MCSE Windows Server 2003 AIO Exam Guide 270 Ch.

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Chapter 5

Working with the XP Desktop

In this chapter, you will learn how to

• Manage user profiles

• Configure XP for multiple languages and locales

• Work with Windows Installer packages

• Configure and troubleshooting desktop settings

• Configure and troubleshoot accessibility options

For those of us who have grown tired of the look of the Windows Me and 2000 desktop,
Windows XP gives us the change we were looking for. Along with the addition of many new
background features, Windows XP introduces a new interface designed to provide a less
cluttered approach to the desktop. In this chapter, we look at administering and managing the
Windows XP desktop and compare some of the similarities and differences between working
with previous Windows desktops and the new Windows XP desktop.

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(1)Introducing the XP Desktop

There was a time when we would power up our Windows NT 3.x or Windows 3.x
systems and stare in awe at the slick graphical interface—and rightly so. What we had stared at
previously was a command prompt. Today, both the command prompt and those early GUIs are
well behind us with Windows XP setting a new standard in graphical desktop environments.
Although the improvements Windows XP introduces over the Windows Me/2000 interface may
be less dramatic than the transition from command prompt to the GUIs of yesteryear, its easy-to-
use menus and straightforward approach make it arguably the best graphical environment
available today. For those who have not yet seen it in all its glory, Figure 5-1 shows the default
desktop screen of a Windows XP system.

Figure 1: Default Windows XP desktop screen

Notice that when Windows XP Professional is installed, few icons are on the desktop.
Microsoft has elected to adopt a less cluttered approach than with previous versions of Windows.
Of course the default look of the desktop shown in Figure 5-1 is just the beginning. Like other

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Windows versions, the desktop is completely configurable and can be customized to better suit
the needs of the users.

Even though Windows XP introduces a new look to the desktop, if you have worked with
the desktop of other Windows versions, you should have no problems finding your way around
in XP. Many of the utilities and programs that were used in other versions reappear in XP— their
location may just be a little different. Knowing how to navigate around the XP desktop is
obviously important for practical reasons as well for the exam. Therefore, we will introduce
some of the key features of the XP desktop and compare and contrast these features to other
Windows versions.

Exam Tip: To put the My Documents, My Computer, My Network Places, and the
Internet Explorer icons on the desktop, right-click an empty space on the
desktop, and select Properties. The Display Properties dialog box opens, where
you select the Desktop tab, click the Customize Desktop button, and ensure that
the check boxes next to each of the icons are selected.

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(2)Start Menu
It seems like only yesterday that the Rolling Stones succumbed to Microsoft marketing
and the song “Start Me Up” was being used to promote the new Windows 95 Start Menu desktop
feature. Today, the once-heralded Start menu has become the norm and appears on all Windows
workstation and server platforms. Windows XP is no exception, but it is a revamped Start menu
designed to make those often-used programs easier to access by automatically adding the most
used programs to the top-level menu. Like the Start menu of other Windows products, it is
configurable, allowing you to decide how to use it. Figure 5-2 shows the Start menu from a
Windows XP system.

Figure 2: The Windows XP Start menu

As you can see, the Start menu is divided into two sections. The white, left-hand, side of
the screen is the user-based portion of the Start menu, which maintains shortcuts to those
frequently accessed programs. The left-hand menu has two parts: the pinned programs list are
the programs listed above the separator line, and the frequently used programs list are the items
located below the separator line. The programs in the pinned programs list are static and remain
there as permanent shortcuts to programs. The default pinned programs list includes Internet and

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e-mail shortcuts, but additional programs can be pinned, or manually attached, as needed. In
contrast, the frequently used programs list is dynamic and changes automatically to include
shortcuts to the most recently accessed programs.

The right-hand column of the Start menu includes familiar icons from other Windows
versions, including Search, Run, and Help and Support. If you feel the change is not a good one,
you can elect to use the classic Windows Start menu used with Windows 2000 if your prefer. To
use the classic Start menu, right-click the Start button and select Properties, which will open the
Taskbar And Start Menu Properties dialog box. From here, you can customize both the new
Windows XP Start menu as well as the classic Start menu.

(2)Taskbar
The taskbar is not new in Windows XP, and it is just one of those features we have come
to expect. That said, the Windows XP taskbar is a little different than the taskbar found in earlier
Window versions and was designed with the less-cluttered desktop approach in mind. Figure 5-3
shows an example of the Windows XP taskbar.

Figure 3: The Windows XP taskbar

There are three separate parts of the Windows XP taskbar, each of which provides a
specific function that can be customized to better suit a user’s individual needs. First, on the left
side of the taskbar is the Quick Launch menu that permits users to access their most frequently
used programs with a single click. To add programs to the Quick Launch portion of the taskbar,
open My Computer or Windows Explorer, click the icon for the program you wish to add, and
drag it into the Quick Launch area of the taskbar. To remove a shortcut from the Quick Launch
menu, right-click the shortcut you wish to remove and select Delete.

The right-hand side of the taskbar is the Notification Area. Here, you will see the time
displayed and other resident utilities and programs that might be running in the background,
including e-mail programs, virus checkers, or Windows Task Manager.

The final area of the taskbar provides a button for each open document or program. This
section was often very crowded in previous Windows versions, which reduced its functionality.

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To keep the taskbar from becoming cluttered, Windows XP groups together the programs that
come from a single source. For instance, if you had several web sites accessed in Internet
Explorer, they would all be grouped together and take up only a single section on the taskbar. If a
button in the taskbar shows a down arrow, there are programs grouped together. To see a list of
the programs in a group, simply click in the arrow.

In addition to these three areas, you can add additional toolbars to the taskbar if desired.
For example, a user can choose to add any or all of the following:

• Address The Address toolbar provides an area where you can type in a URL address to
quickly access a web page without first having to open your browser. Previously accessed
web sites are automatically saved to the drop-down menu for quick access when you need to
access the same web site. The quick access menu is dynamic, listing the 25 most recently
accessed sites. When new web sites are accessed, the more stale ones are dropped from the
list to make room for the new ones. This works the same as the quick access menu used by
Internet Explorer.

• Links The Links toolbar provides a quick and easy method of accessing your favorite web
sites. In this area, you can add specific web links that are not dynamic, like with the Address
toolbar. To add a web page link to the Links menu, drag the icon for the web page from the
Address toolbar directly to the Links toolbar. Similarly, you can drag a web page icon from
your Favorites in Internet Explorer directly to the Links toolbar.

• Language The Language toolbar provides a quick way to switch between languages and
keyboard layouts.

• Desktop The Desktop toolbar provides instant access to the documents or programs located
on the desktop.

• New Using this feature, it is possible to create links to other folders on the computer
system.

Exam Tip: During the exam, you may be asked to identify the function of various taskbar
toolbars. For example, you should be able to identify the function of the
Language toolbar and know why it is used.

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(1)Configuring and Managing User Profiles and Desktop Settings

In an ideal world, we would each have our own computer systems used by only
ourselves, and when we turned our systems on, every icon, shortcut, and application would be
just how we left it. In reality, however, our systems are often shared with coworkers or family
members, each of whom are likely to mess with the perfect desktop we have so carefully
constructed. For this reason, Windows XP Professional was designed to accommodate a
multiuser environment and supports the use of multiple users on the same PC by using profiles.

A user profile dictates the look and feel of the desktop, including the program shortcuts,
application settings, network and printer settings, and so on. When a user first logs on to the
Windows XP computer, a default profile is created for that user. This profile is modified as the
user makes changes, and these changes—such as application shortcuts and various settings—are
loaded each time the user logs on to the system. A Windows XP system can accommodate
multiple profiles, allowing different users to log on to the same system and have access to their
individual desktop configuration and system settings. The following list describes the type of
information contained in a user profile:

• Application settings Word processors and other applications will maintain user-specific

settings in the profile. This includes everything from language settings to any additional fonts
and customized settings you may have made.

• Control Panel A user profile will maintain all of the customized Control Panel settings,
This such as display and keyboard settings, etc.

• Printer settings A profile will include information on network printer configurations,

which is especially useful when using roaming profiles. For practical reasons, the local
printer settings are not written to the profile.

• Taskbar and Start menu The custom changes you make to both the Start menu and the
taskbar are written to the profile.

• Desktop settings All desktop configurations are saved to the profile, including any mapped
drives that may have been set up.

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In addition to the specific settings maintained in the user profile, several default folders
are created for each of the individual user’s profiles. Table 5-1 shows some of the various folders
and their uses.

Note: Many of these folders are hidden by default. To view them from Windows
Explorer, select Tools | Folder Options to open the Folder Options dialog box.
Select the View tab and choose the option to view hidden files and folders.

Folder Description
Application Data Application-specific settings are stored in this
folder.
Cookies This file maintains the user’s Internet Explorer
cookies.
Desktop The desktop folder maintains the user-specific
desktop settings, such as shortcuts and
anything else located on the desktop.
Favorites This folder maintains a list of your favorite
Internet Explorer bookmarks. This allows you
to access your favorites from different
computers on the network when using roaming
profiles.
Local Settings This folder stores settings used by the local
profile and not a roaming profile. Local and
roaming profiles are discussed in the next
section.
My Documents This folder maintains the documents created by
the user and is the default location for saving
all user files.
My Recent Documents This folder stores shortcuts to the user’s
recently used documents.
NetHood This folder stores network information,
including mapped drives and offline web

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folders.
PrintHood This folder stores print-related items and
shortcuts.
SendTo The SendTo folder includes shortcuts to
applications such as e-mail applications and to
storage locations such as the floppy drive and
the My Documents folder.
Start menu This folder maintains a collection of shortcuts
for program executables.

Table 1: Default Folders Used with Profiles

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(2)Fast User Switching

New to Windows XP is a feature known as Fast User Switching. In environments where
multiple users share a computer, Fast User Switching makes it possible to switch between users
without having to close down programs being used by another user. This means you can use a
system without having to log off and log back on as a different user. Instead, you can just keep
switching between users without closing any existing programs. Figure 5-4 shows the Fast User
Switching screen.

Figure 4: The Fast User Switching screen

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Switching between users is a straightforward process: simply click the Start button,
choose the Log Off option, click Switch User, and then select the user account you would like to
log on with. Figure 5-5 shows the Fast User Switching option screen.

Figure 5: Fast User Switching option screen

When implementing the Fast User Switching feature, there are a few caveats:

• The Fast User Switching option is available only if it has been turned on in the User
Accounts applet in the Control Panel. It is enabled by default when XP is installed but
may have been turned off for some reason such as when offline files are being used.

• If it has been disabled, Fast User Switching can be reenabled only by those with
Administrative privileges.

• If you are a member of a domain, you are out of luck. Fast User Switching will be
disabled on computers that are members of a network domain.

• As a safeguard measure, you cannot turn off Fast User Switching while multiple users
are logged on to the system. Also, Serial Keys (the accessibility feature) will not work
when FUS is turned on.

(1)Configuring Support for Multiple Languages and Locales

Given the proliferation of Windows operating systems worldwide, it is only natural to
expect that it support multiple languages and locales. Many companies today are not bound by
international borders and so require their systems to be able to accommodate international
settings and multiple languages. In Windows XP, setting the language and locale settings is done
using the Regional And Language Options icon in the Control Panel.

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(2)Configuring Locales
When we talk about configuring locales, we are talking about a collection of settings
specific to cultural and regional standards. These settings are used by applications to implement
the correct set of symbols or characters, such as the following:

• Number formats

• Currency

• Local time and date format

• Local calendar settings

• Character code conversion tables

All of these settings are configured in the Regional And Language Options dialog box,
accessed through the Control Panel. Figure 5-6 shows the Regional And Language Options
dialog box.

Figure 6: The Regional And Language Options dialog box

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The Languages tab is used to add, remove, or configure support for different input
languages and keyboard layouts. When additional language inputs are added, an icon appears on
the taskbar menu screen indicating which input language is currently being used and provides a
method to quickly switch between the different input languages. When you click the Language
icon on the taskbar, a menu appears allowing you to select any of the languages currently
supported on your system. Figure 5-7 shows the taskbar with the menu screen for input
languages displayed.

Figure 7: The taskbar languages menu, allowing you to quickly move between languages

Most of the files for languages supported by Windows XP are installed by default.
However, if you need to install support for East Asian Languages (Chinese, Japanese, and
Korean) or more complex script languages such as Arabic, Hebrew, Thai, or Vietnamese, these
will need to be installed later. These tasks are also performed from the Languages tab in the
Regional And Language Options applet. Table 5-2 summarizes the features of the Regional And
Language Options applet.

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Exam Tip: The muisetup.exe program can be run from the Multilanguage version of the
Windows XP Professional CD-ROM to install support for additional languages.

Note: You must be logged on as Administrator or be a member of the Administrators

group to install East Asian Language files.

Task Tab
Change how system displays numbers, Regional Options
currency, times, and dates
Add a new language Languages
Install East Asian language support Languages
Add another keyboard layout On the Languages tab, under Text services and
input languages, click Details

Table 2: Regional and Languages Options Applet

(1)Managing Applications by Using Windows Installer Packages

Many of the utilities and features in Windows XP are designed for ease of use and
management. One such feature is the Windows Installer. Introduced in Windows 2000, the
Windows Installer is a utility that supports on-demand installation of software packages. For
example, an application can be initially installed with a minimum set of features activated, but
with additional features that can be installed automatically the first time a user attempts to access
them. This means features that are not installed with the original installation can be installed on
the fly when needed. Further, the Windows Installer can be configured to uninstall features of a
program that are unneeded and perform automatic application repair on damaged or corrupt
applications.

The Windows Installer Service requires two parts: the installer service itself, and installer
package files which have an .msi (Microsoft Installer) extension. The installation package
includes all of the information that the Windows Installer requires to successfully install or
uninstall a program. Once an application has been installed, the Windows Installer service can
check the state of the program when it is launched. In this way, the service is always checking to
see if an application needs to be repaired.

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The Windows Installer Service is also better at uninstalling applications than in previous
Windows versions. It does this by keeping track of all files that are installed and where they are
located. When it comes time to uninstall, it knows where to find all of the components associated
with a particular program.

(2)Transforms
The .msi file contains an informational database, and from time to time, this may need to
be modified either to add more functionality or correct a problem in an application. This can be
done using transforms. Transform files (.mst) are used to modify and customize an .msi installer
package. The transform file adds or replaces parts of the original .msi database file and is
sometimes used to customize the installation package for a specific group of users, or to apply
fixes to an application. Windows Installer can apply transforms only during the installation of the
program, uses the information in the .mst file itself, and does not directly modify the .msi file.

Note: Patch packages can also be used to customize an application; however, they are
less versatile than transform files and are used to address specific bugs in an
application. Patch packages, which use an .msp extension, cannot modify any
components or features.

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(1)Configuring and Troubleshooting Accessibility Services

Accessibility options were introduced in previous Windows versions and make an
appearance once again in Windows XP. Accessibility options are designed to increase the
system’s usability for the hearing, visually, and the mobility impaired and when configured
correctly, do the job very well. Accessibility options are configured from the Accessibility
Options applet in the Control Panel, and no additional hardware or software is required to use
them. Figure 5-8 shows the Accessibility Options dialog box.

Figure 8: Accessibility Options, designed to improve a system’s usability

To get a better idea of what the accessibility options are and what they are designed to do,
we will examine the different features individually.

(2)The Keyboard Tab

Three accessibility options allow users to customize their keyboard. Each of these options
is turned on or off by using various keyboard shortcuts or by selecting the Accessibility Option
applet in the Control Panel.

(3)StickyKeys
Some of the keyboard commands we issue require that multiple keys be pressed
simultaneously, for example, displaying menu screens in applications or other shortcuts.

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StickyKeys are designed for people who have difficulty holding down two keys at the same time.
It works by configuring the CRTL, ALT, SHIFT or the WINDOWS LOGO key to remain activated until
another key is pressed.

The StickyKey feature can be started with a unique method—by pressing the SHIFT key
five times, you can activate the StickyKey feature.

(3)FilterKeys
FilterKeys are designed to detect and ignore brief repeated keystrokes. They can also be
used to configure the rate at which a key repeats when you hold it down. FilterKeys can be
started by holding down the right SHIFT key for 8 seconds.

(3)ToggleKeys
The ToggleKeys cause the computer to make a sound when the CAPS LOCK, NUM LOCK, or
SCROLL LOCK keys are turned on. Similarly, the ToggleKeys feature will also make a sound when
these keys are turned off. The ToggleKeys feature is enabled by default and can be accessed by
holding down the NUM LOCK key for 5 seconds.

(2)The Sound Tab

For the hearing impaired, two accessibility options allow for easier use of the system.
Both of these options involve using visual indicators to augment the sound in the system.

(3)SoundSentry
The SoundSentry accessibility option is designed for those people who cannot hear the
sounds generated by the system. SoundSentry allows you to configure visual indicators for sound
warnings, such as a flashing desktop or flashing the active caption bar. SoundSentry can be
configured from the Accessibility Options applet in the Control Panel.

(3)ShowSounds
As the name suggests, the ShowSounds feature allows programs that use sound to convey
information to the user, to also provide visual indicators. The ShowSounds feature works by
displaying captions for speech used by a program and also using informative icons. This

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explanation may seem a little cryptic; to really get an idea of how it works, enable the
ShowSounds feature and work with it for a while.

(2)The Display Tab

For the visually impaired, Windows XP includes a high-contrast feature that uses color
schemes and fonts designed to make the screen easier to read. The High Contrast feature can be
enabled by using the left ALT-LEFT SHIFT-PRINT SCREEN key combination. Once activated, you can
choose from a number of different high contrast settings. Figure 5-9 shows the Settings For High
Contrast dialog box.

Figure 9: Making the screen easier to read

The Display tab in the Accessibility Options dialog box also enables you to set the cursor
options, including the cursor blink rate and the cursor width.

Exam Tip: Be prepared to identify the purpose of the high contrast feature and where it
is configured.

(2)The Mouse Tab

To customize the mouse for easier use, you can use the MouseKeys feature. Mousekeys
allow you to set the mouse pointer speed and acceleration. In addition to setting the mouse cursor
speeds, you can elect to use the numeric keypad to move the mouse cursor around the screen.

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You can access the MouseKeys option from the Accessibility Options applet in the Control Panel
or by pressing the left ALT-LEFT SHIFT-NUM LOCK key combination.

(2)The General Tab

From the General tab in the Accessibility Options dialog box, you can choose to have the
accessibility feature turn off after a specified amount of idle time, enable sounds when
accessibility options are turned on or off, or enable SerialKey devices. SerialKey devices are
designed to replace standard mouse and keyboard devices using the system’s serial ports.

Table 5-4 summarizes the key features available from the Accessibility Options applet.

Task Tab
Ignore brief or repeated keystrokes. Keyboard (FilterKeys)
Enable onscreen visual warnings for system Sound
events.
Configure colors and fonts for easier reading. Display (High Contrast)
Move cursor using the numeric keypad. Mouse (MouseKeys)

Table 3: Accessibility Options Applet

(2)Additional Accessibility Options

In addition to the accessibility options already discussed, there are a few more in
Windows XP you need to be aware of. You access these accessibility options by clicking Start |
All Programs | Accessories | and selecting the Accessibility menu. The Accessibility menu
contains the Accessibility Wizard and four more accessibility options: the Magnifier, Narrator,
On-Screen keyboard, and the Utility Manager.

(3)Magnifier
The magnifier is quite simply just that—a utility that magnifies the screen, making it
easier to read for the visually impaired. The magnifier displays a separate window that shows an
enlarged portion of the screen. The size of the magnified portion of the screen can be modified,
as can the color scheme used.

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(3)Narrator
The narrator utility is used to convert text to speech for visually impaired users. The
narrator will read your screen, including what you have typed, menu options, and the contents of
the active window.

You can choose to allow the narrator to read all of these elements, or you can configure
the feature to customize the way your screen is read. This includes determining whether to have
typed characters read aloud and the pitch, speed, and volume of the narrator itself.

(3)On-Screen Keyboard
The On-Screen Keyboard is a virtual keyboard on the computer screen used by those with
mobility restrictions and who might require a joystick or another pointing device. Three typing
modes are used with the On-Screen Keyboard:

• Clicking mode As the name suggests, in the clicking mode, the user clicks on the onscreen
keys to type text.

• Scanning mode The scanning mode is a feature whereby the On-Screen Keyboard

highlights keys that you can select using an input device such as a joystick or a configured
hot key such as the space bar.

• Hovering mode In hovering mode, the user uses a mouse or joystick to select characters
from the On-Screen Keyboard.

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(3)Utility Manager
The Utility Manager is used to check the status of the accessibility programs on the
system and can also be used to start and stop accessibility services. The accessibility programs
managed by the Utility Manager include the Magnifier, Narrator, and the On-Screen Keyboard.
The Utility Manager can be opened by pressing the WINDOWS LOGO key-U. Figure 5-10 shows the
Utility Manager dialog box.

Figure 10: The Utility Manager, monitoring accessibility services

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(1)Configuring and Troubleshooting the Desktop Environment Using

the Control Panel
As with other Windows versions, when it comes time to configure or troubleshoot the
desktop environment, the first place to go is the Control Panel. The Control Panel in Windows
XP has an updated look but provides the same functionality as in other Windows environments.
One of the first differences you’ll notice is that Windows XP gives you the choice between a
Classic view and a Category view. Whichever one you use is simply personal preference, but
many prefer the look of the Control Panel we have come to know and love. Figure 5-11 shows
the Classic view, while Figure 5-12 shows the new Category view.

Figure 11: The Control Panel Classic view

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Figure 12: The Control Panel Category view

Given the importance of the Control Panel and the frequency which you are likely to be
in there, it is worth the time to review some its key features and the main icons.

(2)Adding New Hardware

Own a computer long enough, and at some point, you will likely find yourself adding
new hardware to the system. In Windows XP, the Add New Hardware applet in the Control
Panel allows you to add or troubleshoot hardware problems in a system. Selecting the Add New
Hardware applet starts the Add Hardware Wizard, which is designed to guide you through the
process of adding new hardware to your system. The Add Hardware Wizard simplifies the
process of adding new hardware but can also be used to troubleshoot hardware settings. After a
new hardware device is loaded onto your system, Windows configures the properties and settings
for the device. If these settings conflict with another device, you can set them manually. For the
most part, Windows will be the best choice for managing the hardware resources within your
system.

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(2)Adding or Removing Programs

The programs we use on our systems are dynamic, with new ones being added or
removed from time to time. To safely add or remove programs to your computer, Microsoft
recommends to do so from the Add Or Remove Programs applet. This applet is also used to add
or remove Windows components.

(2)Administrative Tools
The Administrative Tools applet provides shortcuts to the utilities used to monitor and
manage your Windows XP system. The utilities that can be accessed through the Administrative
Tools applet include the following:

• Component Services Component Services fall out of the realm of the Windows XP

exam but are essentially tools used for developers.

• Computer Management Combines several system management utilities into a single

snap-in, allowing administrators to manage the local or even a remote computer system
from a central location.

• Data Sources (ODBC) Data Sources allow you to configure database locations and
parameters. As with Component Services, this falls outside the Windows XP objectives.

• Event Viewer Used to view and manage logging of your system; also found within
Computer Management.

• Local Security Policy Used to configure the security settings on the local machine.

• Performance Used to capture and view performance-related statistics of your system;

also found within Computer Management.

• Services The Services dialog box allows you to manage the services running on your
local computer system; also found within Computer Management.

(2)Date and Time

Quite reasonably, the Date And Time applet in the Control Panel is used to set the date
and time of your system. New to Windows XP, however, is the Internet Time tab, which allows

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you to synchronize your system’s time to an Internet time server: a server on the Internet that
provides accurate time. As you might have guessed, you must be connected to the Internet to do
this.

(2)Display
The Display applet is one of the most accessed of all Control Panel utilities. The Display
dialog box allows you to configure the look of your Windows XP desktop, including
backgrounds, themes, resolution, monitor refresh rate, color schemes, and screen savers. Figure
5-13 shows the Windows XP Display Properties dialog box.

Figure 13: Changing the look of your desktop in the Windows XP Display Properties dialog
box

Almost hidden in the Display Properties dialog box are the Monitor Power settings, found
by selecting the Screen Saver tab and clicking the Power button. From the Power Options
Properties dialog box, you can select from a number of predefined power schemes for your
system or modify an existing one. Windows XP also provides an additional Power Options
applet in the Control Panel to access the same configuration screens.

Table 5-5 identifies some of the common tasks performed from the Display applet and
the tab used to configure them.

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Task Tab
Change the system’s desktop theme. Themes
Change the screen saver. Screen Saver
Select the desktop background. Desktop
Modifying the screen resolution. Settings
Increase font size. Appearance
Troubleshoot system display. Settings

Table 4: Working with the Display Applet

Note: In preparing for the 70-270 exam, you should examine the various tabs in the
Display applet to familiarize yourself with their functions.

(2)Folder Options
The Folder Options applet in the Control Panel is used to configure, well, folder options.
From here, you can select which files will be displayed, whether it will be a single- or double-
click to open folders, and other folder-specific configurations.

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Somewhat hidden within the Folder Options dialog box is the screen for configuring
offline files. Essentially, using offline files allows you to work with files and/or programs located
on a network server, even when you are not connected to the network. Figure 5-14 shows the
configuration screen for offline files.

Figure 14: Offline files, allowing you to work with network programs even when not
connected to the network.

Note: Offline files cannot be enabled while Fast User Switching is enabled.

(2)Internet Options
Although you can configure the properties for Internet Explorer right from the browser,
the Internet Options applet in the Control Panel enables you to do it from there as well. It lets
you configure everything from establishing or changing the Internet connection, to setting
Internet preferences, to configuring advanced Internet options. Table 5-6 provides lists common
functions performed from the Internet Options applet and the associated tab.

Task Tab
Set home page, configure temporary Internet General
files, and configure history and recently
accessed web sites.

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Customize security level for web access. Security

Configure how Internet Explorer manages Privacy
cookies.
Start or stop the Content Advisor, which is Content
used to configure the type of material allowed
to be viewed from the web.
Store or clear autocomplete user names and Content
passwords.
Configure an Internet connection over a Connections
modem, VPN, or through a LAN.
Choose a preferred program for various Programs
Internet services. For instance, choose Outlook
as the default e-mail program or Microsoft as
the default HTML editor.

Table 5: Summary of Tasks Using Internet Options Applet

(2)Keyboards
The Keyboard applet is used to customize the cursor blink rate and the character repeat
rate. From the hardware tab in the Keyboards applet, you can install a new driver for the
keyboard, uninstall the keyboard driver, or use the Rollback Driver option, which is used for all
hardware devices and essentially lets you revert back to an older driver if a new one is causing
problems. If you suspect problems with the keyboard, you can also click the Troubleshooting
button, which walks you through some of the common keyboard-related problems.

(2)Mouse
The Mouse applet lets you customize the mouse to better suit a user’s needs. This
includes such things as button configuration, click speed, and the type of mouse pointer used.
Like the Keyboard applet, the Mouse applet has a Hardware tab that allows you to update the
mouse driver or roll back a new driver.

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(2)Network Connections
The Network Connections applet can be used to view and configure the properties of all
current network connections. Through the Network Connections applet, shown in Figure 5-15,
you can configure connectivity between your computer to the Internet or to a local network.
Additionally, you can repair, rename, disable, and verify the status of a current network
connection.

Figure 15: The Network Connections applet, controlling the properties of all current
network connections

(2)Phone and Modem Options

The Phone And Modem Options applet is used to add, configure, and modify the modems
connected to your system. The Dialing Rules tab is used to configure the dialing locations and
the dialing rules for these locations. For instance, you can configure whether to use call waiting,
set phone number prefixes for outside lines, configure calling card options, and the like.

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(2)Power Options
As portable computing has gained in popularity, managing the system’s power has
become an important consideration. Essentially, the Power Options applet is used to configure
the power consumption used by the system and minimizes the power used by powering down the
monitor and hard disk after periods of inactivity. Power consumption used by the system is
referred to as power schemes, and Windows XP ships with several predefined power schemes. It
is also possible to modify and customize one of these existing power schemes to better suit your
unique needs. Figure 5-16 shows the Power Options Properties dialog box and predefined power
schemes.

Figure 16: The Power Options Properties dialog box, featuring predefined power schemes

For laptops, you can configure warnings to alert you when the battery charge reaches a
certain point; this way, you will have time to properly shut down applications before the system
powers off. Configuring battery warnings is done from the Alarms tab, which appears only if the
operating system detects a battery. From the Power Meter tab, laptop users can view the current
status of their battery and how much life, if any, it has left.

In addition to managing the power consumption of your system, you can configure the
system to power down into a Standby or Hibernation state. Standby is a power-saving feature
that is commonly used on most laptops today. When a system enters standby mode, the system’s

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state, or current configuration, is saved to RAM, and the system powers itself down to a power
save mode. The system can be returned to an active state from the standby point with the click of
a button, and you are up and running where you left off. However, if the batteries are drained
when the system is in standby, the system’s state is lost as it is stored in RAM. This is no big
deal. If you saved your data, all this means is that you will have to restart the system and any
applications you had running will have to be restarted. By default, Windows XP Professional sets
the system to go into standby mode when the laptop lid is closed, but this feature can be changed
from the Advanced tab in the Power Options dialog box.

Note: You can configure your system to require a password when returning from a
standby mode to an active state from the Advanced tab in the Power Options
dialog box.

The hibernation mode provides the happy medium between powering the system off
completely and the standby feature. Using hibernation, the system state is saved to the hard disk
and, because it is not saved to RAM, the system can be powered off completely without losing
the system state. When the system is powered back on, the system state is retrieved from the hard
disk and you can start where you left off. The hibernation feature is configured on the Hibernate
tab in the Power Options Properties dialog box.

(2)Printers and Faxes

The appropriately named Printers And Faxes applet is used to manage, configure, and
troubleshoot printers and fax machines. From this applet, you can manage the print queues for
installed printers, and configure faxing directly from applications.

(2)Scheduled Tasks
The administration of desktop computers in a network environment often involves
running applications and utilities that work in the background. Such tasks may include
performing system maintenance or virus-checking tasks. Working from the Scheduled Tasks
applet, you can configure programs to execute at a predetermined time. For example, if you want
to defragment hard disks, you can schedule this to occur during the off hours so as to not
interfere with the users’ work.

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The Scheduled Tasks applet uses a wizard to assist you in creating scheduled tasks for
your system. Figure 5-17 shows the Scheduled Task Wizard.

Figure 17: The Schedule Tasks Wizard

(2)Sounds and Audio Devices

The Sound And Audio Devices applet is where you set all sound-related configurations
for your XP system. This includes speaker settings, choosing sound schemes, configuring sound
and music playback, updating sound card drivers, and troubleshooting sound devices. One
common use of system sounds is to configure specific sounds heard when a Windows event
occurs, such as shutting down Windows, closing programs and alert warnings.

(2)Speech
The Speech applet is a new addition to the Windows XP Control Panel and is used to
configure text-to-speech translation. You can choose from three default voices, none of which
offer smooth DJ-like voice quality, but in the absence of anyone else to talk to, they are OK.

(2)System
The System applet is another one of the more frequently accessed areas of the Control
Panel. Much of the features and functions of the System applet are used for identifying and
configuring hardware. For example, installing new devices and drivers, determining the memory
used by the system, and the processor used. The Device Manager feature in the System applet is
similar to the Device Manager feature of other client systems and is used to add, remove, disable,

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and view the hardware on the system. Working with the System applet is covered in greater
detail in Chapter 3, in the discussion on managing and troubleshooting hardware devices and
drivers.

(2)User Accounts
The User Accounts applet is new to Windows XP and is used to create user accounts in
XP and to change and modify those accounts. The User Accounts applet also lets the
administrator determine how users will log on and off the system. Two options are available for
logging on and off: the Welcome screen and Fast User Switching. Using the Welcome Screen
option, you simply click your name to log on. Fast switching enables switching between users
without having to close down currently running programs. Simply choose the Log Off option and
select the user you wish to switch to.

(1)Chapter Review
Windows XP Professional follows in the tradition of previous Windows versions by
providing an easy-to-navigate and customizable graphical environment. In this chapter, we
looked at working within a Windows XP environment and identified some its key features and
what is involved in configuring these features.

When it comes time to configure, add, or remove hardware or drivers or troubleshoot

your Windows XP system, the Control Panel is likely to be your first step. The Control Panel
provides applets that allow the customization of nearly every part of your system. This includes
accessibility options, power options, display settings, network configurations, and access to the
system’s administrative tools. When working with Windows XP and when reviewing for the XP
exam, you will most certainly need to know how the Control Panel is used to maintain and
manage your system.

(2)Questions
1. As network administrator, you have been tasked with setting up a computer for a new
employee. The new employee speaks and works in both English and Japanese. The user

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asks you to provide a way to easily switch between both languages on the system. Which
of the following is the best way to accomplish this?

A. Install files for East Asian Languages from the Regional And Language Options applet in
Control Panel, add Japanese as an input language, and ensure that the Language bar is
displayed on the taskbar.

B. Install files for script languages from the Regional And Language Options applet in the
Control Panel, add Japanese as an input language, and ensure that the Language bar is
displayed on the taskbar.

C. From the Regional And Languages applet in the Control Panel, select the Auto-switch
Language option from the Languages tab and ensure that the Language bar is displayed
on the taskbar.

D. Configure and log on to the system using multiple profiles and Fast User Switching, one
profile in Japanese and one for English.

2. Which of the following best describes the function of a transform file?

A. Allows applications to be installed over the network

B. Publishes an application to both users and groups within an Active Directory domain

C. Assigns an application to both users and groups within an Active Directory domain

D. Provides custom changes to an application during the installation

3. As system administrator, you have been asked to configure the laptops in your company to be
able to go into a standby state as quickly as possible. Which of the following is the best way
to configure your company’s laptops?

A. From the Power Options Properties dialog box, select the Power Schemes tab and enable
standby mode when the lid is closed.

B. From the Power Options Properties dialog box, select the Advanced tab and enable standby
mode when the lid is closed.

C. From the Advanced tab in the System Properties dialog box, choose the Choose Standby
Mode Automatically option.

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D. From the Power Options Properties dialog box, select the Power Schemes tab and select the
Choose Standby Mode Automatically option.

4. After several problems with users changing their settings, you have been asked to enforce
mandatory roaming profiles. Which of the following is the easiest method to do this?

A. Rename the ntuser.dat file on the server to ntuser.man.

B. rename the ntuser.man file on the server to ntuser.dat.

C. From the Users applet in the Control Panel, select the Local Users tab and choose the
Mandatory Profile option.

D. From the Users applet in the Control Panel, select the Remote Users tab and choose the
Mandatory Profile option.

5. As system administrator, you are looking for an easy way to back up users’ files on the
network. Which of the following methods provides the best way to do this?

A. Configure a single shared folder for users’ data.

B. Configure home folders for each user account and store them on the server.

C. Configure home folders for each user account and store them on the local computer.

D. Configure each user’s profile as ntuser.man.

6. Three warehouse employees use the same standalone computer system throughout the day.
Each user uses a different program and would like to keep his or her program running
throughout the day. Which is the easiest method to switch between users without having to
shut down the currently running applications?

A. Enable Fast User Switching through the System applet in the Control Panel.

B. This can be done only by using Fast User Switching on an Active Directory domain.

C. In the User Accounts applet, configure Fast User Switching.

D. Create roaming profiles and change the ntuser.dat file to ntuser.man.

7. After installing Windows XP on your company’s computer systems, several users complain
that familiar icons such as My Documents, My Computer, and My Network Places are no
longer on the desktop. How can you easily add these icons to the users’ desktops?

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A. From the Desktop applet in Control Panel, select the Use Classic Icons option.

B. Right-click the desktop and select Properties. Choose the Desktop tab from the Display
Properties dialog box and click the Customize Desktop button to add the icons to the
desktop.

C. Right-click the taskbar, and choose Properties from the menu. Choose the Desktop tab
and then click the Customize Desktop button to add the icons to the desktop.

D. Right-click the Start button, choose Properties, and select the option Classic Desktop
Icons.

E. Install XP on a single system, prepare the system with the sysprep utility, share the local
files to the network, and perform an unattended installation.

(2)Answers
1. A. To easily switch between language inputs on a Windows XP Professional system, you
must install language input support for the language and ensure that the Language bar is
enabled on the taskbar. When it is, users can quickly change language inputs with the click of
a button.

2. D. Transform files have the .mst extension and are used to apply custom changes and
sometimes fixes to applications. They are used during the installation process.

3. B. Laptops can be sent to standby mode quickly by enabling Standby Mode When Lid Is
Closed on the Advanced tab of the Power Options applet.

4. A. Roaming profiles can be become mandatory or fixed by renaming the ntuser.dat file to
ntuser.man.

5. B. When working in a network environment, administrators can set home directories on a

network server where users save their data. These home directories provide a central location
for data and make such tasks such as backing up and security easier.

6. C. Systems not in a domain environment can be configured to use Fast User Switching to
switch between users without disrupting the programs in use by others using the system.

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7. B. Windows XP takes a minimalist approach on the default desktop. To install the icons
installed by default on other Windows versions, click the Customize Desktop button located
on the Desktop tab of the Display Properties dialog box.

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