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.

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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.)

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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System Icons

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

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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.

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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.

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Taskbar and Start Menu: Toolbars Tab

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

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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.

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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.

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Font Family

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

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Font Preview

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

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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.

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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.

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Character Map

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

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Appearance and Personalization Walkthrough Map

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

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