I have a new machine that came with Windows XP installed, but I don’t

I have a new machine that came with Windows XP installed, but I don’t like the way it looks. For instance, where are the My Computer and My Documents icons? How do I make Windows XP look more like Windows 98?
- Chris

This question was answered on February 4, 2002. Much of the information contained herein may have changed since posting.

Windows XP is Microsoft’s latest operating system, which is packed with new features and a new look Some users love the new look and feel, while others yearn for the ‘classic’ look and feel.

Depending upon how XP was installed, some systems may have a virtually blank Desktop where icons use to reside in abundance To add the basic icons back to your Desktop, right-click on the desktop, then click Properties Select the Desktop tab from the top row of tabs and then click on Customize Desktop option Put a check mark in the box next to the items that you want to appear on your Desktop, such as My Documents, My Computer, My Network Places, or Internet Explorer.

If you want to totally revert to the ‘classic’ settings throughout the system, right-click on the Desktop, click Properties then the Appearance tab On the Windows and Buttons menu, select Windows Classic and click on OK.

Another minor but very useful feature in XP is the ability to lock Toolbars in place This keeps an errant mouse click and drag from modifying or moving toolbars in everything from the Internet Explorer to Outlook Express or can prevent the common moving of the Task bar on the Desktop By default toolbars are locked, so if you need to unlock or customize them right-click on a toolbar, then click ‘Lock the Toolbars’ to remove the check mark which unlocks it and allows you to move it around the screen If you want to change the items on the toolbar, right-click on it again, then click Customize for your options.

Windows XP adds an ‘animation’ to its menus that will fade or slide new menus into view This can actually cause a delay, which is disconcerting to those that are used to the Windows 9x menus You can speed up the menus by clicking on Start, then Control Panel, then on Performance and Maintenance, and then on the System icon Click the Advanced tab and under Performance, click the Settings button and remove the check mark in the Fade or slide menus into view check box, then click OK.

You may also have noticed that Windows XP automatically creates a list of the recently used programs on the left side of the Start Menu that changes as you use different programs If you want to ‘anchor’ a program that will always appear at the top of the list, simply right-click on it (in the Start Menu) and select Pin to Start Menu.

Anytime a new operating system is released with new features, it’s natural to want the old features (Old-time Windows users probably remember when the File Manager in Windows 3.X become the Windows Explorer in Windows 95 and the uproar that is caused.) I recommend that new users of Windows XP at least give the look and feel a try before completely reverting to the ‘classic’ mode so that future versions of Windows will not run and look so foreign.