11 SUPPORTING THE WINDOWS DESKTOP Chapter 4

Chapter 4: Supporting the Windows Desktop2 SUPPORTING THE WINDOWS DESKTOP  Troubleshoot and customize the notification area, taskbar, and Start menu  Configure and troubleshoot accessibility options  Configure the correct currency, date, and time for a user  Configure input languages  Troubleshoot language-related problems  Troubleshoot and customize the notification area, taskbar, and Start menu  Configure and troubleshoot accessibility options  Configure the correct currency, date, and time for a user  Configure input languages  Troubleshoot language-related problems

Chapter 4: Supporting the Windows Desktop3 COMMON START MENU AND TASKBAR REQUESTS  Because of the amount of time the end user spends using the taskbar and Start menu, you are likely to receive numerous calls about configuring or troubleshooting these two components.  Page 120 lists some common problems and requests with the start menu and taskbar  Because of the amount of time the end user spends using the taskbar and Start menu, you are likely to receive numerous calls about configuring or troubleshooting these two components.  Page 120 lists some common problems and requests with the start menu and taskbar

Chapter 4: Supporting the Windows Desktop4 TROUBLESHOOTING THE NOTIFICATION AREA  Add items to the notification area if the program supports it  Hide inactive icons so that the notification area does not take up too much room on the taskbar  Remove icons, and close running programs temporarily  Remove icons, and close running programs permanently  Add items to the notification area if the program supports it  Hide inactive icons so that the notification area does not take up too much room on the taskbar  Remove icons, and close running programs temporarily  Remove icons, and close running programs permanently

Chapter 4: Supporting the Windows Desktop5 ADDING ITEMS TO THE NOTIFICATION AREA  Some programs include options for controlling their icons  For Microsoft Windows icons (such as icons for networking or power status), configuration happens in different places  Added by default when programs are installed.  Some programs include options for controlling their icons  For Microsoft Windows icons (such as icons for networking or power status), configuration happens in different places  Added by default when programs are installed.

Chapter 4: Supporting the Windows Desktop6 HIDING INACTIVE ICONS Clicking on the arrow will show the hidden icons Remember that even though they are hidden they are still running and using up memory.

Chapter 4: Supporting the Windows Desktop7 REMOVING ICONS AND CLOSING BACKGROUND PROGRAMS Msconfig – Used to control startup programs

Chapter 4: Supporting the Windows Desktop8 LOCKING AND UNLOCKING THE TASKBAR  When a taskbar is locked:  It cannot be resized  It cannot be moved  Its position cannot be adjusted  When a taskbar is locked, less space is used  When a taskbar is locked:  It cannot be resized  It cannot be moved  Its position cannot be adjusted  When a taskbar is locked, less space is used

Chapter 4: Supporting the Windows Desktop9 GROUPING SIMILAR ITEMS AND ENABLING QUICK LAUNCH  Grouping similar taskbar buttons saves room on the taskbar by grouping similar entries (for example, all open Microsoft Word documents) together.  The Quick Launch toolbar allows you to add icons to the Quick Launch area of the taskbar for any program that a user accesses often.  Grouping similar taskbar buttons saves room on the taskbar by grouping similar entries (for example, all open Microsoft Word documents) together.  The Quick Launch toolbar allows you to add icons to the Quick Launch area of the taskbar for any program that a user accesses often.

Chapter 4: Supporting the Windows Desktop10 TROUBLESHOOTING A LOCKED, HIDDEN, OR MISSING TASKBAR  Lock the taskbar  Auto-hide the taskbar  Keep the taskbar on top of other windows  Lock the taskbar  Auto-hide the taskbar  Keep the taskbar on top of other windows

Chapter 4: Supporting the Windows Desktop11 CONFIGURING TOOLBARS ON THE WINDOWS TASKBAR  Some toolbars you can add to the Windows taskbar are:  Address – Your location in Windows or the web  Windows Media Player – for playing media  Links – links to web pages  Language Bar – used for microphone support  Desktop – Will minimize everything  Quick Launch – 1 click icons on the task bar  Some toolbars you can add to the Windows taskbar are:  Address – Your location in Windows or the web  Windows Media Player – for playing media  Links – links to web pages  Language Bar – used for microphone support  Desktop – Will minimize everything  Quick Launch – 1 click icons on the task bar

Chapter 4: Supporting the Windows Desktop12 SUPPORTING THE START MENU  The default Windows XP Start menu includes many new features  The Classic Start menu looks and feels like previous versions  Common tasks include:  Adding or removing shortcuts  Pinning items  Rearranging the menus  The default Windows XP Start menu includes many new features  The Classic Start menu looks and feels like previous versions  Common tasks include:  Adding or removing shortcuts  Pinning items  Rearranging the menus

Chapter 4: Supporting the Windows Desktop13 UNDERSTANDING REGIONAL AND LANGUAGE SETTINGS

Chapter 4: Supporting the Windows Desktop14 CONFIGURING INPUT LANGUAGES

Chapter 4: Supporting the Windows Desktop15 TROUBLESHOOTING LANGUAGE-RELATED PROBLEMS  Most common problem by far is that the user accidentally changes the default language (usually by pressing LEFT ALT + SHIFT)  Other problems are noted in the chapter text  You should also search the Knowledge Base for articles about specific problems  Most common problem by far is that the user accidentally changes the default language (usually by pressing LEFT ALT + SHIFT)  Other problems are noted in the chapter text  You should also search the Knowledge Base for articles about specific problems

Chapter 4: Supporting the Windows Desktop16 CHAPTER SUMMARY  To resolve problems involving the taskbar or Start menu, use the Taskbar And Start Menu Properties dialog box.  To allow a user to work in different languages on one computer, make changes in the Regional And Language Options dialog box.  When troubleshooting language-related problems, the most common problem is that a user has unknowingly switched to another language and is having problems with keyboard functions.  To resolve problems involving the taskbar or Start menu, use the Taskbar And Start Menu Properties dialog box.  To allow a user to work in different languages on one computer, make changes in the Regional And Language Options dialog box.  When troubleshooting language-related problems, the most common problem is that a user has unknowingly switched to another language and is having problems with keyboard functions.