Windows Tutorial - Accessories & Tools
MS Windows has many accessories for day to day use and tools for maintaining computer in good shape. Some important accessories and tools available in Windows XP are :
Important Accessories
Magnifier:
( Start button >> Programs >> Accessories >> Accessibility >> Magnifier )
A click on Magnifier opens a window on top or bottom of the screen in which the contents of the screen around the mouse pointer are magnified. User can set magnification level or invert colors. This utility is useful for readingsmall prints in some portion of a page comfortably for normal users and for working in general for users with poor eye sight.
Narrater :
( Start button >> Programs >> Accessories >> Accessibility >> Narrater )
It reads out the on screen text. This utility is useful if you prefer to listen than to read a long text from the screen.
Network Connections :
( Start button >> Programs >> Accessories >> Communication >> Network Connections )
Displays available Network and Internet Connections available on the computer. You can change settings of available connections by right click on a connection and selecting properties. You can also open wizard to create a new dial up or other connection by a click on 'Create a new connection'. The new connection wizard can also be opened directly by
Start button >> Programs >> Accessories >> Communication >> New Connection Wizard
Windows Media Player :
( Start button >> Programs >> Accessories >> Entertainment >> Windows Media Player )
You can play audio and video files by using Windows Media Player. You can choose different skins for the player from the available list or download more skins from Microsoft Windows site.
Volume Control
Volume Control :
( Start button >> Programs >> Accessories >> Entertainment >> Volume Control )
Enables to adjust master volume and balance of your audio speakers. You can set different volumes for different file formats wave and midi and also for music played from CD Rom. By default an icon of 'Volume Control' is also placed in 'System Tray' for easy access. Right click on the icon in Notification Area opens full volume control window and a left click opens a small volume controller from which you can control the master volume of audio speakers. The volume can also be controlled by the software of your sound card installed.
Windows Calculator
Calculator :
( Start button >> Programs >> Accessories >> Entertainment >> Volume Control )
Window provides a simple calculator for doing arithmetic calculations. If you are required to use calculator frequently, you can create its icon on your desktop or in Quick Launch area by dragging the icon by holding the mouse on it from above location to your desired location for prompt and convenient access to this tool.
Command Prompt :
( Start button >> Programs >> Accessories >> Calculator )
Enables use of DOS commands required for a program/application.
Paint :
( Start button >> Programs >> Accessories >> Paint )
Paint is a simple drawing tool and can be used for simple drawings using Lines, Curves, Rectangles, Circles etc. It can also be used to add text to images. It is not a very effective tool for editing pictures.
Notepad :
( Start button >> Programs >> Accessories >> Notepad )
Notepad creates and edits text and performs basic functions of a text editor without much formatting options.
Wordpad :
( Start button >> Programs >> Accessories >> Wordpad )
Wordpad is better text editor than Notepad as it provides more formatting options.
System Tools
Disk Defragmenter :
( Start button >> Programs >> Accessories >> System Tools >> Disk Defragmenter )
With continuous use of computer, the files used again and again become fragmented as these are written and rewritten on a very fast revolving hard disk. Due to fragmentation of files, the seek time of the hard disk increases and its efficiency comes down. Defragmentation of files results in reducing the seek time and restoring the efficiency of the hard disk. Defragmentation of a drive may take hours depending upon the volume of data stored on the disk. However, to maintain efficiency of the hard disk and computer it is recommended to defragment the hard disk once every 2-3 months.
System Information :
( Start button >> Programs >> Accessories >> System Tools >> System Information )
This tool provides information about all hardware and other available resources in the computer viz.
System Restore :
( Start button >> Programs >> Accessories >> System Tools >> System Restore )
Enables setting up of a restore point. In case of a problem with the system, you can restore the system to the position obtaining at the time of setting the restore point.
Disk Cleanup :
( Start button >> Programs >> Accessories >> System Tools >> Disk Cleanup )
Over a period of time due to internet surfing and use of other applications and programs a large number of files are created in the system, which have not been used by the system for long. This tool deletes such unnecessary files from the hard disk and creates space for other useful data/information. On left click on the icon a small window asking you to select the drive for cleanup is opened. After you select a drive, the tool opens another window displaying the maximum space that can be cleared from your hard disk and asks you to select the type of files to be deleted. You should be careful while selecting the files to be deleted so that no file types which are likely to be used by you in future are deleted.