Customize Desktop (2)

This is the continuation of Customize Desktop 1 . In this post, you will learn how to change your screen saver, desktop picture, desktop icon appearance.

1.Changing the screen saver.
Go to

or use shortcut by right clicking on the desktop (not on any icon), and left click on “properties”



Left Click on screen saver label. Left click on settings to change the picture. You change picture and size of the screen saver. There are free screen savers on the web. The screen saver wait (idle) minutes can be changed and protected with a password on resume.

2.Changing the desktop picture
As in the change screen saver set up, left Click on Desktop label instead of screen saver label. Select a picture in the background column or left click on browse to upload new picture.



3.Changing the desktop icon appearance
Also as in the change screen saver set up, left Click on Desktop label. Change the options in the windows and buttons, color scheme and font size.



After all these, left click on apply and ok to see the new settings

Customize Desktop (1)

Wouldn't it be nice having to personalize your desktop. The desktop will be designed by you. You can design the desktop to suit your taste and style. Windows made it possible for that to be done. You can customize your desktop by

1. Creating Shortcut of any program you want on the desktop
First left click on the desktop (not on any icon). Then right click. Then point the cursor to NEW and click on shortcut. A wizard would open and lead you through the process of making a shortcut on the desktop.

Short cut
Go to
Start next All programs…………..then left click, without removing your finger, drag the program icon to the desktop.

2. Arranging the desktop icons.
You can arrange the desktop icons by name, size, type and modification.
Name: The desktop icons will be arranged alphabetical order
Size: The desktop icons will be arranged by how many byte the program uses.
Type: The desktop icons will be arrange alphabetical order by the same type i.e. all Microsoft documents would be together.
Modified: : The desktop icons will be arrange by date of modification




Right click on the desktop (not on any icon), then point the mouse cursor on arrange icons, and selecting how you want the desktop icons to be sorted.

Shortcut to Arrange icons
Hold CTRL + D to hide all open windows. Then hit th key with the picture of a notepad. The key is in the middle, under the shift key and left of the windows key.

Shortcut to search for item on desktop
Hold CTRL + D to hide all open windows. Then hold CTRL + M to select desktop. Then hit the letter on the keyboard corresponding to the first letter of the icon you are searching for and hit enter.


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Secure PC

A pc is secured when there is minimal unauthorized personal information (because of cookies) and no system disruption due to virus. These are the steps to take to secure your pc.

1.Turn on the built in windows firewall (for XP and Vista).
Firewall allows only authorized (by you) programs to be downloaded.
Go to:

Start next Control panel next windows firewall

then check ON.

2.Turn on the automatic updates.
Automatic updates allow your computer to receive patches for windows and its softwares.

Start next Control panel next Automatic update

then check on automatic

3.Get an Anti virus and spyware software.
These softwares prevent virus and spware to be downloaded into your pc.

4.Surf the web carefully.
Beware of what you download from the web. It may contain virus.
I remember downloading a pdf and it contained virus.

Speeding up your computer

It can be frustrating, annoying, and time consuming when your computer is slow while doing a project or surfing the web. There could many reasons why it is slow, but below are list of steps you can take to improve the speed of your computer.

1. Scan your hard disk
The hard drive is the primary storage medium where data are stored in the CPU (central processing unit). The hard disk in the computer is fixed and it is usually label “C: “
To scan the hard drive for errors, you use an in-built windows utility program scandisk. The errors arise from when windows does not shut down properly or virus.
To open the program, go to

Start next Run next type: sfc /scannow next See result next Follow instruction

2. Freeing hard drive
If you right click on the C: drive and click on properties, you can see the amount of used and unused byte.
To free up the C: drive; uninstall the unwanted program by going to:

Start next Control panel next add or remove programs next select program next Uninstall

You can also free up space by removing the temporary files

Start next All programs next Accessories next System tools next Disk cleanup

then select C: drive , check the temporary internet files then ok.

3. Use Disk Defragmenter
Decrementing puts the files in sequential order for searching for them or opening the files.

Start next All programs next Accessories next System tools next Disk Defragmenter next Analyze next Defragment
Then view report and close

4. Scanning for virus and spyware.
Spyware collect your personal information, surfing habit without your authorization. You can use Microsoft defender or go to download and search for spyware remover. There a lot of programs. Download, install, and run the software of your choice.
Virus affects the hard drive and makes it not to perform properly. You can also download virus protection softwares from download

You can see more ways from to http://www.microsoft.com/atwork/getstarted/speed.mspx. Copy and paste this linl to your browser.

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