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Control Panel - Hardware and Sound I started off with the intent of ripping this category because it appeared to me it was just a catch-all for whatever didn't slot nicely into another category. Then I went ahead and looked it over more closely, and truthfully everything here really does have to do with hardware in some way or another. I still find this category unwieldy and dread having to come here, but as long as Vista is designed for the total computer novice I'm sure it will serve a purpose. On to a brief description of each category with more in depth articles to be added later.
Printers - Since the paperless office and home have yet to become a reality this is still a necessary category. Clicking on Printers will open Windows Explorer as shown below, as will a click on the 'Change Default Printer' and 'Remove A Printer' options. Once you get to this point there isn't any necessity to go back to the main category Printers in Control Panel. Everything you need is accessible from the 'ribbon' right above the main Windows Explorer window. The 'ribbon' is the area where you see the 'Add A Printer', 'See What's Printing', and 'Set As Default' options displayed. Unless you have an absolutely huge monitor with the window fully maximized, there will be additional 'ribbon' options available by clicking the double chevron to the right of the last entry. Clicking on Fax will open the Windows Fax and Scan program. Finally, clicking 'Add A Printer' will open the Add Printer dialog where you can add a local or network printer.
Auto-Play - In my Windows XP experience, auto-play has always been one of the sketchiest processes as far as reliability goes. Half the time when media was inserted nothing at all would happen and the other half of the time was pretty much a crapshoot what would actually occur. Vista seems to be a lot better as far as recognition and follow through when you insert media. This is where you can go through each type of media and device to set your preferences.
Sound - There's no real mystery in this section. Clicking the [Sound] icon opens the main Sound dialogue box where you can set [Playback}, [Recording], and [Sounds] options using the different tabs. There are many other dialogue screens and options to drill down through on each of the tabs depending on what type of sound devices are installed in the system.
Mouse - Clicking the main [Mouse] icon will open the Mouse Properties screen where there are a number of different tabs available. What you will actually see depends on the hardware you have installed. With all these different options available it would be almost impossible not to be able to custom tailor the mouse to fit your individual working style.
Power Options - The power options in XP were always a fairly weak point of the operating system and drew criticism quite frequently. Unfortunately, Vista is drawing a lot of the same criticism, especially with sleep mode and getting the system to awaken reliably. At any rate, this is the section where you can choose your power management settings. You can select one of the three preconfigured plans or modify any one of them to your exact specifications.
Personalization - Click the [Personalization] icon and you open up a whole host of options for customizing the appearance of Vista. Some of the options such as Mouse Pointers and Sounds are repeated elsewhere in separate categories. This screen is also the same place you arrive at when right clicking an open area of the desktop and selecting Properties. Why the developers chose to split all the functions out into separate windows rather than have them integrated into one tabbed window as in XP is a mystery. The old method was far more convenient in my opinion. This is exactly the same thing found in CP > Appearance and Personalization > Personalization.
Scanners and Cameras - The chances are pretty good that unless you are using an ancient scanner or camera there will never be any use for this screen. Read the 'Do I need to use this to install my scanner or camera' link and it will tell you in most circumstances you can just plug in the device, power it on, and Vista will recognize it and supply the appropriate driver. There will of course be exceptions, but even if your device isn't automatically recognized, the manufacturer normally supplies a CD with the device containing an installation routine if anything out of the ordinary is required.
Keyboard - Opens the Keyboard Properties window where the keyboard can be fine tuned to user preference. This is another situation where the tabs you see will depend on the installed hardware. At the very minimum you should see [Speed] and [Hardware] tabs. If the hardware supports key assignments, zooming, or is a wireless keyboard there should be other tabs to support configuring and monitoring those functions. The screen captures below illustrate what tabs are present with a Microsoft USB Dual Receiver Wireless Keyboard installed.
Device Manager - Here's an oldie but a goodie. I can't even begin to tell you how many times I've visited this location on different Windows versions, and I'm willing to bet you've spent a fair amount of time here as well. There are many things you can do with Device Manager and I'll cover those in later articles, but for right now if you are having a problem with a piece of hardware or you want to reinstall a device driver, this is the place to visit.
Phone and Modem Options - Obviously the place to go if you're having issues with a modem. If you don't see this screen when you click [ Phone and Modem Options ] category then you haven't specified your location on the previous screen where you must supply at least one area code. After that is done, you can add more, but you must have at least one for the screen to be visible.
Game Controllers - The only thing I can say about this screen is that it exists and I'll post a screen capture of it for you to see. I'm not a gamer and have absolutely no idea what happens if you have a connected gaming device. I assume it means joysticks or perhaps steering wheels or pilot console type devices.
Windows SideShow - Not too long ago somebody asked me about SideShow in Vista, wanting to know how to set it up with a SideShow compatible device. I just looked at them and said I have no idea at all what you're talking about. That was the truth. I seem to remember reading a little blurb about it quite a while back, but past that it just slipped my mind completely. According to the Vista help documentation it's a secondary display that accesses information from your computer without having to turn on the computer. It says there are two types of devices, integrated and separate, that range from displays built into a laptop lid to mobile phones and TV's. I've never seen a device labeled 'SideShow Compatible' but I'll check the next time I visit an electronics retailer. My guess is cell phones would be the most likely and available devices, but since I have never owned a cell phone and have no intention of ever owning one, I'll have to rely on you readers to supply me with information about your experiences with Windows SideShow.
Pen and Input Devices - If you have a PC fitted with a touch screen or even a separate tablet input device, use this section to set pen, pointer, and flick options.
Color Management - This is another category you likely will not ever have a need to access. Basically, it's a process used to modify the way colors are displayed and executed across different devices, primarily printers. How this is accomplished can be achieved in different ways, but usually a color profile is used that is supplied by the device manufacturer. Unless you have a specific rendering problem with a device I suggest you leave this screen alone, and if you do feel you want to make changes, read through the 'Understanding Color Management Settings' link before making any changes or adding any color profiles.
Tablet PC Settings - Unless you are using a Tablet PC there is nothing here of interest. If I had one I'd post some screen caps. I don't, so that's it for this category.
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