Skip to content

TechRepublic

  • Top Products Lists
  • Developer
  • 5G
  • Security
  • Cloud
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Tech & Work
  • Mobility
  • Big Data
  • Innovation
  • Cheat Sheets
  • TechRepublic Academy
  • CES
  • TechRepublic Premium
  • Top Products Lists
  • Developer
  • 5G
  • Security
  • Cloud
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Tech & Work
  • Mobility
  • Big Data
  • Innovation
  • Cheat Sheets
  • TechRepublic Academy
  • CES
  • See All Topics
  • Sponsored
  • Newsletters
  • Forums
  • Resource Library
TechRepublic Premium
Join / Sign In
Microsoft

Windows 7 Walkthrough: Appearance and Personalization Control Panel

By greg shultz November 19, 2009, 6:14 AM PST

Image
1
of 22

appear_1.png
appear_1.png
Windows 7 Walkthrough: Appearance and Personalization Control Panel

Windows 7 Walkthrough: Appearance and Personalization Control Panel

Windows 7 Walkthrough: Appearance and Personalization Control Panel

Windows 7’s Control Panel is literally packed with tools (a.k.a. applets) that allow you to configure and control the way that the operating system works. Because the Control Panel has so many tools, Microsoft added a Search box to make it easy for you to find the tool that you need for a particular task.

To help you become familiar with all of the tools that are available in Windows 7’s Control Panel, I have created the Windows 7 Walkthrough series in which I’ll show you and provide a brief overview of each tool in the Control Panel categories. This one covers the tools in the Appearance and Personalization category.

Keep in mind that I’ll be using the Ultimate edition of Windows 7, which contains some features not available in other editions of the operating system.

Windows 7 Walkthrough: Appearance and Personalization Control Panel

Category View

Category View

When you access Windows 7’s Control Panel you’ll see that there are 8 main categories. The Appearance and Personalization category is the sixth one in the Control Panel and contains all the tools that you’ll use to change the appearance of desktop items, apply various desktop themes and screen savers, customize the Start menu or Taskbar, and more.

Keep in mind that while I am using the Category view, you can display the Control Panel in either large or small icon view, both of which show icons for each of the 45 tools.

Images by Greg Shultz for TechRepublic

Windows 7 Walkthrough: Appearance and Personalization Control Panel

Appearance and Personalization

Appearance and Personalization

When you open the Appearance and Personalization category you’ll see that there are seven sections in this category.

(Keep in mind that of these seven sections, three can be accessed in other categories: Display is available in the Hardware and Sounds category, Desktop Gadgets is available in Programs, and the Ease of Access Center is available in Ease of Access. As such I won’t cover them here.)

Images by Greg Shultz for TechRepublic

Windows 7 Walkthrough: Appearance and Personalization Control Panel

Desktop Background

Desktop Background

From the Desktop Background window, you can choose any of the available pictures or select your own picture to use for the background. You can also select the position of the picture as well as configure your background picture to change on a regular basis just like a slide show.

Images by Greg Shultz for TechRepublic

Windows 7 Walkthrough: Appearance and Personalization Control Panel

Window Color and Appearance

Window Color and Appearance

From the Window Color and Appearance window, you can choose any of the available colors to use for window borders, Start menu, and the Taskbar. You can also configure transparency and adjust color levels.

Images by Greg Shultz for TechRepublic

Windows 7 Walkthrough: Appearance and Personalization Control Panel

Advanced Appearance Settings

Advanced Appearance Settings

If you click Advanced Appearance Settings, you’ll access the Window Color and Appearance dialog box, which contains the types of controls found in previous version of Windows. Keep in mind that these settings only apply to the Basic theme or the Ease of Access theme.

Images by Greg Shultz for TechRepublic

Windows 7 Walkthrough: Appearance and Personalization Control Panel

Screen Saver

Screen Saver

The Screen Saver Settings dialog box, which works just like in the previous versions of Windows, allows you to change the screen saver and adjust the amount of time that the system is idle before activating the screen saver. Unfortunately, like its predecessor, Windows 7 doesn’t provide you with settings to adjust any screen saver except Photos, which no longer includes the theme feature due to the fact that Windows Photo Gallery is not a part of the operating system.

Images by Greg Shultz for TechRepublic

Windows 7 Walkthrough: Appearance and Personalization Control Panel

Change Desktop Icons

Change Desktop Icons

The Change Desktop Icons dialog box, which works just like in the previous versions of Windows, allows you to change desktop icons.

Images by Greg Shultz for TechRepublic

Windows 7 Walkthrough: Appearance and Personalization Control Panel

Taskbar and Start Menu: Taskbar Tab

Taskbar and Start Menu: Taskbar Tab

When you choose Taskbar and Start Menu from within the Appearance and Personalization Category, you’ll see the Taskbar and Start Menu Properties dialog box with the Taskbar tab selected. Along with a few old options, you’ll find a host of new options, such as the ability to choose the Taskbar location or change the way Taskbar buttons work.

Images by Greg Shultz for TechRepublic

Windows 7 Walkthrough: Appearance and Personalization Control Panel

Notification Area Icons

Notification Area Icons

When you click Customize button in the Notification Area panel on the Taskbar tab, you’ll be able to choose which icons and notifications appear on the Taskbar.

Images by Greg Shultz for TechRepublic

Windows 7 Walkthrough: Appearance and Personalization Control Panel

System Icons

System Icons

You can further tune the Notification Area by turning off or on the various System icons and notifications.

Images by Greg Shultz for TechRepublic

Windows 7 Walkthrough: Appearance and Personalization Control Panel

Taskbar and Start Menu: Start Menu Tab

Taskbar and Start Menu: Start Menu Tab

When you select the Start Menu tab in the Taskbar and Start Menu Properties dialog box, you can configure whether recently opened files or programs are stored or displayed on the Start menu as well as customize the Start menu.

Images by Greg Shultz for TechRepublic

Windows 7 Walkthrough: Appearance and Personalization Control Panel

Customize Start Menu

Customize Start Menu

When you click the Customize button, you’ll find a familiar looking Customize Start Menu dialog box. However, you will find many new options including the ability to choose the number of recent items to display in Jump Lists.

Images by Greg Shultz for TechRepublic

Windows 7 Walkthrough: Appearance and Personalization Control Panel

Taskbar and Start Menu: Toolbars Tab

Taskbar and Start Menu: Toolbars Tab

On the Toolbars tab, you can choose which toolbars you want to add to the Taskbar.

Images by Greg Shultz for TechRepublic

Windows 7 Walkthrough: Appearance and Personalization Control Panel

Folder Options

Folder Options

When you select Folder Options from within the Appearance and Personalization Category, you’ll see the Folder Options dialog box with the General, View and Search tabs. For the most part, the settings on these tabs are the same as they were in previous versions of the Windows operating system.

Images by Greg Shultz for TechRepublic

Windows 7 Walkthrough: Appearance and Personalization Control Panel

Fonts

Fonts

When you access the Fonts window, you will see all the fonts installed in the system. The fonts with faded icons are installed but are hidden and will not appear in applications that allow you to select fonts. (You can Show hidden fonts and Hide shown fonts.) The stacked icons indicate a font family.

Images by Greg Shultz for TechRepublic

Windows 7 Walkthrough: Appearance and Personalization Control Panel

Font Family

Font Family

If you double click on a font family icon, you’ll see all the fonts in that family.

Images by Greg Shultz for TechRepublic

Windows 7 Walkthrough: Appearance and Personalization Control Panel

Font Preview

Font Preview

If you double click on a font icon, you’ll see a preview window.

Images by Greg Shultz for TechRepublic

Windows 7 Walkthrough: Appearance and Personalization Control Panel

Font Settings

Font Settings

When you select Font Settings from within the Fonts window, you’ll be able to choose whether to show and hide fonts based on your language settings. You can also choose how you want fonts to be installed on your computer.

Images by Greg Shultz for TechRepublic

Windows 7 Walkthrough: Appearance and Personalization Control Panel

Get More Font Information Online

Get More Font Information Online

When you click Get More Font Information Online, your browser will launch and you’ll be taken to the Fonts for Windows page on the Microsoft Web site where you’ll find all kinds of information about fonts and typography.

Images by Greg Shultz for TechRepublic

Windows 7 Walkthrough: Appearance and Personalization Control Panel

Character Map

Character Map

When you click Find a Character, you’ll access the Character Map, which essentially hasn’t changed in years.

Images by Greg Shultz for TechRepublic

Windows 7 Walkthrough: Appearance and Personalization Control Panel

Appearance and Personalization Walkthrough Map

Appearance and Personalization Walkthrough Map

This tree diagram presents a map of the Appearance and Personalization walkthrough.

Images by Greg Shultz for TechRepublic

  • Microsoft
  • Account Information

    Share with Your Friends

    Windows 7 Walkthrough: Appearance and Personalization Control Panel

    Your email has been sent

Share: Windows 7 Walkthrough: Appearance and Personalization Control Panel
Image of greg shultz
By greg shultz
My first computer was a Kaypro 16 \"luggable\" running MS-DOS 2.11 which I obtained while studying computer science in 1986. After two years, I discovered that I had a knack for writing documentation and shifted my focus over to technical writing.
  • Account Information

    Contact greg shultz

    Your message has been sent

  • |
  • See all of greg's content

TechRepublic Premium

  • TechRepublic Premium

    Guidelines for building security policies

    PURPOSE These guidelines from TechRepublic Premium will help you define the necessary ingredients of a security policy and assist in its proper construction. They’re designed to work hand in hand with the subjective knowledge you have of your company, environment and employees. Using this information, your business can establish new policies or elaborate on those ...

    Published:  March 23, 2023, 12:00 PM EDT Modified:  March 24, 2023, 1:00 PM EDT Read More See more TechRepublic Premium
  • TechRepublic Premium

    Hiring kit: Artificial intelligence architect

    PURPOSE Recruiting an Artificial Intelligence Architect with the right combination of technical expertise and experience will require a comprehensive screening process. This Hiring Kit from TechRepublic Premium provides an adjustable framework your business can use to find, recruit and ultimately hire the right person for the job. From the hiring kit: DETERMINING FACTORS, DESIRABLE PERSONALITY ...

    Published:  March 23, 2023, 12:00 PM EDT Modified:  March 24, 2023, 1:00 PM EDT Read More See more TechRepublic Premium
  • TechRepublic Premium

    Hiring kit: Autonomous systems engineer

    PURPOSE Hiring the right Autonomous Systems Engineer requires a specific and precise recruitment process, supported by a thorough understanding of the project requirements. This Hiring Kit from TechRepublic Premium provides an adjustable framework your business can use to find, recruit and ultimately hire the right person for the job. From the hiring kit: DETERMINING FACTORS, ...

    Published:  March 23, 2023, 12:00 PM EDT Modified:  March 24, 2023, 3:00 PM EDT Read More See more TechRepublic Premium
  • TechRepublic Premium

    Hiring kit: Application support engineer

    PURPOSE This Hiring Kit: Application Support Engineer from TechRepublic Premium provides an adjustable framework your business can use to find, recruit and ultimately hire the right person for the job. From the hiring kit: DETERMINING FACTORS, DESIRABLE PERSONALITY TRAITS AND SKILLSETS The skillset of successful Application Support Engineers is marked by balancing the technical expertise ...

    Published:  March 23, 2023, 12:00 PM EDT Modified:  March 24, 2023, 5:00 PM EDT Read More See more TechRepublic Premium

Services

  • About Us
  • Newsletters
  • RSS Feeds
  • Site Map
  • Site Help & Feedback
  • FAQ
  • Advertise
  • Do Not Sell My Information

Explore

  • Downloads
  • TechRepublic Forums
  • Meet the Team
  • TechRepublic Academy
  • TechRepublic Premium
  • Resource Library
  • Photos
  • Videos
  • TechRepublic
  • TechRepublic on Twitter
  • TechRepublic on Facebook
  • TechRepublic on LinkedIn
  • TechRepublic on Flipboard
© 2023 TechnologyAdvice. All rights reserved.
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Property of TechnologyAdvice