windows vista inside out ch 3: personalizing windows vista last modified 8-28-07 10 am
DESCRIPTION
Aero Features Transparent window frames Live previews of icons on the taskbar Live previews in Alt+Tab “Flip 3D”—Windows logo key+Tab Smoother window dragging Interactive window controls Close buttons that glow on hover Animated window closings and openingsTRANSCRIPT
Windows VistaWindows VistaInside OutInside Out
Ch 3: Ch 3: Personalizing Windows VistaPersonalizing Windows Vista
Last modified 8-28-07 10 am
Customizing the Aero User Customizing the Aero User Interface Interface
For Aero your graphics card must have:For Aero your graphics card must have: Windows Vista Display Driver Model (WDDM)
• You can’t get Aero with Win XP drivers DirectX 9, Pixel Shader 2.0, with 32 bits per
pixel Graphics throughput of at least 1800 MB per
second at resolutions equivalent to 1280 × 1024 At least 1 GB of random access memory
(RAM)
Aero FeaturesAero Features
Transparent window frames Live previews of icons on the taskbar Live previews in Alt+Tab “Flip 3D”—Windows logo key+Tab Smoother window dragging Interactive window controls
Close buttons that glow on hover Animated window closings and openings
Windows Color and AppearanceWindows Color and Appearance
Right-click desktopRight-click desktop PersonalizePersonalize Window Color and Window Color and
AppearanceAppearance If Aero is on, you can If Aero is on, you can
enable transparencyenable transparency
Turning Aero Off Turning Aero Off In Window Color In Window Color
and Appearanceand Appearance Click “Open classic Click “Open classic
appearance appearance properties for more properties for more color options”color options”
Choose any color Choose any color scheme other than scheme other than Windows AeroWindows Aero
Adjusting Font Size Adjusting Font Size This should change font size in windows This should change font size in windows
and programs tooand programs too Right-click desktopRight-click desktop PersonalizePersonalize Adjust font sizeAdjust font size
(DPI)(DPI)
Font Smoothing Font Smoothing Right-click desktopRight-click desktop PersonalizePersonalize Desktop BackgroundDesktop Background Window Color and Window Color and
AppearanceAppearance Click “Open classic appearance properties for Click “Open classic appearance properties for
more color options”more color options” Click “Effects”Click “Effects”
ClearType was designed for LCD displaysClearType was designed for LCD displays Standard may look better on CRTsStandard may look better on CRTs
Other CustomizationsOther Customizations BackgroundBackground Screen SaverScreen Saver SoundsSounds Mouse PointerMouse Pointer Work as they did in XPWork as they did in XP Can be saved as Can be saved as
ThemesThemes
Screen ResolutionScreen Resolution Right-click desktopRight-click desktop PersonalizePersonalize Display SettingsDisplay Settings If you have more If you have more
than a single than a single graphics card you graphics card you can configure can configure multiple monitors multiple monitors herehere
Start Menu Start Menu Search is Search is
newnew Run is Run is
absent by absent by defaultdefault
Right-click Right-click items to pin items to pin or unpin or unpin themthem
Pinned Items
Pinned Items
Pinned Items
Pinned Items
Recently Used Items
Recently Used Items
Pinned Items
Recently Used Items
Personalizing the Start MenuPersonalizing the Start Menu Right-click StartRight-click Start PropertiesProperties Can choose Start Can choose Start
menu or Classic Start menu or Classic Start menumenu
Customize button to Customize button to control items on the control items on the right sideright side Including RunIncluding Run
Folders that Make the Start MenuFolders that Make the Start Menu
Two folders are combined: Personal folder
• %AppData%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu “All Users” folder
• %ProgramData%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu Right-click Start, “Open” or “Open All
Users”
The Quick Launch Toolbar The Quick Launch Toolbar
Single-click icons to launch programsSingle-click icons to launch programs Logo-1 launches first item, etc.Logo-1 launches first item, etc. Right-click taskbar to control toolbarsRight-click taskbar to control toolbars Demo: Add a Desktop toolbarDemo: Add a Desktop toolbar
Customizing the Taskbar Customizing the Taskbar Drag taskbar to any Drag taskbar to any
side of the screen side of the screen (unlock it first)(unlock it first)
Make it wider or Make it wider or narrowernarrower
Control grouping Control grouping and hiding in and hiding in Taskbar PropertiesTaskbar Properties
Controlling the Display of Icons Controlling the Display of Icons in the Notification Area in the Notification Area
By default it hides By default it hides inactive iconsinactive icons
Default ProgramsDefault Programs
Start, Default ProgramsStart, Default Programs Demo each itemDemo each item
Windows VistaWindows VistaInside OutInside Out
Ch 4: Ch 4: Adding, Removing, and Managing Adding, Removing, and Managing ProgramsPrograms
Add or Remove Programs is GoneAdd or Remove Programs is Gone
No one ever used it to add programs No one ever used it to add programs anywayanyway
Programs come with installers. You just Programs come with installers. You just have to deal with:have to deal with: User Account Control (UAC)User Account Control (UAC) Compatibility issuesCompatibility issues
User Account Control (UAC)
Installers change Installers change system files and system files and registry settingsregistry settings
So you need to elevate privilegesSo you need to elevate privileges Updates and uninstalls also require Updates and uninstalls also require
elevationelevation If the installer doesn’t automatically trigger If the installer doesn’t automatically trigger
UAC, you can right-click it and choose UAC, you can right-click it and choose Run Run as Administratoras Administrator
Compatibility Issues
““Program Compatibility Assistant ” boxes Program Compatibility Assistant ” boxes warn youwarn you
Suggest solutionsSuggest solutions
Compatibility TabCompatibility Tab
Right-click shortcut Right-click shortcut or EXE file, or EXE file, PropertiesProperties Note error on page Note error on page
4 of Ch 4 handout – 4 of Ch 4 handout – the Compatibility tab the Compatibility tab is present on both is present on both EXE files and EXE files and shortcutsshortcuts
MS-DOS ProgramsMS-DOS Programs
MS-DOS programs use Autoexec.nt and MS-DOS programs use Autoexec.nt and Config.ntConfig.nt instead of Autoexec.bat and Config.sysinstead of Autoexec.bat and Config.sys
Each MS-DOS program can use custom Each MS-DOS program can use custom Autoexec.nt and Config.nt files, set in the Autoexec.nt and Config.nt files, set in the program’s propertiesprogram’s properties
Installing Programs on 64-bit Versions of Windows
16-bit programs won’t install16-bit programs won’t install 32-bit programs install into the “Program 32-bit programs install into the “Program
Files (x86)” folderFiles (x86)” folder 64-bit programs install into the “Program 64-bit programs install into the “Program
Files” folderFiles” folder
Ways to Make a Program Run at Ways to Make a Program Run at StartupStartup
Registry keysRegistry keys Run or RunOnce or Policies\Explorer\RunRun or RunOnce or Policies\Explorer\Run Load valueLoad value RunServices or RunServicesOnceRunServices or RunServicesOnce Winlogon or BootExecuteWinlogon or BootExecute
Scheduled TasksScheduled Tasks Win.iniWin.ini Group PolicyGroup Policy Shell service objectsShell service objects Logon scriptsLogon scripts
Using Msconfig to Control Startup Using Msconfig to Control Startup ItemsItems
Start, MSCONFIG, EnterStart, MSCONFIG, Enter
Controlling Startup Programs with Controlling Startup Programs with Windows DefenderWindows Defender
In Control Panel, under Programs, click Change In Control Panel, under Programs, click Change Startup ProgramsStartup Programs
Controlling Startup Applications Controlling Startup Applications with Group Policywith Group Policy
To open the Group Policy consoleTo open the Group Policy console Start, GPEDIT.MSC, EnterStart, GPEDIT.MSC, Enter
These policies affect startup applicationsThese policies affect startup applications Run These Programs At User LogonRun These Programs At User Logon Do Not Process The Run Once ListDo Not Process The Run Once List Do Not Process The Legacy Run ListDo Not Process The Legacy Run List
Group Policy is not available in Vista Group Policy is not available in Vista Home Basic or Vista Home PremiumHome Basic or Vista Home Premium
Managing Startup Programs Right-click Right-click
Start, Start, ExploreExplore
Open Open Programs, Programs, and open and open StartupStartup
Shortcuts Shortcuts placed here placed here will execute will execute each time each time you log onyou log on
Task Manager
Ctrl+Shift+Escape
Task Manager TabsTask Manager Tabs
Applications Shows running programs with statusShows running programs with status
ProcessesProcesses Information about programs and servicesInformation about programs and services ““Show processes from all users” reveals Show processes from all users” reveals
processes running under system accountsprocesses running under system accounts You can shut down processes here, but it You can shut down processes here, but it
can cause loss of data or a system crashcan cause loss of data or a system crash
Running a Program as an Administrator
Right-click it and choose “Run as Right-click it and choose “Run as Administrator”Administrator”
Launch it from the Administrator Launch it from the Administrator Command PromptCommand Prompt
Start, type in program name, press Start, type in program name, press Ctrl+Shift+EnterCtrl+Shift+Enter
Uninstalling Programs
In Control Panel, under Programs, In Control Panel, under Programs, Uninstall a ProgramUninstall a Program
When Programs Fail to Uninstall When Programs Fail to Uninstall ProperlyProperly
Remove Registry Keys ManuallyRemove Registry Keys Manually See link Ch 4aSee link Ch 4a