Changing fonts in Windows

1. Open the ' Start ' menu by clicking on the ' Start ' button or by pressing the 'Windows' logo key (located between the ' Ctrl'+ 'Alt ' keys on most keyboards) alternatively press ' Ctrl ' + ' Esc ' .
2. Click on ' Control Panel ' or press ' C ' until ' Control Panel ' is selected and then press ' Enter ' if necessary.
   Note: in earlier versions of XP you will need to click on ' Settings ' or press the letter ' S ' on the keyboard first.
3. Switch to 'Classic view' if in 'Category view' and then double click on ' Display ' or press the ' D ' key repeatedly until 'Display' is highlighted and then press ' Enter ' . This will bring up the Display Properties dialog box (see Fig 1).

Fig 1

1. Click on the ' Appearance ' tab or press ' Control ' + ' Tab ' until it is at the front.
2. Click on ' Advanced ' or press the ' Tab ' key until ' Advanced ' is highlighted and then press ' Enter ' . This will display the ' Advanced Appearance box ' (see Fig 2).

Fig 2

As an example we'll change the font style of all the menus through out Windows to ' 10 point MS Comic Sans ' . If you do not want to keep these changes, you can just press ' Cancel ' at the end of the exercise.

1. Click on the drop down box below the ' Item ' heading, or press ' Alt' + 'I ' to jump there.
2. Use either the mouse or the up and down arrow keys to navigate through the list of items. Each of these items can be modified individually. Move down the list until ' Menu ' is highlighted
3. Next either click in the ' Font ' drop down box below or press ' Alt ' + ' F ' to select it (you can also ' Tab ' to it). Use the mouse or the arrow keys to select the font you want to use, for example ' Comic Sans MS ' (western).
4. Click in the ' Size ' box to the right of the font dropdown box or press ' Alt ' + ' E ' ( or ' Tab ' ) to jump there.
5. Use the mouse or the arrow keys to scroll through the different sizes and either click on the size you want, for example ' size 10 ' , and then click ' OK ' , or when the size you want is selected press ' Enter ' . Alternatively, just type in ' 10 ' and press ' Enter '.

You should have returned to Windows. Now look at a menu to see the changes you have made. If you are still not happy with the font, repeat the above steps until you find a font style and size you are happy with.

Apart from the menus within Windows, many other items can also have their font style modified. Just follow the above instructions, choosing, from any of the following items which can have their font style changed:

1. Active titlebar
2. Icon
3. Inactive titlebar
4. Menu
5. Message box
6. Palette title
7. Selected items
8. Tooltip

Note: If this does not work it could be because your computer settings cannot be changed due to local IT policies - contact your local IT support for further help.