Tip of the day: Get faster access to common Control Panel options

Some of the most useful Control Panel options have shortcuts that are readily accessible from the desktop or the Start menu, although you’d never know it by looking:

• Display – To open this dialog box and change any Display options, including screen saver settings and resolution, right-click any empty space on the desktop and choose Properties.
• System – Right-click the My Computer icon (on the desktop or on the Windows XP Start menu) and click Properties. This gives you quick access to Device Manager and other system tools. (Click Manage to open the Computer Management console.)
• Network – Right-click the My Network Places shortcut (on the desktop or on the Windows XP Start menu) and choose Properties. This allows you to manage your current network connections.
• User Accounts – Click the icon to the left of your user name at the top of the Start menu. Then click Back to adjust any settings for your account, or Home to select another user account.
• Internet Options – Right-click the browser icon at the top of the Start menu and click Internet Properties.
• Date and Time – Right-click the clock at the far right side of the taskbar and click Adjust Date/Time.
• Taskbar and Start Menu – Right-click the Start button and then click Properties.

In Windows XP Inside Out, Second Edition (and the expanded Deluxe Edition), we document the command-line syntax to open just about any Control Panel option, including some of the esoteric switches that let you specify which tab of a specific dialog box should have the focus. If you write scripts or batch files and you want this level of control, you’ll want the book.