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Accessibility Tutorials / Windows XP

Adjust Display and Appearance

Using the Display icon, you can modify the way desktop objects such as windows, menus, fonts, and icons appear on your screen. Certain color, font, and size options for desktop items are easier for some people to see. This procedure tells you how to adjust display and appearance options through the Display icon in Control Panel.

Mouse actions
Keyboard actions
1
On the Start menu:
  • Select Control Panel
Display the Start menu by pressing CTRL+ESC (or the Windows logo key [image: Windows logo key] ).
  • Select Control Panel by pressing C.
  • Press ENTER, if necessary.
2
In Control Panel:
  • Be sure you are in Classic View (all Control Panel icons are showing).
  • If not, under Control Panel in the left pane, select Switch to Classic View.
  • Select Display.
In Control Panel:
  • Be sure you are in Classic View (all Control Panel icons are showing).
  • If not, under Control Panel in the left pane, select Switch to Classic View by pressing TAB.
  • Press ENTER.
  • Press the the arrow keys to move to Display.
  • Press ENTER.
3
In the Display Properties dialog box:
  • Select the Appearance tab.
  • Select a Windows and buttons style from the list.
  • Select a Color scheme from the list.
  • Select a Font size from the list.
In the Display Properties dialog box:
  • Move to the Appearance tab by pressing CTRL+TAB.
  • Press Alt+W, and then use the arrow keys to select Windows and buttons options.
  • Press Alt+C, and then use the arrow keys to select a Color scheme.
  • Press Alt+F, and then use the arrow keys to select a Font size.
4

For more customization:

Under Windows and buttons:

  • Select Windows Classic style.

Under Color scheme:

  • Select the color scheme you want from the expanded list of options.

For more customization:

  • Move to Windows and buttons by pressing Alt+W.
  • Select Windows Classic style by pressing the arrow keys.
  • Move to Color scheme by pressing Alt+C.
  • Select the color scheme you want from the expanded list of options by pressing the arrow keys.
5

To change individual desktop elements such as title bars, icons, menus, and scrollbars:

  • Select the Advanced button.

In the Advanced Apearance dialog box:

To choose the screen element you want to change:

  • Select it from the Item list.

To choose available size, color and font styles:

  • Select from the attribute lists.

When you are finished with selections:

  • Select OK twice to close the dialog boxes.

To change individual desktop elements such as title bars, icons, menus, and scrollbars:

  • Select the Advanced button by pressing Alt+D.

In the Advanced Appearance dialog box:

To choose the screen element you want to change:

  • Move to the Item list by pressing Alt+I.
  • Press the arrow keys to move to the selection you want.

To choose available size, color and font styles:

  • Move to the attribute lists using Alt + the appropriate underlined letter.

When you are finished with selections:

  • Press the TAB key to move to the OK button.
  • Press ENTER twice to close the dialog boxes.
6
To close Control Panel:
  • Select the Close button.
To close Control Panel:
  • Press ALT+F, C.

[image: Control Panel: Display: Appearance tab: Advanced button]

Control Panel: Display: Appearance tab: Advanced button


[image: Control Panel: Display: Appearance tab: Advanced Appearance dialog box]

Control Panel: Display: Appearance tab: Advanced Appearance dialog box


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Last updated: Thursday, February 14, 2008
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