Chapter 12: Keyboards, Mice, and Game Controllers
Chapter Introduction Windows XP, like all operating systems, sits between the programs you run and the computer you run them on. Whenever a program accepts input from the keyboard, mouse, or a game controller or sends output to the screen or printer, Windows gets involved. As a result, when you configure Windows to work with your keyboard, mouse, or game controller, the settings you choose affect all the programs you run. You can choose the keyboard layout you want to use and set the sensitivity of the mouse. If you have installed a game controller or joystick, you can also check or change its settings.
Different countries use different currencies and formats for writing numbers, monetary amounts, dates, and times. Windows has regional settings that let it know about the formats used in most countries in the world (at least most of the countries where people are likely to use computers). By telling Windows which country you live in, you can cause Windows and most programs to use the date, time, and numeric formats with which you are comfortable.
Windows has a built-in calendar all programs can use. It knows the current date and time (usually displayed at the right end of the taskbar) and understands time zones, U.S. daylight saving time, and leap years. You can set the date, time, and the time zone in which you are located, so the Windows calendar will be accurate.
You can change most of these settings in the Control Panel. The Date And Time icon and the Regional And Language Options icon are in the Date, Time, Language, And Regional Options category of the Control Panel, while the Keyboard, Mouse, and Game Controllers icons are in the Printers And Other Hardware category.
The Windows Key Most new computer keyboards include a WINDOWS key, with the flying Windows logo on it. It's usually among the keys to the left of the SPACEBAR. The most convenient use of the WINDOWS key is to display the Start menu, but you can use the Windows key like a SHIFT key in combination with other keys. Here are the WINDOWS key combinations that work in Windows XP:
Key Combination Action WINDOWS Opens or closes the Start menu WINDOWS-BREAK Displays the System Properties dialog box WINDOWS-TAB Makes the next application in the taskbar into the active window WINDOWS-SHIFT-TAB Makes the previous application in the taskbar into the active window WINDOWS-B Makes the notification area active WINDOWS-D Shows the desktop (minimizes all windows) WINDOWS-E Opens Windows Explorer showing My Computer (like Start | My Computer) WINDOWS-F Opens Windows Explorer with the Search pane WINDOWS-CTRL-F Opens Windows Explorer with the Search pane and with Search For Computers selected WINDOWS-F1 Opens Help WINDOWS-M Minimize all windows WINDOWS-SHIFT-M Undo minimize all windows WINDOWS-R Opens Run dialog box (like Start | Run) WINDOWS-U Opens the Utility Manager for accessibility features WINDOWS-L Locks the computer, with the option to switch to another user
