Tech Tips / Windows XP / Desktop and GUI
Setting folder options in Windows XP
Although Windows XP Professional is geared for advanced users, Microsoft enabled several options intended to simplify the user interface. However, many advanced users may find the default settings distracting.
Default settings are particularly distracting in Windows Explorer. The first thing advanced Windows XP users may want to do is to change the view from the Tiles to the Details setting. Other default settings are located on the Folder Options dialog (Select Folder Options from the Tools menu).
The following are additional settings that you may want to change. They are located on the View tab:
- Display The Contents Of System Folder: By default, this setting is disabled. You may want to enable it.
- Display Simple Folder View In Explorer's Folder List: If you don't like the new appearance of the Folder list (it doesn't display dotted lines and underlines every folder you click), then turn off these settings.
- Show Hidden Files And Folders: By default, Windows XP hides the hidden files and folders from you.
- Hide Extensions For Known File Types: Disable this setting and see the extensions of all files.
- Hide Protected Operating System Files (Recommended): If you want to see all of the files on your hard drive, turn this setting off.
- Show Control Panel In My Computer: You may want to turn this on.
- Use Simple File Sharing (Recommended): Even though Windows XP recommends leaving this setting on, you may want to turn it off. If you leave it off, you'll get a simplified user interface on the Security and Sharing tab. If you previously worked with Windows NT and 2000, the interface will only confuse you.