Personalizing
your computer 2016/01/27
You can
add a personal touch to your computer by changing the computer's theme, color,
sounds, desktop background, screen saver, font size, and user account picture. You
can also select specific gadgets for your desktop.
The desktop (overview)
The desktop is the main screen area that you see after you
turn on your computer and log on to Windows.
Like the top of an actual desk, it serves as a surface for your work. When you
open programs or folders, they appear on the desktop. You can also put things
on the desktop, such as files and folders, and arrange them however you want.
The desktop is
sometimes defined more broadly to include the taskbar. The taskbar
sits at the bottom of your screen. It shows you which programs are running and
allows you to switch between them. It also contains the Start button
, which you can use to access
programs, folders, and computer settings.
, which you can use to access
programs, folders, and computer settings.
Working
with desktop icons
Icons are small
pictures that represent files, folders, programs, and other items. When you
first start Windows, you'll see at least one
icon on your desktop: The Recycle Bin (more on that later). Your computer
manufacturer might have added other icons to the desktop. Some examples of
desktop icons are shown below.
Double-clicking a
desktop icon starts or opens the item it represents.
Adding and removing icons from
the desktop
You can choose which
icons appear on the desktop—you can add or remove an icon at any time. Some
people like a clean, uncluttered desktop with few or no icons. Others place
dozens of icons on their desktop to give them quick access to frequently used
programs, files, and folders.
If you want easy
access from the desktop to your favorite files or programs, you can create
shortcuts to them. A shortcut is an icon that represents a link to an item,
rather than the item itself. When you double-click a shortcut, the item opens.
If you delete a shortcut, only the shortcut is removed, not the original item.
You can identify shortcuts by the arrow on their icon.
To add a
shortcut to the desktop
1.
Locate the item that you want to create a shortcut for.
(For help with finding a file or folder, see Find a file or folder.
2.
Right-click the item, click Send to,
and then click Desktop (create shortcut). The shortcut
icon appears on your desktop.
To add
or remove common desktop icons
1.
Right-click an empty area of the desktop, and then
click Personalize.
2.
In the left pane, click Change desktop
icons.
3.
Under Desktop icons, select the
check box for each icon that you want to add to the desktop, or clear the check
box for each icon that you want to remove from the desktop, and then click OK.
To move
a file from a folder to the desktop
1.
Open the folder that contains the file.
2.
Drag the file to the desktop.
To remove an icon from
the desktop
·
Right-click the icon, and then click Delete. If the icon is a shortcut, only the shortcut is
removed; the original item is not deleted.
Moving
icons around
Windows stacks icons in columns on the left side of
the desktop. But you're not stuck with that arrangement. You can move an icon
by dragging it to a new place on the desktop.
You can also have Windows automatically arrange your icons.
Right-click an empty area of the desktop, click View and then click Auto arrange icons. Windows stacks your icons in the upper-left corner
and locks them in place. To unlock the icons so that you can move them again,
click Auto arrange icons
again, clearing the check mark next to it.
Note
·
By default, Windows
spaces icons evenly on an invisible grid. To place icons closer together or
with more precision, turn off the grid. Right-click an empty area of the
desktop, point to View, and then clicks Align
icons to grid to clear the check mark. Repeat these steps to turn the
grid back on.
Selecting
multiple icons
To move or delete a
bunch of icons at once, you must first select all of them. Click an empty area
of the desktop and drag the mouse. Surround the icons that you want to select
with the rectangle that appears. Then release the mouse button. Now you can
drag the icons as a group or delete them.
Hiding desktop icons
If you want to
temporarily hide all of your desktop icons without actually removing them,
right-click an empty part of the desktop, click View, and
then click Show desktop items to clear the check mark
from that option. Now no icons are displayed on the desktop. You can get them
back by clicking Show desktop items again.
The
Recycle Bin
When you delete a
file or folder, it doesn't actually get deleted right away—it goes to the
Recycle Bin. That's a good thing, because if you ever change your mind and
decide you need a deleted file, you can get it back.
A theme
includes a desktop background, a screen saver, a window border color, sounds,
and sometimes icons and mouse pointers. You can choose from several Aero
themes. Use the whole theme or create your own customized theme by changing the
pictures, colors, and sounds individually.
Components
of a theme
Aero
Aero is
the premium visual experience of this version of Windows. It features a
transparent glass design with subtle window animations, a new Start menu, a new
taskbar, and new window border colors.
You can
change the sounds your computer makes when, for example, you receive e‑mail,
start Windows, or shut down your computer.
The
desktop background, also called wallpaper, is a picture, color, or design on
the desktop. It provides a backdrop to your open windows. You can choose one
picture to be your desktop background or you can display a slide show of
pictures.
A screen
saver is a picture or animation that appears on the screen when you haven't
used the mouse or keyboard for a set period of time. You can choose from a
variety of Windows screen savers.
Font size
You can
make the text, icons, and other items on your screen larger by increasing the
dots per inch (DPI) scale. You can also decrease the DPI scale to make text and
other items on your screen smaller, to fit more on the screen.
A user
account picture helps identify your account on a computer. The picture is
displayed on the Welcome screen and on the Start menu. You can change your user
account picture to one of the pictures included with Windows, or you can use
your own.
Desktop
gadgets are customizable mini-programs that can display information such as
continuously updated headlines, a picture slide show, or contacts, without
having to open a new window.
To pin a
program icon to the Start menu
If
you use a program regularly, you can create a shortcut to it by pinning the
program icon to the Start menu. Pinned program icons appear on the left side of
the Start menu.
·
Right-click the program icon you want to pin to
the Start menu, and then click Pin to Start Menu.
Notes
·
To unpin a program icon, right-click it, and
then click Unpin from Start Menu.
·
To change the order of a pinned item, drag the
program icon to a new position in the list.
To
remove a program icon from the Start menu
Removing
a program icon from the Start menu doesn't remove it from the All Programs list
or uninstall the program.
1.
Click the Start button.
2.
Right-click the program icon you want to remove from
the Start menu, and then click Remove from this list.
To move
the Start button
The
Start button is located on the taskbar. Although you can't
remove the Start button from the taskbar, you can move the taskbar—and the Start
button along with it.
1.
Right-click an empty space on the taskbar. If Lock the taskbar has a check mark beside it, click it to remove
the check mark.
2.
Click an empty space on the taskbar, and then hold down
the mouse button as you drag the taskbar to one of the four edges of the
desktop. When the taskbar is where you want it, release the mouse button.
Note
·
To lock the taskbar into place, right-click an
empty space on the taskbar, and then click Lock the Taskbar
so that the check mark reappears. Locking the taskbar helps prevent it from
being moved or resized accidentally.
To clear
recently opened files or programs from the Start menu
Clearing
recently opened files or programs from the Start menu doesn't delete them from
your computer.
1.
Click to open Taskbar and Start Menu Properties.
2.
Click the Start Menu tab. To
clear recently opened programs, clear the Store and display
recently opened programs in the Start menu check box. To clear recently
opened files, clear the Store and display recently opened items
in the Start menu and the taskbar check box, and then click OK.
To
adjust the number of shortcuts for frequently used programs
The
Start menu displays shortcuts for the programs you use most frequently. You can
change the number of program shortcuts displayed (this can affect the height of
the Start menu).
1.
Click to open Taskbar and Start Menu Properties.
2.
Click the Start Menu tab, and
then click Customize.
3.
In the Customize Start Menu
dialog box, in the Number of recent programs to display
box, enter the number of programs you want to display on the Start menu, click OK, and then click OK again.
To customize the right pane of
the Start menu
You
can add or remove items, such as Computer, Control Panel, and Pictures, that
appear on the right side of the Start menu. You can also change some items so
that they appear as links or menus.
1.
Click to open Taskbar and Start Menu Properties.
2.
Click the Start Menu tab, and
then click Customize.
3.
In the Customize Start Menu
dialog box, select the options in the list that you want, click OK,
and then click OK again.
To
restore Start menu default settings
You
can restore the Start menu to its original, default settings.
1.
Click to open Taskbar and Start Menu Properties.
2.
Click the Start Menu tab, and
then click Customize.
3.
In the Customize Start Menu
dialog box, click Use Default Settings, click OK, and then click OK again.
To
search for programs from the Start menu
To add the Run command to the
Start menu
1.
Click to open Taskbar and Start Menu Properties.
2.
Click the Start Menu tab, and
then click Customize.
3.
In the Customize Start Menu
dialog box, scroll through the list of options to find the Run
command check box, select it, click OK, and then
click OK again.
To add Recent Items to the
Start menu
1.
Click to open Taskbar and Start Menu Properties.
2.
Click the Start Menu tab. Under Privacy, select the Store and display recently
opened items in the Start menu and the taskbar check box.
3.
Click Customize. In the Customize Start Menu dialog box, scroll through the list of
options to find the Recent Items check box, select it,
click OK, and then click OK again.
View your computer information 2016/01/28
You can view a
summary of important information about your computer by opening System in
Control Panel. You can see basic hardware information, such as your computer's
name, and you can change important system settings by clicking the links in the
left pane of System.
·
Click to open System.
View
basic information about your computer
System presents a
summary view of basic details about your computer, including:
·
Windows edition. Lists information about the version of Windows running on your computer.
·
System. Displays your computer's
Windows Experience Index base score, which is
a number that describes the overall capability of your computer. Your
computer's processor type, speed, and quantity are listed, if your computer
uses multiple processors. For example, if your computer has two processors, you
will see "(2 processors)" displayed. Also displayed is how much random
access memory (RAM) is installed and, in some cases, how much of the memory is
usable by Windows.
·
Computer name, domain, and workgroup
settings. Displays your computer's name and workgroup or domain
information. You can change this information and add user accounts by clicking Change settings.
·
Windows
activation. Activation verifies that your copy of Windows is genuine, which helps prevent software
piracy.
Change Windows system settings
The links in the left
pane provide access to additional system settings.
·
Device Manager. Use Device
Manager to change settings and update drivers.
·
Remote settings. Change settings
for Remote Desktop, which you can use to connect to a remote computer, and
Remote Assistance, which you can use to invite someone to connect to your
computer to help with a computer problem.
·
System protection. Manage
settings that automatically create the restore points that System Restore uses
to restore your computer's system settings. You can turn System Protection on
or off for the disks on your computer, and you can create restore points
manually. For more information, search Windows
Help and Support for "System Restore."
·
Advanced system settings. Access
advanced performance, user profile, and system startup settings, including Data
Execution Prevention, which monitors programs and reports possible security
attacks. You can also change your computer's virtual memory settings.
Advanced system settings. Access
advanced performance, user profile, and system startup settings, including Data
Execution Prevention, which monitors programs and reports possible security
attacks. You can also change your computer's virtual memory settings.
Create a user account
With user accounts,
several people can easily share a single computer. Each person can have a
separate user account with unique settings and preferences, such as a desktop
background or screen saver. User accounts also control which files and programs
users can access and what types of changes users can make to the computer.
Typically, you'll want to create standard accounts for most computer users.
1.
Click to open User
Accounts.
2.
Click Manage another account. 
If you
are prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password
or provide confirmation.
If you
are prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password
or provide confirmation.
3.
Click Create a new account.
4.
Type the name you want to give the user account, click
an account type, and then click Create Account.
Rename a user account
If you work in a
large organization or use a computer that someone else controls, you might end
up with a user name that doesn't make much sense to you, that isn't easily
recognizable, or that you just don't like. Follow the steps below to create a
friendly user name. You'll see the friendly user name displayed on the Welcome
screen and on your Start menu.
1.
Click to open User
Accounts.
2.
Click Change your account name. 
If you
are prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password
or provide confirmation.
If you
are prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password
or provide confirmation.
3.
Type the new name, and then click Change Name.
Notes
·
You can't change the name of the guest account.
·
A user name can't be longer than 20 characters,
consist entirely of periods or spaces, or contain any of these characters: \ /
" [ ]: | < > + =;,? * @
Delete a user account
If you have a user
account on your computer that is not being used, you can permanently remove it
by deleting it.
When you delete a
user account, you can choose whether you want to keep the files created under
that account; however, e-mail messages and computer settings for the account
will be deleted.
1.
Click to open User
Accounts.
2.
Click Manage another account. If you
are prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password
or provide confirmation.
If you
are prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password
or provide confirmation.
3.
Click the account you want to delete, and then click Delete the account.
4.
Decide if you want to keep or delete the files created
under the account by clicking Keep Files or Delete Files.
5.
Click Delete Account.
What is a guest account?
A guest account
allows people to have temporary access to your computer. People using the guest
account can't install software or hardware, change settings, or create a
password.
You have to turn on
the guest account before it can be used.
Turn the guest account on or
off
If you want someone
to have temporary access to your computer, you can create a guest account.
People using the guest account can't install software or hardware, change
settings, or create a password. Because the guest account allows a user to log
on to a network, browse the Internet, and shut down the computer, you should
disable the guest account when it isn't being used.
Note
·
The guest account is not available on Windows 7 Starter.
1.
Click to open User Accounts.
2.
Click Manage another account. 
If you
are prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password
or provide confirmation.
If you
are prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password
or provide confirmation.
3.
Do one of the following:
·
If the guest account is off, click Guest, and then
click Turn On.
·
If the guest account is on, click Guest, and then
click Turn off the
guest account.
Change a user's account type
When you set up Windows, you were required to create a user
account. This account is an administrator account that allows you to set up
your computer and install any programs that you'd like to use. Once you finish
setting up your computer, we recommend that you create a standard account and
use it for your everyday computing. If you create new user accounts, you should
also make them standard accounts. Using standard accounts will help keep your
computer more secure.
1.
Click to open User Accounts.
2.
Click Manage another account. 
If you
are prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password
or provide confirmation.
If you
are prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password
or provide confirmation.
3.
Click the account you want to change, and then click Change the account type.
4.
Select the account
type you want, and then click Change Account Type.
Note
·
Windows
requires at least one administrator account on a computer. If you have only one
account on your computer, you can't change it to a standard account.
Install a printer
There are several
ways to connect a printer to your PC. Which option you choose depends on the
device itself, and whether you're at home or at the office.
Always consult the
information that came with your model for specific instructions.
Local
printers
The most common way
to install a printer is to connect it directly to your computer. This is known
as a local printer.
If your printer is a universal
serial bus (USB) model, Windows should
automatically detect and install it when you plug it in.
If it's an older
model that connects using the serial or parallel port, you might have to
install it manually.
To install (add) a local
printer
1.
Click to open Devices
and Printers.
2.
Click Add a printer.
3.
In the Add Printer wizard, click Add a local printer.
4.
On the Choose a printer port
page, make sure that the Use an existing port button
and the recommended printer port are selected, and then click Next.
5.
On the Install the printer driver page, select the printer manufacturer and model, and then click Next.
o If
your printer isn't listed, click Windows Update, and then wait while Windows checks for additional drivers.
o If
none are available and you have the installation CD, click Have Disk, and then browse to
the folder where the printer driver is located. (For additional help, consult
the printer manual.)
6.
Complete the additional steps in the wizard, and then
click Finish.
Tips
·
You can print a test page to make sure the
printer is working correctly. See Print a test page.
·
If you've installed the printer but it doesn't
work, check the manufacturer's website for troubleshooting information or
driver updates.
·
Network printers
In the workplace,
many printers are network printers. These connect
directly to a network as a stand-alone device. Inexpensive network printers are
also made for the home.
To install a network,
wireless, or Bluetooth printer
If
you're trying to add a network printer at the office, you'll usually need the
name of the printer. If you can't find it, contact your network administrator.
1.
Click to open Devices
and Printers.
2.
Click Add a printer.
3.
In the Add Printer wizard, click Add a network, wireless or Bluetooth
printer.
4.
In the list of available printers, select the one you
want to use, and then click Next.
5.
If prompted, install the printer driver on your
computer by clicking Install driver. 
If you
are prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password
or provide confirmation.
If you
are prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password
or provide confirmation.
6.
Complete the additional steps in the wizard, and then
click Finish.
Tips
·
Available printers can include all printers on a
network, such as Bluetooth and wireless printers or printers that are plugged
into another computer and shared on the network. You might need permission to
install some printers.
·
You can confirm the printer is working by
printing a test page. See Print a test page.
Removing
a printer
If you'll no longer
be using a printer, you can remove it from the Devices and Printers folder.
To delete a printer
1.
Click to open Devices
and Printers.
2.
Right-click the printer that you want to remove, click Remove device, and
then click Yes.
If
you can't delete the printer, right-click it again, click Run as administrator, click Remove device, and
then click Yes.
If you are
prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or
provide confirmation.
If you are
prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or
provide confirmation.
Notes
·
If you have a multi-function or all-in-one
printer, you can often remove the printer from Devices and Printers without
affecting other device functions. So, for example, you might continue to see a
scanner or fax icon for the device.
·
You can't uninstall a printer if you have
unfinished jobs in your print queue. Either delete the jobs, or wait until Windows has finished printing them. Once the queue is
clear, Windows will remove the printer.
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