Issue 39.15
Part 2
We are going to continue our examination of the Control Panel of your PC. I am going to focus on the items found there in Windows 7 because most people have used it and probably a majority still are using it even as we move towards replacing it with Windows 10 (We won’t talk much about Windows 8, because the CP was hidden and not easy to use there)
Last time we talked about the Users Section where you can add or remove users, change your icon, set passwords, etc. We talked about the Firewall settings used to protect your computer and we talked about the Programs section where you can delete existing programs and adjust what Windows components (such as games, tools, etc.) are active or turned off. Some of the other features of the Control Panel include your Network settings, Hardware connections, Appearance, Clock settings, Ease of Access and Security
In the Network section, you can view the status of your network including a map of what is connected through your local area network. You can also troubleshoot here if you have experience and knowledge of how to do that. In Windows 7, you also have the option of setting up a homegroup, which is a fairly transparent and easily set up network for sharing hardware such a printers, scanners, etc. and information such as pictures, documents and media files.
The hardware section allows you to adjust and change which devices and printers are used and connected and which ones are the default (used before the others unless specified). This is where you can adjust microphones, cameras, PDF creation capabilities and even modems (if you still have one).
The Appearance and Personalization section gives you the opportunity to change the backgrounds on your screen, the screen font size and resolution, color themes, screen savers and power management issues such as how long to wait before shutting off the monitor or putting the computer to sleep. Clock settings allow you to choose the Time Zone, Date and Time your computer thinks is correct. You can also change the display language if you have a multi-lingual household.
Finally the Ease of Access section allows you to turn on a reader that speaks the words of whatever you highlight, whether that is a description of a program icon, the text of a document or website, or any other text. Here you can also set up an on-screen keyboard, ultra large or magnified screen displays for those with eyesight challenges and changes to your mouse or keyboard operations. It also lets you set up a microphone for speech recognition if you have one.
There is a rich treasure trove of options if you learn how to use the Control Panel. Most of what is mentioned here has been restored with Windows 10 with the addition of some new concepts such as touch screen settings. It is well worth spending a little time getting acquainted with this section of your computer – and make sure you always have a backup of anything important.
Shaun McCausland has worked in the computer industry for over 33 years, 26 years of it locally with Bits ‘N’ Bytes and Musicomp and currently works as a computer consultant. If you have questions you can reach him at 435-668-7118 or shaun@musicomp.net.