| FEATURE | Where or what it is/what it does | Default setting Pro/Home | Activate/deactivate |
| Quick Launch Toolbar | Next to the Start button/launches applications with a single click. | On/off | Right-click the taskbar, select Properties, choose the Taskbar tab, and check or uncheck Show Quick Launch. Click OK. |
| My Recent Documents | On the Start menu/lists the 15 documents opened most recently. | On/off | Right-click the taskbar, select Properties, choose the Start Menu tab, click Customize, select the Advanced tab, and under Recent documents, check or uncheck List my most recently open documents. Click OK twice. |
| Volume Icon | In the system tray next to the clock/adjusts your PC's volume. | Off/off | Click Start, Control Panel. In Category View, choose Sounds, Speech, and Audio Devices and click Sounds and Audio Devices. In Classic View, double-click Sounds and Audio Devices. Select the Volume tab, and in the Device volume area, check Place volume icon on the taskbar. |
| Clock | In the system tray/shows the current time. | On/on | Right-click the taskbar, select Properties, choose the Taskbar tab, and check or uncheck Show the clock. |
| Show File Name Extensions | In Explorer and folder windows/shows file-type extensions (.exe, .gif, and the like). | Off/off | Launch Windows Explorer, click Tools, and select Folder Options. Choose the View tab, and under 'Advanced settings' uncheck Hide Extensions for Known File Types. Click Apply to All Folders at the top of the dialog box, choose Yes, and then click OK. |
| Search for Hidden Files | In Explorer and folder windows/includes hidden files in search results. | Off/off | Launch Windows Explorer, click Tools, and select Folder Options. Choose the View tab and under 'Advanced settings', check Show hidden files and folders. Click Apply to All Folders at the top of the dialog box, choose Yes, and click OK. |
| Windows XP Style | The new interface/adds brighter colors and bigger buttons. | On/on | Right-click the desktop and choose Properties. Click the Appearance tab, and in the 'Windows and buttons' drop-down list, select Windows Classic style. Click OK. |
| ClearType | 'More' option in Desktop Properties/manages font-smoothing for LCD monitors. | Off/off | Right-click the desktop and choose Properties. Click the Appearance tab, select the Effects button, and check Use the following method to smooth edges of screen fonts. Click the drop-down arrow and select ClearType. Click OK twice. |
| Passport | Pop-up message/provides access to Microsoft service. | On/on | The first five times you connect to the Web, XP pesters you to sign up for a Passport account; then it gives up. If you just can't wait for it to disable itself, click the Passport message; when the .Net Messenger window appears, click the Cancel button. |
| Word-Balloon Tips | Pop-up messages/obscure screen with tool tips for apps supporting XP themes. | On/on | Download and install XP's PowerToys. Once it is installed, click Start, All Programs, Powertoys for Windows XP, TweakUI for Windows XP. Highlight Taskbar in the left pane, and in the Settings area, uncheck Enable balloon tips. Click OK. (Note: You can't get rid of the Activation balloon until XP is activated.) |
