Even though you didn’t design or build your computer, you are able to turn it into a machine that works according to your preferences of using it just like you are its original designer or developer. This is due to the fact that the PC is a mere platform – a blank canvas, so to speak – allowing you to direct its operation or create the perfect machine. This all is possible from doing simply a few tweaks in your computer’s present setup. You may get assistance doing this via online PC support.
Your personal computer’s main configurations are housed in the Control Panel of Windows. In this tiny part of Windows OS, you may perform some major changes, starting with how your personal computer desktop looks to the way that your PC reacts to the people who utilize it.
But your settings don’t just affect Windows, they also affect the many programs which are set up on the PC (in addition to the fact that most programs may be tweaked even more via their own configurations). We aren’t going to touch on all of them, but we will describe some of the most common ones so that you can get a feel of the control over your computer which 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 personal computer’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 computer each time you sit down in front of one. Customizing your PC is what makes using a personal computer 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”
Dr. Robert Hosken, the author, has more than 30 years of career work in IT with personal computers. Starting in his teenage years he has set up and run many profitable firms and non-profit organizations. Get his free e-Book “How To Maintain Your Computer” and learn the most efficient methods to utilize your computer at Online PC Support, or see his Offsite Backups page, or contact him at Robert@CompuNerds.Net – thank you!
