Chapter 6

Microsoft Windows VistaChapter 6Customizing Your Computer Using the Control Panel

Objectives• Open the Control Panel window and switch to

Classic View• View system information and hardware

properties• Add and remove a printer• Customize the mouse configuration• Install and uninstall a program

2Microsoft Windows Vista: Concepts and Techniques

Objectives• Explain account privileges and view account

information• Create and configure a new user account• View and change the date, time, and time zone• Adjust Ease of Access Center settings


Plan Ahead• Determine the permissions you have on the

computer you will be using• Identify the type of keyboard and mouse you will

be using• Determine if you have Internet access


Opening the Control Panel Window• Display the Start menu• Click the Control Panel command to display the

Control Panel window


Opening the Control Panel Window


Switching to Classic View

• Click the Classic View link in the Control Panel window to switch to Classic View

• Click the Control Panel Home link to return Control Panel to Category View


Switching to Classic View


Opening the System and Maintenance Window

• Click the System and Maintenance link to open the System and Maintenance window


Opening the System and Maintenance Window


Opening the Welcome Center Window and Viewing the Get Started Topics• Click the Welcome Center link to open the

Welcome Center• Click the Show all 14 items link to show all of the

Get started with Windows links• Click the Back button to return to the System and

Maintenance window


Opening the Welcome Center Window and Viewing the Get Started Topics


Viewing System Information• Click the System link to open the System window.

If necessary, click the Maximize button to maximize the window


Viewing System Information


Viewing the Windows Experience Index

• Click the Windows Experience Index link to open the Performance Information and Tools window

• After viewing your score information, close the Performance Information and Tools window

• Return to the System and Maintenance window• Click the Restore Down button to restore the

System and Maintenance window


Viewing the Windows Experience Index


Viewing Installed Updates


• Click the Windows Update link to open the Windows Update window

• Click the View update history link to open the View update history window

• Click the OK button to return to the Windows Update window

Viewing Installed Updates


Viewing Available Updates• Click the View available updates link to open the

View available updates window• After viewing the available updates, click the

Back button to return to the Windows Update window

• Return to the System and Maintenance window


Viewing Available Updates


Viewing Power Options• Click the Power Options link to open the Power

Options window• Return to the System and Maintenance window


Viewing Power Options


Viewing Problem Reports and Solutions

• Click the Problem Reports and Solutions link to open the Problem Reports and Solutions window


Viewing Problem Reports and Solutions


Checking for New Solutions• Click the Check for new solutions link to check for

new solutions• After the check finishes, the results display in the

Problem Reports and Solutions dialog box• Click the Close button to close the Problem

Reports and Solutions dialog box• Close the Problem Reports and Solutions window


Checking for New Solutions


Opening the Device Manager• Scroll down in the System and Maintenance

window until the Device Manager link appears• Click the Device Manager link to open the Device

Manager• If necessary, click the Continue button in the User

Account Control dialog box


Opening the Device Manager


Viewing the Properties of a Device• Click the plus sign next to the Keyboards item to

expand the list of installed keyboards• Double-click the installed keyboard device to open the

Keyboard Device Properties dialog box• Click the Driver tab to display the Driver sheet• After viewing the driver information, click the OK

button to close the dialog box• Close the Device Manager• Click the Control Panel Home link to return to the

Control Panel window


Viewing the Properties of a Device


Adding a Printer


• Click the Hardware and Sound link to open the Hardware and Sound window

• Click the Printers link to open the Printers window• Click the Add a printer button to start the Add

Printer Wizard• Click the Add a local printer link• If necessary, click the Use an existing port option

button• Click the Next button to continue

Adding a Printer• Scroll down in the Manufacturer list to display HP• Click HP to display a list of HP printers in the

Printers list• Scroll down in the Printers list until the HP Deskjet

6940 series appears• Click HP Deskjet 6940 series to select it• Click the Next button to continue• If necessary, click the Set as the default printer

check box to remove the check mark

Microsoft Windows Vista: Concepts and Techniques 32

Adding a Printer• Click the Next button to continue• The Installing printer message appears, indicating

the progress of the installation• After the installation is complete, the You’ve

successfully added HP Deskjet 6940 series message is displayed

• Click the Finish button to exit the wizard


Adding a Printer


Deleting a Printer


• Right-click the HP Deskjet 6940 series printer icon to display a shortcut menu

• Click the Delete command on the shortcut menu to display the Printers dialog box

• Click the Yes button in the Printers dialog box to confirm that you want to delete the printer

• Close the Printers window and return to the Hardware and Sound window

Deleting a Printer


Adjusting AutoPlay Settings


• Click the AutoPlay link to open the AutoPlay window• Scroll down to view the remaining AutoPlay settings• If necessary, scroll up until the Software and games setting

is visible• Click the Software and games dropdown list button to see

a list of available actions• Click the Open folder to view files using Windows Explorer

action to change the action for Software and games• Click the Save button to save the changes and return to the

Hardware and Sound window

Adjusting AutoPlay Settings


Reverting an AutoPlay Setting


• Click the Change default settings for media or devices link to open the AutoPlay window

• Click the Software and games dropdown list button to display a list of available actions

• Click the Ask me every time action to change the default action

• Save the changes and return to the Hardware and Sound window

Reverting an AutoPlay Setting


Changing the Mouse Button Configuration


• Click the Mouse link to display the Mouse Properties dialog box

• Click the Switch primary and secondary buttons check box to select it

• Using the right mouse button, click the Switch primary and secondary buttons check box to Deselect it

Changing the Mouse Button Configuration


Adjusting the Double-Click Speed


• Drag the Double-click speed slider in the Double-click speed area to the right end of the slide to select the fastest Double-click speed

• Double-click the test area until the folder opens • If the folder does not open, drag the speed slider

to the left until the folder opens when you double-click the test area

Adjusting the Double-Click Speed


Turning on and Using ClickLock• Click the Turn on ClickLock check box in the ClickLock

area in the Mouse Properties dialog box to select it• Create and open a new document in Notepad• Type ClickLock allows you to lock a mouse button and select or drag text. in the New Text Document - Notepad window

• Position the mouse pointer to the left of the word, ClickLock, in the document, hold down the left mouse button for several seconds, release the mouse button, move the insertion point to the right to highlight the word, ClickLock, and then click the left mouse button to select the word, ClickLock


Turning on and Using ClickLock


Closing the Document and Turning off ClickLock

• Close the New Text Document - Notepad window• Click the Don’t Save button in the Notepad dialog box

to discard the changes to the document• Delete the New Text Document icon by moving the

file to the Recycle Bin• If necessary, click the Mouse Properties button on the

taskbar to make the Mouse Properties dialog box active

• Click the Turn on ClickLock check box to remove the check mark


Closing the Document and Turning off ClickLock


Adjusting the Pointer Speed• Click the Pointer Options tab in the Mouse Properties

dialog box to display the Pointer Options sheet• Drag the pointer speed slider in the Motion area to the

left end of the slide to select the slowest setting• Move the mouse pointer around the desktop and

notice the difference in the pointer speed • Drag the pointer speed slider to the right end of the

slide to select the fastest setting • Move the mouse pointer around the desktop and

notice the difference in the pointer speed


Adjusting the Pointer Speed


Turning on Snap To• Click the Automatically move pointer to the default button in

a dialog box check box in the Snap To area to select it• Apply the changes, and close the Mouse Properties dialog

box• In the Hardware and Sound window, click the Mouse link to

open the Mouse Properties dialog box• Click the Pointer Options tab to display the Pointer Options

sheet• Click the Automatically move pointer to the default button in

a dialog box check box to remove the check mark• Click the Apply button to apply the changes


Turning on Snap To


Displaying a Pointer Trail• Click the Display pointer trails check box in the

Visibility area to select it• Move the mouse and then watch the trail of

mouse pointers that appear as the mouse moves across the desktop

• When you have finished viewing the pointer trails, click the Display pointer trails check box to deselect the pointer trails option


Displaying a Pointer Trail


Restoring Double-click and Pointer Speed

• Drag the pointer speed slider back to its original position

• Click the Buttons tab• Drag the Double-click speed slider back to its

original position• Click the OK button to save the changes and close

the Mouse Properties dialog box• Return to the Control Panel window


Installing a Program• Start Internet Explorer• If necessary, maximize the Windows Internet

Explorer window• Type http://www.microsoft.com/ silverlight/ in the Address bar and then press the ENTER key to display the Microsoft Silverlight Web page

• Click the Download Silverlight Now link to display the Microsoft Silverlight download page


Installing a Program


• Click the Windows link to display the download page for the Windows version of Microsoft Silverlight

• Click the Install Now button to display the File Download - Security Warning dialog box

• Click the Run button in the File Download dialog box to download and install Microsoft Silverlight

• If necessary, click Continue in the User Account Control dialog box

Installing a Program• After installing, the Microsoft Silverlight Web

browser window changes to indicate that the installation was a success by displaying an animated media file

• Close both Internet Explorer windows• If necessary, click the Control Panel button on the

taskbar to make it the active window


Installing a Program


Uninstalling a Program


• Click the Programs link in the Control Panel to display the Programs window

• Click the Programs and Features link to open the Programs and Features window

• Click the Microsoft Silverlight list item to select it• Click the Uninstall button to display the Programs

and Features dialog box

Uninstalling a Program• Click the Yes button to confirm that you want to

uninstall Microsoft Silverlight• If necessary, click Allow in the User Account

Control dialog box• After a short amount of time, the uninstall

process finishes• Return to the Programs window• Return to the Control Panel window


Uninstalling a Program


Viewing Account Information• Click the User Accounts and Family Safety link in

the Control Panel window to display the User Accounts and Family Safety window

• Click the User Accounts link to display the User Accounts window


Viewing Account Information


Creating a User Account• Click the Manage another account link to display the

Manage Accounts window• If necessary, click the Continue button in the User Account

Control dialog box• Click the Create a new account link to create a new user

account• Type SCStudent in the New account name text box to

name the new account SCStudent• If necessary, click the Standard user option button• Click the Create Account button to create the SCStudent

account• Click the SCStudent icon to view the SCStudent account

information and options


Creating a User Account


Switching to a Different User


• Display the Start menu• Click the arrow to the right of the Lock this computer button

to display the shortcut menu• Click the Switch User command to display the Welcome

Screen• Click the SCStudent icon to log in• After the Preparing Your Desktop message disappears, the

SCStudent desktop is displayed and the Welcome Center window appears

• After reviewing the desktop for SCStudent, display the Start menu

Switching to a Different User• Click the arrow to the right of the Lock this

computer button to display the shortcut menu• Click the Log Off command to log off and display

the Welcome Screen• Click SC Series icon (or your icon) to switch back

to the SC Series user account• If necessary, enter your password• Click the arrow button to display the SC Series

desktop


Switching to a Different User


Deleting a User Account• If necessary, click the Change an Account button on the taskbar to

make the Change an Account window the active window• Click the Delete the account link to display the Delete Account

window• Click the Delete Files button to delete the files associated with the

SCStudent user account and display the Confirm Deletion window• Click the Delete Account button to confirm that you want to delete

the user account and return to the Manage Accounts window• Click the double chevron in the Address bar to display a list of

locations• Click the Control Panel command to return to the Control Panel

window


Deleting a User Account


Changing the Date and Time


• Click the Clock, Language, and Region link in the Control Panel window to display the Clock, Language, and Region window

• Click the Date and Time link to display the Date and Time dialog box

• Click the Change date and time button to display the Date and Time Settings dialog box

• If necessary, click the Continue button in the User Account Control dialog box

• Click the right month arrow until the month changes to November. If November already is the current month, you do not need to click the right month arrow

• Click the number 15 in the monthly calendar to select November 15

Changing the Date and Time• Double-click the hour value in the time text box, and

then type 9 as the new value to change the hour• Double-click the minute value in the time text box• Type 00 as the new value to change the minute• If the PM entry displays in the time text box, click the

PM entry and then click the up arrow to display the AM entry

• Click the Cancel button to cancel the changes and return to the Date and Time dialog box


Changing the Date and Time


Adding a Second Clock• Click the Additional Clocks tab to display the Additional

Clocks sheet• Click the first Show this clock check box to enable it• Click the Select time zone drop-down list button to

display a list of time zones• Scroll up until you see the Hawaii list item• Click the Hawaii list item to select it. If your time zone

already is set for Hawaii, select another time zone• Type Hawaii in the Enter display name text box to

name the clock. If you selected a different time zone, enter an appropriate name for the clock


Adding a Second Clock• Click the Apply button to apply the changes• Point to the clock in the Notification area to display the

additional clock• Click the Date and Time button on the taskbar to activate

the Date and Time dialog box• Type Clock 1 in the Enter display name text box• Change the time zone back to the Eastern Time, (US and

Canada) setting, or your original time zone• Click the Show this clock check box to disable it• Click the OK button to apply the changes and close the Date

and Time dialog box


Adding a Second Clock


Viewing the Data Formats


• Click the Regional and Language Options link to display the Regional and Language Options dialog box

• After viewing the data formats, click the Cancel button to close the dialog box

Viewing the Data Formats


Viewing Accessibility Options


• Click the Ease of Access link in the left pane to open the Ease of Access window

• Click the Ease of Access Center link in the Ease of Access window to open the Ease of Access Center window

• If necessary, maximize the Ease of Access Center window

Viewing Accessibility Options


Using Mouse Keys


• Click the Make the mouse easier to use link to open the Make the mouse easier to use window

• Click the Turn on Mouse Keys check box to turn on Mouse Keys

• Click the Apply button to apply the changes• Use the 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, and 9 keys on the

numeric keypad to move the mouse pointer to the Turn on Mouse Keys check box

Using Mouse Keys• Press the 5 key to remove the check mark from

the check box• Using the numeric keys on the numeric keypad,

move the mouse pointer to the Apply button• Press the 5 key to simulate clicking the Apply

button to turn off Mouse Keys• Return to the Ease of Access Center window


Using Mouse Keys


Turning on High Contrast• Click the Set up High Contrast button to display

the Make the computer easier to see window• Click the Choose a High Contrast color scheme

link to display the Appearance Settings dialog box• Click the High Contrast Black list item to select it• Click the Apply button to apply the changes


Turning on High Contrast


Turning off High Contrast• Click the Windows Aero list item to select it• Click the Apply button to switch back to Windows

Aero color scheme• Click the OK button to close the Appearance

Settings dialog box• Close the Make the computer easier to see

window


Turning off High Contrast


Logging Off from and Shutting Down the Computer• On the Start menu, click the arrow to the right of

the Lock this computer button, and then click the Log Off command to log off from the computer

• On the Welcome Screen, click the Shut Down button to turn off the computer


Summary• Open the Control Panel window and switch to

Classic View• View system information and hardware

properties• Add and remove a printer• Customize the mouse configuration• Install and uninstall a program


Summary• Explain account privileges and view account

information• Create and configure a new user account• View and change the date, time, and time zone• Adjust Ease of Access Center settings


Microsoft Windows VistaChapter 6 CompleteCustomizing Your Computer Using the Control Panel

92

Documents

Chapter 6