Taskbar tab:
Click on Start, Settings, Taskbar and Start Menu. The panel below
is what you will get. These are the settings I currently use. You can
adjust this panel as you see fit.
I've already setup my taskbar to include 2 lines of
area. I have an Addressbar in my taskbar so I like to have a little more
real-estate by putting the Addressbar on the second line.
The first item on the Taskbar and Start Menu
configuration panel is Lock the taskbar. By default, XP puts a check
mark here. Remove the checkmark, click Apply and setup your taskbar the
way you would like it to be all the time. Now go put the check mark back
in to lock the taskbar.
Auto Hide is great. When you don't need the
taskbar it conveniently tucks away into the bottom of your screen. When
you need the taskbar, bring your cursor to the bottom of the screen and
it pops up for you. The advantage to this is more viewable screen area.
Keep the taskbar on top of the other Windows will
make sure the taskbar is always available to you when needed. (It won't
get stuck behind a application window and you would otherwise have to
use your Windows key or Ctrl + Esc to bring up your taskbar.)
Group similar taskbar buttons will group together
similar buttons on the taskbar. For example, when you have more than one
document open of the same application but have another application open
as well with more than one document, each applications documents will be
grouped together for ease of toggling between them.
Show Quick Launch will put a small toolbar next
to the Start button. By default this consists of Show Desktop and
Internet Explorer. I blow away the Internet Explorer icon as I have it
on my desktop already and the taskbar is no place for the I.E. icon.
Having the taskbar addressbar gives me an addressbar to use to address
any known addresses on the web. I don't need to bring up my browser just
to get an addressbar. My entry into the addressbar will bring up the
browser instead.
I did put the Windows Addressbook and Outlook Express into the Quick
Launch by dragging it on to the Quick Launch toolbar though. Very
advantageous. If you would like to find more information of how to
create the Addressbar in the taskbar, CLICK
HERE. For information on the Windows Addressbook on your desktop
or placing it into the Quick Launch, CLICK
HERE.
Show clock is up to you. But if you would like to
get a little bit more real-estate out of your taskbar, place a clock on
the wall where you can easily see it from your computer station. I use a
little clock that fits beneath the right corner of my monitor.
Hide inactive icons is user preference as well.
This will hide the Systray icons. The Systray is located to the far
right on your taskbar where the clock usually resides. Until you get all
the fluff controlled I would suggest you remove the check from this box.
You can come back later and put it in.
Start Menu tab:
Here you have an option on how you would like to view
your Start menu. Here are the 2 views.
Start Menu
|
|
|
Classic Start Menu
|
|
|
Click Apply when you have made a selection as we will be
staying on the Taskbar and Start Menu Properties panel a little bit
longer yet. Myself, I prefer the Classic Start Menu. I've been on
computers since the turn over from Windows 3.1 to Win95. I enjoy the
less busy Classic style. I'm a creature of habit maybe.
Now you can click on the Customize button. You can add
or subtract icons at will in the Start menu section. I wouldn't be to
concerned about this at the moment. The Advanced Start menu options:
is where you can do some configuring.
Display Favorites by default is not checked.
Win95/98/ME/Y2K automatically showed the Favorites on the Start, Programs
menu. XP's Favorites has to be turned on.
Display Run Should be checked
Enable dragging and dropping should not have a
check.
Expand Control Panel is a user preference. If you
expand the Control panel you will get a menu of icons when you click on
Start, Settings, Control Panel instead of opening a window view of the
Control Panel. Works well with Classic Start Menu.
Scroll Programs should have a check.
Note: If you want a Windows95 style of cascading menus do not check this
box.
Show small icons in Start menu "checked"
will give you no Start menu, Operating System Identity bar running down
the left side of the Start menu. Icons on the Start menu are smaller as
well.
Use personalized menus "checked" is a
pane in the butt if you ask me. When I click on Start, Programs I want
all the icons on that menu to show. Trim the fat on this menu by removing
redundant icons. Remove program folders to programs such as Adobe
Acrobat or Quick Time or WinZip. These programs are programs or
utilities that will automatically function when needed. You won't ever
have to click on them. Keep your menu clean of the extras and you won't
even have the menus scrolling.
