Although you did not design or build your personal computer, you may make it into a device that works according to your preferences of utilizing it just like you were its original engineer or developer. That's because the PC is a mere platform - a "tabla rossa", so to speak - waiting for you to direct its workings or create the ideal machine. All this can be done through making simply a few changes in your computer's present settings. You may receive assistance to do this through online PC support.
Your personal computer's general settings are kept in the Windows Control Panel. Inside this little section of Windows OS, you may perform lots of major modifications, starting with how your PC desktop looks to the way that your computer reacts to those who utilize it.
But your settings don't merely affect the Windows OS, they also affect the many software applications that are installed on the computer (not to mention that many software applications may be modified further through their own settings). We are not going to cover them all, but we will describe several of the most popular ones in order that you might have an idea of how much control over your computer that these configurations provide you.
Users. Before we get into the individual settings, it's important that you understand that each set of configurations you make is specific to the users that sit down in front of a personal computer. Changes made to a system by one person will differ from the changes made by another. Enabled by a username and password, individual desktop settings (icons, background picture, and other settings) are available after logging onto Windows.
Display Properties. Through Display Properties, a user can change the background of the Windows Desktop, add a screensaver, change the overall color scheme and fonts of Windows, and adjust a PC's color depth and/or resolution (screen area). Not just a bunch of preference settings, display properties help individuals who have to deal with visual problems.
Accessibility Options. Speaking of visual problems, another setting that's useful is accessibility options. This setting allows people with disabilities to use a PC that accommodates vision and hearing problems.
Keyboard and Mouse Options. The keyboard and mouse controls give users the option of speeding up or slowing down the movements of both of these peripherals. For those entering the United States from a foreign country, users will appreciate how Windows grants use of keyboard layouts native to their original language. Other uses will appreciate the different selection of cursors and the ability to add additional ones.
Passwords. Since the computer in use may be shared with others, passwords give the almighty administrator the means to determine whether all users will share the same preferences and desktop settings or if users can customize preferences and desktop settings.
Regional Settings. Things get really personal in Regional Settings - as this configuration makes changes according to a user's location and language. Options available can accommodate a person's preference for the display of numbers, currency, time, and date format.
Sounds Properties. Multimedia fans can create a rich PC environment filled with sound through this setting. Sounds can be assigned to numerous events and they don't even need to be the default sounds installed by Windows. Users can download sounds from the Internet or create their own sounds with a microphone.
From just these basic configuration options, you can create your own experience with a PC each time you sit down in front of one. Customizing your PC is what makes using a PC truly unique and enjoyable, so have fun and build a situation at home or a work in which you'll love to work with everyday. Should you feel a little nervous about it at first, remember that can get assistance doing this via online PC support, and your PC's original configuration can be saved to a backup file should you ever want to restore it to the same state that it was in when you first bought it.
Sincerely,
Robert Hosken
"Dr. Bob the CompuNerd"
The author, Dr. Robert Hosken, has more than 30 years of career experience in IT with personal computers. Ever since his teens he has set up and operated a number of profitable firms and charitable organizations. You can get his free e-Book "How To Maintain Your Computer" and learn the most effective techniques to utilize your personal computer at Online PC Support, or see his Offsite Backups page, or email him at Robert@CompuNerds.Net - see you there!
Your personal computer's general settings are kept in the Windows Control Panel. Inside this little section of Windows OS, you may perform lots of major modifications, starting with how your PC desktop looks to the way that your computer reacts to those who utilize it.
But your settings don't merely affect the Windows OS, they also affect the many software applications that are installed on the computer (not to mention that many software applications may be modified further through their own settings). We are not going to cover them all, but we will describe several of the most popular ones in order that you might have an idea of how much control over your computer that these configurations provide you.
Users. Before we get into the individual settings, it's important that you understand that each set of configurations you make is specific to the users that sit down in front of a personal computer. Changes made to a system by one person will differ from the changes made by another. Enabled by a username and password, individual desktop settings (icons, background picture, and other settings) are available after logging onto Windows.
Display Properties. Through Display Properties, a user can change the background of the Windows Desktop, add a screensaver, change the overall color scheme and fonts of Windows, and adjust a PC's color depth and/or resolution (screen area). Not just a bunch of preference settings, display properties help individuals who have to deal with visual problems.
Accessibility Options. Speaking of visual problems, another setting that's useful is accessibility options. This setting allows people with disabilities to use a PC that accommodates vision and hearing problems.
Keyboard and Mouse Options. The keyboard and mouse controls give users the option of speeding up or slowing down the movements of both of these peripherals. For those entering the United States from a foreign country, users will appreciate how Windows grants use of keyboard layouts native to their original language. Other uses will appreciate the different selection of cursors and the ability to add additional ones.
Passwords. Since the computer in use may be shared with others, passwords give the almighty administrator the means to determine whether all users will share the same preferences and desktop settings or if users can customize preferences and desktop settings.
Regional Settings. Things get really personal in Regional Settings - as this configuration makes changes according to a user's location and language. Options available can accommodate a person's preference for the display of numbers, currency, time, and date format.
Sounds Properties. Multimedia fans can create a rich PC environment filled with sound through this setting. Sounds can be assigned to numerous events and they don't even need to be the default sounds installed by Windows. Users can download sounds from the Internet or create their own sounds with a microphone.
From just these basic configuration options, you can create your own experience with a PC each time you sit down in front of one. Customizing your PC is what makes using a PC truly unique and enjoyable, so have fun and build a situation at home or a work in which you'll love to work with everyday. Should you feel a little nervous about it at first, remember that can get assistance doing this via online PC support, and your PC's original configuration can be saved to a backup file should you ever want to restore it to the same state that it was in when you first bought it.
Sincerely,
Robert Hosken
"Dr. Bob the CompuNerd"
The author, Dr. Robert Hosken, has more than 30 years of career experience in IT with personal computers. Ever since his teens he has set up and operated a number of profitable firms and charitable organizations. You can get his free e-Book "How To Maintain Your Computer" and learn the most effective techniques to utilize your personal computer at Online PC Support, or see his Offsite Backups page, or email him at Robert@CompuNerds.Net - see you there!
