The windows control panel contains a collection of configuration programs called applets that allow a user to make changes to the registry by way of a graphical user interface. Since it is easier to make a fatal mistake when working directly in the registry, the GUI provides some protection from trashing your computer’s operating system.
Accessibility Options – configure Windows settings for users with motion, visual, and hearing disabilities. You can control various keyboard, sound, display and mouse settings. For example, the Keyboard settings let you to add Sticky Keys, Filter Keys and Toggle Keys. That means you can press key combinations such as [Ctrl] + [Alt] + [Del] one key at a time rather than simultaneously, ignore short repeated keystrokes, or play a sound when you press one of the Lock keys. Toggle keys let you undo something already completed such as typing a paragraph with the caps key on. If toggle keys are set you can toggle and undo the caps. In addition, you can change the display to high contrast, setup visual representations of system sounds and configure your number keypad to act as your mouse.
Add Hardware - The Add hardware tool in the Control Panel gives you access to a wizard environment used to add, remove, unplug or troubleshoot hardware. Almost every user will eventually have reason to use this applet. You can create a bootable floppy disk or permanently disable or remove drivers for old or malfunctioning hardware.
Add or Remove Programs – the Change or Remove Programs option lets you uninstall complete applications, add or remove individual components of applications. Many applications such as Microsoft office frequently allow you to change specific components of programs without having to completely remove and reinstall the entire application. The New Programs option lets you install new CD or DVD based applications. Windows Components lets you customize your operating system by installing or removing specific windows components including Networking Services.
Administrative Tools – this is a collection of tools that are better left to the network administrators or at least to someone who knows how the windows operating system actually works. A novice can make changes here that can cause the system to crash and not reboot which will cause you to have to either restore the system or reinstall the operating system.
Automatic Updates – lets you choose to have updates automatically installed. Personally, I turn this feature off because I find it annoying when I am in the middle of working and the computer decides to install something. Most of the time it is just annoying. However, if the update requires a reboot, you can lose your work.
Date and Time – lets you set the date, time and time zone for your computer.
Display – This control panel applet lets you setup the display resolution, display color depth, add wallpaper, screen savers and other visual effects. The important settings are found on under the settings tab. There is also a program to aid in troubleshooting your display if problems occur. Most users visit this applet frequently.
Game Controllers – lets you set up your game controllers if you have any installed.
Internet Options – lets you configure your Internet options without having to open your web browser. This control panel applet is useful if for some reason your browser won’t open and you need to troubleshoot it.
Keyboard – lets you install additional languages, control the delay and repeat rates of the keyboard. If you find that you frequently get two letters instead of one when typing, try using a slower repeat rate to better keep pace with your typing habits.
Mouse - lets you change the speed of the click rate, make the mouse left-handed…a must if you are left handed and add customized pointers.
Network Connections – lets you setup, configure and troubleshoot your network connections.
Phone and Modem – lets you install and configure your IP phone or modem.
Power Options - This control panel applet is essential for notebooks and can be useful for desktops. I like to set my system to automatically hibernate so that I don’t have to wait for the entire boot process to finish and then reopen all of my applications every time. I used to leave my machine running until a summer lightening storm burned up my motherboard. Hibernation writes your current session to the hard drive, then turns off the machine then restores the session when you turn it back on.
Printers & Faxes – lets you install, configure and troubleshoot your printers and fax machines.
Regional Settings – lets you set the correct regional setting for your area and choose the format to display currency, dates and time.
Scanners and Cameras – lets you install and configure scanners and cameras.
Scheduled Tasks – lets you schedule tasks that you want to run when you are not using the computer such as backups, defragging the hard drive, run a batch file or start an application at a specific time.
Security Settings – lets you configure the windows built-in security settings such as the firewall, virus protection, etc. The Windows firewall usually has a separate icon so you can go directly to the firewall settings.
Sounds and Audio Devices – lets you find out what codecs and multimedia hardware drivers are installed on your computer. I recommend you set the volume to maximum here and control the actual volume with either the volume control application in the taskbar or with the controls on your speakers.
System – this control panel applet lets you find out what hardware devices are installed using the device manager under the hardware tab, the computer’s name, the version of the operating system and what service packs are installed, configure remote access and perform a system restore. Like the administrative tools, these items should be left alone unless you know what you are doing.
Toolbar and Start Menu – lets you customize the toolbar and start menu.
User Accounts – This control panel applet lets you add users and groups to your machine, set passwords.
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