Here's a neat one I fell over somewhere on the web:
Open Regedit (WINDOWS KEY + R on your keyboard, or by clicking Start and typing on the search bar "regedit" without quotes. Hit Enter
Navigate to [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control] On the right panel look for the "WaitToKillServiceTimeout" string and change it value to 1000 by right clicking the string and selecting Modify...
Default Value WaitToKillServiceTimeout=20000
Modified value WaitToKillServiceTimeout=5000
Modified value WaitToKillServiceTimeout=1000 (extreme, use it at your own risk)
I found 3000 worked nicely but try the 5000 first. 3000 does sometimes leave some programs lagging which then need a further key click.
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
Why Vista Needs a High-end Video Card
Why is Vista’s graphics card requirement so high? To be able to run Vista’s new Aero user interface, you need a lot more graphics card power than you do for the standard interface. This is because Aero uses DirectX and this means that the majority of the work is carried out by the GPU on the graphics card as opposed to the CPU. You can choose to run Windows without Aero (business systems need not ever use it), but it's good to have the option to run it if you want.
While it is indeed possible to run Aero when your PC is equipped with a graphics card that has 64MB of RAM, not all cards can do this and the experience is sluggish at best. Microsoft recommends having 128MB of memory on the graphics card, but I think that given the price of cards now, 256MB should be what you aim for.
While it is indeed possible to run Aero when your PC is equipped with a graphics card that has 64MB of RAM, not all cards can do this and the experience is sluggish at best. Microsoft recommends having 128MB of memory on the graphics card, but I think that given the price of cards now, 256MB should be what you aim for.
Running Older Software in Windows Vista
One concern for Windows XP users is if their favorite software applications will run once they upgrade to Vista.
Luckily, Windows Vista uses a feature called Compatibility Mode which tells the software application that Vista is actually an older OS, specifically Windows 95, 98, Me, NT, 2000, or XP.
Here's how it works:
If your software application won't install, open or work properly, right click on the application's .exe file. Select Properties and then click the Compatibility tab. From there, pick the previous Windows operating system you were on (most likely Windows XP). If you're a system operator, you can set this up as an administrator to make it easier for your staff.
Luckily, Windows Vista uses a feature called Compatibility Mode which tells the software application that Vista is actually an older OS, specifically Windows 95, 98, Me, NT, 2000, or XP.
Here's how it works:
If your software application won't install, open or work properly, right click on the application's .exe file. Select Properties and then click the Compatibility tab. From there, pick the previous Windows operating system you were on (most likely Windows XP). If you're a system operator, you can set this up as an administrator to make it easier for your staff.
Saturday, March 3, 2007
Windows Vista Upgrade Secret
The "secret" is that the setup program (setup.exe) in Windows Vista's upgrade version will accept an installed copy of XP, W2K, or an un-activated copy of Vista itself as evidence of a previous installation.
This last option that enables you to perform a "clean install" off an upgrade version of Windows Vista to any formatted or unformatted hard drive! Basically you are installing Windows Vista twice to take advantage of this trick.
This last option that enables you to perform a "clean install" off an upgrade version of Windows Vista to any formatted or unformatted hard drive! Basically you are installing Windows Vista twice to take advantage of this trick.
Kill Switch in Windows Vista
Microsoft's efforts to combat software piracy is stronger with Windows Vista than they are with XP. Vista will virtually disable your computer if your Vista install doesn't pass Microsoft's validation test. At one point, people using a failed copy of Vista will not lose access to their personal data. Instead, they will see a persistent message on the desktop telling them the copy of Vista isn't genuine and they will lose access to certain Vista features.
Windows Aero
Windows Defender
Windows ReadyBoost
Download Center
Windows Updates
Windows Aero
Windows Defender
Windows ReadyBoost
Download Center
Windows Updates
Tuesday, February 27, 2007
How to Turn on Outbound Filtering in Windows Vista Firwall.
Windows Vista includes a two-way firewall that has outbound filtering disabled by default. That feature is turned off as well as hidden in Vista. In fact, it is hidden so well that many users may think that the two-way firewall was yet another feature that was pulled from the final product. While that is true for other features the two-way firewall made it into the final product, you just need to know how to find it.
Very simple, Click on the Start Button and key in wf.msc and hit Enter.
This will bring up the comprehensive Windows Firewall with Advanced Security management interface. Here you will be able to configure rules for incoming as well as outgoing connections.
Very simple, Click on the Start Button and key in wf.msc and hit Enter.
This will bring up the comprehensive Windows Firewall with Advanced Security management interface. Here you will be able to configure rules for incoming as well as outgoing connections.
How to Restore Files in Windows Vista?
To restore files in Windows Vista, perform the following steps:
1.Click the Start button, and click Control Panel. The Control Panel window appears.
2.Click System and Maintenance, and then click Back Up and Restore Center.
3.Click Restore files.
4.Choose either to restore the latest backup or a previous backup and click Next.
5.Choose the folders to restore.
6.Click Next.
7.Choose the location you want to restore to and click Start restore.
Files are restored to the location you chose.
Note: Check out my other post on how to back up files in Windows Vista.
1.Click the Start button, and click Control Panel. The Control Panel window appears.
2.Click System and Maintenance, and then click Back Up and Restore Center.
3.Click Restore files.
4.Choose either to restore the latest backup or a previous backup and click Next.
5.Choose the folders to restore.
6.Click Next.
7.Choose the location you want to restore to and click Start restore.
Files are restored to the location you chose.
Note: Check out my other post on how to back up files in Windows Vista.
How to Back Up Files in Windows Vista
To back up files in Windows Vista™, perform the following steps:
1.Click the Start button, and click Control Panel.
The Control Panel window appears.
2.Click System and Maintenance, and then click Back Up and Restore Center.
3.Click Back up files. If you are prompted for an administrator password
or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.
4.Choose the location to back up your files and click Next.
5.Choose the type of files you want to back up and click Next.
6.Choose how often you want to create the backup and click Save settings and
start backup.
Your files are now backed up to your specified location.
1.Click the Start button, and click Control Panel.
The Control Panel window appears.
2.Click System and Maintenance, and then click Back Up and Restore Center.
3.Click Back up files. If you are prompted for an administrator password
or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.
4.Choose the location to back up your files and click Next.
5.Choose the type of files you want to back up and click Next.
6.Choose how often you want to create the backup and click Save settings and
start backup.
Your files are now backed up to your specified location.
Where is Outlook Express in Windows Vista?
Outlook Express has been replaced by Windows Mail, an improved e-mail program with enhancements such as junk mail filtering and protection against phishing messages.
To open Windows Mail: click the Start button, All Programs, and then click Windows Mail.
To open Windows Mail: click the Start button, All Programs, and then click Windows Mail.
Tuesday, February 13, 2007
How to Add Additional Time Zone Clocks in Windows Vista.
Adding Time Zone Clocks
If you want to keep track of what time it is in a different city or country, you can add a clock set to that particular time zone to the clock that’s already on the taskbar. You can add up to two clocks for different time zones.
Here's how to add the aditional clocks.
Click the Start button, type time in the Search box, and click Date And Time to display the Date And Time dialog box.
On the Additional Clocks tab, select this check box to show an additional clock.
Select the time zone you want.
Enter a short, descriptive name for the new clock.
Select this check box, and repeat steps 2 through 4 if you want to add another clock.
Click OK.
To see the clocks, click the clock on the taskbar.
Click anywhere outside the window to close it.
If you want to keep track of what time it is in a different city or country, you can add a clock set to that particular time zone to the clock that’s already on the taskbar. You can add up to two clocks for different time zones.
Here's how to add the aditional clocks.
Click the Start button, type time in the Search box, and click Date And Time to display the Date And Time dialog box.
On the Additional Clocks tab, select this check box to show an additional clock.
Select the time zone you want.
Enter a short, descriptive name for the new clock.
Select this check box, and repeat steps 2 through 4 if you want to add another clock.
Click OK.
To see the clocks, click the clock on the taskbar.
Click anywhere outside the window to close it.
How to Capture Screenshots in Windows Vista.
With Windows Vista you can use Snip to capture screenshots to put in documents or e-mail.
Click the Startup Menu and type SNIP
Next to the New button, click on the down-arrow and select what type of capture, Free Form, Rectangular, Window or Full-Screen.
Once you capture the screen.
Captured file can save as a PNG, GIF or JPG
Click the Startup Menu and type SNIP
Next to the New button, click on the down-arrow and select what type of capture, Free Form, Rectangular, Window or Full-Screen.
Once you capture the screen.
Captured file can save as a PNG, GIF or JPG
How to Resize a Partition in Windows Vista.
With Windows Vista now you have the ability to resize partitions with the new Disk Management console.
Right click on Computer
Select Manage (Expand the Storage section)
Click on Disk Management
Right click on a partition and select either Shrink or Extend depending on what you want to do
Warning: Your should always backup your data first before changing partition properties.
Right click on Computer
Select Manage (Expand the Storage section)
Click on Disk Management
Right click on a partition and select either Shrink or Extend depending on what you want to do
Warning: Your should always backup your data first before changing partition properties.
How to Fix iTunes in Windows Vista.
If you are an iTunes user and have purchased any songs from the on-line store you may have some issues when trying to authorize your computer to play back your songs. While authorizing your computer to play your purchased songs iTunes will say everything was successful but you will still not be able to play your songs. Why? Because iTunes is being bad and trying to write to a part of the registry that a normal user does not have access to.
Currently Apple has said they are working on a Vista compatible version of iTunes. For now, there is a work around that will help you play your purchased songs in iTunes:
Right click on your iTunes shortcut and select Properties.
Click on the Compatibility tab.
Check the Run as an Administrator box on the bottom of the screen and hit OK.
Currently Apple has said they are working on a Vista compatible version of iTunes. For now, there is a work around that will help you play your purchased songs in iTunes:
Right click on your iTunes shortcut and select Properties.
Click on the Compatibility tab.
Check the Run as an Administrator box on the bottom of the screen and hit OK.
Ho to Turn on Outbound Filtering on Windows Vista Firewall
Windows Vista includes a two-way firewall that has outbound filtering disabled by default. Perhaps it's too complicated for end-users to use so they had that feature turned off as well as hidden. In fact, it is hidden so well that many users may think that the two-way firewall was yet another feature that was pulled from the final product. While that is true for other features the two-way firewall made it into the final product, you just need to know how to find it.
To get started, just click on the Start, Run and type in wf.msc and hit Enter. This will bring up the comprehensive Windows Firewall with Advanced Security management interface. Here you will be able to configure rules for incoming as well as outgoing connections.
To get started, just click on the Start, Run and type in wf.msc and hit Enter. This will bring up the comprehensive Windows Firewall with Advanced Security management interface. Here you will be able to configure rules for incoming as well as outgoing connections.
Wednesday, January 31, 2007
How To Change Aero's Glass Transparent Borders.
You can change the size of the transparent borders in Windows Vista's Aero interface.
Right-click the Desktop and select Personalize.
Click Windows Color and Appearance.
Click Open classic appearance properties.
Make sure that Windows Aero is selected as the color scheme.
Click the Advanced button on the right side of the dialog box.
Select Border Padding in the Item drop-down box.
To change the size of the border, type a new size for the border.
Click OK, then OK again. The sizes of the borders will now change.
Right-click the Desktop and select Personalize.
Click Windows Color and Appearance.
Click Open classic appearance properties.
Make sure that Windows Aero is selected as the color scheme.
Click the Advanced button on the right side of the dialog box.
Select Border Padding in the Item drop-down box.
To change the size of the border, type a new size for the border.
Click OK, then OK again. The sizes of the borders will now change.
Tuesday, January 30, 2007
How To Power Up Windows Explorler Right Click Menu.
The Windows Explorer's shortcut menu is very useful as it is. Did you know that there are some hidden shortcuts you can bring up by holding down another key while you right click?
To power up the right-click menu in Windows Vista simply hold down the Shift key then right-click on the file. Now you will see the additional options show up on the menu.
The Scan With option is only available when antivirus software is installed on your system.
Additional options:
Open as Read-Only: It opens the file as a read-only file.
Pin to Start Menu: Pins a shortcut in the top section of the Start menu.
Add to Quick Launch: Adds a shortcut to the file to the Quick Launch toolbar.
Copy as Path: Copies the file name and path to the Windows clipboard.
To power up the right-click menu in Windows Vista simply hold down the Shift key then right-click on the file. Now you will see the additional options show up on the menu.
The Scan With option is only available when antivirus software is installed on your system.
Additional options:
Open as Read-Only: It opens the file as a read-only file.
Pin to Start Menu: Pins a shortcut in the top section of the Start menu.
Add to Quick Launch: Adds a shortcut to the file to the Quick Launch toolbar.
Copy as Path: Copies the file name and path to the Windows clipboard.
Monday, January 29, 2007
Is Your System Ready for Windows Vista?
If you're thinking of upgrading your current machine to Windows Vista, the first thing you're going to want to do is check out your current machine to see if it's up to speed. The basic requirements call for a recent CPU, a gigabyte of RAM, and 15 gigabytes of free space on your hard drive. You're also going to want a fast graphics processor, especially if you're going to use the 3D graphics interface, Aero. But there are countless other ways that your system might not be ready for the demands of Vista. The easiest way to find out if you've got the stuff you need to upgrade is to use the free, downloadable Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor from Microsoft's web site. When it works correctly, the Advisor goes through all of your system components, telling you what will work and what you'll have trouble with. Of course, I found out that the Advisor is not without its share of problems.
Windows Vista is finally here!
Microsoft's long-awaited Windows Vista operating system will become widely available to consumers tonight and the world will be watching to see how well it sells. Retailers like Comp USA and Best Buy will be opening some stores early, using a tactic typically reserved for video-game consoles. The software can be purchased either alone to upgrade older computers, or comes included on new PCs. The software giant is putting its considerable marketing might behind the long-awaited upgrade to Windows Vista, with appearances being made by Chairman Bill Gates and CEO Steve Ballmer.
Saturday, January 27, 2007
How to Set Windows Vista Task Manager to Show File Name of Running Process
Windows Vista has the ability to show the file name of a running process through the Task Manager. How many times have you seen a process in Task Manager but couldn’t figure out where on earth it was located? This ability isn’t turned on by default, but it’s simple enough to do.
To start task manager:
Right click on the taskbar and choose task manager.
Select the View menu and Select Columns.
Select the Image Path Name checkbox in the list.
Now you should see the file name in the list of running processes.
For process that does not show an image path name it's because they are running from the windows' directory, or somewhere in the system path.
To start task manager:
Right click on the taskbar and choose task manager.
Select the View menu and Select Columns.
Select the Image Path Name checkbox in the list.
Now you should see the file name in the list of running processes.
For process that does not show an image path name it's because they are running from the windows' directory, or somewhere in the system path.
How to Enable Quick Search on Windows Vista
Windows Vista has a new feature that lets you quickly search in a folder by just starting to type, which will focus the search box. This comes in handy when searching in a large folder.
To enable this option:
Click the Organize button in any folder, and select Folder and Search Options from the menu. In the Folder Options screen, click the View tab, and scroll the Advanced settings box down to the bottom. You should see Automatically type into the Search Box Click OK, and you should be able to search in the current folder by just starting to type. The right file should come up instantly as you type.
To enable this option:
Click the Organize button in any folder, and select Folder and Search Options from the menu. In the Folder Options screen, click the View tab, and scroll the Advanced settings box down to the bottom. You should see Automatically type into the Search Box Click OK, and you should be able to search in the current folder by just starting to type. The right file should come up instantly as you type.
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