Windows XP: Working with the Control Panel
System requirements: Windows
Description:
The following article will explain the function of the Windows Control Panel and describe how to access its features.
Control Panel provides a set of special-purpose administrative tools that you can use to configure the Windows, applications, and services environment. Control Panel includes default items that you can use for common tasks (for example, Display and Add Hardware). User-installed applications and services can also insert icons into Control Panel.
There are two view options for Control Panel: Category View and Classic View.
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Category View displays Control Panel icons according to the type of task that the user wants to perform.
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Classic View displays Control Panel icons in a view that is familiar to users of previous versions of Windows.
How to Use:
To open the Control Panel (Start Menu, Standard View)
From the Desktop, Access the Start menu and then click Control Panel.
To open the Control Panel (Start Menu, Classic View)
From the Desktop, access the Start menu. Hover your mouse over Settings and then click Control Panel.
To set the Control Panel to Category View
1. Open the Control Panel.
2. In the Tools menu, click Folder Options.
3. Under the Tasks tab menu, select Show common tasks in folders, and then click OK.
4. In the left pane of the Control Panel, click Switch to Category View.
To set the Control Panel to Classic View
1. Open the Control Panel.
2. In the Tools menu, click Folder Options.
3. Under the Tasks tab menu, select Show common tasks in folders, and then click OK.
4. In the left pane of the Control Panel, click Switch to Classic View.