Getting the most out of your Start Button
Did you know that the 
Button usually positioned at the bottom left of your screen has been around since at least 1995? In Windows XP the Start Button can be modified to enhance the use of your computer.
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When you click on your Start button Do you get the two column view that looks like this? >>> If not I suggest you should consider it, as it has some useful features that help you use your computer.
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| If it doesn't have the two column layout, RIGHT click on the Start button and select properties with a left click. Then select Start menu and click the OK button |
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Features of the Windows XP Start MenuHere is an explanation of what you will find in the LEFT had column of your Start Menu.
 At the top you should see your username and icon. If you click on the icon you can change your settings. For instance change your name or add a password when you log on to windows for extra privacy. Then at the top left column you should see shortcuts to the Internet and your E-mail programmes. Under this notice the faint line. Below this line you will see a list of shortcuts to the programs you most commonly use. In other words windows learns which programs you access most often and makes you an intuitive list for you. If your desired program is not in the list click the green All Programs icon and if you use the program regularly enough it will appear on the list above |
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Depending on your preferences, features of the RIGHT hand side of the Start Menu may include: Shortcuts to My Documents, My Pictures, etc... My Recent Documents - which 'remembers' a short list of the documents you most recently worked on. My Network Places, and the Control Panel and others may be available Many of these features can be customised - Notice for instance that I have a shortcut to My Computer which when you hover over it with the mouse has an expanded menu that allows me to navigate straight to any particular drive e.g. Local Disk (S:) in one quick movement. |
Customising the Start MenuTo get the most out of your Start menu, RIGHT click on the Start button and select properties with a left click. Then click the Customize button on the right hand side.
Notice the two tabs along the top entitled General and Advanced. The General menu looks like this and allows you do modify the following... Select Small icons if you want to reduce the size of the icons displayed in the start menu. This combined with changing the number of programs to show means you could display lots more in the 'most used' programs list. You can also select which programs you prefer to use for the Internet and E-mail. |
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Click on the Advanced tab at the top to control more features on your Start Menu For example if you want to display a menu expander on your My Documents link, select Display as a menu in the Start menu items list. Are you missing the Recent Documents link you used see in your earlier version of Windows? Just tick the box against List my most recently opened documents. Important - whatever changes you make above - ensure that you click the OK button to apply the changes. |
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