Understanding the Configuration Utilities
Since you'll be using most (if not all) of these configuration utilities throughout these tutorials to configure Windows your way, it helps to know a little bit about the individual configuration utilities. To that end, Table shown below details all the Windows 7 configuration utilities and what they do.
| Utility | Description |
| Action Center | Displays the Action Center, used to manage most of Windows' security and maintenance operations. |
| Administrative Tools | Displays a list of administrative tools used for advanced Windows management. |
| AutoPlay | Lets you choose what happens when you insert specific devices or types of media. |
| Backup and Restore | Opens the Windows Backup utility for backing up and restoring system data. |
| BitLocker Drive Encryption | Enables encryption of complete drives for enhanced security. (Available only with Enterprise and Ultimate editions.) |
| Color Management | Enables configuration of color management profiles for enhanced display. |
| Credential Manager | Stores and manages user names and passwords for various websites and programs. |
| Date and Time | Opens Date and Time dialog box to configure system date, time, and time zone. |
| Default Programs | Lets you choose the default programs Windows uses to open specific file types. |
| Desktop Gadgets | Lets you select gadgets to display on the Windows desktop. |
| Device Manager | Opens the Device Manager to manage and configure all device drivers installed on your system. |
| Devices and Printers | Displays and manages external devices connected to your computer-printers, scanners, and so on. |
| Display | Manages all display settings-text size, resolution, brightness, color, and the like. |
| Ease of Access Center | Manages accessibility tools. |
| Folder Options | Opens the Folder Options dialog box to configure folder appearance and operation. |
| Fonts | Displays the Fonts window for installing and deleting system fonts. |
| Getting Started | Displays the Getting Started window, useful for new users and those new to Windows 7. |
| HomeGroup | Helps you set up and configure a network HomeGroup. |
| Indexing Options | Displays the Indexing Options dialog box for configuring what locations on your system are indexed for Windows' search tool. |
| Internet Options | Displays the Internet Properties dialog box for configuring Internet Explorer options. |
| Keyboard | Displays the Keyboard Properties dialog box for configuring keyboard operations. |
| Location and Other Sensors | Configures sensors that detect your computer's location (if installed). |
| Mouse | Displays the Mouse Properties dialog box for configuring mouse and pointer operations and appearance. |
| Network and Sharing Center | Opens the Network and Sharing Center for configuring network connections. |
| Notification Area Icons | Selects which icons appear in the notification area of the Windows taskbar. |
| Parental Controls | Configures the Parental Controls feature for monitoring children's computer use. |
| Performance Information and Tools | Rates your computer's performance and enables access to performanceenhancing tools (adjust visual effects, adjust indexing options, adjust power settings, and so forth). |
| Personalization | Displays the Personalization utility for changing desktop themes, backgrounds, colors, sounds, and screen savers. |
| Phone and Modem | Opens the Phone and Modem dialog box for systems utilizing modems for dial-up connections. |
| Power Options | Lets you adjust your system's power options for both AC and battery use. (For notebook computers only.) |
| Programs and Features | Lets you uninstall programs from your system, as well as turn specific Windows features on or off. |
| Recovery | Opens the System Restore utility for restoring your system to a previous operational point. |
| Region and Language | Displays the Region and Language dialog box for configuring your system's location and language. (Ultimate Edition only.) |
| RemoteApp and Desktop Connections | Enables remote connection to desktops and programs at a workplace. |
| Sound | Opens the Sound dialog box for configuring system sounds and audio. |
| Speech Recognition | Configures Windows' speech recognition tools. |
| Sync Center | Enables data synchronization between devices. |
| System | Displays information about your computer system and enables access to the Device Manager, System Properties dialog box, and other system tools. |
| Taskbar and Start Men | Displays the Taskbar and Start Menu Properties dialog box for configuring appearance and operation of the Windows taskbar and Start menu. |
| Troubleshooting | Displays a list of troubleshooters to help diagnose system problems. |
| User Accounts | Lets you make changes to user accounts on your system. |
| Windows CardSpace | Launches the Windows Cardspace utility for securely managing information exchanged with participating websites. |
| Windows Defender | Launches the Windows Defender anti-spyware utility. |
| Windows Firewall | Enables or disables the Windows Firewall for preventing computer attacks. |
| Windows Mobility Center | Displays the Windows Mobility Center for configuring essential notebook computer settings. (For notebook computers only.) |
| Windows Update | Manages updates to the Windows operating system. |
Windows 7 Ultimate Edition has one setting you won't find in any other edition- the ability to change the display language.This lets you convert your English-language version of Windows to a French or Finnish or Filipino version. (Normally you'd have to purchase a new version of Windows in that language.) Select Region and Language in the Control Panel to access this feature.
In addition to these standard configuration utilities, some programs and hardware you install on your system place their own configuration utilities in the Control Panel. For example, my Toshiba notebook installed a CD/DVD Drive Acoustic Silencer item in the Control Panel that lets me set my computers' CD/DVD drive to either normal or quiet mode; Sun's Java application installs a Java control panel to manage its software. Other software and hardware install similar utilities-most of which are only visible when you display the Control Panel in one of the Icons modes. So it's likely that your computer will have a few more Control Panel items than the ones listed in Table above.
NoteSome Control Panel items can also be accessed elsewhere in Windows. For example, you can display the Personalization utility either from the Control Panel or by right-clicking anywhere on the desktop and selecting Personalize from the pop-up menu; the same Personalization window appears either way.
If you're like me and frequently access these individual configuration utilities, you'll find that the Icons views are the preferred way to display the Control Panel. If, however, you only infrequently configure these utilities, the default Category view is probably a little more user friendly.
NoteFor ease of explanation, these tutorials assumes that you configure the Control Panel for one of the Icons views.That is, I'll say something like "Open the Control Panel and select User Accounts," rather than going through the multiple clickthroughs in the Category display.