Things in my folders are too big or small

Windows XP supports a number of different folder features. For example, you can see the icons in a simple list, by small icons, by thumbnails, and a number of other options. If the icons are too big, you have to scroll all over the place to see what is in the folder if things are too small, you may have difficulty seeing them. No problem, You can easily change how things look in your folders.

On the folder that you want to change, just click the--> View menu on the top toolbar. You see a section containing different file view options, choose the option you want by clicking it. You can return to this menu at any time and try a different setting.

I can’t create a new folder

Cause: 

Folders can be created directly on your desktop by right-clicking an empty area of the desktop and clicking New--> Folder. They can also be created within any folder by clicking File--> New--> Folder.

However, in order to create a new folder, you must actually be in a current folder, or the option does not appear on the File menu. For example, you cannot create a new folder while you are working in an application, such as Microsoft Word. Also, some folders do not allow you to create subfolders. An example is My Computer, which you can find on your Start menu, is a special folder that contains drives on your computer. If you click the File menu in My Computer, there is no option to create a new folder.

Solution:
To fix the problem, make sure you are trying to create a new folder on your
desktop or you are trying to create a new folder using the File menu in a folder that supports subfolders.

Windows XP File and Folder

Whenever information is created and saved—whether that is a document, a picture, a spreadsheet, or just about anything else—that item is saved as a file. A file can then be opened by certain applications that were written to open that kind of file. A folder is an electronic storage place in which you can organize and keep files. Although file and folder usage is quite simple on the surface, there are a number of underlying configuration problems and issues.

Folders are Windows XP containers that are designed to hold files and other folders. The purpose of folders, as you might guess is to organize information. Just like a filing cabinet needs folders in order to structure information in a logical, useful way.

Windows XP uses folders to help you store and locate information. In
fact, Windows XP even uses its own internal folders to keep operating system files organized and accessible to system files and applications. Windows XP tries to help you manage information by giving you a basic folder, which is My Documents, which also contains My Music and My Pictures. Windows XP is smart enough to understand different types of files and it will try to help you organize your information. For example, Windows XP can recognize a picture file and it will prompt you to save the file in the My Pictures folder.

You don’t have to do that of course, but this is another example of Windows XP trying to help you.

Basically, folders are a mainstay of information management and your use of them can make your work with Windows XP much easier.

Narrator reads too slowly

The Narrator feature reads text and dialog boxes that appear on your screen. If the Narrator reads too slowly, you can speed up the voice, and adjust the volume and pitch as well, by using the Voice Settings.

To adjust Voice Settings, just follow these steps:

1. Click Start--> All Programs--> Accessories--> Accessibility--> Narrator.

2. In the Narrator window that appears--> click the Voice button.

3. In the Voice Settings window that appears, increase the Speed value of the voice and the volume and pitch, if you like. Click OK when you are done.

Magnifier does not follow my mouse movements

Magnifier magnifies areas of the screen and is designed to track the mouse cursor, keyboard focus, or any text editing. However, these features have to be enabled. If the Magnifier does not work, then the mouse cursor option has not been turned on.

To turn on mouse cursor tracking, just follow these steps:

1. Click Start--> All Programs--> Accessories--> Accessibility--> Magnifier.

2. In the Magnifier Settings window that appears--> ensure that the mouse cursor tracking option is checked. Click Exit when you are done.

Windows XP keeps turning the monitor off

Windows XP uses a default power scheme that helps conserve energy. A typical default setting is for XP to turn off your monitor after 20 minutes of inactivity. You can turn the monitor on again by simply moving your mouse. If you want to stop this behavior or adjust it, you can easily do so.

To adjust power options, just follow these steps:

1. Click Start--> Control Panel.

2. Double-click--> Power Options.

Note: If you don't see Power Options--> you need to click the Switch to Classic View option in the left Control Panel pane. Then, you'll see the Power Options.

3. On the Power Schemes tab--> you can change the monitor and hard disks turn-off value. You can also use the Power Schemes drop-down menu and choose a different scheme that might work well for you. The schemes simply pre-configure the monitor and hard disks turn-off features, but you can manually change them to whatever you want.

4. Click OK to save your changes.

Lock the Taskbar in Windows XP

The taskbar can be moved to the side or top of your screen by simply dragging it there. If you do not want a user on your computer to be able to move the taskbar, you can lock it into place. Of course, your kids might know how to unlock the feature, but that's a risk you'll have to take.

To lock the taskbar, just follow these steps:

•  Right-click an empty area on the taskbar and click the Lock the Taskbar option.

•  You can also lock the taskbar by accessing the taskbar and Start menu properties and clicking the Lock the Taskbar option on the Taskbar tab.

Display Mycomputer as Menu In Windows XP

Cause: By default, Windows XP will show Control Panel on the Start menu as a 'link'.

This means that you have to click Control Panel to open it from the Start menu. However, you can change this link behavior to a menu so that you can access Control Panel icons directly from the Start menu. When you point to Control Panel on the Start menu, a submenu will pop out showing the icons.

Drag and Drop Items in Start Menu

Cause

Windows XP allows you to drag and drop items on the Start menu.

For example: let's say you are working on a document. You want that document to appear on the Start menu so you can easily access it while you are working on it. No problem, just drag and drop the document on the Start button. This creates a 'shortcut' to your document, it does not actually move the document to the Start menu, but just creates a shortcut to it. If you can't drag and
drop items, then you simply need to turn on the drag and drop feature.

To turn on dragging and dropping on the Start menu, follow these steps:

Change the Default Browser in Start Menu

Start Menu Tips & Tricks

Cause:

Windows XP displays a default browser on the Start menu, which is Internet Explorer (of course). However, you can easily change this behavior so that Netscape (or any other browser setup on your computer) will appear there instead.

To make Netscape or Firefox appear on the Start menu, follow these steps:

1. Right-click on the Start button at the lower-left corner of your screen--> click Properties.

2. Click the Customize button that appears.

3. On the General tab--> make sure the Internet check box is selected--> Use the drop-down menu and select Netscape or Firefox instead of Internet Explorer--> Click OK. Netscape or Firefox should now appear on your Start menu.

General Protection Fault or Stop Error or Blue Screen of Death

STOP ERROR In Windows XP

The blue screen of death (BSOD), is the informal name given by users to the Windows general protection fault (GPF) error. Named in honor of the error's dreaded display image of white text on a blue background, the BSOD is generated by the operating system when it has suddenly terminated with an error. The system locks up and must be rebooted. The blue screen may include some hexadecimal values from a core dump that can potentially be used to determine what caused the crash.

The blue screen of death can strike anyone, anywhere. At the Comdex trade show, Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates encountered the blue screen during a demonstration of Windows 98. (He had a spare computer standing by.)

Windows XP Start Menu Tips

windows XP keeps adding populer items  on the Start menu without my permission.

Windows XP remembers documents and programs that you open and puts an icon for them on the Start menu. This way, you can get to those items by simply clicking Start the next time you want to use them.

In other words, the Start menu tries to learn what you use and keep it available to you. However, this behavior may get on your nerves or cause too much stuff to be listed on the Start menu.


To stop or control Windows XP putting popular items on the Start menu,
follow these steps:

1. Click the Start menu.

2. Any item that has been added can be easily removed by simply right- clicking the icon and clicking Remove from This List.

3. There is no way to keep the XP Start menu from putting popular items on the Start menu--> unless you change the Start menu to the Classic style. This makes the Start menu look and act like older versions of Windows.

To use the Classic Start menu:

• right-click the Start button in the lower-left corner of your screen and click Properties--> On the Start Menu tab--> click the Classic Start Menu radio button.

Desktop Cleanup Wizard will not Stop

This handy wizard is designed to help you get rid of junk that might have collected on your desktop over a period of time. Its default setting is to run every 60 days.

However, you may find the wizard annoying. In which case, you don't want it to run at all. No worries, though-you can stop this headache easily.

To stop the Desktop Cleanup Wizard from automatically running, follow
these steps:

1. Click Start--> Control Panel.

2. Double-click Display--> Click the Desktop tab.

3. Click the Customize Desktop button.

4. On the Desktop Items--> General tab--> locate the Run Desktop Cleanup Wizard every 60 days check box--> Clear the check box and click OK.

Cannot use Windows XP Theme after making Changes

When you make a change to the Windows XP theme, Windows XP renames the theme
as Windows XP (Modified). You can easily return the default Windows XP theme at any time by choosing it from the steps below.

To use the default theme, follow these steps:

1. Click Start--> Control Panel.

2. Double-click Display--> Click the Themes tab.

3. In the Theme drop-down list--> select Windows XP--> and click OK to apply the default theme.

Cannot Display Web Page

Don't worry. If you loved the Web-based desktop you could first use in Windows 98, it is still found in Windows XP. In Windows 98, you had to turn on the Active Desktop to use Web content, but this feature is integrated in Windows XP. In other words, the feature is here
all of the time, but the configuration place is hidden.

To display a Web page on your desktop, follow these steps:

1. Click Start--> Control Panel.

2. Double-click Display--> Click the Desktop tab.

3. Click the Customize Desktop button.

4. Click the Web tab--> To choose a Web page to download and display on your desktop--> click the New button.

5. In the New Desktop Item window--> enter the URL for the Web page you want to display--> and click OK.

Windows XP will connect to the Web site and download the page to your desktop.

Colour Background in Windows XP

Depending on your computer, wallpaper may already be set up for you. No problem, you can change it to different wallpaper or none at all. If you do not want to use wallpaper, but a simple background color, you can do that too.

To use no wallpaper, follow these steps:

1. Click Start--> Control Panel.

2. Double-click Display--> Click the Desktop tab.

3. On the Desktop tab--> change the Background setting to (None) in the list. Then, use the Color drop-down menu--> and select a background color that you want to use.

Remember that you can experiment and use different colors until you find the one that is right for you.

Icons do not appear on my desktop

Cause

Windows XP attempts to make your life easier by removing all of the icons, except Recycle Bin, from the desktop.

This may annoy you, however, so you can easily get back standard desktop icons if you want. You can do this in a couple of different ways, but the
easiest is to use the Customize Desktop feature.

To put icons back on the desktop, follow these steps:

1. Click Start--> Control Panel.

2. Double-click Display--> Click the Desktop tab.

3. Click the Customize Desktop button.

4. On the Desktop Items window--> General tab--> click the check boxes next to the desktop icons you want to show--> such as My Documents, My Computer, and so on. When you are done--> click OK.

Computer Returns to Logon Screen When Idle

Cause

As a safety feature, Windows XP sends you back to the logon screen if the computer is idle for a certain period of time. This can be a real pain, but the problem is easily fixed. This XP security feature works with screen saver functions and you can easily stop it from happening.

To stop XP from taking you back to the logon screen after an idle period, follow these steps:

1. Click Start--> Control Panel.

2. Double-click Display--> and then click the Screen Saver tab.

3. On the Screen Saver tab--> clear the check box that says On Resume, Password Protect.

My desktop fonts are too small

Cause

If the fonts under your icons and on window menus are too small, you can easily

change the size of the font without screwing up everything else. Windows XP automatically assigns a standard font size, but that size may not be right for you.

Follow these steps:

1. Click Start--> Control Panel.

2. Open the Display icon by double-clicking it.

3. Click the Appearance tab. As you can see in the following illustration, you have a drop-down menu for Font Size. 

4. Click the menu and choose a larger size. Then click OK.

My display seems distorted

Cause

You really need a new video card. However, if you can't change the card just yet, you might resolve the problem by adjusting the hardware features of the card.

This is an easy try, so if the Issue is not solved there is no harm done.

To fix the distortion problem, follow these steps below:

1. Click Start--> Control Panel.

2. Open the Display icon by double-clicking it--> Click the Settings tab.


3. Click the Advanced button--> and then click the Troubleshoot tab

4. You can try to resolve the problem by lowering the Hardware Acceleration slider bar. When you move the bar a notch, you'll see what display features are being removed. You can try different settings and see if the problem is resolved.

5. Also, try clearing the Enable Write Combining check box. This may also resolve distortion problems.

You'll need to experiment here to see if the settings will help you,
but they may help you.