Setting Up Your Computer
With Windows XP Starter Edition, you can personalize your computer desktop, change how Windows displays your date and time settings, and set up Windows for your language.
Personalizing your computer display
Windows gives you many choices for making your computer look exactly the way you want it to. For example, you can change your background picture, add a screensaver, and even change the look of your computer desktop.
Choosing a desktop background
Personalize your computer by placing a picture onto your desktop background. You can choose one of your personal pictures located on your computer, a picture from the Web, or any of the pictures included with Windows. You can also change the background color that shows behind the picture.
To use a personal picture as your desktop background
- With your mouse pointer, right-click on your Windows desktop, and from the pop-up menu that appears, choose Properties.
- In the Display Properties dialog box, select the Desktop tab.
- On the Desktop tab, do one or more of the following:
- Click a picture in the Background list. In Position, click Center, Tile, or Stretch.
- Click Browse to search for a background picture in other folders or on other drives. You can use picture files with the following file extensions: .bmp, .gif, .jpg, .dib, .png, and .htm. In Position, select Center, Tile, or Stretch.
- Select a color from Desktop color. The color fills the space not used by a picture.
To use a picture from the Web as your desktop background
- Right-click the picture on the Web that you want to use, and then click Set as Background.
To change your background color
- With your mouse pointer, right-click on your Windows desktop, and from the pop-up menu that appears, choose Properties.
- In the Display Properties dialog box, select the Desktop tab.
- On the Desktop tab, select a color from Desktop color. The color fills the space not used by a picture.
To customize your background color
- With your mouse pointer, right-click on your Windows desktop, and from the pop-up menu that appears, choose Properties.
- In the Display Properties dialog box, select the Desktop tab.
- On the Desktop tab, click Color to display the available colors.
- Click Other.
- In the Color dialog box, click anywhere in the color matrix displayed on the right.
- Drag the pointer in the color matrix to the right or left to change the hue.
- Drag the pointer up or down to change the color saturation.
- Drag the slider at the right of the matrix to change the luminosity.
- Once you have defined the color you want, click Add to Custom Colors, and then click OK.
Using screen savers
A screen saver is an active picture or pattern that appears on your screen when you have not touched the mouse or keyboard for a period of time. After you select a screen saver, it will automatically start when your computer is idle for the number of minutes you specify. To stop the screen saver after it has started, all you have to do is move your mouse or press any key on your keyboard.
To set or change a screen saver
- With your mouse pointer, right-click on your Windows desktop, and from the pop-up menu that appears, choose Properties.
- In the Display Properties dialog box, select the Screen Saver tab.
- On the Screen Saver tab, under Screen saver, click a screen saver in the list.
To preview a screen saver
- With your mouse pointer, right-click on your Windows desktop, and from the pop-up menu that appears, choose Properties.
- In the Display Properties dialog box, select the Screen Saver tab.
- On the Screen Saver tab, under Screen saver, choose a screen saver from the list, and then click Settings.
- Adjust the screensaver options to suit your preferences, and then click Preview to see how the selected screen saver will appear on your monitor.
- To end the preview, press any key on your keyboard, or move to your mouse.
- Click OK or Apply to accept the screensaver settings when you are satisfied with the setting adjustments to the screensaver.
To use your personal pictures as a screen saver
- With your mouse pointer, right-click on your Windows desktop, and from the pop-up menu that appears, choose Properties.
- In the Display Properties dialog box, select the Screen Saver tab.
- On the Screen Saver tab, under Screen saver, click My Pictures Slideshow in the list.
- Select the Settings tab to change the picture size or set other options.
- On the Settings tab, under Use pictures in this folder, click Browse if you wish to select a picture from a folder other than My Pictures.
- Adjust any options you wish to modify, and then click OK or Apply.
Setting up your monitor
Windows gives you many options for setting up your monitor to suit your personal preferences. For example, you can choose the number of colors displayed by your monitor or increase your screen resolution. If you increase your screen resolution, you will be able to view more information at one time. Everything will appear smaller on your screen, including text. Decreasing your screen resolution will increase the size of items on your screen. You will be able to view less information at one time, but text and other information will be larger and easier to read.
To change the screen resolution of your monitor
- With your mouse pointer, right-click on your Windows desktop, and from the pop-up menu that appears, choose Properties.
- In the Display Properties dialog box, select the Settings tab.
- On the Settings tab, under Screen resolution, drag the slider, and then click Apply.
- When prompted to apply the settings, click OK. Your screen will turn black for a moment.
- When your screen resolution changes, you have 15 seconds to confirm the change. Click Yes to confirm the change, or click No or do nothing to revert to your previous setting.
To use 256 colors for games or programs that require this setting
- Right-click the game or program icon (on the desktop or on the Start menu), and then click Properties.
- Click the Compatibility tab, and then select the Run in 256 colors check box. Your display reverts to its default color quality when you close the program.
To change the number of colors displayed on a monitor
- With your mouse pointer, right-click on your Windows desktop, and from the pop-up menu that appears, choose Properties.
- In the Display Properties dialog box, select the Settings tab.
- On the Settings tab, in the Color quality list, select one of these color settings:
- Choose Medium to display over 65,000 colors.
- Choose High to display over 16 million colors.
- Choose Highest to display over 4 billion colors.
Setting up Windows for your language
You can customize Windows for your language using Regional and Language Options in the Control Panel. You can change the language for all text that Windows displays on the user interface. You can change the language that appears when you type in programs. You can add an Input Method Editor for entering Asian language text. When you select your geographic region, Windows automatically adjusts the formatting of dates, times, currencies, and numbers. You can also customize the settings for formatting each of these items.
When you add a new language, you must also choose either a keyboard layout or Input Method Editor (IME). You should remove any languages that you do not use, as they require computer memory and can affect the computer’s performance.
Customizing how you enter text on your computer
Using Windows, you can change the language that displays when you enter text and the methods you use for entering text. For some languages, you can choose from more than one keyboard layout or Input Method Editor.
When you change the input language that displays when you type on the keyboard, the language that Windows displays on the user interface does not change. However, the keyboard layout does change. The keyboard layout determines which characters appear when you press the keys on your keyboard. After you change the keyboard layout, the characters that appear on your screen may no longer correspond to the characters that are printed on your keyboard keys.
An Input Method Editor (IME) is a program used to enter the thousands of different characters in written Asian languages with a standard 101-key keyboard. An IME converts the keystrokes into phonetic, ideographic characters. As you enter the keystrokes, the IME attempts to identify which character or characters the keystrokes should be converted to by using its dictionary of commonly used ideographic words for that language.
To add another input language for entering text in a different language
- Click Start, click Control Panel, click Date, Time, Language, and Regional Options, and then click Add other languages.
- On the Languages tab, under Text services and input languages, click Details.
- Under Installed services, click Add.
- In the Input language list, click the language you want to add.
- Select the check box for the type of text service you want to install if multiple options are available, and then click a service in the list. New text services are available to use as soon as you click OK or Apply.
To add another keyboard layout or Input Method Editor (IME) for a language
- Click Start, click Control Panel, click Date, Time, Language, and Regional Options, and then click Regional and Language Options.
- On the Languages tab, under Text services and input languages, click Details.
- Under Installed services, click Add.
- In the Input language list, click the language for the keyboard layout or Input Method Editor (IME) you want to add.
- Select the Keyboard layout/IME check box if multiple options are available, and then choose your preferred text service from the list.
- If Keyboard Layout/IME is the only type of text service available, click an option in that list.
To remove a keyboard layout
- Click Start, click Control Panel, click Date, Time, Language, and Regional Options, and then click Regional and Language Options.
- On the Languages tab, under Text services and input languages, click Details.
- Under Installed services, click the text service you want to remove, and then click Remove.
To compose a document using multiple languages
- Open a new document.
- In the notification area of the taskbar, click the language icon located near the system clock, and then click the language you want to use.
- Compose your document.
- To change languages, click the language icon in the notification area, and then select another language from the list.
Setting up your computer to display complex scripts, right-to-left, and East Asian languages
Windows has many languages available that are preinstalled on your computer. However, for East Asian languages, right-to-left languages, and complex scripts, you must install a special set of files from the Windows CD-ROM. These files will enable you to type and display text in these languages. These languages include East Asian languages (such as Chinese, Japanese, and Korean), as well as complex script and right-to-left languages (such as Arabic, Armenian, Georgian, Hebrew, the Indic languages, Thai, or Vietnamese).
It is recommended that you install these files only if you are going to be entering or receiving text in one or more of these languages. The Chinese, Japanese, and Korean files require about 230 megabytes (MB) of space on your hard disk. In addition to the language files, Input Method Editors (IMEs) are installed for each of the three languages. Installing the language files may slow down your computer's performance slightly.
To install complex script and right-to-left language files
- Click Start, click Control Panel, click Date, Time, Language, and Regional Options, and then click Regional and Language Options.
- On the Languages tab, under Supplemental language support, select the Install files for complex script and right-to-left languages check box.
- Click OK or Apply.
- After the files are installed, you must restart your computer.
To remove complex script and right-to-left language files
- Click Start, click Control Panel, click Date, Time, Language, and Regional Options, and then click Regional and Language Options.
- On the Languages tab, under Supplemental language support, clear the Install files for complex script and right-to-left languages check box.
- Click OK or Apply.
To install East Asian language files
- Click Start, click Control Panel, click Date, Time, Language, and Regional Options, and then click Regional and Language Options..
- On the Languages tab, under Supplemental language support, select the Install files for East Asian languages check box.
- Click OK or Apply.
- After the files are installed, you must restart your computer.
To remove East Asian language files
- Click Start, click Control Panel, click Date, Time, Language, and Regional Options, and then click Regional and Language Options.
- On the Languages tab, under Supplemental language support, clear the Install files for East Asian languages check box.
- Click OK or Apply.
Using the Language bar
When you add a new input language, keyboard layout, or Input Method Editor, Windows automatically installs the Language bar. This floating toolbar allows you to easily switch languages and perform tasks related to entering text in that language. You can move the Language bar anywhere on your screen, minimize it to the taskbar, or make it nearly transparent. If you do not use it, you can close it.
The letters on the Language bar icon represent the active language. For example, EN stands for English. You can change the Language bar settings by right-clicking the icon to display the settings menu.
To switch languages or keyboards from the Language bar
- On the Language bar, click the button representing languages or keyboards.
- On the menu, click a language or keyboard layout. The buttons are available on the Language bar only if you have added multiple languages or multiple keyboard layouts in Control Panel.
To switch languages or keyboards from the taskbar
- Click Start, click Control Panel, click Date, Time, Language, and Regional Options, and then click Regional and Language Options.
- On the Languages tab, under Text services and input languages, click Details.
- Under Preferences, click Language Bar.
- In the Language Bar Settings dialog box, select the Show additional Language bar icons in the Notification area check box.
- Click OK three times.
- Click the language icon or the keyboard icon on the taskbar to display a menu.
- Select a language or keyboard.
To display the Language bar
- Click Start, click Control Panel, click Date, Time, Language, and Regional Options, and then click Regional and Language Options.
- On the Languages tab, under Text services and input languages, click Details.
- Under Preferences, click Language Bar.
- Select the Show the Language bar on the desktop check box.
To hide the Language bar
- Right-click the Language bar.
- Do one of the following:
- Click Minimize to reduce the Language bar to an icon on the taskbar. This option removes the Language bar from your desktop, but keeps it active and available.
- Click Close the Language bar to turn off the Language bar and remove it from your desktop. You cannot close the Language bar if you have installed an Input Method Editor (IME).
To display the Language bar after minimizing it
- Click the Language bar icon on the taskbar, and then click Show the Language bar.
Customizing the format of dates, time, currencies, and numbers
Windows has predefined settings for how dates, times, currencies, and numbers display, depending on which country or region you select. If you wish to make further changes, you can customize the format for each of these items in Control Panel. Changing these settings does not affect the language that Windows displays on the screen, nor does it change what language appears on the screen when you type.
Setting the date and time
Most computer clocks are regularly synchronized with an Internet time server when you connect to the Internet. Windows uses the time setting to identify when files are created or modified.
To update the time
- Connect to the Internet.
- Click Start, click Control Panel, click Date, Time, Language, and Regional Options, and then click Change the date and time.
- Select the Internet Time tab.
- Click Update Now. (The Update Now button is not available if the Automatically synchronize with an Internet time server check box is not selected.)
To change the time and time zone
- Click Start, click Control Panel, click Date, Time, Language, and Regional Options, and then click Change the date and time.
- On the Date & Time tab, select the item you want to change.
- To change the hour, double-click the hour, and then click the arrows to increase or decrease the value.
- To change the minutes, double-click the minutes, and then click the arrows to increase or decrease the value.
- To change the seconds, double-click the seconds, and then click the arrows to increase or decrease the value.
- To change the AM/PM indicator, select it, and then click the arrows to select AM or PM.
- To change your time zone, select the Time Zone tab. In the box above the map, click the drop-down arrow, and then select your current time zone.
To customize the way the time displays
- Click Start, click Control Panel, click Date, Time, Language, and Regional Options, and then click Change the format of numbers, dates, and times.
- On the Regional Options tab, under Standards and formats, select the region that displays your choice of time format settings.
- Click Customize if you want to make further changes to time format.
- On the Time tab, specify any changes you want to make.
If you do not see the format you want in Time format, follow the guidelines presented in the table.
To |
Do this |
Display time in a 24-hour format |
Type uppercase H or HH for the hour |
Display time in a 12-hour format |
Type lowercase h or hh for the hour |
Display leading zeros in single-digit hours |
Type two characters, HH or hh |
Suppress the display of leading zeros in single-digit hours, minutes, or seconds |
Type a single uppercase H, or lowercase letter, such as h, m, or s |
Display a single letter to indicate AM or PM |
Type lowercase t |
Display two letters to indicate AM or PM |
Type lowercase tt |
Display text |
Type single quotation marks (') around text |
To change the date
- Click Start, click Control Panel, click Date, Time, Language, and Regional Options, and then click Change the date and time.
- On the Date & Time tab, select the item you want to change.
- To change the month, click the arrow in the month list, and then click the correct month.
- To change the year, click the arrows in the year list.
- To change the day, click the correct day on the calendar.
To customize the way the date displays
- Click Start, click Control Panel, click Date, Time, Language, and Regional Options, and then click Change the format of numbers, dates, and times.
- On the Regional Options tab, under Standards and formats, select the region that displays your choice of date format settings.
- Click Customize if you wish to make further changes to Short date or Long date format.
If you do not see the format you want in Short date or Long date, follow the guidelines presented in the table.
To |
Do this |
Display single-digit numbers without a leading zero |
Type a single character. Type d for the day setting, type y for
the year setting, and type M for the month setting |
Display leading zeros with single-digit numbers |
Type two characters. Type dd for the day setting, type yy for the
year setting, and type MM for the month setting |
Display the last two digits of the year |
Type yy for the year setting |
Display four digits for the year |
Type yyyy for the year setting |
Display abbreviations for the day or month |
Type three characters. Type ddd for the day setting and type MMM for
the month setting |
Display the full name of the day or month |
Type four characters. Type dddd for the day setting and type MMMM
for the month setting |
Display additional text |
Type single quotation marks (') around text |
To choose a different calendar
- Click Start, click Control Panel, click Date, Time, Language, and Regional Options, and then click Change the format of numbers, dates, and times.
- On the Regional Options tab, under Standards and formats, click Customize.
- On the Date tab, in the Calendar type list, click a calendar type. If Calendar type is not available, your location does not support multiple calendars. The region selected under Standards and formats on the Regional Options tab determines whether multiple calendars are available.
Changing currency settings and number formats
In Windows, you can choose a currency symbol and specify the format for items, such as positive or negative amounts, punctuation marks, and the measurement system (metric or imperial).
To change how numbers display
- Click Start, click Control Panel, click Date, Time, Language, and Regional Options, and then click Regional and Language Options.
- On the Regional Options tab, under Standards and formats, click Customize.
- On the Numbers tab, specify any changes you want to make.
To change how currency values display
- Click Start, click Control Panel, click Date, Time, Language, and Regional Options, and then click Regional and Language Options.
- On the Regional Options tab, under Standards and formats, click Customize.
- On the Currency tab, specify any changes you want to make.
To switch from one currency to another currency
- Click Start, click Control Panel, click Date, Time, Language, and Regional Options, and then click Regional and Language Options.
- On the Regional Options tab, under Standards and formats, click Customize.
- On the Currency tab, change the currency symbol, and then click OK or Apply.
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