Utility Manager

When Utility Manager starts is automatically starts narrator? Assuming you've just opened the Utility Manager (press the Windows logo key + U or select Start, Programs, Accessories, Accessibility, Utility Manager), select "Narrator is running," deselect "Start automatically when Utility Manager starts," then click OK.

Many of you that have updated their systems to Windows XP have encountered problems. It appears that the number one problem is software drivers for all the devices you have installed in your system. 

If you know exactly what devices are causing the problem and you still have access to the Internet then go to the manufacture's web site and get the latest software.

Another solution is to go to one of the non-Microsoft update sites and have the site check your system. 

Hardware Inventory

If you haven't installed Windows XP, and plan to, then your first item of business is to go to those manufacture's web sites and check for updated software drivers for use with Windows XP. 

Don't know what hardware is in your computer? Go to My Computer -> Control Panel -> System -> Device Manager. All your hardware is here. You could check the properties of each one or just click the Print button. It takes several pages but then you will have a hardcopy of what is installed in your computer.

Windows Explorer Folder Properties Customize tab.	Thumbnails view default setting.	Thumbnails view with customized picture for folder.

In a previous tip, we showed you how in Thumbnails view you could see what pictures are in a folder. Would you like to put a picture of your choice on individual folders to remind you of what's inside? (Note: Don't change the default folder icon, or you won't see the picture.)

Right-click a folder, select Properties and click the Customize tab. Click Choose Picture, navigate your way to the desired picture, then click OK.

And remember, you'll only see the picture in Thumbnails view. (To switch to Thumbnails view, open a folder and select View, Thumbnails.)

Magnifier Settings

When the magnifier is started the settings windows will open. 

There are three ways the magnifier will function. It can follow your mouse pointer, follow the keyboard focus (The Active Window,) follow text editing. You can have all three active at one time. You can set the magnifier level. Final setting are for presentation.

When you start magnifier it will appear at the top of your desktop. You can float the magnifier by holding down the mouse pointer on the magnifier image and dragging the magnifier view anywhere on the desktop. You can also resize the magnifier. If you have the magnifier floating then you can resize the magnifier window like any application window. If you have the magnifier at the top of the desktop then you can resize the magnifier like you would the taskbar. 

Accessibility Utility is strangely enough called the Utility Manager.

In our previous tip we showed how you could use the magnifier within the Taskbar. Another method for using the magnifier (There is always more than one way to do everything in Windows.) is through the Accessibility Utility called the Utility Manager. Through this utility you will be able to start the magnifier as well as the Narrator and the on-screen keyboard.

Before running the Utility Manager you should first run the Accessibility Wizard. The wizard will help Windows XP determine your disabilities. Whatever settings you select with the wizard can be changed later.

The Accessibility Wizard is located at: The Accessibility Utility is located at All Programs -> Accessories -> Accessibility -> Accessibility Wizard

The Utility Manager is located at All Programs -> Accessories -> Accessibility -> Utility Manager

Windows XP recommends you start the Utility Manger from the shortcut: Windows logo key + U. The stated reason for this is:

If you open Utility Manager from the Start menu, it cannot manage your programs when you lock or unlock your computer.

Instead, exit Utility Manager and restart it by pressing Windows logo key + U.

Once the Utility Manager is running you can start and stop any of the three utilities.

Taskbar Properties Menu	Example of magnifier at work.	Example of magnifier at work. This is the magnified view.

note: click image to view full size version.

december 6, 2001: correction - In order to use the Taskbar magnifier you have to install the PowerToys for Windows XP.

For many people reading a computer screen is just not possible. Mainly because the screen characters are to small. Windows XP provides a magnifier to help overcome this problem. You can start the magnifier from the Accessibility utility (Windows Key + U) or you can go directly to the Taskbar. To load the magnifier onto the Taskbar: right-click on any empty area of the Taskbar and select Properties. Select Toolbars. Select Taskbar Magnifier. We provide an example of the magnifier at work.

Start button shortcut menu for Administrator

Start button shortcut menu for User

note: click image to view full size version.

Windows XP Administrators can add a shortcut to the All Programs menu for all users. Actually Administrators can do just about anything they want to any users Start Menu. So be careful who you give Administrator rights to.

Right-click the Start button, and then click Open All Users. On the File menu, point to New, and then click Shortcut. Follow the instructions in the Create Shortcut Wizard.

The only difference between today's tip and yesterdays is Open All vs Open. You must also be logged on to an account that has Administrator rights.

Start button shortcut menu for Administrator

Start button shortcut menu for User

note: click image to view full size version.

To add a shortcut to the All Programs menu or Classic Start menu right-click the Start button, and then click Open. Locate the menu folder where you want to add an item. On the File menu, point to New, and then click Shortcut. Follow the instructions in the Create Shortcut Wizard.

You can also move/copy/delete any item as you would any item in Windows Explorer. That's because you are using Windows Explorer.

Start Menu Advanced Properties

Start Menu

note: click image to view full size version.

The Windows XP Start Menu Advanced Properties allows users to decide how items on the right side of the Start Menu behave. My ... Items can be set as a link, as a menu, or don't display. Others, such as Help and Support, can be on or off. 

If a My ... item is set to a link then it will open that item in Windows Explorer.

Currently My Recent Documents is the only item that is set to work as a menu. note: Menu items will have the small right arrow on the right. Try setting My Computer to a menu item.

The Advanced Properties is also the place to clear your Recent documents list. Seems like a long journey just to clear a list. 

In the previous tip we showed the Start Menu General Properties. In general, no pun intended, the General Properties works with items on the left side of the Start Menu and the Advanced Properties works with items on the right side of the Start Menu. 

Start Menu Properties

The General Tab for Start Menu

note: click image to view full size version.

The new Windows XP Start Menu has its own properties. To examine those properties right-click the Start Button and select Properties. From the Start Menu tab click Customize button for the Start Menu. From the General tab you can select: Large or Small Icons - The number of Last Used Programs - You can also clear the Last Used Program list - You can remove the browser and the e-mail program from the Start Menu.

note: When you remove the browser or e-mail programs from the Start Menu you are not uninstalling either program. This option only removes them from their special location on the Start Menu. 

note: click image to view full size version.

Whenever you start an application it will be added to the Windows XP Start Menu. If you like you can Pin that application to the Start Menu or remove it. Removing the app[lication] from the Start Menu's recent run apps doesn't delete the app from anywhere else. To Pin an app will put it above the recent run apps list. You probably already have Internet Explorer and Outlook in the Pinned list. Once an app is pinned to the Start Menu it can be removed at any time.

To remove/pin an application select the application and left-click to get the context menu. Now you can either remove (Remove from This List) the application from the Recently Run apps list or Pin the App (Pin to Start Menu) to the Start Menu. If the app is already pinned to the Start Menu you can unpin the app.

Windows XP Explorer has added several new features. If you are using the Details view you can see the details that you can sort items: name, date, type, etc. Now you can add/remove many more detail types. Go to the View Menu and select Choose Details. The list is long. You can also set the column width and the position of the detail. 

Remember you can always move a Detail column by dragging the detail to the position you require while in the Details View. And you can resize a column by grabbing the border of a detail and moving left or right.

Previously, we showed you how to add, remove or expand items on the right side of the Windows XP Start menu. One of the folder links you won't find listed here is My Recent Documents. This item was fairly controversial in previous versions of Windows, so Windows XP gives it its own space.

Just below the Start menu items list, you'll see some Recent documents options. Select 'List my most recently-opened documents' for Start menu access to your 15 most-recently-used files. Or, if you don't like this information displayed so readily, deselect the same option.

When you open the Windows XP Start menu, you notice a shaded row of options on its right side -- My Documents, My Pictures, My Music, Favorites and so on. See anything there that you don't need or want? Remove it. While you're at it, you can change certain links (without arrows to expand them) into pop-out menus, or vice versa.

Right-click the Start button or a blank area of the Start menu and select Properties. On the Start Menu tab, next to 'Start menu,' click the Customize button. Click the Advanced tab and you'll see certain items selected under Start menu items. To remove an item from the Start menu, de-select it or choose its 'Don't display this item' option.

To display a commonly-used item, such as the Control Panel or My Documents folder, as a pop-out menu, select 'Display as menu' below that item. When you're through making changes, click OK.

With Windows XP you can now view a small (thumbnail) images of your graphics. If you have the Status Bar enabled you can also get image size data as well. This is great for viewing all those vacation photographs. Quickly find and print the photograph you want. All this from Windows Explorer.

Open Windows Explorer. To view thumbnails: View -> Thumbnails. To view the Status Bar: View -> Status Bar. To print a file: Select the file and from the File menu select Print.