Let WinXP restore the old-fashioned face

You start a brand new XP with confidence, but find that everything has changed: Where did the icon of the "Quick Start" toolbar go? Why doesn't Windows automatically restore my original open folder when it starts? How to close the left column of the folder window? Microsoft made these changes to make it easier for novices. For experienced users, the interface changed to cause trouble. But don't worry, you can turn back the clock and give XP an old-fashioned Windows-like interface.

Cancel taskbar grouping

If you open multiple folders, applications, and browser windows at the same time, Windows will classify the windows, each class occupies one on the taskbar. Button. Clicking on the taskbar button opens a list of such windows, as shown in Figure 1. In other words, sometimes you have to click twice to open the target window. Many people like to open the target window with a single click. You can modify it as follows: right-click on the blank position of the taskbar, select "Properties", and cancel the "Group similar taskbar button" under "Task appearance". Option.



Figure 1

Automatically recovering open windows

When logging in to Windows 2000, the folder opened before the last logout And the browser window will open automatically. If you want to implement this function in XP, first open any folder, select "Tools" → "Folder Options" → "View", then select "Restore the previous folder window when you log in", click "OK" .

Restoring "Quick Start"

If "Quick Start" on the taskbar leaves the job, right click on the blank area of ​​the taskbar and select "Toolbar" → "Quick start", as shown in Figure 2. Adjusting the width of the toolbar can increase/decrease the number of icons displayed.

Figure 2

New Arrange Toolbar

Do you feel that the position of the taskbar is not satisfactory? Want to reposition or adjust toolbars like Quick Launch, Link, etc? When you try to change these parts, you may find that XP does not allow changes. The solution is simple: right click on the part to be adjusted, cancel the "Lock Taskbar" or "Lock Toolbar", as shown in Figure 3. Next, you can change the position and size of the toolbar.

Figure 3

Exiled dull blue

Do you hate XP's rounded blue or silver title bar? If yes, right click on the blank area of ​​the desktop, select "Properties" → "Appearance", and select "Windows Classic Style" from the "Window and Buttons" drop-down list. If you want to customize the color, click on "Advanced" and select the appropriate color from the palette for the current project. Click on "Effects" to adjust the visuals of the windows, icons and menus. Once everything is done, click "OK" twice to close the Display Properties dialog.

Retrieving lost desktop icons

XP desktops do not display "My Computer", "My Documents" and other icons by default. The way to retrieve these icons is: right click on the desktop, select "Properties" → "Desktop" → "Customize Desktop", under "General" select the icon to be displayed, as shown in Figure 4.

Figure 4

Classic Start Menu

XP's new "Start" menu will automatically adjust, first listing the most commonly used programs, but the menu The position often changes, sometimes it is inconvenient to use. If you prefer the old, stable (but not so automatic) Start menu, just right click on the "Start" button, select "Properties" → "Classic [Start] menu", then click "OK".

Locking naughty menus

Win 98 type "Start" menu does not automatically hide menu items that are not commonly used, you also don't need to click on the menu below Indent the mark to open those commands that are hidden. If you miss the Win 98 style menu, you can right click on the "Start" button and select "Properties". In the "Start Menu" page, if "Classic Start Menu" is not selected, select it, then click "Custom", in In the "Advanced Start Menu Options" list, uncheck the "Use Personalized Menu" option and click "OK" to approve the settings.

Hide common tasks

In previous versions of Windows, the folder window was able to display web content and also to join the preview pane. If you don't like these tricks, you probably don't like the Common Tasks pane on the left side of the Windows XP folder window. The way to close it is to select "Tools" → "Folder Options" and under "General" select "Use Windows Traditional Style Folders".

Let the tray icon no longer hide

XP's new taskbar tray ("Notification area" next to the clock) allows you to selectively hide some icons, click The “<” mark on the left side of the tray shows the icon that is automatically hidden. If you want to see a complete list of icons, right-click on the taskbar and select "Properties". Under the "Notification Area" there is a "Hide Inactive Icons" option. Cancel this option to restore the tray to the old Windows habits; check this option, Click "Custom" to customize the behavior of each icon, as shown in Figure 5.

Figure 5