Microsoft Windows

There are various options within Windows and your chosen web browser to make the page you are looking at the way you want it to look. This includes changing the size of the text, changing colours, etc.

Changing the size of the text in the web browser

Internet Explorer - Along the Menu tab at the top of the browser, click on View, then Text size, now you can select from 5 different settings.

Firefox - On the File menu, click View then select Zoom. You can zoom in or out of the web page. You can also select to zoom in only the text, rather than the whole page.

Changing the size of the text in Windows™

There are two easy ways of making the text larger in Windows. This will change text such as the Start menu, file and folder names and title bars.

Screen resolution

• Use the mouse to right click on the desktop.
• Choose Properties.
• Click the last tab called Settings.
• Towards the bottom you will see a slider. Move the slider to left to make the text larger. Move it to the right to make the text smaller.
• Click OK once the change has been made.

Font size

• As above, use the mouse to right click on the desktop.
• Choose Properties.
• Click the second to last tab called Appearance.
• Towards the bottom, under the heading Font size, choose one of the three options.
• Click OK.

Magnifying the screen

Windows magnifying feature simply expands the section of the screen you point the mouse at. This will make that section very big including the icons.

• Click on the Start button in the bottom left hand corner.
• Click on All Programs > Accessories > Accessibility > Magnifier.

You will see at the top of the screen that wherever you point the mouse will be zoomed in. You can change the magnification level and invert the colours in the Options box that pops up.

Changing the screen colours in the web browser

You may have difficulty viewing some web sites due to the combination of colours that are present. You can change the colours within your chosen web browser.

Internet Explorer

• Click on the Start button in the bottom left hand corner.
• Click on Control Panel.
• Double click on Internet Options.
• On the first tab, click on the Accessiblity button towards the bottom.
• Tick the box that says Ignore colours specified on web pages.
• Click OK.
• Now return to the Internet Options settings and click on the button that says Colors.
• You are able to change the colours on web sites as you prefer.

Firefox

On the File menu, click on Tools, Options and click on the Content tab. Click on Colors and you can change the colours to suit.

Changing screen colours in Windows

• Use the mouse to right click on the desktop.
• Choose Properties.
• Click the second to last tab called Appearance.
• Towards the bottom, under the heading Color Scheme, choose one of the options.
• Click OK.

Making the mouse pointer easier to see

The pointer changes shape depending on where it is on the screen. Most often it appears as a small white arrow with a black outline; over a white background this is simply a black outline. In some cases it is even less easy to see. For example, over any area where you can type it turns into a 'I' cursor (called an I-beam).

• Click on the Start button in the bottom left hand corner.
• Click on Control Panel.
• Look on the left hand side of the page. If you see the words Switch to Classic view, then click on this link.
• Double click on Mouse Pointers.
• Click on the second tab called Pointers.
• You can select the mouse pointer that suits you. A preview of the mouse pointer is shown on the right.