The Help and Support Center provides help with the Windows XP operating system and other support and educational tools. To access the Help and Support Center, click the Start button and click Help and Support.
Switching to Classic View
You may change the appearance of the Control Panel, the Start menu, and the Windows desktop to the classic view of earlier Windows operating systems.
Control Panel
The Control Panel presents information as task-oriented categories. If you are accustomed to performing a particular task with the icon-oriented classic Control Panel, you can switch to the classic icon view:
Click the Start button and click Control Panel.
Click Switch to Classic View or Switch to Category View in the upper-left area of the
Control Panel window.
Start Menu
Right-click the empty area on the taskbar.
Click Properties.
Click the Start Menu tab.
Select Classic Start Menu and click OK.
Window and Button Appearance
Right-click anywhere on the main desktop screen and click Properties.
Click the Appearance tab.
From the Windows and buttons drop-down menu, select Windows Classic style.
To customize color, font, and other classic desktop options, click Advanced.
When you have completed your appearance selections, click OK.
Desktop Cleanup Wizard
By default, the Desktop Cleanup Wizard moves programs that are not frequently used to a designated folder 7 days after you first start your computer and every 60 days after that. The appearance of the Start menu changes as programs are moved.
To turn off the Desktop Cleanup Wizard:
Right-click an empty spot on the desktop, and click Properties.
Click the Desktop tab and click Customize Desktop.
Click Run Desktop Cleanup Wizard every 60 days to remove the check mark.
Click OK.
To run the Desktop Cleanup Wizard at any time:
Right-click an empty spot on the desktop, and click Properties.
Click the Desktop tab and click Customize Desktop.
Click Clean Desktop Now.
When the Desktop Cleanup Wizard appears, click Next.
In the list of shortcuts, deselect any shortcuts you want to leave on the desktop, and then click
Next.
Click Finish to remove the shortcuts and close the wizard.
Files and Settings Transfer Wizard
The Files and Settings Transfer Wizard allows you to transfer files and settings from one computer to another (for instance, when upgrading to a new computer), even if the old computer is running an earlier operating system. The time required to collect and transfer data depends on the amount of data collected. Times can vary from just a few minutes to several hours.
You can transfer the data to the new computer over a network or direct serial connection, or you can store it on a removable medium such as a floppy disk or writable CD. If a CD drive is not available, the wizard allows you to create a wizard disk to run on your old computer.
If you encounter problems running a program designed for an earlier Windows operating system, you can use the Program Compatibility Wizard to help resolve the problem. The Program Compatibility Wizard allows you to configure a program to run in an environment closer to that of Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows Millennium Edition (Me), Windows NT® 4.0 with Service Pack 5, or Windows 2000.
If you experience problems with your operating system or other programs after performing an installation, you can use the system restore feature to return your computer to a previous stable condition.
Fast User Switching allows multiple users to access the computer. After you log on to the computer with your specific settings, including the desktop and various programs, other users can log on to the computer without requiring you to first log off. New users log on and switch from your session to their own. New users can run their desktop and programs without interfering with yours. You can switch back to your desktop and programs with the original settings. For more information, see the Help and Support Center.
Special Considerations With Fast User Switching
Computers with low memory configurations can experience problems. The computer uses memory to keep your programs running in the background while a second user is logged on, which can cause the computer to run slowly. Fast User Switching is off by default on computers with less than 128 MB of RAM.
Fast User Switching is disabled in Windows XP Professional when the computer is a member of a computer domain.
Home and Small Office Networking
The Network Setup Wizard provides online documentation and support for setting up a home or small office network. The new wizard automatically enables the personal firewall (see "Internet Connection Firewall").
The Network Setup Wizard includes a checklist and steps to guide you through the process of sharing resources, such as files, printers, or an Internet connection, between computers in a home or small office. For more information, see the Help and Support Center.
Internet Connection Firewall
The Internet Connection Firewall provides basic protection from unauthorized access to the computer while the computer is connected to the Internet. The firewall is automatically enabled when you run the Network Setup Wizard. When the firewall is enabled for a network connection, the firewall icon appears with a red background in the Network Connections portion of the Control Panel.
Note that enabling the Internet Connection Firewall does not reduce the need for virus-checking software.
