WinXP taskbar and start menu nirvana

In the last issue, we introduced the "Folder Options" in the Control Panel to help you understand some typical applications related to files in Windows XP. Today, let's take a look at another important component in the Windows Control Panel, "Taskbar and Start Menu Properties," to learn some of the important settings. (This article uses Windows XP as an example.) Note: There are three ways to open the "Taskbar and Start Menu Properties". Open "Start → Control Panel", you can see it; right click on the "Start" button, open the "Properties" column can also see it; in addition, right click on the blank space of the taskbar, open the "Properties" column also You can see it.

The author installed Windows XP for a novice friend, and my friends are very satisfied with their superb operating system. Looking back, he recognized the author's Windows XP as Windows 98. What interfered with the friend's eyes? In the original system, the taskbar and the start menu are in the "blame", as long as they are simply set, it is clear at a glance.

Taskbar Nirvana

1. Quickly switch to the desktop

Friends like to go online, when he opens a lot of windows and want to return to the desktop, have to minimize these windows one by one, really troublesome, hands are sour before returning to the desktop. In fact, it is very simple to quickly return to the desktop. Just check "Show Quick Launch" under the appearance of the taskbar in the taskbar properties (Figure 1).

2. extra window where to go

The author of a friend while surfing the internet to tell me his troubles: Strange, I opened up so many pages, but only on how a task bar Shrinking window? As far as I can see, this is the default taskbar setting, and the taskbar buttons are set to be arranged in groups similar to each other (Figure 2). To the unbelievable, the author opened the taskbar properties, removed the hook in front of the "Group similar taskbar button" in the "Taskbar Appearance" column, and then looked at the taskbar, all the windows. They all started, just like the original system.

3. Be careful with the taskbar to sell you

When we use the program in Windows XP, most of the programs will have an activity icon displayed on the right side of the taskbar "Time Display" (system tray area). In the notification area of ​​the taskbar properties, there is an option called "Hide Inactive Icons". If this option is checked, the system will automatically record the program activity icons that have been displayed in the system tray area. Clicking on the "Customize" button for this option will see a lot of history in the "Past Projects" column. Look, the taskbar has unknowingly leaked your secret.

Note: To delete this content is also very simple, type regedit in "Start → Run", open the Registry Editor, expand "HKEY_CURRENT_US ER\\Software\\Microsoft\\Windows\\Curr entVersion\\Explorer\\TrayNotify" Branch, where "IconStreams" and "PastIconStream" items store "current project" and "past project" respectively, delete the "TrayNotify" item, and restart it.
With the start menu

1. Windows XP like Windows XP

Figure 2 is the default start menu of Windows XP, compared with the traditional menu, this menu is more complete It contains almost all the items of the system. And Figure 3 is the start menu used by the author. The style is similar to that of the system before Windows XP. It does not include menu options such as "My Computer" and IE browser. It seems to be using Windows 98. No wonder friends will admit their mistakes. It is. Open the "Taskbar and ‘Start' menu properties", click on the "Start Menu" item, the interface of Figure 4 will appear. Since I like the simple Windows 98 start menu style, I chose the "Classic Start Menu" here.


2. Add a simple Start menu items

From the Start menu properties, we can according to their actual situation to customize their own start menu, all in order to make it easier to operate Windows . Click the Customize button in the Start menu to see the options for creating the Start menu (Figure 5). General method To add any file or folder and shortcut to the program in the start menu, click the "Add" button, select the shortcut you use frequently, you can put it directly in the start menu according to your preference. Or under the other options in the start menu.

The method of deleting these shortcuts is also very simple. Just click the “Delete” button in Figure 5 to delete the shortcuts of the items you don't need.

Note: Go to the Advanced option in the Start menu properties to open the folder where all shortcuts in the program are located in the Start menu. At this time, you can freely add and delete other folder shortcuts in this folder.
3. Access to document records without leaving traces

The author is continually analyzing friends how to set up the start menu, inadvertently see the records in the friend's document, the original kid is still watching the electronic version The "Ordinary World." Then he turned to discuss the story with him. My friend was surprised. How do I know that he saw this novel on the computer? Clearly closed the document. So the author immediately taught him a nirvana, so that the document records disappeared completely.

Still open the "Start" menu property, there is a "Clear" option in the custom options, the comment next to it is "To delete recently accessed documents, programs and website records, click Clear" . Right, just click on it, so the access records are gone.

4. Personalized Start Menu

Like a New World, a friend has repeatedly tried to repeat the example that the author just said. After he finished, he was addicted. Finally, he found that the start menu is still incomplete. For example, clicking the control panel in the start menu can only open various options in the pop-up control panel. Can you open these items directly in the start menu?

Of course, the author pointed out to him the final New World in the Start Menu property - the advanced "Start" menu option (Figure 5). In

There are numerous extensions can be opened, if you choose a classic style start menu, click on the "extended control panel", you can open individual sub-items in the Control Panel directly from the Start menu. If you select the Start menu for the Windows XP default style, then after selecting this option, a submenu showing all the children will appear after the Control Panel option.

Note: If there are too many program options in the Start menu, it is recommended to check the "Use small icons in the 'Start' menu" item in the advanced "Start" menu option.

There are also some "taskbars and 'start' menus" property settings. This article will not elaborate on this, practice the truth, I hope that friends can personally follow the example above, naturally will find a lot Interesting and meaningful place.