Operating Systems I
Customizing the User
Interface
MCT260-Operating Systems I
Primary Learning Objective
Customizing the User Interface
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Specific Learning Objectives
• Modify the Taskbar, Quick Launch toolbar,
and Start Menu items
• Use the Run command to start a program
• Add new folders/shortcuts to the desktop
• Modify the Windows screen display
• Select and modify a Windows screen-saver
• Modify the appearance of a CLI window
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The Taskbar
• Moving, resizing, hiding, and locking the
Taskbar
• The Quick Launch toolbar lets you add a
group of buttons to the taskbar that you can
use to start your favorite programs.
• The system tray displays the active services of
the computer, such as the anti-virus program,
network connections, and the clock
• Table 3-1 on page 99 of XP Book shows
taskbar options
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Start Menu
• Right-click on the Taskbar, select Properties, and
then choose the Start Menu tab
• Classic or XP Start Menu??
• Both have a feature to allow you to customize the
way you look at the Start menu
• Both have advanced options but they are
different
• The advanced button in the Classic mode takes
you into Windows Explorer so you can add and
delete shortcuts
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Use the Run Command
• Another method of starting or opening a
program.
• Click Start > Run and enter the path and file
name of the program you wish to start or you
can browse to find the program.
• For example, you can start the CLI by typing
“CMD” or open Notepad by typing
“C:\Windows\notepad”
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Add Folders/Files and Shortcuts
to the Desktop or Another Folder
• Drag the file to a new location with the right
mouse button and select Create Shortcut
• Right-click the file and select Create
Shortcut
• Right-click the open area of any folder or
the desktop and select New > Shortcut for a
shortcut or New > Folder for a folder
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Control Panel
• Used to change the various settings of your
computer and Windows.
• To open use Start > Settings > Control
Panel (classic view) or Start >Control Panel
or My Computer and double-click Control
Panel
• Control Panel items and their descriptions –
Table 4-1 page 115 XP book
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Control Panel - Classic
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Control Panel - XP
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Customizing Windows
• Open the Display properties dialog box by rightclicking a blank area on the desktop and select
properties
• Change Windows Colors and Appearance
• Add wallpaper to the desktop
• Adjust the screen resolution which has to do
with how much information can be displayed on
the screen. Higher resolutions (1024 by 768)
show more than lower ones (800 by 600)
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Using a Screen Saver
• A moving image that appears on the computer
screen during periods of inactivity
• Formally used to protect screens from screen
burn which isn’t a problem today
• More important today is the capability to
conserve power by having the monitor switch
to a low-power standby mode or even turning
itself off after it has been idle
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Modifying The CLI Interface
• Changing features using the CLI program
icon
• Change the command prompt appearance
by using the CLI command: PROMPT
• How can you determine the syntax of the
PROMPT command?
• The normal prompt of C:\> is achieved by
using the PROMPT $P$G command
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Summary
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Taskbar
Start Menu
Run Command
Adding files, folders, and shortcuts
Control Panel
Customizing Windows
Using Screen Saver/Energy-Saving Features
Modifying the CLI
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Homework Assignment
• Reading: Windows XP Textbook – Chap 3
and 4
• Lab Exercise 8: Modify the User Interface
• Due Date: A Week from Next Tuesday
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