Configuring Windows XPAppearanceOne of the first thing you notice when you install Windows XP or buy a computer with Windows XP is the Quick Launch Toolbar (lower right bar) is gone. If you like, you can change the back to Windows 98 appearance. Click on the Start Menu and hover the mouse courser over the Blue Bar just below the words "All Programs." Now Right Click and the work Properties should appear. Left click on Properties to open the box you see at the left. If you want the Quick Launch bar, place a check mark in the Show Quick Launch box. Also at the bottom, you will see a box for Hide Inactive Icons. You may or may not like this feature, based on your desire keep or remove the check mark. Next click on the Start Menu tab. You can elect to keep the Windows XP format or change back to the Classic Start menu. By using the Customize button you can go to the Advanced tab which will give you more options. If you don't understand a term, just try the options a few at a time and if you don't like them, change back. If you find there are more icons on the Quick Launch bar than can be displayed, you may expand the bar by hovering over a part of it that does not have an icon and doing a Right Click. The resulting menu will have a Lock the Taskbar option. Remove the check mark from it by left clicking on it. You can now go to the right side of the Quick Launch taskbar and the cursor will change to a double-headed arrow. Hold down the left mouse button and drag the arrow to the right until there is enough space to display the icons. If there is an icon on the quick launch or task bar that you don't want, you can remove it by placing the curser over it and then holding down the left mouse button and dragging the icon from the bar. You will be asked if you want to delete it, click yes. Transferring Files and SettingsTransferring files and settings from your old computer can be done using the Files and Settings transfer wizard. If you don't find it on your start menu, go to Start > Run and enter migwiz.You can then follow the instructions from the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard. This will also transfer you Address Books and Web page favorites to the new computer. Now you are almost ready to do E-mail, browse the Web, etc. But first you need to turn on the Windows XP firewall. Go to Start and click on the Control Panel, Click on Network and Internet Connections and then click on Network Connections. Click on the network connection that you will be using on the internet. Then click on Change Settings of this connection. Click the Advanced tab and under Internet Connection Firewall select Enable Internet Connection Firewall. This will help protect your computer. Now you need to update you virus protection and Windows. Go on the internet and follow the directions for your virus protection to update it. Most virus protections now have automatic update options. You need to activate this. Note your virus protections files should be updated every week. Now go to the Start button and start Internet Explorer, the big "e". (You must have an active Internet Connection to do this.) Go to Tools > Windows Update and follow the instructions at the Microsoft Windows update web site. You will be asked if you want to install a program by Microsoft, click OK. Even though you have new software, expect to have to install an extensive amount of updates to fix various security and operating problems with Windows XP. If asked to active automatic update notification, select yes. Under Microsoft's current policy, you should have an update each month. If you do the above, you should be well protected from viruses, Trojan Horses, worms, etc. Just remember frequent updates of your virus protection and Windows is necessary. |