Windows Vista gives you the ability to customize your work environment to suit your personal needs and preferences. You can adjust most Windows features through the Control Panel, a central location for changing Windows settings. From the Control Panel you access the individual programs for changing the properties, or characteristics, of a specific element of your computer, such as the desktop, the taskbar, or the Start menu. The Control Panel displays utilities in two different views: Control Panel Home and Classic View. Control Panel Home displays utilities in functional categories based on tasks with some direct links (New!), while Classic view displays an icon for each utility program. Each icon in the Control Panel represents an aspect of Windows that you can change to fit your own working habits and personal needs. Some Control Panel settings are vital to how you work (such as the Date and Time, or the Language settings) and others are purely aesthetic (such as the background picture, or which screen saver you use). This book uses the most efficient way to access Control Panel properties.

The Control Panel also includes icons to setup user accounts and maintain security (see Chapter 11), and setup and manage local-area, wide-area, and wireless networks (see Chapter 12). You can access printers and faxes (see Chapter 13), add and remove programs and automatically update Windows (see Chapter 14). You can also work with hardware, such as a scanner, digital camera, modem, audio and speakers, mouse, and keyboard (see Chapter 15).

If an option—typically in the Control Panel—displays the Security Center icon (New!) next to it (shown on page 110 in Step 4), you need to enter the administrator password or provide confirmation when prompted by the User Account Control (UAC). This adds an additional level of security to keep your computer secure. For more information, see page 310, “Securing a Computer.”

The Control Panel is a collection of utility programs that determine how Windows Vista looks and works on your computer. The Control Panel displays utilities in two different views: Control Panel Home and Classic View. Control Panel Home displays utilities in functional categories based on tasks with some direct links (New!), while Classic view displays an icon for each utility program as in previous versions of Windows. You can change views by using the Control Panel task pane.

WINV-6.3.1

The desktop background, or wallpaper, is a picture that serves as your desktop’s backdrop, the basic surface on which icons and windows appear. You can select a background picture and change how it looks using the Desktop Background dialog box. Once you select a background picture, you can display it on the screen three different ways: Tile displays the picture consecutively across the screen; Center displays the picture in the center of the screen; and Stretch enlarges the picture and displays it in the center of the screen. Instead of selecting a background picture, which can sometimes make icons on the desktop difficult to see, you can also change the background to a color.

WINV-6.3.2

The icons on the desktop provide easy access to programs, folders, and system related shortcuts. If your desktop is getting cluttered, you can quickly show or hide the desktop icons. In addition, you can customize the desktop to show or hide the familiar icons Computer, User’s Files, Network, Recycle Bin, or Control Panel. You can also quickly sort, resize, and rearrange desktop icons by right-clicking the desktop, and then using commands on the View and Sort By submenus.

WINV-6.4.2

Windows Sidebar (New!) is a pane on the side of the Windows Vista desktop that gives you quick access to mini-applications called gadgets that can connect to Web services, such as news headlines, or integrate with many of your applications, such as viewing your calendar. You can customize Windows Sidebar to suit the way you work—whether you want it always on top or resting below maximized windows. If you are having problems with a gadget, you can stop it from running. If the gadget was installed with Windows Vista, you can restore it.

Change Windows Sidebar Properties

1. Right-click a blank area of the Sidebar, and then click Properties.

2. Select or clear the Start Sidebar when Windows starts check box.

3. Select or clear the Sidebar is always on top of other windows check box.

4. Click the Right or Left option to display select a desktop location.

5. If you have more than one monitor, click the list arrow, and then select a monitor.

6. To stop a gadget from running, click View list of running gadgets, select the gadget you want to stop, click Remove, and then click Close.

7. To restore default Windows gadgets, click Restore gadgets installed with Windows.

8. Click OK.

WINV-1.4.1,

WINV-6.3.4

In the past, you needed a screen saver, a continually moving display, to protect your monitor from burn in, which occurs when the same display remains on the screen for extended periods of time and becomes part of the screen. Those days are gone with the emergence of new display technology. Screen savers are more for entertainment than anything else. When you leave your computer idle for a specified wait time, a screen saver displays a continuous scene, such as an aquarium, until you move your mouse to stop it.

Select a Screen Saver

1. Right-click a blank area on the desktop, and then click Personalize.

2. Click Screen Saver.

3. Click the list arrow, and then click a screen saver.

4. Click Settings.

5. Select the options you want for the screen saver, and then click OK.

6. Click Preview to see the screen saver in full-screen view, and then move your mouse to end the preview.

7. Specify the time to wait until your computer starts the screen saver.

8. Select or clear the On resume, display logon screen check box.

9. Click OK.

Did You Know?

You can turn off a screen saver. On the Screen Saver tab, click (None) from the Screen Saver list arrow.

WINV-3.4.1, WINV-3.4.2,

WINV-3.4.3

If you find yourself frequently scrolling within windows as you work or squinting to read small text, you might want to change the size of the desktop on your monitor. A monitor displays pictures by dividing the display screen into thousands or millions of dots, or pixels, arranged in rows and columns. The pixels are so close together that they appear connected. The screen resolution refers to the number of pixels on the entire screen, which determines the amount of information your monitor displays. A low screen resolution setting, such as 640 by 480 pixels (width by height), displays less information on the screen, but the items on the screen appear relatively large, while a high setting, such as 1024 by 768 pixels, displays more information on the screen, but the items on the screen appear smaller. You can also change the color quality. The higher the color quality, the more colors the computer displays, which requires greater system memory. The most common color quality settings are as follows: 16-bit, which displays 768 colors, and 24-bit and 32-bit, both of which display 16.7 million colors.

You can increase the size of your workspace on the desktop and your productivity by adding another monitor to your computer. For example, you can work on a document in WordPad on one monitor and search for Web content in your Web browser on the other monitor. One monitor is the primary monitor, which displays the dialog boxes that appear when you start your computer and most programs; the other monitor is the secondary monitor, which displays windows, icons, and programs you drag to it from the primary monitor. Before you can use more than one monitor, you need to install another display adapter, a hardware device that allows a computer to communicate with its monitor, on your computer that supports multiple monitors. After you install the display adapter according to the manufacturer’s instructions and restart the computer, Windows automatically detects the new device and applied the video settings best suited to the display. In the Control Panel, double-click the Display icon in Classic View, click the Settings tab, click the monitor icon that represents the secondary monitor that you want to use, select the Extend the desktop onto this monitor check box, and then click Apply to activate the secondary monitor. To arrange multiple monitors, click the monitor icons and drag them in the preview window to the positions you want. You can set different screen resolutions and color settings for each monitor. See “Adding a Secondary Monitor” on page 462 for more information on using multiple monitors.

WINV3.4.4

If text and other items, such as icons, on the screen are not large enough for you to comfortably view, you can customize the screen to display items larger. Windows Vista allows you to increase the Dots Per Inch (DPI) scale (New!), which is the number of dots that a device can display or print per linear inch. The greater the number, of dots per inch, the better the resolution. DPI is a standard measurement used to specify screen and printer resolution. 96 DPI is the default screen option and 120 DPI is the other available standard option. However, you can set a custom DPI setting, which is not recommended unless you are an experienced user. After you change the DPI, you need to restart Windows to see the change.

Change the DPI Scaling Options

1. Right-click a blank area on the desktop, and then click Personalize.

2. In the left pane, click Adjust font size (DPI).

3. Click the Default scale (96 DPI) - fit more information or Larger scale (120 DPI) - make text more readable option.

4. To create a custom DPI scale, click Custom DPI, enter the percentage you want, and then click OK.

5. Click OK.

   To see the changes, close all of your programs, and restart Windows.

You can change the entire appearance of the desktop by using desktop themes. A desktop theme changes the desktop background, screen saver, mouse pointers, sounds, icons, and fonts based on a set theme, such as baseball, science, sports, travel, or underwater. You can even change your desktop to the classic Windows look. You can use one of the predefined desktop themes or create your own. If a theme isn’t exactly what you want, you can change the appearance of colors, fonts, and sizes used for major window elements such as title bars, icons, menus, borders, and the desktop itself.

Customize the Desktop Appearance

1. Right-click a blank area on the desktop, and then click Personalize.

2. Click Window Color and Appearance.

3. Click the color scheme you want.

4. Click Advanced if you want to change the color, size, or font for individual items for a Windows Classic color scheme.

5. To set appearance effects, click Effects, and then set one or more of the following effects:

   • Smooth edges of screen fonts; use ClearType.

   • Show shadows under menus.

   • Show window contents while dragging.

6. Click OK.

What’s ClearType

ClearType is a font technology that improves the display on a computer monitor. ClearType makes on-screen text more clear, smooth, and detailed, which can reduce eye strain. ClearType is turned on by default in Windows. This is useful and most effective when you use LCD devices, including flat-panel monitors, mobile computers, and smaller hand-held devices. ClearType is optimized for use with some fonts, including Constantia, Cambria, Corbel, Candara, Calibri, and Consolas. To set the ClearType setting, you open the Personalize window in the Control Panel, open the Appearance Settings dialog box, and then open the Effects dialog box.

The date and time you set in the Control Panel appear in the lower-right corner of the taskbar. When you click or hover over the taskbar clock, the data appears. Programs use the date and time to establish when files and folders are created and modified. To change the date and time, you modify settings in the Date and Time dialog box. When you modify the time, it’s important to also verify or update the time zone setting in the Time Zone Settings dialog box, which is used to accurately display creation and modification dates in a different time zone. With an Internet connection, you can set options on the Internet tab to make sure the time is accurate. If you need to know the time in other time zones, you can display additional clocks, which you can display by clicking or hovering over the taskbar clock.

Change the Date or Time

1. Click the time on the taskbar in the notification area, and then click Change date and time settings.

   

2. Click the Date and Time tab.

3. If needed, click Change time zone, click the list arrow, select a time zone, and then select or clear the Automatically adjust clock for Daylight Saving Changes check box, and then click OK.

4. Click Change date and time.

5. Click the date arrows to select the month and year.

6. Click a day, and then specify a time.

7. Click OK.

8. Click OK.

Keep the Time Accurate

1. Click the time on the taskbar in the notification area, and then click Change date and time settings.

2. Click the Internet Time tab.

3. Click Change settings.

4. Select the Synchronize with an Internet time server check box.

5. Click the Server list arrow, and then click a time server.

6. Click Update now, and then wait for the time to update.

7. Click OK.

8. Click OK.

Add Clocks

1. Click the time on the taskbar in the notification area, and then click Change date and time settings.

2. Click the Additional Clocks tab.

3. Select the Show this clock check box.

4. Click the Select time zone list arrow, and then select a time zone.

5. Type a name.

6. If you want another clock, perform steps 3 through 5 for Clock 2.

7. Click OK.

You can also install multiple input languages on your computer and easily switch between them. An input language is the language in which you enter and display text. When you install additional languages on your computer, the language for the operating system doesn’t change, only the characters you type on the screen. Each language uses its own keyboard layout, which rearranges the letters that appear when you press keys. When you install Text services or another language, the Language Bar toolbar appears on your desktop and in the Toolbars menu. Text services are text-related add-on programs for a second keyboard layout, handwriting recognition, speech recognition, and an Input Method Editor (IME), which is a system that lets you input Asian language characters with a standard 101-keyboard. You can switch between different language keyboard layouts using the Language bar or keyboard shortcuts.

Change Text Services and Input Languages

1. Click the Start button, click Control Panel, and then double-click the Regional and Language Options icon in Classic view.

2. Click the Keyboards and Languages tab, and then click Change keyboard.

3. Click the Language list arrow, and then click a language to use when you start your computer.

4. Click Add to add an input language.

5. Select an input language, and then click Remove to delete it, or click Properties to modify it.

6. Click the Language Bar tab to change the look and behavior of the Language bar.

7. Click the Advanced Key Settings tab to define keyboard shortcuts to switch between input language.

8. Click OK.

9. Click OK.

Change the Language Bar Settings

1. Click the Start button, click Control Panel, and then double-click the Regional and Language Options icon in Classic view.

2. Click the Keyboards and Languages tab.

3. Click Change Keyboards.

4. Click the Language Bar tab.

5. Select the options you want.

6. Click OK, and then click OK again.

For those who work in international circles, you can change the format of the date, time, currency, and number into almost any form. For example, you can change the decimal symbol and list separator, the format used for negative numbers and leading zeros, and the measurement system (U.S. or metric).

Everything you type appears in a font, or typeface, a particular design set of letters, numbers, and other characters. The height of characters in a font is measured in points, each point being approximately 1/72 inch, while the width is measured by pitch, which refers to how many characters can fit in an inch. You might have heard common font names, such as Times New Roman, Arial, Courier, or Symbol. Windows comes with a variety of fonts for displaying text and printing documents. Using the Fonts window, you can view these fonts, see a sample of how a font appears when printed, and even install new fonts.

Toolbars provide easy access to commonly used tasks. Windows Vista comes with a set of toolbars you can use to access programs, folders, documents, and Web pages right from the taskbar. You can rearrange, resize, and move the toolbars to compliment your working style. When you move a toolbar, you can attach or dock it, to any of the sides on the desktop or you can float it in a window anywhere within the desktop.

Show or Hide a Toolbar

1. Right-click a blank area on the taskbar.

2. Point to Toolbars, and then click a toolbar without a check mark.

   A toolbar with a check mark is already displayed.

Did You Know?

You can display hidden buttons on a toolbar. Click the double-arrow at the end of the toolbar.

You can display buttons on the taskbar. Click the up or down arrow on the taskbar to scroll through the taskbar buttons.

You can also show or hide toolbars using the Taskbar and Start Menu Properties dialog box. Right-click the taskbar, click Properties, click the Toolbars tab, select or clear the toolbar check boxes, and then click OK.

See Also

See “Customizing the Taskbar” on page 118 for information on modifying the taskbar.

Table . Toolbars on the Taskbar

Toolbar	Description
Address	Opens Web pages, network locations, files, and folders using the Address bar from Internet Explorer
Windows Media Player	Opens the Windows Media Player to play music and videos
Links	Opens links using the Links toolbar from Internet Explorer
Tablet PC Input Panel	Opens the Table PC Input Panel to use ink as an input device
Language bar	Switches between languages
Desktop	Opens windows to files, folders, and shortcuts on the desktop
Quick Launch	Starts Internet Explorer and other programs, switch between windows, or minimizes all the windows
New Toolbar	Adds a new toolbar to Windows

Unlock or Lock the Taskbar

1. Right-click a blank area on the taskbar.

2. Click Lock the Taskbar.

   1. Toolbars on the taskbar are locked when a check mark is displayed.

   2. Toolbars on the taskbar are unlocked when a check mark isn’t displayed.

Move a Toolbar

1. Right-click a blank area on the taskbar, and then click Lock the Taskbar to remove the check mark, if necessary.

2. Point to the dotted bar or name of the toolbar, and then drag it to a new location on the desktop docked to the side or floating in the middle.

Did You Know?

You can resize a toolbar. Unlock the taskbar, and then drag the small vertical bar at the beginning of the toolbar.

You can expand or collapse a toolbar. Unlock the taskbar, and then double-click the small vertical bar at the beginning of the toolbar.

WINV-6.2

The taskbar is initially located at the bottom of the Windows desktop and is most often used to switch from one program to another. As with other Windows Vista elements, you can customize the taskbar; for example, you can change its size and location, customize its display, or add or remove toolbars to help you perform the tasks you need to do. If you need more room on the screen to display a window, Auto-hide can be used to hide the taskbar when it’s not in use. You can also group similar windows (such as several WordPad documents) together on the taskbar to save space. If icons in the notification area are hidden when you want to see them, you can customize the notification area to always show the icons you want to use. In addition, you can also choose whether to show or hide common system icons, including Clock, Volume, Network, and Power.

Customize the Taskbar

1. Right-click a blank area on the taskbar, and then click Properties.

2. Click the Taskbar tab.

3. Select the Auto-hide the taskbar check box to hide the taskbar when you’re not using it.

   The taskbar appears when you move the mouse to where the taskbar would appear.

4. Select the Keep the taskbar on top of other windows check box to keep the taskbar available.

5. Select the Group similar taskbar buttons check box to have similar windows grouped together in one button when the taskbar is crowded.

6. Select the Show Quick Launch check box to display the Quick Launch toolbar.

7. Click OK.

WINV-6.1

The left column of the Start menu is separated into two lists (New!): pinned items above the separator line and most frequently used items below. The pinned items remain on the Start menu, like a push pin holds paper on a bulletin board, until you unpin them. The right column of the Start menu provides easy access to folders, Windows settings, help information, and search functionality. You can add shortcuts to programs, files, or folders to the Start menu or customize the way the Start menu looks and functions.

Choose a Start Menu Style

1. Right-click the Start button, and then click Properties.

2. Click the Start menu or Classic Start menu option.

3. Click OK.

Did You Know?

You can rearrange Start menu items. Click the Start button, point to All Programs, locate the item you want to move, and then drag the item to a new location. A thick, black line indicates the new location of the item.

When you double-click an audio or video file, or click a Web link, a default program associated with that file type automatically starts and opens the file. The Default Programs icon in the Control Panel provides an easy way to change the default program used for specific file types. You can change file types, such as .bmp or .jpg, and set file associations for common activities, such as Web browsing, sending e-mail, playing audio and video files, sending instant messaging, and using a search application (NewSP1), either Windows Search Explorer or a third-party one, such as Google Desktop Search. You can also specify which programs are available from the Start menu, the desktop, and other locations. To change default options, you need to have administrator privileges for your computer. The options you set apply to all users on your computer.

Set Program Access and Computer Defaults

1. Click the Start button, and then click Control Panel.

2. Double-click the Default Programs icon in Classic View.

3. Click Set program access and computer defaults, and then enter administrator permissions, if requested.

4. Click the option for the type of program you want to set: Computer Manufacturer (if available), Microsoft Windows, Non-Microsoft, or Custom.

5. Click the option or select from a list the defaults you want to set.

6. Click OK.

7. Click the Close button.

When you insert a CD or DVD into your computer disc drive or attach certain devices, such as digital cameras, to your computer, you can specify how you want Windows Vista to respond. You can have Windows detect the type of content on the disc and automatically start, or prompt you each time to choose an action. If you have CDs or DVDs with music files, pictures, video files, or mixed content, you can change the action Windows takes when it detects the content on the disc. You can have Windows play or rip a CD or DVD using Windows Media Player, open the first folder to view files using Windows Explorer, or take no action. Windows Vista allows you to set AutoPlay options for a wide-variety of CDs and DVDs, including an audio or enhanced audio CD, DVD or enhanced DVD movie, Software and games, pictures, video and audio files, blank CD or DVD, mixed content, HD DVD or Blu-ray Disc movie, Video or Super Video CD.

Set AutoPlay Options

1. Click the Start button, and then click Control Panel.

2. Double-click the Auto Play icon in Classic View.

3. To display the AutoPlay dialog box every time you insert a CD or DVD. select the Use AutoPlay for all media and devices check box.

4. For each of the different media types, click the list arrow, and then select the default action you want; options vary depending on the type of CD or DVD.

   1. To turn off AutoPlay for a specific media type, click Take no action.

5. To reset defaults, click Reset all defaults.

6. Click Save.

Did You Know?

You can stop Windows from performing an action on a CD or DVD. Hold down the Shift key while you insert the CD or DVD.

If you have difficulty using a mouse or typing, have slightly impaired vision, or are deaf or hard of hearing, you can adjust the appearance and behavior of Windows Vista to make your computer easier for you to use. The Ease of Access Center helps you configure Windows for your vision, hearing, and mobility needs. You can also answer a few questions about your daily computer use that can help Windows recommend accessibility settings and programs for you. To open the Ease of Access Center, click the Start button on the taskbar, click Control Panel, and then double-click the Ease of Access icon. To use the Ease of Access questionnaire, click Get recommendations to make your computer easier to use. The Ease of Access Center provides utilities to adjust the way your keyboard, display, and mouse function to suit various vision and motor abilities. Some of the accessibility tools available include Magnifier, On-Screen Keyboard, Narrator, and High Contrast. You can also set accessibility options, such as StickyKeys, FilterKeys, ToggleKeys, Sound-Sentry, ShowSounds, and MouseKeys, that automatically turn off accessibility features, provide warning sounds, and determine when to apply the settings. The accessibility tools in Windows Vista are intended to provide a low level of functionality for those with special needs. If these tools do not meet your daily needs, you might need to purchase a more advanced accessibility program.

The Ease of Access Center (New!) allows you to check the status of and start or stop the Magnifier, Narrator, and On-Screen Keyboard accessibility programs. Magnifier is a utility that enlarges an area of the screen. Narrator is a text-to-speech utility that gives users who are blind or have impaired vision access to the computer. On-Screen Keyboard is a utility that displays a keyboard on the screen where users with mobility impairments can type using a mouse, joystick, or other pointing device. If you have administrator access to your computer, you can specify how the accessibility programs start when you log on, lock the desktop, or start the Ease of Access Center.

Use the Ease of Access Center

1. Press +U to start the Ease of Access Center.

   Timesaver

   The Windows key is located in the lower-left corner of the keyboard.

   1. You can also start the Ease of Access Center in the Control Panel. Double-click the Ease of Access icon in Classic view.

2. To get recommendations on what to use, click Get recommendations to make your computer easier to use, and then follow the instructions.

3. To provide quick access to common tools, select the Always read this section aloud and Always scan this section check boxes.

4. Click the utility program or the settings you want to manage.

5. Select or clear the check boxes you want to specify how you want the selected program to start or a setting to be applied.

6. Click Save or exit the window.

7. When you’re done with the Ease of Access Center, click the Close button.

Use the Magnifier

1. Click the Start button, point to All Programs, click Accessories, click Ease of Access, and then click Magnifier.

2. Click the Scale factor list arrow, and then click a level.

3. Select or clear the check boxes with the presentation options to invert colors, start minimized, or show Magnifier.

4. Select or clear the check boxes with the tracking options to follow the mouse cursor, keyboard focus, or text editing.

5. Click Hide to use the Magnifier program, or click the Close button to close the program. (Restore the Magnifier window, if necessary.)

Use the On-Screen Keyboard

1. Open the program in which you want to type.

2. Click the Start button, point to All Programs, click Accessories, click Ease of Access, and then click On-Screen Keyboard.

3. Position the cursor, if necessary.

4. Type the text you want, or type keyboard commands.

5. When you’re done, click the Close button.

Windows Vista comes with an accessibility tool called Narrator that reads aloud what appears on your screen, such as window items, menu options, and typed characters. Windows uses Text-to-Speech (TTS) technology to recognize text and play it back as spoken words using a synthesized voice, which is chosen from several pre-generated voices. Narrator is designed for those who are blind or have impaired vision and works with the Windows desktop and setup, Control Panel, Notepad, WordPad, and Internet Explorer. Narrator supports only the English language and might not read words aloud correctly in other programs. You can adjust the speed, volume, or pitch of the voice in Narrator and change other Text-to-Speech options using Speech properties in the Control Panel.

Change Text-To-Speech Options

1. Click the Start button, click Control Panel, and then double-click the Text to Speech icon in Classic view.

2. Click the Voice selection list arrow, and then select a synthesized voice.

3. Drag the Voice speed slider to adjust the speed of the voice.

4. Click Preview Voice.

5. To set a preferred audio device as output for TTS playback, click Advanced, make a selection, and then click OK.

6. To adjust settings for your audio output devices, click Audio Output, specify the options you want on the Playback, Recording, or Sounds tabs, and then click OK.

7. Click OK.

See Also

See “Recognizing Your Speech” on page 130 for information on speech capabilities.

Use the Narrator

1. Click the Start button, point to All Programs, click Accessories, click Ease of Access, and then click Narrator.

2. Select the Narrator check box options you want:

   1. To hear what you type, select the Echo User’s Keystrokes check box.

   2. To hear background events, select the Announce System Messages check box.

   3. To hear an announcement when the screen scrolls, select the Announce Scroll Notifications check box.

   4. Select the Start Narrator Minimized check box to minimize the Narrator dialog box.

3. Click Voice Settings.

4. Select a voice and adjust the voice speed, volume, and pitch.

5. Click OK.

6. Click the Minimize button to use the Narrator program or click Exit to close the program. (Restore the Narrator window, if necessary.) Click Yes, if necessary.

Table . Common Narrator Shortcuts

Action	Result
Ctrl+Shift+Enter or Alt+Home	Get information about the current item
Ctrl+Shift+Spacebar	Read the entire selected window
Ctrl+Alt+Spacebar	Read the selected window layout
Alt+End	Get a summary of the current item
Ctrl	Stop Narrator from reading text
Insert+F2	Select all of the text with the current text pattern
Insert+F3	Read the current character
Insert+F4	Read the current word
Insert+F5	Read the current line
Insert+F6	Read the current paragraph
Insert+F7	Read the current page
Insert+F8	Read the current document

If you have a speech-enabled program, you can initialize and customize speech recognition options using Speech properties in the Control Panel. Speech recognition (New!) is the ability to convert a spoken voice into electronic text. Windows Vista adapts to your speech, and speech recognition increases over time. You can use the speech recognition properties to select a language, create a profile to accommodate your speaking style and environment, and train your computer in as little as ten minutes to recognize and adapt to the sound of your voice, word pronunciation, accent, speaking manner, and new or distinctive words. Some programs use speech differently, so you need to check the speech-enabled program for details. Speech Recognition is not available in all languages.

Set Up Speech Recognition

1. Click the Start button, click Control Panel, and then double-click the Speech Recognition Options icon in Classic view.

2. Click Set up microphone, and then follow the wizard instructions to adjust the microphone.

3. Click Take Speech Tutorial, and then follow the instructions to take the 30 minute training tutorial to teach you the commands used with speech recognition.

4. Click Train your computer to recognize your speech, and then follow the wizard instructions to train your voice.

5. When you’re done, click the Close button.

Did You Know?

You can view and print a Speech Recognition reference card. Click the Start button, click Control Panel, double-click the Speech Recognition Options icon in Classic view, and then click Open and Speech Reference Card.

Set Speech Recognition Options

1. Click the Start button, click Control Panel, and then double-click the Speech Recognition Options icon in Classic view.

2. In the left pane, click Advanced speech options.

3. Click the Speech Recognition tab.

4. Click the list arrow, and then select a language.

5. To start the Profile Wizard, click New, type your name, click OK, follow the wizard instructions to create a profile, adjust the microphone, and train your voice, and then click Finish.

6. Select or clear the User Settings check boxes you do or don’t want.

7. Click OK.

Start Speech Recognition

1. Click the Start button, click Control Panel, and then double-click the Speech Recognition Options icon in Classic view.

2. Click Start Speech Recognition.

3. If requested, follow the wizard instructions to create a profile, adjust the microphone, and train your voice, and then click Finish.

4. Click the Speech Recognition button to toggle between Sleeping and Listening mode.

   Timesaver

   Right-click the Speech Recognition button to select command options.

5. When you’re done, click the Close button.