To Single-Click or Double-Click?

Windows XP offers two methods of using your mouse. To view those options, follow these steps:

1. Open any folder (for example, click the Start button and choose My Computer).

2. From the menu bar in that folder, choose Tools > Folder Options, as below.

3. In the Folder Options dialog box, choose your navigation style. Note that the Double-Click method is best for beginners. Only advanced users with good mouse skills should use the Single-Click method.

4. After you make your selection, click the OK button in the dialog box to save your setting and close the dialog box.

Now...

• If you chose the Double-click method to open an item, you can now go Back to the previous page. Everything will work as stated in that page.

• If you chose Single-click, things will be a bit more challenging, as described below.

With single-clicking, you have to "mentally" subtract one click from all instructions that you read (because most instructions are written for the double-click method of navigation). That's one of the reasons I recommend single-clicking for experienced users only. Single-click navigation users have to mentally translate the terms shown in the left column below to the term shown in the right column.