Windows XP automatically adds shortcuts to your most frequently used programs to the bottom left of the Start Menu. Since there is a good chance that you will regularly use the same programs, this feature can be a real efficiency booster. Shortcuts to programs you often use are likely to stay right there in the most easily accessible area of the Start Menu.
You can also configure this feature to a degree by altering the maximum number of most frequently used program (MFU) shortcuts that can be displayed.
Here's how:
1. Right-click the "Start" button and click "Properties" to open the "Taskbar and Start Menu Properties" window.
2. Click the "Customize" button to open the "Customize Start Menu" window.
3. Change the number in the dropdown box labelled "Number of programs on Start menu". (This only alters the number of programs listed in the most frequently used program area of the Start menu.)
4. After you have chosen the maximum desired number of program shortcuts to be displayed, click "OK" to exit the "Customize Start Menu" window and "OK" again to exit the "Taskbar and Start Menu Properties" window.
Change the number of Most Frequently Used Programs
Naturally, if you select too high a number, the Start menu will run out of room and not all of the program icons will be displayed. The highest number that you can select in step 3 above is normally 30, although I would suggest that 10 or 12 would be a more practical upper limit. However, you can make sure that as many icons as possible are displayed by selecting "Small Icons" in the "Customize Start Menu" window.
If you would prefer that no icons at all be displayed in the most frequently used program area, you can simply select "0" in step 3 above.
Monday, July 26, 2010
Quickly Change The Start Menu Picture
The Windows XP Start Menu displays a picture that helps to identify the user account that is currently active. This picture and other user account options can be changed via the "User Accounts" Control Panel applet.
Start menu Picture
However, there is a quicker way to change the Start menu picture "on the fly".
1. Click "Start" and then click directly on the picture. This will give direct access to the User Account option that allows you to change the picture.
2. To choose a new picture, double-click one of the pictures displayed or click "Browse for more pictures" to find another suitable picture stored elsewhere on your computer.
3. Exit the "User Accounts" window.
Your new picture should now be displayed on the top of the Start menu and on the Windows XP "Welcome" screen.
Start menu Picture
However, there is a quicker way to change the Start menu picture "on the fly".
1. Click "Start" and then click directly on the picture. This will give direct access to the User Account option that allows you to change the picture.
2. To choose a new picture, double-click one of the pictures displayed or click "Browse for more pictures" to find another suitable picture stored elsewhere on your computer.
3. Exit the "User Accounts" window.
Your new picture should now be displayed on the top of the Start menu and on the Windows XP "Welcome" screen.
Hide or Show the Common Tasks Sidebar in Folders
By default, Windows XP displays a "Common Tasks" sidebar in folders. As the name implies, this sidebar allows users to more quickly carry out such common tasks as creating a new sub-folder, sharing the folder, or rapidly accessing other important places on the computer.
Common Tasks Sidebar
However, there are, of course, other ways to achieve these tasks and you may feel that the "Common Tasks" sidebar just wastes your folder real estate, especially if you have folders that contain a large number of files or subfolders. If so, you can easily turn the sidebar off and on as required.
Here's how:
1. Open a folder, click on "Tools" on the Menu bar, and then click on "Folder Options" to open the "Folder Options" window.
2. With the "General" tab selected, click "Use Windows classic folders" to turn off the sidebar or "Show common tasks in folders" to turn on the sidebar.
3. Click "OK" to exit the "Folder Options" window.
Show or Hide common tasks sidebar
Folders should now hide or display the common tasks sidebar depending on your choice in step 2 above. Note that the change will be reflected in all folders, not just the one in which you were working.
Common Tasks Sidebar
However, there are, of course, other ways to achieve these tasks and you may feel that the "Common Tasks" sidebar just wastes your folder real estate, especially if you have folders that contain a large number of files or subfolders. If so, you can easily turn the sidebar off and on as required.
Here's how:
1. Open a folder, click on "Tools" on the Menu bar, and then click on "Folder Options" to open the "Folder Options" window.
2. With the "General" tab selected, click "Use Windows classic folders" to turn off the sidebar or "Show common tasks in folders" to turn on the sidebar.
3. Click "OK" to exit the "Folder Options" window.
Show or Hide common tasks sidebar
Folders should now hide or display the common tasks sidebar depending on your choice in step 2 above. Note that the change will be reflected in all folders, not just the one in which you were working.
Clear the Most Frequently Used Programs List
Windows XP automatically adds shortcuts to programs you use often to the most frequently used programs (MFU) area of the Start menu. These shortcuts are displayed on the bottom left of the Start menu.
This feature can increase your computing efficiency by providing rapid access to programs you use a lot. However, it also allows casual observers or other people who share the use of your computer to see what programs you have been using recently and you may feel that this impinges on your privacy somewhat. You might also want to give the MFU area a fresh start from time to time by clearing the listed programs.
Either way, Windows XP makes clearing the MFU list very simple.
Here's how:
1. Right-click the "Start" button and click "Properties" to open the "Taskbar and Start Menu Properties" window.
2. Click the "Customize" button to open the "Customize Start Menu" window.
3. In the "Programs" area, click the "Clear List" button.
4. Click "OK" to exit the Customize Start Menu" window and "OK" again to exit the "Taskbar and Start Menu Properties" window.
Clear the Most Frequently Used Programs List
The bottom left area of the Start menu should now be blank and ready to begin displaying shortcuts to your frequently used programs all over again.
For another tip about the most frequently used programs area, see:
Change the Maximum Number of Most Frequently Used Program Shortcuts
This feature can increase your computing efficiency by providing rapid access to programs you use a lot. However, it also allows casual observers or other people who share the use of your computer to see what programs you have been using recently and you may feel that this impinges on your privacy somewhat. You might also want to give the MFU area a fresh start from time to time by clearing the listed programs.
Either way, Windows XP makes clearing the MFU list very simple.
Here's how:
1. Right-click the "Start" button and click "Properties" to open the "Taskbar and Start Menu Properties" window.
2. Click the "Customize" button to open the "Customize Start Menu" window.
3. In the "Programs" area, click the "Clear List" button.
4. Click "OK" to exit the Customize Start Menu" window and "OK" again to exit the "Taskbar and Start Menu Properties" window.
Clear the Most Frequently Used Programs List
The bottom left area of the Start menu should now be blank and ready to begin displaying shortcuts to your frequently used programs all over again.
For another tip about the most frequently used programs area, see:
Change the Maximum Number of Most Frequently Used Program Shortcuts
Activate a Screen Saver Instantly.
If you want to keep casual observers from seeing what you are working on when you step away from your computer, or you just want to enjoy your favourite screen savers without the wait, you can create a screen saver shortcut that allows you to activate a screen saver instantly.
Part 1: Locate Screen Saver Files
1. Click "Start" and then click "Search" to open the "Search" window.
2. In the "Search Companion" area, click "All Files and folders".
3. Click the "More advanced options" arrow.
4. Ensure that there are ticks in the "Search system folders" and the "Search sub-folders" check boxes.
5. In the field labelled "All or part of the file name:" enter *.scr
6. In the drop-down list labelled "Look in:", choose the drive where system folders are likely to be stored (probably the "C" drive"). Your search should look like the screenshot shown below.
7. Click the "Search button" to begin searching for screensaver files.
8. When the search is completed, a list of available screen saver files should be displayed in the search window.
earching for Screen Savers
Part 2: Create a screensaver shortcut
1. Choose the screen saver you wish to use. You can double-click on a file to view a preview of the screen saver.
2. Right-click the chosen file and select "Send To" in the context menu.
3. In the "Send To" sub-menu, click "Desktop (create shortcut).
A shortcut icon for your chosen screen saver should now be displayed on the Windows XP desktop. Double-click on this icon any time you wish to activate your screensaver.
If you like, you can even create several screen saver shortcuts on the desktop so that you have a range of instant screen savers to choose from.
Notes:
You may be able to locate suitable screen saver files more quickly by using advanced search options or navigating directly to the files within Windows Explorer.
Activating an instant screen saver via a desktop shortcut will not change the default screen saver you have set in Display Properties. If you have not activated an instant screen saver via a shortcut, the default screen saver will still activate automatically after the amount of idle time specified in Display Properties.
Instant screen savers will not request a password on resume even if you have your normal screen saver configured to require a password in Display Properties.
Part 1: Locate Screen Saver Files
1. Click "Start" and then click "Search" to open the "Search" window.
2. In the "Search Companion" area, click "All Files and folders".
3. Click the "More advanced options" arrow.
4. Ensure that there are ticks in the "Search system folders" and the "Search sub-folders" check boxes.
5. In the field labelled "All or part of the file name:" enter *.scr
6. In the drop-down list labelled "Look in:", choose the drive where system folders are likely to be stored (probably the "C" drive"). Your search should look like the screenshot shown below.
7. Click the "Search button" to begin searching for screensaver files.
8. When the search is completed, a list of available screen saver files should be displayed in the search window.
earching for Screen Savers
Part 2: Create a screensaver shortcut
1. Choose the screen saver you wish to use. You can double-click on a file to view a preview of the screen saver.
2. Right-click the chosen file and select "Send To" in the context menu.
3. In the "Send To" sub-menu, click "Desktop (create shortcut).
A shortcut icon for your chosen screen saver should now be displayed on the Windows XP desktop. Double-click on this icon any time you wish to activate your screensaver.
If you like, you can even create several screen saver shortcuts on the desktop so that you have a range of instant screen savers to choose from.
Notes:
You may be able to locate suitable screen saver files more quickly by using advanced search options or navigating directly to the files within Windows Explorer.
Activating an instant screen saver via a desktop shortcut will not change the default screen saver you have set in Display Properties. If you have not activated an instant screen saver via a shortcut, the default screen saver will still activate automatically after the amount of idle time specified in Display Properties.
Instant screen savers will not request a password on resume even if you have your normal screen saver configured to require a password in Display Properties.
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