Microsoft Windows 95

Using the Control Panel, Taskbar, and Windows

Explorer

Overview

• Using the Control Panel

• Changing Mouse Settings

• Changing Display Settings

• Examining System Properties

• Customizing the Taskbar

Using the Control Panel

• Control Panel is used to customize the Windows 95 operating system– Changing mouse and keyboard settings– Changing monitor resolution and desktop appearance– Many other customizations available

• The Control Panel is accessed off of the Start button and Settings sub-menu

Changing the Mouse Settings

• Mouse Properties dialogue box

• Change mouse for right-handed and left-handed users

• Set double-click speed

• Choose different pointers

• Set mouse pointer trails

Mouse Properties Dialogue Box

Changing Display Settings

• Background– Pattern or picture image that covers the desktop– Can choose standard Windows 95 patterns or any

bitmap picture file (as wallpaper)

• Change background settings from the Display Properties dialogue box in the Control Panel

• Wallpaper– A background image stored as a bitmap file

Changing Display Settings

• Screen Saver– Moving picture image initiated when both the

keyboard and mouse are idle for a pre-specified amount of time

– Prevents “burned-in” images on monitor– Newer monitors are not effected by this; hence,

most screen savers are solely for entertainment purposes

Changing Display Settings

• Use the Appearance tab on the Display Properties dialogue box to customize the appearance of windows and the text of title and menu bars

• Scheme– A pre-saved set of appearance specifications– You can import in or create new schemes to

add to the pre-existing ones

System Properties

• View and change system properties through the System icon in the Control Panel

• Device Manager– List all hardware devices recognized– Allows you to remove hardware devices

• Performance Properties– RAM, system resources, and virtual memory

Customizing the Taskbar

• The Taskbar can be resized, moved to another corner of the desktop and hidden

• Customizing the Start Menu– Choose Start -> Settings -> Taskbar– Allows you to add and remove programs from

the Start Menu– Same as placing a short-cut on the Start Menu

• Clear Documents Menu

Windows Explorer Overview

• Windows Explorer

• File management in Explorer

• Viewing Disk Properties

• Using Undo

Windows Explorer

• Located on the Start Menu and Programs sub-menu

• Two panes– Left pane - all drives/folders– Right pane - Contents of selected folder on the

left pane

• Table 5-1– Description of the Explorer toolbar

File Management With Explorer

• Similar to file management in My Computer

• Tasks– Creating and renaming folders– Copying and moving files– Creating short-cuts– Deleting and restoring files

• Right-click drag method

Windows Explorer

Viewing Disk Properties

• Select a disk in the left plane, right-click and select Properties

• Allows you to view available space on the disk, and name the disk with a label

• Tools– Error checking – Backup– Defragmentation

Viewing Disk Properties

Using Undo

• The Undo command cancels the last action performed in a program

• Command is found in almost all Windows 95 programs

• Depending on the program, several sequential actions can be canceled with Undo