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Posted by Guest - New Computer Setup - Default Fonts And Settings : I just got a new Windows PC and the fonts are all completely different then what I had previously. The fonts are too large on every window of which I adjusted a few but others I cannot get back to the old windows look. Even the start menu looks wrong as I like the old classic start menu look better. What is the easiest way to reset the start menu and fonts back to the way I had it so it gets the same windows look and feel?

Guest Says: That bugs me also, especially things like the mouse and other settings which always need adjusting, but there just isnt no easy way other then going through the settings and adjusting each until you get windows back looking the way you had it before.

Dave Says: Here are the settings I always do with a new computer. I've done this so many times that I now keep a list for future computer purchases so I can reset windows back to the way I like it. :-) 1) Change mouse settings and mouse speed: - Go to control panel, mouse.  Change both the mouse double click speed and the mouse movement speed to you liking. 2) Change or adjust desktop icons, explorer icons and text larger or smaller: - Go to control panel, Appearance and Personalization, Display, Make text and other items larger or smaller.  Then choose smaller 100%. This makes the size and view of the desktop icons and explorer icons smaller which I like. Text on desktop is also made smaller which I like these settings best. 3) If icons on desktop are too large: You can also adjust this by putting mouse in empty desktop area and then use CTRL-Mouse wheel to shrink or enlarge etc. 4) Skype - I use this IM often. (Now called Lync?): Change font of skype smaller - On Skype / Lync go to Tools - Options - IM - Font Button.  Adjust it and check box that says apply to all incoming messages. 5) Notepad - On new computers the notepad font is too big: Open any text file and use format - font - type in smaller number and save the text file. Notepad will keep this font setting once adjusted. (For font choose whatever you like, Lucida Console - size 8 is what I choose and I think Lucida Console is default). 6) Make windows time in corner show both date and time: You can make the windows taskbar extended higher so the taskbar height is high enough that both date and time shows by the system tray. First unlock the taskbar, right click it and choose unlock, then use mouse to grab taskbar and drag it higher so 2 lines or 2 icon levels show on the taskbar. Time and date will also then appear in the right hand corner. Right click taskbar again and choose lock when done to keep taskbar as is. 7) Change outlook desktop alert: I like the outlook alert to be smaller or to minimize and appear on system taskbar. Go to outlook options, mail, then desktop alert settings button on right. Adjust as needed. You can also change many other outlook settings in this area to get outlook back to the way your previous windows system had it. 8) Change outlook subject font and outlook inbox list font: Click View at top, then view settings. Then click conditional formatting button, then font. You can set font the same for all outlook windows like subject, list, inbox, etc. Tahoma - Regular - Normal is the option I like but also outlook all the same settings for all text. 9) Make windows start menu taller or longer: This makes the start menu more like the classic start menu where it shows more programs. Right click taskbar, choose properties, start menu tab, customize button, choose option to increase number of recent programs to display to 30. This extends the start menu and makes it taller, then more programs also show on the start menu.

Guest Says: Setup your windows startup folder also so when you reboot everything you normally use starts automatically.  Go to windows explorer and go to C:\users\your name\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup This is the folder where items appear on your programs menu and show in the startup folder.  You can copy shortcuts from desktop and paste them here in windows explorer, and then you will see them in your startup folder immediately. Otherwise right click in this folder in windows explorer and choose new - shortcut and select any program. You can also right click exe programs and choose pin to startup, but that wont make them appear in your startup folder.

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