CHAPTER 7
Customize Windows
Change the Desktop Backgrounds
View and Change the Date and Time
CHANGE THE DESKTOP BACKGROUND
Many users will spend a great deal of their time on the desktop. You can change the picture used to decorate your desktop.
Windows comes with many desktop backgrounds that you can choose from. You can also use one of your own pictures as your desktop background.
You can change your desktop background by selecting a different theme. To select a different theme, see “Change the Theme” later in this chapter.
CHANGE THE DESKTOP BACKGROUND
Can I have my background picture automatically change every so often?
Yes. By default, once you access this screen and choose a Picture location of Windows Desktop Backgrounds or Pictures Library, Windows assumes you want all the images selected and changes the desktop background every day, every hour, or after a time period you select.
If you don’t want certain pictures included, you can deselect them by clicking the check box in the upper-left corner of the image you don’t want. (
changes to 
.) If you want to quickly deselect all the pictures, click Clear all. Then hold down 
and click the images you want for a slide show.
To specify how often you want the desktop picture to change, click the area below Change picture every and select a time. Be sure to click Save changes when you are finished.
I cannot find the picture I want to use as my desktop background. What can I do?
If you cannot find the picture you want to use as your desktop background, click Browse in the Desktop Background window. In the dialog box that appears, locate and click the folder that contains the picture and then click OK. The pictures in the folder you selected appear in the Desktop Background window.
MODIFY THE SCREEN SAVER
A screen saver is a picture or animation that appears on the screen when you do not use your computer for a period of time.
You can use a screen saver to hide your work while you are away from your desk. Windows is initially set up to not display a screen saver.
MODIFY THE SCREEN SAVER
What does the Photos screen saver do?
You can select the Photos screen saver to have the pictures in your Pictures library appear as your screen saver. Windows rotates through all the pictures in the library. For information on the Pictures library, see Chapter 4.
Can I customize my screen saver?
After you select the screen saver you want to use, you can click the Settings button to customize some screen savers. For example, if you select the 3D Text screen saver, you can customize the text that you want to appear on your screen, such as your company’s name.
ALTER THE COLOR OF WINDOWS
You can add a personal touch to your computer by changing the color used to display windows on your screen. The color you select also changes the color of the taskbar and the Start menu.
You can also change the color used to display windows on your screen by selecting a different theme. To select a different theme, see “Change the Theme” later in this chapter.
ALTER THE COLOR OF WINDOWS
Yes. If you do not see a color you like in the Color and Appearance window, click Show color mixer to create your own color. Drag the sliders that appear beside Hue (color), Saturation (intensity of color), and Brightness until the windows on your screen display the color you like.
CHANGE THE THEME
You can change the theme to personalize the overall appearance of Windows.
Each theme contains several coordinated items, including a desktop background, a window color, sounds, and a screen saver. Some themes also include desktop icons and mouse pointers.
Windows comes with several themes that you can choose from.
CHANGE THE THEME
You can get more themes on the Internet. To quickly find more themes online, click Get more themes online in the Personalization window. A web page appears, showing a list of the available themes that you can download and use on your computer. Most are free.
Can I customize a theme?
Yes. After you select a theme, you can change the parts of a theme individually by changing the desktop background, window color, sounds, or screen saver. You can change one or more of these elements until the theme looks the way you want. Your customized theme appears under My Themes in the Personalization window.
ADJUST THE VOLUME
You can adjust the volume of sound on your computer.
Windows allows you to easily adjust the volume of your speakers. You can also adjust the volume of individual devices and programs on your computer without affecting the volume of other devices and programs.
ADJUST THE VOLUME
What devices and programs can appear in the Volume Mixer dialog box?
The devices and programs that appear in the Volume Mixer dialog box depend on the devices that are connected to your computer and the programs you have open that produce sound. Here are some devices and programs you can see in the dialog box:
Speakers—Adjusts the volume of your speakers.
System Sounds—Adjusts the volume of sounds that play when certain events, such as the arrival of new email messages, occur on your computer.
Windows Media Player—Adjusts the sound volume playing in Windows Media Player. This appears only if you are actually using Windows Media Player.
Is there another way that I can adjust the speaker volume?
Yes. Many speakers have a volume control that you can use to adjust the volume. Your speakers may also have a power button that you can use to turn the sound on or off. Some keyboards, especially laptop computer keyboards, have keys that you can press to adjust the volume of the computer’s speakers.
MODIFY THE COMPUTER SOUNDS
You can change the sounds that your computer plays when certain events occur on your computer. For example, you can hear a short tune when you log on to Windows.
MODIFY THE COMPUTER SOUNDS
What events can Windows play sounds for?
Windows can play sounds for more than 45 events on your computer. Here are some examples:
Close Program—A sound plays each time you close a program.
Device Connect—A sound plays each time you connect a device to your computer.
Empty Recycle Bin—A sound plays each time you empty your Recycle Bin.
Low Battery Alarm—A sound plays each time your laptop battery gets low.
Maximize—A sound plays each time you maximize a window.
New Mail Notification—A sound plays each time you receive a new email message.
Print Complete—A sound plays when the printing of a file is complete.
VIEW AND CHANGE THE DATE AND TIME
You can view and change your computer’s date and time settings. Windows uses the date and time to record when you create and update your files.
Your computer has a built-in clock that keeps track of the date and time even when you turn off your computer.
To ensure that your computer’s clock is accurate, Windows automatically synchronizes your computer’s clock with a time server on the Internet about once a week. Your computer must be connected to the Internet for the synchronization to occur.
VIEW AND CHANGE THE DATE AND TIME
Why won’t my computer let me change the date and time?
If you do not have an administrator account, you need to type an administrator password and then click Yes to be able to change the date and time.
How do I change the time zone?
To change the time zone, click Change time zone in the Date and Time dialog box. In the dialog box that appears, select a time zone from the list of available time zones, and then click OK to save your change. You may want to change the time zone when traveling or after you move to a new city.
CUSTOMIZE THE MODERN UI
The Windows 8 Modern UI interface is easily customizable.
You can select different pictures for the Lock screen, Start screen, and even your Account picture.
CUSTOMIZE THE MODERN UI
What if I want a picture different from the ones offered?
Click the Browse button. The Pictures app displays your pictures. Locate the one you want to use, and click Choose picture.
When Windows 8 was installed, it prompted for a color to use on the Start screen.
You can change that color any time you want.
Can I use my own picture as a background on the Start screen?
No. There is no provision for using your own picture here.
Additionally, due to the busy collection of Modern UI apps on the Start screen, using anything other than the simplest of designs would be very distracting.
The Account picture is the one that appears next to your name on the Start screen, in the upper-right corner.
Your Account picture can be any image you choose. It can be you, your dog, your spouse, your grandkids, or even your favorite vacation spot.
What if the picture I want is stored on a flash drive and not in my Pictures library?
From the Pictures screen, click Go up, and then click Go up again. Next, click Computer. Locate and double-click your flash drive letter.
From there, you can click the image you want to use and then click Choose image.
