Microsoft Windows 95 Using the Control Panel, Taskbar, and Windows Explorer

Overview Using the Control Panel Changing Mouse Settings Changing Display Settings Examining System Properties Customizing the Taskbar

Using the Control Panel Control Panel is used to customize the Windows 95 operating system –Changing mouse and keyboard settings –Changing monitor resolution and desktop appearance –Many other customizations available The Control Panel is accessed off of the Start button and Settings sub-menu

Changing the Mouse Settings Mouse Properties dialogue box Change mouse for right-handed and left- handed users Set double-click speed Choose different pointers Set mouse pointer trails

Mouse Properties Dialogue Box

Changing Display Settings Background –Pattern or picture image that covers the desktop –Can choose standard Windows 95 patterns or any bitmap picture file (as wallpaper) Change background settings from the Display Properties dialogue box in the Control Panel Wallpaper –A background image stored as a bitmap file

Changing Display Settings Screen Saver –Moving picture image initiated when both the keyboard and mouse are idle for a pre-specified amount of time –Prevents “burned-in” images on monitor –Newer monitors are not effected by this; hence, most screen savers are solely for entertainment purposes

Changing Display Settings Use the Appearance tab on the Display Properties dialogue box to customize the appearance of windows and the text of title and menu bars Scheme –A pre-saved set of appearance specifications –You can import in or create new schemes to add to the pre-existing ones

System Properties View and change system properties through the System icon in the Control Panel Device Manager –List all hardware devices recognized –Allows you to remove hardware devices Performance Properties –RAM, system resources, and virtual memory

Customizing the Taskbar The Taskbar can be resized, moved to another corner of the desktop and hidden Customizing the Start Menu –Choose Start -> Settings -> Taskbar –Allows you to add and remove programs from the Start Menu –Same as placing a short-cut on the Start Menu Clear Documents Menu

Windows Explorer Overview Windows Explorer File management in Explorer Viewing Disk Properties Using Undo

Windows Explorer Located on the Start Menu and Programs sub-menu Two panes –Left pane - all drives/folders –Right pane - Contents of selected folder on the left pane Table 5-1 –Description of the Explorer toolbar

File Management With Explorer Similar to file management in My Computer Tasks –Creating and renaming folders –Copying and moving files –Creating short-cuts –Deleting and restoring files Right-click drag method

Windows Explorer

Viewing Disk Properties Select a disk in the left plane, right-click and select Properties Allows you to view available space on the disk, and name the disk with a label Tools –Error checking –Backup –Defragmentation

Viewing Disk Properties

Using Undo The Undo command cancels the last action performed in a program Command is found in almost all Windows 95 programs Depending on the program, several sequential actions can be canceled with Undo