The Active Desktop

Windows Desktop & Start menu

The Active Desktop

The Active Desktop allows you to customize your desktop, switch between files, launch programs and keep up with the lastest sports news, weather and more by integrating the Web and your desktop. We will only explore one aspect of the Active Desktop in this module: the single click option.

When the Active Desktop option activated, you can single click an icon to open a program or document. The icons are underlined like links on a web page.

When the Active Desktop is on, the mouse pointer becomes an upward-pointing hand when you move it over an icon on the desktop.

The Active Desktop

The Active Desktop allows you to customize your desktop, switch between files, launch programs and keep up with the lastest sports news, weather and more by integrating the Web and your desktop. We will only explore one aspect of the Active Desktop in this module: the single click option.

When the Active Desktop option activated, you can single click an icon to open a program or document. The icons are underlined like links on a web page.

When the Active Desktop is on, the mouse pointer becomes an upward-pointing hand when you move it over an icon on the desktop.

The Single Click Option

If you're tired of double-clicking on files, Windows 98 allows you to set your machine to respond to single clicks.

To set your computer to open files with a single click:

• Right-click on an empty part of the desktop. When the pop-up menu appears choose Active Desktop Customize my Desktop.

• When the Display Properties dialog box appears, click Folder Options.

• When the dialog box appears asking Would you like to save and close the Display Properties and view the Folder Options instead?, click Yes.

• When the Folder Options dialog box appears, click inside the small circle next to Web Style. Click OK.

• You can now single click on icons, folders etc. to open them.

Keep in mind that if you're used to double-clicking, it may take you a while to get used to single clicking.

If you decide you don't want to single click on documents or programs to open them, you can return to double-clicking.

To undo the single click option:

• Right-click on an empty part of the desktop. When the pop-up menu appears chooseActive Desktop -->Customize my Desktop.

• When the Display Properties dialog box appears, click Folder Options.

• When the dialog box appears asking Would you like to save and close the Display Properties and view the Folder Options instead?, click Yes.

• When the Folder Options dialog box appears, click inside the small circle next to Classic Style.

• Click OK.