The Control Panel varies from machine to machine, depending on the hard-
ware installed within the case or plugged into a port or connector. Various
pieces of software also add management utilities. An example of the Control
Panel from one of my laptops, a modern Toshiba model, is shown in Figure 5-1.Double-click any of the icons to open a subpanel that includes at least one
page of settings; most devices offer several tabbed pages of other customiza-
tion options. Here are the most important of the several dozen:Accessibility Options.The controls here are principally aimed at making
the computer easier to use for people with special needs, including
typing, hearing, and vision difficulties. Even people without these
accessibility needs may find options here of benefit to them.
Add Hardware.This option opens a wizard to help install software to
support new hardware added to your system and to troubleshoot prob-
lems you may be having with installed equipment.If a new piece of hardware comes with an installation CD, as most now do,
you should use that CD and its own installation process instead of using
the Add Hardware Wizard. In addition to convenience, this ensures that
device drivers and other utilities are put in exactly the proper order and
location and that settings match the manufacturer’s recommendations.
Add or Remove Programs.This utility can install or uninstall software
on your system. Use the down arrow or the mouse to click individual
pieces of software and learn important information, including the amount
of space taken up by the program, when it was last used, and whether the
software is used rarely or occasionally.Figure 5-1:
A typical
Control
Panel on a
current
laptop.64 Part II: Explaining What Could Possibly Go Wrong