click the Start Menu tab.
3. Select Classic View and click Customize to display the Customize Classic Start Menu dialog box shown in Figure 24.2.
   

   Figure 24.2 The Start Menu Explorer window enables you to perform advanced menu editing.

4. Click the Advanced button to display a window that displays your Start menu in an Explorer-like hierarchy of options.
5. Open the menu hierarchy by clicking plus signs next to any menu items you want to change.
6. Drag the items (including menu folders if you want) to any other location.
7. Close the window and click OK to return to the Taskbar and Start Menu Properties window.
8. Select the option labeled Start Menu to leave the Classic style and return to the Windows XP Start menu style. (The Classic style is helpful when you want to rearrange menu items as done here, but most Windows XP users prefer the new look of the Start menu to the older, Classic version.)
9. Click OK to close the window.
10. Click your Start button to check the results.

Right-Click Menu Options

When you right-click over a Start menu option, Windows displays a pop-up menu. You can delete or rename menu items with the pop-up menu as well as view the item's properties. The Properties option describes the menu option and its underlying file information.

Don't Wait for a Disaster!

Most people back up regularly … after they've had a disaster! Don't wait. Get a backup program and back up your system. For a complete backup program, go to your local software dealer and search through the many inexpensive programs on the shelves for one that looks as though it will suit your needs and hardware the best. Many of today's backup programs include other system utilities that help keep your system in its tip-top shape. Your disk drives are mechanical and will break down over time. Don't wait to make your first backup or you'll regret the first time your disk has a problem.

Share This