Check this site to get an idea for the purpose of Defrag, cleaning up your hard drive.
< http://www.vistarewired.com/2007/02/15/defragment >
Run from command prompt:
This might be cool if I could figure it out ... In most all cases on this site, ' I ' is not in reference to me.
Rather, the subjects perked my interest, since I still run XP.
< http://teachingassistant.wordpress.com/2007/09/23/turn-xp-into-vista/ >
Although Microsoft's intentions were good when they decided to design the User Account Control (UAC) feature* for
Windows Vista, the end result was less than desirable, especially for the 'more than average' users who use their
PCs for more things then to surf the Internet & read email.
One of the most heard complains is that Vista's UAC drives people crazy be asking them again & again if they are
sure they want to run the application they just tried to launch. I will admit myself that it drives me nuts at times
too.
Don't get me wrong: I think Microsoft's intentions are good here, but the implementation (still) leaves a lot to be desired.
Another factor is that Windows users have never been exposed to anything like it. In the Unix/Linux world it is
standard practice that you log onto a system with reduced privileges, and only 'switch user' to an administrator
account when needed. The problem with Windows Vista at this point is that there are still too many things that
require administrator privileges to complete the action. Want to see details of your Network connection? You'll get
a UAC prompt. Want to take a look in the Event Viewer? Another UAC prompt. I think UAC should only prompt if
changes are going to be made to the system.
Because of the number of UAC prompts, a lot of users are looking for ways to 'kill' UAC. A quick Internet search (or a
search in Vista's Help & Support) will point them in the direction to switch of Vista's UAC (Figure).
However, switching off UAC weakens Vista's security defenses. For example, switching off UAC will make Internet
Explorer start with its protected mode switched off. IE's Protected Mode in Vista has the advantage that Internet
Explorer cannot modify user or system files and settings without your consent. Protected Mode requires you to
confirm any activity that tries to put something on your machine or start another program. By using Protected
Mode, the likelihood of automated and/or unwanted software installation is reduced.
When Internet Explorer 7 is running in Protected Mode (which is the default in all but the "Trusted" security zone) the
process runs with low rights, even if Internet Explorer is being run by an administrator. This means that even if an
attacker defeated all defense mechanisms and got control of the Internet Explorer process and managed to run
some arbitrary code, it would be severely limited in what it could do. Nearly all of the file system and registry would
be off-limits for writing, reducing the ability of an exploit to modify the system or harm your files. The code wouldn't
have enough privileges to install software, put files in your Startup folder, hijack browser settings, or do other nasty things.
I do not suggest you just switch off UAC. My suggestion is that you should run with UAC enabled for some time. It's
normal that during the installation/initial setup of Vista you'd encounter more UAC prompts than some time later.
If you still insist on turning off UAC, make sure you understand that you are exposing your computer to additional
risks!
To change Vista's UAC behavior it is better to use some registry settings that exist for just this purpose. Using the
settings below will not switch off Internet Explorer's Protected Mode, something that switching off UAC via Vista's
Control Panel will do.
The other benefit is that applications will still run with limited non-admin privileges in standard user mode until the
program requests administrator rights.
The first setting deals with what Microsoft calls "Protected Desktop". When you receive an UAC prompt, your user
desktop will appear to dim and the window that caused the elevation request and the elevation
UI will be made
more prominent:
< http://www.helpwithwindows.com/WindowsVista/img/uac-protected-desktlop-small.jpg >
The other side effect is that you have to respond to the UAC prompt, you can't do anything else.
To switch off this part of UAC, make the following change in your registry:
1. Start the Registry Editor
You may want to immediately back up your Registry before doing any editing.
< http://www.helpwithwindows.com/WindowsVista/regedit.html >
2. Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ SOFTWARE \ Microsoft \ Windows \ CurrentVersion \ Policies \ System
3. Right-click the value PromptOnSecureDesktop, and select Modify
4. Change the Value data from 1 to 0
5. When ready, press OK and close the registry editor
I found that by making just this small change, I could live with the UAC prompts (for now). Remember, making this
change will make your computer less secure. The reasoning behind the secure desktop is that this will prevent the
UAC prompt from being 'hijacked'. Makes sense, but if someone (or some program) is in the position to hijack your
UAC prompt, it means that you already have spyware/malware on your computer. It may not be capable of taking
over your entire system, but modern spyware/malware typically doesn't need to do that. It'll be perfectly 'happy'
awith just running under your user account, either sending spam emails, or being part of a botnet.
This is what the
UAC prompt will look like after making the change above.
< http://www.helpwithwindows.com/WindowsVista/img/uac-protected-desktlop-off-small.jpg >
You can still do other things on your computer, and respond to the UAC prompt when you want it.
The next change you can make is to let the UAC prompt 'disappear' altogether. Well, it doesn't really disappear, but
instead the prompt is silently acknowledged. This is the change you have to make to the registry:
1. Start the Registry Editor
< http://www.helpwithwindows.com/WindowsVista/regedit.html >
2. Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ SOFTWARE \ Microsoft \ Windows \ CurrentVersion \ Policies \ System
3. Right-click the value ConsentPromptBehaviorAdmin, and select Modify
4. Change the Value data from 2 to 0
5. When ready, press OK and close the registry editor
Again, this reduces your security and you should only consider this if you know what the consequences are.
One unfortunate side-effect you'll get with this last setting is that Windows Security Center will show the red 'alert'
shield and pop-up a message each time you start your computer (Figure). The only way to stop this message is
to stop all pop-up messages from Windows Security Center, something you may not want to do.
*) One thing you should realize is that UAC is not a single feature, but rather a collection of features of which the
elevation dialog is probably the most visible.
Note: UAC explained
A simplified explanation for UAC is that it is a feature that will ask you for approval any time a program wants to use
The point of UAC is that it is designed to put control of your computer back into your hands, instead of at the mercy of
'administrator' powers on your system. These might be needed to write to certain (system) files/folders, or to
(restricted) areas in the Windows Registry.
the programs running on your computer. This is also its weakness: UAC is only effective if the user understands
what they are responding to. Unfortunately most users will hit "Allow" anyway because they want the program to
work/install. UAC doesn't really protect a computer from malicious code, it only shifts the decision to the user. The
choice of allowing or denying an UAC prompt is only as good as the user's knowledge that is running the computer.
End note
Microsoft decided not to enable a more visually appealing boot screen in an effort to reduce the time it needs to start
Windows Vista. But with today's fast computers, enabling a more appealing boot screen will probably not add much
time to Vista's startup time (if any).
Microsoft did include a more visually appealing boot screen (Figure) and it can be enabled with little trouble;
I'll have to rundown this link:
The easiest way to get to it is to type msconfig in Vista's Start Search box, which will place msconfig.exe near the top of
Vista's Start Menu.
1. Double click msconfig.exe to start it, and select the Boot tab
2. Check the option No GUI boot under Boot options
3. Hit Apply & reboot
To change back to the 'simple' boot screen, just reverse the above.
Windows Vista has the capability to automatically synchronize the clock on your computer with an Internet time server.
By default, five time-servers are provided: time.windows.com, time.nist.gov, time-nw.nist.gov, time-a.nist.gov and
time-b.nist.gov.
Select HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ SOFTWARE \ Microsoft \ Windows \ CurrentVersion \ DateTime \ Servers \
From the menu choose Edit > New > String Value
Give the new value a number one higher than the preceding one (so the first you add will have the value 6, since
1 through 5 are given)
Double-click this new value, and enter the hostname as it's Value data
Here are a few servers you can use:
europe.pool.ntp.org
north-america.pool.ntp.org
asia.pool.ntp.org
Your best option is to have a look at this Web site, and select a server close to you.
Note that if you use a firewall, you might have to add the server you use to have access to your computer/network. The
Time Service uses the port 123 on the local system. End Note
The time interval for updating is set at seven days. This can also be changed in the registry:
1. Start the Registry Editor
2. Select HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ SYSTEM \ CurrentControlSet \ Services \ W32Time \ TimeProviders \ NtpClient \
3. Double-click the SpecialPollInterval value, and change the Base of the Value data to Decimal (Figure)
4. Now change the Value data to the time interval you desire, noting that the time is given in seconds (so for one day the
value would be 86400, while the default (seven days) is 604800
5. Close the registry editor
After the next scheduled time-check, the interval would be changed to the one you specified.
Windows Vista doesn't have an option in the GUI to switch off the power option Hibernate, so even if you don't use it,
there will be a Hiberfil.sys file the same size as your computers memory (RAM) located on your system drive (the
hard drive where Windows is located). With today's memory sizes of one, two or more gigabytes, you can choose to
reclaim this hard drive space by opening an elevated command prompt:
Click Vista's Start button, and in the Start Search box type cmd. At the top of the Start menu (under the Programs
header), you will see cmd.exe listed; right-click this entry, and from the context menu click Run as administrator
(Figure)
< http://www.helpwithwindows.com/WindowsVista/img/cmd-on-startmenu.jpg >
(you can also press the Ctrl+Shift+Enter keys simultaneously after you type cmd in Vista's Start Search box, and
this will also get you an elevation prompt to run cmd.exe in administrator mode). Now type the command
powercfg -H off. This will turn off hibernate & remove the file Hiberfil.sys (to see this file in Windows Explorer, you
have to set Windows Explorer to Show hidden files and folders, which you can enable on the View tab from the
Folder Options Control Panel applet).
To re-enable hibernate support, run the command powercfg -H on from an elevated command prompt.
Note: not all systems may support hibernate. You can check your systems available sleep states by running the
command powercfg /a from a command prompt. End Note
The default action for the power button on the start menu in Windows Vista is 'Sleep' (Figure). If you want to
< http://www.helpwithwindows.com/WindowsVista/img/power-button-default.jpg >
perform another option, you can of course use the options available on the 'fly-out' menu which will reveal itself
after you hover your mouse briefly over the right pointing arrow next to the Start menu's 'lock' button (Figure),
< http://www.helpwithwindows.com/WindowsVista/img/power-button-options.jpg >
but if you primarily use an option other than the default 'Sleep' option, why not change the default option for the
power button?
You can change the default for the power button from the Power Options Control Panel applet. The easiest way
to get to it is to type Power in Vista's Start Search box, which will place Power Options near
the top of Vista's
Start Menu. Once you have opened the Power Options, click on Change plan settings under the power plan
that is currently in use on your system (the one with the checked radio-button). Next click on Change advanced
power settings (the long way to get there: Control Panel > Power Options > Change plan settings > Change
advanced power settings), and on the next window scroll down to Power buttons and lid.
Click the + sign in front of it to expand, and again on the + sign in front of Start menu power button. Click on the
current setting, and make your selection from the drop down menu that will appear. Click OK to close the
advanced settings, and close the Edit Plan settings window to close the Power Options control panel applet.
Depending on your hardware, you will also be able to change the default option for the Power button action, the
Sleep button action and (if your computer is a portable) the Lid close action.
< http://www.helpwithwindows.com/WindowsVista/Streamline_Windows_Vista_Window_Borders.html >
Windows Vista has large borders around windows, probably in an effort to show off the new transparancy. If you'd
prefer a more streamlined look, you can easily configure this setting.
Right click on the desktop and select Personalize
Click on Window Color and Appearance
Click on Open classic appearance properties for more color options
Click the Advanced button, and under the Item: heading, change the dropdown to Border Padding
The default Size: will be set to 4. Change it to your preference (the right screenshot below shows the Border Padding
set to size 0, the left screenshot is Vista's default of 4)
Press OK twice to apply the change
One of my early annoyances in Windows Vista was the 'round-about' way you have to follow to gain access to your
network connections. In Windows XP, this was easy: right-click any network connection and select Open Network
Connections, but in Windows Vista, you'll have to select Network and Sharing Center, and then click on Manage
Network Connections.
There's a way around it though:
1. Right-click an empty space on your desktop, and select New > Shortcut
2. In the Type the location of the item: box, just type ncpa.cpl and click Next
3. In the box for Type a name for this shortcut: type a name (for example Network Connections) and click Finish
4. Now, to change the icon, right-click the shortcut, and click on the Change Icon... button
5. Select your preferred icon for this shortcut & click OK twice
Now you have one-click access to your network connections! If you prefer you can copy or move this icon to your
Quick Launch Toolbar, so you'll have easy access even if you have windows/applications covering your desktop.
< http://www.helpwithwindows.com/WindowsVista/img/network-connections-shortcut.jpg >
When you have a computer with a recent model CPU, chances are it's a dual-core CPU. Both Intel and AMD have been
producing dual core CPU's for a few years now. By default, Windows Vista will only use a single core during boot-up.
You can easily change this from the System Configuration utility:
In Vista's Start Search type msconfig and hit the [Enter] key on your keyboard
Once System Configuration has started, select the Boot tab and click the Advanced Options button
Check the Number of processors check box, and choose 2 for the number of processors (Figure)
< http://www.helpwithwindows.com/WindowsVista/img/msconfig-boot-advanced.jpg >
Click OK twice.
In my testing this reduced my boot-up time around 5 seconds
Windows Vista's Favorite Links are part of the Navigation Pane in a Windows Explorer window. It contains shortcuts to
the Documents, Pictures, Music, Recently Changed, Searches, and Public folders by default (Figure).
< http://www.helpwithwindows.com/WindowsVista/img/default-favorite-links.jpg >
You can easily customize the Favorite Links in Vista: Open Windows Explorer and simply drag a shortcut into the
Favorite Links section or to copy it there (Figure).
< http://www.helpwithwindows.com/WindowsVista/img/create-link-in-favorite-links.jpg >
You can also type shell:links in Vista's Start Search box and press enter. This will open the Links folder in your profile.
Here you can copy and paste a shortcut to have it shown in the Favorites Links list (Figure).
< http://www.helpwithwindows.com/WindowsVista/img/default-favorite-links.jpg >
To remove a shortcut from the list, you can right-click it and select Remove Link (when in the Favorites Links list) or
Delete (when in the Links folder).
If you want to restore your Favorite Links to Vista's default, right-click an empty area in the Favorites Links list and
choose Restore Default Favorite Links. This will restore the shortcuts to Documents, Pictures, Music, Recently
Changed, Searches, and Public folders.
< http://www.computerperformance.co.uk/vista/vista_backdoor_logon.htm >
You would not expect it to be easy to create a backdoor logon. Indeed, the technique described on this page does
not threaten Vista security, unless someone has a Trojan horse program to prepare the way. Whatever you make
of this technique, you have to smile at Microsoft's unintended meaning of 'Ease of access'.
This back door method exploits the 'Ease of Access' menu at the bottom of a regular Windows Vista Logon.
Normally, if you click the Icon then you get a choice of help from Narrator, Magnifier and High Contrast. The trick
is to replace the file called Magnify.exe, with a file which is really cmd.exe.
Once you make the change, then when you select Magnifier from the Ease of Access dialog box, you enter the
operating system at the command prompt. The result is you can logon as the System account, without the need of a
password. One limitation is that your shell program is cmd.exe rather than explorer. A more serious limitation is that
in order to enter via this backdoor, you would need to install a Trojan horse program. Another possibility is that you
have logged on previously, and manually made the changes described below.
The idea is to change the program names so that the hyperlink link called 'Make items on the screen larger (Magnify)',
actually points to cmd.exe. The result is that you open a back door logon to Vista.
Problem: You cannot rename or delete the original Magnify.exe in Windows \system32. Even though you are an
administrator, even though UAC is enabled, all you get is this message:
'You need permission to perform this action'
Solution: Take ownership of the file Magnify.exe, then change the permission for the Administrator's group to Full
control. Then rename Maginify.exe to MagnifyOld.exe.
Main Step - Create the Impostor Magnify.exe
1. Create a new folder called Ease
2. Copy CMD.exe ---> \Ease \cmd.exe
3. Rename \Ease \cmd.exe ---> Magnify.exe
4. Copy \Ease \Magnify.exe ---> Windows \system32\Magnify.exe
What you have achieved is that the old, relatively harmless, 'Magnify' becomes the more versatile cmd.exe.
1. At the Vista Logon screen, click on Ease of access
2. Check the box next to: Make Items on the screen Larger (Magnifier)
3. Click 'OK'
4. You should now find yourself at the Command Prompt
5. Try whoami (System account)
6. Try regedit
7. Feel the power!
< http://www.computerperformance.co.uk/vista/vista_hibernate.htm >
Why should Vista sleep or hibernate? Good reasons are, to save energy, for a quick start and in my case,
to keep the room cool in summer.
What is the difference between Vista's sleep and hibernate? Sleep awakens quicker than hibernate. In the
event of complete power loss, sleep stores the information in RAM, thus loss of power means loss of
unsaved data. Hibernate on the other hand, saves the contents of memory to a file called hiberfil.sys, thus
you would not lose unsaved data.
One more point, Vista has a setting called 'Hybrid sleep', which combines sleep and hibernate as described
above.
< http://www.computerperformance.co.uk/vista/vista_hibernate.htm >
Vista desktops and laptops have significantly different power management needs, options and configurations.
Just remember that battery is the keyword. By configuring power management, you can have completely
different settings depending if the laptop is plugged into the mains, or running on battery. Thanks to sensors,
Vista can detect a mains supply and also a battery. If there is no mains electricity then Vista instantly
connects to the battery, and then applies your battery power management settings.
As you examine the Power Options, decide what Vista should do when you press the power button, also,
what do you expect to happen when you close the laptop lid? Investigate each link on the task list show
by the screenshot on the right.
If I work non-stop with the Aero graphics at maximum brightness, my Sony Vaio's battery will not last
much more than an hour. Therefore, anything that I can do to conserve battery power, will increase the
time I can use my laptop away from the mains electricity. As with all task's, micro-management is
counter-productive, in the case of the laptop you have to balance the hesitations from coming out of
'Sleep', with the battery wastage when you switch to a non-computing task, yet leave the laptop on full power.
Vista's Sleep saves data to memory and then switches to minimal power mode. The disadvantage is a 5 second
delay while Vista manages the switch back to normal power mode. In the event of a power failure you would
lose any unsaved data which is stored in RAM. You may also have to re-enter your password to resume after
sleep, however that is another configurable setting. See 'Require a password on wakeup' from the task list menu.
Vista's Hibernation stores a user's unsaved data, including information about open programs, to a special file
called hiberfil.sys. This means that your data is safe even if you switch of the mains and take out the battery.
When the machine restarts, it loads the data stored in hiberfil.sys and thus returns the machine to the precise
state when you set it to hibernate. Incidentally, hiberfil.sys is a hidden file, which is always found in the root of
the c: drive. To see the file, you may need to adjust your Explorer's settings. Press the Alt key, then click on
the View tab and now scroll down to Hidden files and folders. Select the radio button next to Show hidden files
and folders.
If you figure out the role of Microsoft's hiberfil.sys, then you understand why Hibernation sometimes is not an
option. For example, there may be insufficient disk space on the c: drive to create this huge file, or some older
Bios software cannot manage suspend to disk or suspend to RAM. You if you wish to use the Hibernate option,
be careful that a Disk Cleanup operation does not delete hiberfil.sys, and thus at least temporarily, remove the
option to hibernate. (Solution issue the command line instruction: powercfg -h on)
Hybrids are always more vigorous than their parents. In the case of Hybrid Sleep, it gives you the speed of Sleep,
combined with the resilience of Hibernation. If all goes well then your machine comes out of Hybrid Sleep in less
than 5 seconds, if all goes badly, then it takes relatively ages for the desktop to return, but at least you can
recover your unsaved data from hiberfil.sys.
If you were of a mind, you could choose a different combination of Power Settings everyday of the year, and
never repeat the same setting twice. For this reason, Vista groups settings into Plans for example, Power Saver,
High Performance, or Balanced. The advantaged of these pre-configured Plans is that you get consistent and
compatible settings for: 'Turn off the Display', 'Put the Computer to Sleep' and 'Adjust Display Brightness'.
The registry is alive and well in Vista. I am pleased that there are still settings in Vista, which we can only
control through this registry editor. In addition to solving a particular problem, each tweak has tips and tricks
to help you master the registry editor - regedit.
< http://www.computerperformance.co.uk/vista/vista_registry_tweaks.htm >
I developed many of these tips when delivering training courses. I thank those good, bad and naughty students
who have helped to turn interesting ideas into concrete tips.
< http://www.computerperformance.co.uk/vista/vista_tips.htm >
1. DiskPart
2. DriverQuery - Especially useful with Vista
3. FSUTIL
4. Ipconfig
5. Netsh - Zillions of sub commands
6. Nslookup
7. Openfiles
8. Ping
9. Path (Worth Checking)
10. Robocopy - Robust copy ex Reskit
11. SC (sc query netlogon)
12. SFC /scannow - Check for file corruption (also /verfiyonly) IE Cures
13. Shell:sendto - Control the shortcut menu
14. Shutdown (also /r restart)
15. Taskkill
16. Tasklist
17. Tracert
18. Tree
19. Ver - Build 6.0.6000
20. whoami - PsychoUser!
Winkey +g cycles through the Gadgets, naturally you have to install a few gadgets for this to work!
Winkey +u activates the Ease of Use Center.
WinKey +x cycles though the Mobility Center.
Winkey +Tab activates the new Vista feature called Flip 3-D.
Ctrl +c and Ctrl +v
I mention these pair as they are the oldest keyboard shortcuts in my armoury. Many of the latest generation
of IT staff don't know, or don't rate this Ctrl +c and Ctrl +v combination, but over the years they have been
great time savers for me.
Alt + Tab is the keyboard combination that I use the most.
My vote for the 'coolest' keyboard combination goes to:
Windows Logo Key +Pause / Break
(Key next to Print Screen and Scroll Lock). What this does is bring up the System Icon.
< http://www.computerperformance.co.uk/vista/vista_tips.htm#Auto_Logon_for_Vista_Home_Editions >
< http://www.computerperformance.co.uk/vista/vista_10_lost_features.htm >
(Actually he now has "over 30 items!")
He calls them "XP features that are lost in Vista. However, Microsoft refer to many of these XP items as
'deprecated' in Vista. The term deprecated carries with it the nuance that the old feature has been superseded
by a newer feature. For example, there is an element of truth that the job of the old XP 'Run Command' has
been incorporated in Vista's Start Search".
1. Run Box / Command - Solution either use Start Search, or Windows Key +r.
2. Documents and Settings - C:\users.
3. Standby - Gone replaced by a better 'Sleep'. Also hibernate.
4. Properties, replaced by Personalize. For example, in Vista if you right-click the Desktop you see 'Personalize'
and not properties.
5. Log Off Confirmation. Vista no longer asks for confirmation when you select 'Log Off', or even 'Shutdown'
if you configure it. The assumption is that we all know what we are doing and therefore don't need another
dialog box.
6. Explorer Menu (File....Edit....Tools) - Just press the Alt key.
7. Vista does not remember Explorer setting - View Menu ---> Apply to all folders.
8. Add or Remove Programs - Control Panel --> Programs 'Turn Windows features on or off'.
9. Ctrl Windows Key +f does not launch the regular Search, but Active Directory's 'Find'.
10. Boot.ini replaced by bcdedit. (Boot Configuration Data)
1. Hardware Profiles. System Icon no longer has a Hardware Profiles button.
2. Windows Key +u = shutdown. Plain does not work anymore.
3. Drag and drop to the Taskbar*. Try this: open Word or Notepad then minimize. Next open IE, Excel
(or virtually any app). Crucial point, try and drag text from IE or Excel, then drop it into the Word document,
which is minimized in the taskbar. All you get in Vista is the no entry sign. Repeat the above in XP and this
type of Drag and Drop works.
4. Vista can no longer install on FAT. The file system for install has to be NTFS, however, Vista can create
FAT partitions once you have installed it.
5. Options for 'Open With'. Try SendTo instead. Add items with Shell:sendto.
6. Backup in Windows Vista does not allow you the flexibility of choosing which files to backup. In addition
there is no 'Exclude' setting. Your options are Backup files on entire computer, or Backup Computer
(Complete backup to restore in the event of hardware failure).
7. Lost network capabilities, while numerous are generally trivial and apply to little used features, no support
for these protocols: Gopher, IPX or BAP (Bandwidth Allocation).
8. DOS full screen - Get emulation program if you must run a DOS toy.
No support for 16-bit programs. No NTVDM.
9. Vista does not support: Game Ports, EISA buses, game ports or MPU-401 (MIDI Processing Unit)
10. Windows Vista does not include SerialKeys. This means that alternative input devices, such as augmentative
communication devices will not work. If you need SerialKeys, Microsoft recommend: AAC Keys and
SKEYS from Eyegaze.
*Drag and drop example kindly sent in by V.W. Downing
You can decide if they are 'Lost' or 'Deprecated'
1. My Documents - (Plain: 'Documents').
2. The Explorer toolbar does not have an up arrow, however you can still use the Alt key + Up Arrow.
3. Acrobat 7? --> Upgrade to Acrobat 8.
4. Help files for old programs. - Download WinHlp32.exe from Microsoft's site.
5. Vista requires motherboard support for ACPI. Therefore old motherboards which support only Advanced
Power Management will not work with Vista.
6. Cannot get Num Lock to always be 'On' when you start. Maybe user error, maybe only some laptops.
7. You cannot edit file types capabilities, e.g. change icons or change secondary actions.
8. No Easter Eggs, none in XP either.
9. Registry Tweaks: SourcePath, MenuShowDelay.
10. No services for Macintosh.
11. Cannot create a new Vista Toolbar - Tricky, but here is the answer.
< http://www.computerperformance.co.uk/vista/vista_toolbars.htm >
Many users liked the toolbar flexibility that XP offered, not only could you create your own Toolbars, but also
you could customize them. At first sight, there is no menu in Vista where you can make a new toolbar, let alone
populate it with your old friendly shortcuts.
The trick in Vista is go to the desktop and create a plain folder, then, when you drag it to the edge of the desktop
a miracle takes place, the folder transforms into a toolbar.
To tell the full story, click on the yellow folder on the desktop, now, with the left mouse drag the folder to the
very, very top border - then let go. Hauling the folder to the side of the desktop did not work for me, it had to
be the top. A promising sign was when the mouse displayed a plus sign (+), at this point I let go of the mouse
and a toolbar magically appeared.
Once the new toolbar is born, you can drag shortcuts into the container, just as you would for the default Quick
Launch toolbar. Take a minute to discover what is possible by right-clicking and examining the menus. For
example, decide on the Icon size, and whether to Show Text or Show Title.
If a toolbar suddenly appears for no apparent reason, you can close it by right-click on an empty space in the
new toolbar, and choose, 'Close Toolbar'.
Now that you know how to create a new toolbar in Vista, then you can see how it's possible to produce a
phantom toolbar by inadvertently dragging a folder, or even the Computer icon to the edge of your screen.
If you need to investigate further, here is the relevant registry area:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Streams\Desktop] "Taskbar"
To create a toolbar in Vista you have to employ a different technique from that used in XP. What you need to do
is create a folder, then drag it to the very top of the screen, once you see the plus sign let go of the mouse, you
have just created a new Vista Toolbar.
