XP Chapter 2

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MCSE Windows Server 2003 AIO Exam Guide 270 Ch. 5 10/30/10

Chapter 5

Working with the XP Desktop

In this chapter, you will learn how to

Manage user profiles

Configure XP for multiple languages and locales

Work with Windows Installer packages

Configure and troubleshooting desktop settings

Configure and troubleshoot accessibility options

For those of us who have grown tired of the look of the Windows Me and 2000 desktop,Windows XP gives us the change we were looking for. Along with the addition of many new

background features, Windows XP introduces a new interface designed to provide a less

cluttered approach to the desktop. In this chapter, we look at administering and managing the

Windows XP desktop and compare some of the similarities and differences between working

with previous Windows desktops and the new Windows XP desktop.

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(1)Introducing the XP Desktop

There was a time when we would power up our Windows NT 3.x or Windows 3.x

systems and stare in awe at the slick graphical interfaceand rightly so. What we had stared at

previously was a command prompt. Today, both the command prompt and those early GUIs arewell behind us with Windows XP setting a new standard in graphical desktop environments.

Although the improvements Windows XP introduces over the Windows Me/2000 interface may

be less dramatic than the transition from command prompt to the GUIs of yesteryear, its easy-to-

use menus and straightforward approach make it arguably the best graphical environment

available today. For those who have not yet seen it in all its glory, Figure 5-1 shows the default

desktop screen of a Windows XP system.

Figure 1: Default Windows XP desktop screen

Notice that when Windows XP Professional is installed, few icons are on the desktop.

Microsoft has elected to adopt a less cluttered approach than with previous versions of Windows.

Of course the default look of the desktop shown in Figure 5-1 is just the beginning. Like other

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Windows versions, the desktop is completely configurable and can be customized to better suit

the needs of the users.

Even though Windows XP introduces a new look to the desktop, if you have worked with

the desktop of other Windows versions, you should have no problems finding your way aroundin XP. Many of the utilities and programs that were used in other versions reappear in XP their

location may just be a little different. Knowing how to navigate around the XP desktop is

obviously important for practical reasons as well for the exam. Therefore, we will introduce

some of the key features of the XP desktop and compare and contrast these features to other

Windows versions.

Exam Tip: To put the My Documents, My Computer, My Network Places, and the

Internet Explorer icons on the desktop, right-click an empty space on the

desktop, and select Properties. The Display Properties dialog box opens, where

you select the Desktop tab, click the Customize Desktop button, and ensure that

the check boxes next to each of the icons are selected.

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(2)Start Menu

It seems like only yesterday that the Rolling Stones succumbed to Microsoft marketing

and the song Start Me Up was being used to promote the new Windows 95 Start Menu desktop

feature. Today, the once-heralded Start menu has become the norm and appears on all Windowsworkstation and server platforms. Windows XP is no exception, but it is a revamped Start menu

designed to make those often-used programs easier to access by automatically adding the most

used programs to the top-level menu. Like the Start menu of other Windows products, it is

configurable, allowing you to decide how to use it. Figure 5-2 shows the Start menu from a

Windows XP system.

Figure 2: The Windows XP Start menu

As you can see, the Start menu is divided into two sections. The white, left-hand, side of

the screen is the user-based portion of the Start menu, which maintains shortcuts to those

frequently accessed programs. The left-hand menu has two parts: thepinned programs listare

the programs listed above the separator line, and thefrequently used programs listare the items

located below the separator line. The programs in the pinned programs list are static and remain

there as permanent shortcuts to programs. The default pinned programs list includes Internet and

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e-mail shortcuts, but additional programs can bepinned, or manually attached, as needed. In

contrast, the frequently used programs list is dynamic and changes automatically to include

shortcuts to the most recently accessed programs.

The right-hand column of the Start menu includes familiar icons from other Windowsversions, including Search, Run, and Help and Support. If you feel the change is not a good one,

you can elect to use the classic Windows Start menu used with Windows 2000 if your prefer. To

use the classic Start menu, right-click the Start button and select Properties, which will open the

Taskbar And Start Menu Properties dialog box. From here, you can customize both the new

Windows XP Start menu as well as the classic Start menu.

(2)Taskbar

The taskbar is not new in Windows XP, and it is just one of those features we have come

to expect. That said, the Windows XP taskbar is a little different than the taskbar found in earlier

Window versions and was designed with the less-cluttered desktop approach in mind. Figure 5-3

shows an example of the Windows XP taskbar.

Figure 3: The Windows XP taskbar

There are three separate parts of the Windows XP taskbar, each of which provides a

specific function that can be customized to better suit a users individual needs. First, on the left

side of the taskbar is the Quick Launch menu that permits users to access their most frequently

used programs with a single click. To add programs to the Quick Launch portion of the taskbar,

open My Computer or Windows Explorer, click the icon for the program you wish to add, and

drag it into the Quick Launch area of the taskbar. To remove a shortcut from the Quick Launch

menu, right-click the shortcut you wish to remove and select Delete.

The right-hand side of the taskbar is the Notification Area. Here, you will see the time

displayed and other resident utilities and programs that might be running in the background,

including e-mail programs, virus checkers, or Windows Task Manager.

The final area of the taskbar provides a button for each open document or program. This

section was often very crowded in previous Windows versions, which reduced its functionality.

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To keep the taskbar from becoming cluttered, Windows XP groups together the programs that

come from a single source. For instance, if you had several web sites accessed in Internet

Explorer, they would all be grouped together and take up only a single section on the taskbar. If a

button in the taskbar shows a down arrow, there are programs grouped together. To see a list of

the programs in a group, simply click in the arrow.

In addition to these three areas, you can add additional toolbars to the taskbar if desired.

For example, a user can choose to add any or all of the following:

Address The Address toolbar provides an area where you can type in a URL address to

quickly access a web page without first having to open your browser. Previously accessed

web sites are automatically saved to the drop-down menu for quick access when you need to

access the same web site. The quick access menu is dynamic, listing the 25 most recentlyaccessed sites. When new web sites are accessed, the more stale ones are dropped from the

list to make room for the new ones. This works the same as the quick access menu used by

Internet Explorer.

Links The Links toolbar provides a quick and easy method of accessing your favorite web

sites. In this area, you can add specific web links that are not dynamic, like with the Address

toolbar. To add a web page link to the Links menu, drag the icon for the web page from the

Address toolbar directly to the Links toolbar. Similarly, you can drag a web page icon from

your Favorites in Internet Explorer directly to the Links toolbar.

Language The Language toolbar provides a quick way to switch between languages and

keyboard layouts.

Desktop The Desktop toolbar provides instant access to the documents or programs located

on the desktop.

New Using this feature, it is possible to create links to other folders on the computer

system.

Exam Tip: During the exam, you may be asked to identify the function of various taskbar

toolbars. For example, you should be able to identify the function of the

Language toolbar and know why it is used.

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(1)Configuring and Managing User Profiles and Desktop Settings

In an ideal world, we would each have our own computer systems used by only

ourselves, and when we turned our systems on, every icon, shortcut, and application would be

just how we left it. In reality, however, our systems are often shared with coworkers or familymembers, each of whom are likely to mess with the perfect desktop we have so carefully

constructed. For this reason, Windows XP Professional was designed to accommodate a

multiuser environment and supports the use of multiple users on the same PC by using profiles.

A user profile dictates the look and feel of the desktop, including the program shortcuts,

application settings, network and printer settings, and so on. When a user first logs on to the

Windows XP computer, a default profile is created for that user. This profile is modified as the

user makes changes, and these changessuch as application shortcuts and various settingsare

loaded each time the user logs on to the system. A Windows XP system can accommodate

multiple profiles, allowing different users to log on to the same system and have access to their

individual desktop configuration and system settings. The following list describes the type of

information contained in a user profile:

Application settings Word processors and other applications will maintain user-specific

settings in the profile. This includes everything from language settings to any additional fonts

and customized settings you may have made.

Control Panel A user profile will maintain all of the customized Control Panel settings,

This such as display and keyboard settings, etc.

Printer settings A profile will include information on network printer configurations,

which is especially useful when using roaming profiles. For practical reasons, the local

printer settings are not written to the profile.

Taskbar and Start menu The custom changes you make to both the Start menu and the

taskbar are written to the profile.

Desktop settings All desktop configurations are saved to the profile, including any mapped

drives that may have been set up.

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In addition to the specific settings maintained in the user profile, several default folders

are created for each of the individual users profiles. Table 5-1 shows some of the various folders

and their uses.

Note: Many of these folders are hidden by default. To view them from WindowsExplorer, select Tools | Folder Options to open the Folder Options dialog box.

Select the View tab and choose the option to view hidden files and folders.

Folder Description

Application Data Application-specific settings are stored in this

folder.

Cookies This file maintains the users Internet Explorer

cookies.

Desktop The desktop folder maintains the user-specific

desktop settings, such as shortcuts and

anything else located on the desktop.

Favorites This folder maintains a list of your favorite

Internet Explorer bookmarks. This allows you

to access your favorites from different

computers on the network when using roaming

profiles.

Local Settings This folder stores settings used by the local

profile and not a roaming profile. Local and

roaming profiles are discussed in the next

section.

My Documents This folder maintains the documents created by

the user and is the default location for saving

all user files.My Recent Documents This folder stores shortcuts to the users

recently used documents.

NetHood This folder stores network information,

including mapped drives and offline web

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folders.

PrintHood This folder stores print-related items and

shortcuts.

SendTo The SendTo folder includes shortcuts to

applications such as e-mail applications and to

storage locations such as the floppy drive and

the My Documents folder.

Start menu This folder maintains a collection of shortcuts

for program executables.

Table 1: Default Folders Used with Profiles

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(2)Fast User Switching

New to Windows XP is a feature known as Fast User Switching. In environments where

multiple users share a computer, Fast User Switching makes it possible to switch between users

without having to close down programs being used by another user. This means you can use asystem without having to log off and log back on as a different user. Instead, you can just keep

switching between users without closing any existing programs. Figure 5-4 shows the Fast User

Switching screen.

Figure 4: The Fast User Switching screen

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Switching between users is a straightforward process: simply click the Start button,

choose the Log Off option, click Switch User, and then select the user account you would like to

log on with. Figure 5-5 shows the Fast User Switching option screen.

Figure 5: Fast User Switching option screen

When implementing the Fast User Switching feature, there are a few caveats:

The Fast User Switching option is available only if it has been turned on in the User

Accounts applet in the Control Panel. It is enabled by default when XP is installed but

may have been turned off for some reason such as when offline files are being used.

If it has been disabled, Fast User Switching can be reenabled only by those with

Administrative privileges.

If you are a member of a domain, you are out of luck. Fast User Switching will be

disabled on computers that are members of a network domain.

As a safeguard measure, you cannot turn off Fast User Switching while multiple users

are logged on to the system. Also, Serial Keys (the accessibility feature) will not work

when FUS is turned on.

(1)Configuring Support for Multiple Languages and Locales

Given the proliferation of Windows operating systems worldwide, it is only natural to

expect that it support multiple languages and locales. Many companies today are not bound by

international borders and so require their systems to be able to accommodate international

settings and multiple languages. In Windows XP, setting the language and locale settings is done

using the Regional And Language Options icon in the Control Panel.

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(2)Configuring Locales

When we talk about configuring locales, we are talking about a collection of settings

specific to cultural and regional standards. These settings are used by applications to implement

the correct set of symbols or characters, such as the following:

Number formats

Currency

Local time and date format

Local calendar settings

Character code conversion tables

All of these settings are configured in the Regional And Language Options dialog box,

accessed through the Control Panel. Figure 5-6 shows the Regional And Language Options

dialog box.

Figure 6: The Regional And Language Options dialog box

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The Languages tab is used to add, remove, or configure support for different input

languages and keyboard layouts. When additional language inputs are added, an icon appears on

the taskbar menu screen indicating which input language is currently being used and provides a

method to quickly switch between the different input languages. When you click the Language

icon on the taskbar, a menu appears allowing you to select any of the languages currently

supported on your system. Figure 5-7 shows the taskbar with the menu screen for input

languages displayed.

Figure 7: The taskbar languages menu, allowing you to quickly move between languages

Most of the files for languages supported by Windows XP are installed by default.

However, if you need to install support for East Asian Languages (Chinese, Japanese, and

Korean) or more complex script languages such as Arabic, Hebrew, Thai, or Vietnamese, thesewill need to be installed later. These tasks are also performed from the Languages tab in the

Regional And Language Options applet. Table 5-2 summarizes the features of the Regional And

Language Options applet.

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Exam Tip: The muisetup.exe program can be run from the Multilanguage version of the

Windows XP Professional CD-ROM to install support for additional languages.

Note: You must be logged on as Administrator or be a member of the Administrators

group to install East Asian Language files.

Task Tab

Change how system displays numbers,

currency, times, and dates

Regional Options

Add a new language Languages

Install East Asian language support Languages

Add another keyboard layout On the Languages tab, under Text services and

input languages, click Details

Table 2: Regional and Languages Options Applet

(1)Managing Applications by Using Windows Installer Packages

Many of the utilities and features in Windows XP are designed for ease of use and

management. One such feature is the Windows Installer. Introduced in Windows 2000, the

Windows Installer is a utility that supports on-demand installation of software packages. For

example, an application can be initially installed with a minimum set of features activated, but

with additional features that can be installed automatically the first time a user attempts to access

them. This means features that are not installed with the original installation can be installed on

the fly when needed. Further, the Windows Installer can be configured to uninstall features of a

program that are unneeded and perform automatic application repair on damaged or corrupt

applications.

The Windows Installer Service requires two parts: the installer service itself, and installer

package files which have an .msi (Microsoft Installer) extension. The installation package

includes all of the information that the Windows Installer requires to successfully install or

uninstall a program. Once an application has been installed, the Windows Installer service can

check the state of the program when it is launched. In this way, the service is always checking to

see if an application needs to be repaired.

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The Windows Installer Service is also better at uninstalling applications than in previous

Windows versions. It does this by keeping track of all files that are installed and where they are

located. When it comes time to uninstall, it knows where to find all of the components associated

with a particular program.

(2)Transforms

The .msi file contains an informational database, and from time to time, this may need to

be modified either to add more functionality or correct a problem in an application. This can be

done using transforms. Transform files (.mst) are used to modify and customize an .msi installer

package. The transform file adds or replaces parts of the original .msi database file and is

sometimes used to customize the installation package for a specific group of users, or to apply

fixes to an application. Windows Installer can apply transforms only during the installation of the

program, uses the information in the .mst file itself, and does not directly modify the .msi file.

Note: Patch packages can also be used to customize an application; however, they are

less versatile than transform files and are used to address specific bugs in an

application. Patch packages, which use an .msp extension, cannot modify any

components or features.

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(1)Configuring and Troubleshooting Accessibility Services

Accessibility options were introduced in previous Windows versions and make an

appearance once again in Windows XP. Accessibility options are designed to increase the

systems usability for the hearing, visually, and the mobility impaired and when configuredcorrectly, do the job very well. Accessibility options are configured from the Accessibility

Options applet in the Control Panel, and no additional hardware or software is required to use

them. Figure 5-8 shows the Accessibility Options dialog box.

Figure 8: Accessibility Options, designed to improve a systems usability

To get a better idea of what the accessibility options are and what they are designed to do,

we will examine the different features individually.

(2)The Keyboard Tab

Three accessibility options allow users to customize their keyboard. Each of these options

is turned on or off by using various keyboard shortcuts or by selecting the Accessibility Optionapplet in the Control Panel.

(3)StickyKeys

Some of the keyboard commands we issue require that multiple keys be pressed

simultaneously, for example, displaying menu screens in applications or other shortcuts.

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StickyKeys are designed for people who have difficulty holding down two keys at the same time.

It works by configuring the CRTL, ALT, SHIFT or the WINDOWSLOGO key to remain activated until

another key is pressed.

The StickyKey feature can be started with a unique methodby pressing the SHIFT keyfive times, you can activate the StickyKey feature.

(3)FilterKeys

FilterKeys are designed to detect and ignore brief repeated keystrokes. They can also be

used to configure the rate at which a key repeats when you hold it down. FilterKeys can be

started by holding down the right SHIFT key for 8 seconds.

(3)ToggleKeys

The ToggleKeys cause the computer to make a sound when the CAPSLOCK, NUMLOCK, or

SCROLLLOCKkeys are turned on. Similarly, the ToggleKeys feature will also make a sound when

these keys are turned off. The ToggleKeys feature is enabled by default and can be accessed by

holding down the NUMLOCKkey for 5 seconds.

(2)The Sound Tab

For the hearing impaired, two accessibility options allow for easier use of the system.

Both of these options involve using visual indicators to augment the sound in the system.

(3)SoundSentry

The SoundSentry accessibility option is designed for those people who cannot hear the

sounds generated by the system. SoundSentry allows you to configure visual indicators for sound

warnings, such as a flashing desktop or flashing the active caption bar. SoundSentry can be

configured from the Accessibility Options applet in the Control Panel.

(3)ShowSounds

As the name suggests, the ShowSounds feature allows programs that use sound to convey

information to the user, to also provide visual indicators. The ShowSounds feature works by

displaying captions for speech used by a program and also using informative icons. This

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explanation may seem a little cryptic; to really get an idea of how it works, enable the

ShowSounds feature and work with it for a while.

(2)The Display Tab

For the visually impaired, Windows XP includes a high-contrast feature that uses color

schemes and fonts designed to make the screen easier to read. The High Contrast feature can be

enabled by using the left ALT-LEFTSHIFT-PRINTSCREEN key combination. Once activated, you can

choose from a number of different high contrast settings. Figure 5-9 shows the Settings For High

Contrast dialog box.

Figure 9: Making the screen easier to read

The Display tab in the Accessibility Options dialog box also enables you to set the cursor

options, including the cursor blink rate and the cursor width.

Exam Tip: Be prepared to identify the purpose of the high contrast feature and where it

is configured.

(2)The Mouse Tab

To customize the mouse for easier use, you can use the MouseKeys feature. Mousekeys

allow you to set the mouse pointer speed and acceleration. In addition to setting the mouse cursor

speeds, you can elect to use the numeric keypad to move the mouse cursor around the screen.

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You can access the MouseKeys option from the Accessibility Options applet in the Control Panel

or by pressing the left ALT-LEFTSHIFT-NUMLOCKkey combination.

(2)The General Tab

From the General tab in the Accessibility Options dialog box, you can choose to have the

accessibility feature turn off after a specified amount of idle time, enable sounds when

accessibility options are turned on or off, or enable SerialKey devices. SerialKey devices are

designed to replace standard mouse and keyboard devices using the systems serial ports.

Table 5-4 summarizes the key features available from the Accessibility Options applet.

Task Tab

Ignore brief or repeated keystrokes. Keyboard (FilterKeys)Enable onscreen visual warnings for system

events.

Sound

Configure colors and fonts for easier reading. Display (High Contrast)

Move cursor using the numeric keypad. Mouse (MouseKeys)

Table 3: Accessibility Options Applet

(2)Additional Accessibility Options

In addition to the accessibility options already discussed, there are a few more in

Windows XP you need to be aware of. You access these accessibility options by clicking Start |

All Programs | Accessories | and selecting the Accessibility menu.The Accessibility menu

contains the Accessibility Wizard and four more accessibility options: the Magnifier, Narrator,

On-Screen keyboard, and the Utility Manager.

(3)Magnifier

The magnifier is quite simply just thata utility that magnifies the screen, making it

easier to read for the visually impaired. The magnifier displays a separate window that shows an

enlarged portion of the screen. The size of the magnified portion of the screen can be modified,

as can the color scheme used.

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(3)Narrator

The narrator utility is used to convert text to speech for visually impaired users. The

narrator will read your screen, including what you have typed, menu options, and the contents of

the active window.

You can choose to allow the narrator to read all of these elements, or you can configure

the feature to customize the way your screen is read. This includes determining whether to have

typed characters read aloud and the pitch, speed, and volume of the narrator itself.

(3)On-Screen Keyboard

The On-Screen Keyboard is a virtual keyboard on the computer screen used by those with

mobility restrictions and who might require a joystick or another pointing device. Three typing

modes are used with the On-Screen Keyboard:

Clicking mode As the name suggests, in the clicking mode, the user clicks on the onscreen

keys to type text.

Scanning mode The scanning mode is a feature whereby the On-Screen Keyboard

highlights keys that you can select using an input device such as a joystick or a configured

hot key such as the space bar.

Hovering mode In hovering mode, the user uses a mouse or joystick to select characters

from the On-Screen Keyboard.

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(3)Utility Manager

The Utility Manager is used to check the status of the accessibility programs on the

system and can also be used to start and stop accessibility services. The accessibility programs

managed by the Utility Manager include the Magnifier, Narrator, and the On-Screen Keyboard.

The Utility Manager can be opened by pressing the WINDOWSLOGO key-U. Figure 5-10 shows the

Utility Manager dialog box.

Figure 10: The Utility Manager, monitoring accessibility services

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(1)Configuring and Troubleshooting the Desktop Environment Using

the Control Panel

As with other Windows versions, when it comes time to configure or troubleshoot the

desktop environment, the first place to go is the Control Panel. The Control Panel in Windows

XP has an updated look but provides the same functionality as in other Windows environments.

One of the first differences youll notice is that Windows XP gives you the choice between a

Classic view and a Category view. Whichever one you use is simply personal preference, but

many prefer the look of the Control Panel we have come to know and love. Figure 5-11 shows

the Classic view, while Figure 5-12 shows the new Category view.

Figure 11: The Control Panel Classic view

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Figure 12: The Control Panel Category view

Given the importance of the Control Panel and the frequency which you are likely to be

in there, it is worth the time to review some its key features and the main icons.

(2)Adding New Hardware

Own a computer long enough, and at some point, you will likely find yourself adding

new hardware to the system. In Windows XP, the Add New Hardware applet in the Control

Panel allows you to add or troubleshoot hardware problems in a system. Selecting the Add New

Hardware applet starts the Add Hardware Wizard, which is designed to guide you through the

process of adding new hardware to your system. The Add Hardware Wizard simplifies the

process of adding new hardware but can also be used to troubleshoot hardware settings. After a

new hardware device is loaded onto your system, Windows configures the properties and settings

for the device. If these settings conflict with another device, you can set them manually. For the

most part, Windows will be the best choice for managing the hardware resources within your

system.

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(2)Adding or Removing Programs

The programs we use on our systems are dynamic, with new ones being added or

removed from time to time. To safely add or remove programs to your computer, Microsoft

recommends to do so from the Add Or Remove Programs applet. This applet is also used to addor remove Windows components.

(2)Administrative Tools

The Administrative Tools applet provides shortcuts to the utilities used to monitor and

manage your Windows XP system. The utilities that can be accessed through the Administrative

Tools applet include the following:

Component Services Component Services fall out of the realm of the Windows XP

exam but are essentially tools used for developers.

Computer Management Combines several system management utilities into a single

snap-in, allowing administrators to manage the local or even a remote computer system

from a central location.

Data Sources (ODBC) Data Sources allow you to configure database locations and

parameters. As with Component Services, this falls outside the Windows XP objectives.

Event Viewer Used to view and manage logging of your system; also found within

Computer Management.

Local Security Policy Used to configure the security settings on the local machine.

Performance Used to capture and view performance-related statistics of your system;

also found within Computer Management.

Services The Services dialog box allows you to manage the services running on your

local computer system; also found within Computer Management.

(2)Date and Time

Quite reasonably, the Date And Time applet in the Control Panel is used to set the date

and time of your system. New to Windows XP, however, is the Internet Time tab, which allows

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you to synchronize your systems time to anInternet time server: a server on the Internet that

provides accurate time. As you might have guessed, you must be connected to the Internet to do

this.

(2)Display

The Display applet is one of the most accessed of all Control Panel utilities. The Display

dialog box allows you to configure the look of your Windows XP desktop, including

backgrounds, themes, resolution, monitor refresh rate, color schemes, and screen savers. Figure

5-13 shows the Windows XP Display Properties dialog box.

Figure 13: Changing the look of your desktop in the Windows XP Display Properties dialog

box

Almost hidden in the Display Properties dialog box are the Monitor Power settings, found

by selecting the Screen Saver tab and clicking the Power button. From the Power Options

Properties dialog box, you can select from a number of predefined power schemes for your

system or modify an existing one. Windows XP also provides an additional Power Options

applet in the Control Panel to access the same configuration screens.

Table 5-5 identifies some of the common tasks performed from the Display applet and

the tab used to configure them.

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Task Tab

Change the systems desktop theme. Themes

Change the screen saver. Screen Saver

Select the desktop background. Desktop

Modifying the screen resolution. Settings

Increase font size. Appearance

Troubleshoot system display. Settings

Table 4: Working with the Display Applet

Note: In preparing for the 70-270 exam, you should examine the various tabs in the

Display applet to familiarize yourself with their functions.

(2)Folder Options

The Folder Options applet in the Control Panel is used to configure, well, folder options.

From here, you can select which files will be displayed, whether it will be a single- or double-

click to open folders, and other folder-specific configurations.

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Somewhat hidden within the Folder Options dialog box is the screen for configuring

offline files. Essentially, using offline files allows you to work with files and/or programs located

on a network server, even when you are not connected to the network. Figure 5-14 shows the

configuration screen for offline files.

Figure 14: Offline files, allowing you to work with network programs even when not

connected to the network.

Note: Offline files cannot be enabled while Fast User Switching is enabled.

(2)Internet Options

Although you can configure the properties for Internet Explorer right from the browser,

the Internet Options applet in the Control Panel enables you to do it from there as well. It lets

you configure everything from establishing or changing the Internet connection, to setting

Internet preferences, to configuring advanced Internet options. Table 5-6 provides lists common

functions performed from the Internet Options applet and the associated tab.

Task Tab

Set home page, configure temporary Internet

files, and configure history and recently

accessed web sites.

General

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(2)Network Connections

The Network Connections applet can be used to view and configure the properties of all

current network connections. Through the Network Connections applet, shown in Figure 5-15,

you can configure connectivity between your computer to the Internet or to a local network.Additionally, you can repair, rename, disable, and verify the status of a current network

connection.

Figure 15: The Network Connections applet, controlling the properties of all current

network connections

(2)Phone and Modem Options

The Phone And Modem Options applet is used to add, configure, and modify the modems

connected to your system. The Dialing Rules tab is used to configure the dialing locations and

the dialing rules for these locations. For instance, you can configure whether to use call waiting,

set phone number prefixes for outside lines, configure calling card options, and the like.

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(2)Power Options

As portable computing has gained in popularity, managing the systems power has

become an important consideration. Essentially, the Power Options applet is used to configure

the power consumption used by the system and minimizes the power used by powering down themonitor and hard disk after periods of inactivity. Power consumption used by the system is

referred to aspower schemes, and Windows XP ships with several predefined power schemes. It

is also possible to modify and customize one of these existing power schemes to better suit your

unique needs. Figure 5-16 shows the Power Options Properties dialog box and predefined power

schemes.

Figure 16: The Power Options Properties dialog box, featuring predefined power schemes

For laptops, you can configure warnings to alert you when the battery charge reaches a

certain point; this way, you will have time to properly shut down applications before the system

powers off. Configuring battery warnings is done from the Alarms tab, which appears only if the

operating system detects a battery. From the Power Meter tab, laptop users can view the current

status of their battery and how much life, if any, it has left.

In addition to managing the power consumption of your system, you can configure the

system to power down into a Standby or Hibernation state. Standby is a power-saving feature

that is commonly used on most laptops today. When a system enters standby mode, the systems

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state, or current configuration, is saved to RAM, and the system powers itself down to a power

save mode. The system can be returned to an active state from the standby point with the click of

a button, and you are up and running where you left off. However, if the batteries are drained

when the system is in standby, the systems state is lost as it is stored in RAM. This is no big

deal. If you saved your data, all this means is that you will have to restart the system and any

applications you had running will have to be restarted. By default, Windows XP Professional sets

the system to go into standby mode when the laptop lid is closed, but this feature can be changed

from the Advanced tab in the Power Options dialog box.

Note: You can configure your system to require a password when returning from a

standby mode to an active state from the Advanced tab in the Power Options

dialog box.

The hibernation mode provides the happy medium between powering the system off

completely and the standby feature. Using hibernation, the system state is saved to the hard disk

and, because it is not saved to RAM, the system can be powered off completely without losing

the system state. When the system is powered back on, the system state is retrieved from the hard

disk and you can start where you left off. The hibernation feature is configured on the Hibernate

tab in the Power Options Properties dialog box.

(2)Printers and Faxes

The appropriately named Printers And Faxes applet is used to manage, configure, and

troubleshoot printers and fax machines. From this applet, you can manage the print queues for

installed printers, and configure faxing directly from applications.

(2)Scheduled Tasks

The administration of desktop computers in a network environment often involves

running applications and utilities that work in the background. Such tasks may include

performing system maintenance or virus-checking tasks. Working from the Scheduled Tasks

applet, you can configure programs to execute at a predetermined time. For example, if you want

to defragment hard disks, you can schedule this to occur during the off hours so as to not

interfere with the users work.

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The Scheduled Tasks applet uses a wizard to assist you in creating scheduled tasks for

your system. Figure 5-17 shows the Scheduled Task Wizard.

Figure 17: The Schedule Tasks Wizard

(2)Sounds and Audio Devices

The Sound And Audio Devices applet is where you set all sound-related configurations

for your XP system. This includes speaker settings, choosing sound schemes, configuring sound

and music playback, updating sound card drivers, and troubleshooting sound devices. One

common use of system sounds is to configure specific sounds heard when a Windows event

occurs, such as shutting down Windows, closing programs and alert warnings.

(2)Speech

The Speech applet is a new addition to the Windows XP Control Panel and is used to

configure text-to-speech translation. You can choose from three default voices, none of which

offer smooth DJ-like voice quality, but in the absence of anyone else to talk to, they are OK.

(2)System

The System applet is another one of the more frequently accessed areas of the Control

Panel. Much of the features and functions of the System applet are used for identifying and

configuring hardware. For example, installing new devices and drivers, determining the memory

used by the system, and the processor used. The Device Manager feature in the System applet is

similar to the Device Manager feature of other client systems and is used to add, remove, disable,

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and view the hardware on the system. Working with the System applet is covered in greater

detail in Chapter 3, in the discussion on managing and troubleshooting hardware devices and

drivers.

(2)User Accounts

The User Accounts applet is new to Windows XP and is used to create user accounts in

XP and to change and modify those accounts. The User Accounts applet also lets the

administrator determine how users will log on and off the system. Two options are available for

logging on and off: the Welcome screen and Fast User Switching. Using the Welcome Screen

option, you simply click your name to log on. Fast switching enables switching between users

without having to close down currently running programs. Simply choose the Log Off option and

select the user you wish to switch to.

(1)Chapter Review

Windows XP Professional follows in the tradition of previous Windows versions by

providing an easy-to-navigate and customizable graphical environment. In this chapter, we

looked at working within a Windows XP environment and identified some its key features and

what is involved in configuring these features.

When it comes time to configure, add, or remove hardware or drivers or troubleshoot

your Windows XP system, the Control Panel is likely to be your first step. The Control Panel

provides applets that allow the customization of nearly every part of your system. This includes

accessibility options, power options, display settings, network configurations, and access to the

systems administrative tools. When working with Windows XP and when reviewing for the XP

exam, you will most certainly need to know how the Control Panel is used to maintain and

manage your system.

(2)Questions

1. As network administrator, you have been tasked with setting up a computer for a new

employee. The new employee speaks and works in both English and Japanese. The user

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asks you to provide a way to easily switch between both languages on the system. Which

of the following is the best way to accomplish this?

A. Install files for East Asian Languages from the Regional And Language Options applet in

Control Panel, add Japanese as an input language, and ensure that the Language bar isdisplayed on the taskbar.

B. Install files for script languages from the Regional And Language Options applet in the

Control Panel, add Japanese as an input language, and ensure that the Language bar is

displayed on the taskbar.

C. From the Regional And Languages applet in the Control Panel, select the Auto-switch

Language option from the Languages tab and ensure that the Language bar is displayed

on the taskbar.

D. Configure and log on to the system using multiple profiles and Fast User Switching, one

profile in Japanese and one for English.

2. Which of the following best describes the function of a transform file?

A. Allows applications to be installed over the network

B. Publishes an application to both users and groups within an Active Directory domain

C. Assigns an application to both users and groups within an Active Directory domain

D. Provides custom changes to an application during the installation

3. As system administrator, you have been asked to configure the laptops in your company to be

able to go into a standby state as quickly as possible. Which of the following is the best way

to configure your companys laptops?

A. From the Power Options Properties dialog box, select the Power Schemes tab and enable

standby mode when the lid is closed.

B. From the Power Options Properties dialog box, select the Advanced tab and enable standby

mode when the lid is closed.

C. From the Advanced tab in the System Properties dialog box, choose the Choose Standby

Mode Automatically option.

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D. From the Power Options Properties dialog box, select the Power Schemes tab and select the

Choose Standby Mode Automatically option.

4. After several problems with users changing their settings, you have been asked to enforce

mandatory roaming profiles. Which of the following is the easiest method to do this?

A. Rename the ntuser.dat file on the server to ntuser.man.

B. rename the ntuser.man file on the server to ntuser.dat.

C. From the Users applet in the Control Panel, select the Local Users tab and choose the

Mandatory Profile option.

D. From the Users applet in the Control Panel, select the Remote Users tab and choose the

Mandatory Profile option.

5. As system administrator, you are looking for an easy way to back up users files on the

network. Which of the following methods provides the best way to do this?

A. Configure a single shared folder for users data.

B. Configure home folders for each user account and store them on the server.

C. Configure home folders for each user account and store them on the local computer.

D. Configure each users profile as ntuser.man.

6. Three warehouse employees use the same standalone computer system throughout the day.

Each user uses a different program and would like to keep his or her program running

throughout the day. Which is the easiest method to switch between users without having to

shut down the currently running applications?

A. Enable Fast User Switching through the System applet in the Control Panel.

B. This can be done only by using Fast User Switching on an Active Directory domain.

C. In the User Accounts applet, configure Fast User Switching.

D. Create roaming profiles and change the ntuser.dat file to ntuser.man.

7. After installing Windows XP on your companys computer systems, several users complain

that familiar icons such as My Documents, My Computer, and My Network Places are no

longer on the desktop. How can you easily add these icons to the users desktops?

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A. From the Desktop applet in Control Panel, select the Use Classic Icons option.

B. Right-click the desktop and select Properties. Choose the Desktop tab from the Display

Properties dialog box and click the Customize Desktop button to add the icons to the

desktop.

C. Right-click the taskbar, and choose Properties from the menu. Choose the Desktop tab

and then click the Customize Desktop button to add the icons to the desktop.

D. Right-click the Start button, choose Properties, and select the option Classic Desktop

Icons.

E. Install XP on a single system, prepare the system with the sysprep utility, share the local

files to the network, and perform an unattended installation.

(2)Answers

1. A. To easily switch between language inputs on a Windows XP Professional system, you

must install language input support for the language and ensure that the Language bar is

enabled on the taskbar. When it is, users can quickly change language inputs with the click of

a button.

2. D. Transform files have the .mst extension and are used to apply custom changes and

sometimes fixes to applications. They are used during the installation process.

3. B. Laptops can be sent to standby mode quickly by enabling Standby Mode When Lid Is

Closed on the Advanced tab of the Power Options applet.

4. A. Roaming profiles can be become mandatory or fixed by renaming the ntuser.dat file to

ntuser.man.

5. B. When working in a network environment, administrators can set home directories on a

network server where users save their data. These home directories provide a central locationfor data and make such tasks such as backing up and security easier.

6. C. Systems not in a domain environment can be configured to use Fast User Switching to

switch between users without disrupting the programs in use by others using the system.

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7. B. Windows XP takes a minimalist approach on the default desktop. To install the icons

installed by default on other Windows versions, click the Customize Desktop button located

on the Desktop tab of the Display Properties dialog box.