Windows XP Pro: The Missing Manual, Second Edition

Start→Log Off

This command is at the heart of Windows XP’s accounts feature, in which each person who uses this PC gets to see his own desktop picture, email account, files, and so on (see Chapter 17). When you’re logged into a network domain this is one of the most important features of all. You should log off your computer any time you walk away from it, especially if your computer stores confidential information. If this is a home computer and it doesn’t store confidential information you can safely ignore this option forever.

Choosing this command may present either of two dialog boxes, depending on whether your computer is logged into a network domain, or whether or not you log on to a standalone or workgroup computer that has the Windows XP feature called Fast User Switching turned on.

Note

You cannot use Fast User Switching on a computer that logs on to a network domain.

NOSTALGIA CORNERReturn to the Old Start Menu

The newly designed XP Start menu has its charms, not the least of which is its three-dimensional glowing effect. But it’s also confusing to old-time Windows users, and slower to open, particularly on PCs that aren’t quite state of the art.

Fortunately, it’s easy enough to switch back to the organization and design of the old, single-column Start menu. Just right-click the Start button. Now, from the shortcut menu, choose Properties.

In the Taskbar and Start Menu Properties dialog box that appears, you’ll see the option to return to the old Start menu design—what Microsoft ...