Customize Vista

 

By Gilbert Ialongo

 

Notes from: Windows Vista The Missing Manual

                   By David Pogue - Pogue Press/O’Reilly

 

Page 22 - Restoring the Desktop Icons

            Right click on a blank spot on the desktop

            Choose Personalize

            In the left side panel click on ‘Change Desktop Icons’

            In Desktop Icon Setting window the check the desired icons

 

Page 26 - Restore Old Start Menu

            Right click the Start Button

            Choose Properties

            In the Start Menu tab choose ‘Classic Start Menu’

            Can further customize by clicking on ‘Customize…’

 

Page 36 - Restore Traditional File Listings

            Make sure the Vista Start Menu is active

            Right click the Start Button

            Choose Properties

            Click on ‘Customize…’

            Click on items desired on right column of the Start Menu

            Desired Internet and E-mail links can be selected

 

Page 46 - Display Control Panel applets as a menu

            Make sure the Vista Start Menu is active

            Right click the Start Button

            Choose Properties

            Click on ‘Customize…’

            Scroll down to Control Panel and click on Display as a Menu

 

Page 47 - Options for the Classic Start Menu

            Make sure the Classic Start Menu is active

            Right click the Start Button

            Choose Properties

            Click on ‘Customize…’

            Customize the Start Menu and choose Advanced Start menu options

 

Page 65 - Restore the Windows Explorer Menu Bar

            To bring it back temporarily press the Alt or F10 key

                        Alt toggles it on and off

Clicking anywhere on the window removes the menu bar

            To bring it back permanently for all windows

                        On the Task toolbar choose Organize->Layout->Menu Bar

 

Page 93 - Turn Off Notification-Area Auto-Hiding

            Right click a blank area of the taskbar

            From the pop-up menu choose Properties

            Click on ‘Notification Area’

            Turn off the ‘Hide inactive icons’ checkbox

            Click on ‘Customize…’ to further refine the hiding behavior

 

Page 96 - Bring Back the Old taskbar

            (Ungroup documents from the same application)

            Right click a blank area of the taskbar

            From the pop-up menu choose Properties

            Turn off the ‘Group similar taskbar buttons’ checkbox

 

Page 157 - Remove the Aero Look

            Right click a blank spot on the desktop

            From the pop-up menu choose Personalize

            Click on ‘Window Color and Appearance’

            Click ‘Open classic appearance properties…’ at bottom of window

            Choose the desired Color scheme

 

Page updated: Feb 5, 2008