- Using Control Panel
- Setting the Window Color
- Turning off Aero
- Setting the Desktop Background
- Setting the Screen Saver
- Setting the Desktop Theme
- Configuring the Monitor
- Configuring the Mouse
- Configuring the Keyboard
- Configuring Sound and Audio Devices
- Setting the Date and Time
- Localizing Your System
- Accommodating Disabled Users
- Using Speech Recognition
- Using Alternative Mouse Behavior
- Conserving Power
- Managing Fonts
- Managing Visual Effects and Performance
- Restoring the Old Windows Look
- Getting General System Information
Managing Visual Effects and Performance
The Windows interface offers many visual effects, such as animation, fading, and shadows. These effects can be entertaining or useful, but they chew up processor time and can degrade performance noticeably (particularly if you're short on RAM, video processor speed, or battery power). Windows lets you turn off individual visual effects, perhaps making your system more responsive. It's worth experimenting.
To turn off visual effects:
Choose Start > Control Panel > System and Maintenance > System > Advanced System Settings (on the left).
If a security prompt appears, type an administrator password or confirm the action.
- On the Advanced tab, in the Performance section, click Settings > Visual Effects tab (Figure 4.76).
Figure 4.76 The Performance Options dialog box lets you turn visual effects on and off.
- Select Custom, uncheck the boxes for the effects that you want to turn off, and then click OK in each open dialog box.