Control Panal

Click  “start=>control panel”.  It has “classic view” and “category view”. 

In Category view all the tasks are arranged according to the category. 

In Classic view all icons are individually placed in the window.

Setup Internet connection:

Click “Network and Inter connections  => Setup or change internet connection”.  You are prompted with a Add and new buttons on the winodow.  Just follow the wizard to setup VPN, Dial, wireless connections and configure accordingly.

Change Windows Firewall Settings:

You should be a computer administrator to set the firewall.  You can set it on/off.  You can also have exceptions means allow some programs to run without firewall settings.  You can allow a computer on network to access your computer without firewall settings with “advanced” options in this tab.   You can also set error logins on your system for troble shooting.  You can also share the error loging with other systems on the network by seting “Internet Control Message Protocol(ICMP).

Adding/Removing programs:

Click “Add or Remove programs”.  Select the program and press  “Change/remove” button.  You can also add window components with the icons on the left side of the panel.

Sound Schemes and Volume Controls:

Click “Sounds, speech and Audio devices”.  You can set the volume controls, Schemes for windows, device drivers, etc.

Basic information about the computer:

Click “performance and maintenance => See basic information about your computer”.  Information about computer processor, OS, RAM etc.

Click “performance and maintenance => See basic information about your computer=> computer name” to change the computer name and join another domain.

Click “performance and maintenance => See basic information about your computer=> hardware => device manager” to  change the drivers/hardware/ status/profiles.

Free space on the hard disk:

Click “performance and maintenance => free up space on your hard disk” and follow the wizard to clear the unnecessary files on the hard disk.  OR Click “start=>programs=>accessories=>system tools=>disk clean up”.

Arrange files to run system faster:

Click “performance and maintenance =>rearrange items on your hard disk to run programs faster”.  OR Click “start =>programs=>accessories=>system tools=>disk defragmenter”.

Manage Computer:

Click “performance and maintenance => administrative tools” for managing the computer.  You have event viewer, .NET configuration, Services, Computer management, Data sources, IIS server, performance, Security Policy etc.

Manage Printer/fax/keyboard/mouse:

Click “printers and other hardware”.  You can install by clicking “add a printer”.  You can view printers or fax printers already installed.  Select “mouse” option for setting button properties, click speed, Wheel options, Hardware adapters, and also set schemes for the mouse actions.

Click “keyboard” for adjusting keyboard properties of “cursor blink rate”, character repeat rate and delay.  Also set the adaptor for hardware.

Manage user accounts:

Click “user accounts” and select “create a new account” for creating new account.  Click “user accounts” and set passwords hard disk space etc.

Adjust date, time language and regional options:

Click on “adjust date, time language and regional options” for setting date, time,  language and regional options.

Security Center:

Adjust the internet settings, and automatic updates.