Vista Users Tips and Tweaks

Here I am representing you some Tips & Tweaks very useful for Vista users:

I am sequencing some of them here as per my personal preference & experience. Would post more after this in a quick return.

1: User Account Control

General Information: UAC in windows vista a new security feature. But generally this has nothing to do with security. It is only requesting you if you want to allow any changes or not.

Appears on: such as Installation or removal of program, registry editing, entering in window folder, etc.

Main Effect: Window activities delays, Screen become flickering and Flashing.

It is advisable to keep this feature off as you will have to keep on unblocking every time. It is absolutely safe to turn it off.

How to Turn it Off?

Please go to the Control Panel. Click on User Accounts (Select the Classic view, if not selected)

Then please 'Turn User Account Control on or off'
(You may need to press Continue)

Please then uncheck

'Use Account Control (UAC) to Help Protect your Computer'

This is only required to stop the delay and flickering of screen.

2: System Restore and Indexing Features

System restore option in Windows is a Handy Tool for all users, even if the system hurdle with Malacious code, Virus attack, or Spyware infections, etc.

System Restore if you have already using it to create system points then it would be no more a Russian roulette for you to get it back normal.

But on the other way round, if you are experiencing "random" slowdowns and "high" CPU usage for no reason, these two features are the most likely cause of the problem.

These features are also a major cause of "missing" disk space. You can’t imagine if your system could be taking up to 15% of your hard drive space juust because of System Restore points. On a 80GB hard drive, that is 12GB!

System Restore Service creates system snap shots or "restore points" for returning to at a later time. Every time you install a program or new driver, plus on a schedule, this service creates a restore point to roll back to if a problem occurs. This is my first choice that I get rid of on a clean installation. If you use this and enjoy it, good for you.

NOTE: If you wish to disable the System Restore, your previous "restore points" will be deleted. If, for what ever reason, you do not want this to happen, do not disable this service.

For Indexing Features:

The Indexing Service, by default, searches the start menu and the user account directory (C:/Users//) to help you in faster searching.

However, with the tasks that I personally do, I rarely, use the Windows Search feature. The indexing feature has improved, though, as it is much more sensitive to an active user and will reduce the resources used, while a person is actively using the system.

Where do you find it?

With the Control Panel (if Default View selected)

Head to Start

Select Control Panel

Open System and Maintenance

Click on Backup and Restore Center

Select Create a Restore point or change settings (on the left side) click on Continue button (if UAC is active)

Select System Protection Tab (should be there already) Uncheck your hard drives listed under "Automatic restore points"

Select the Turn System Restore Off button Select the Ok button to apply the settings

You can now disable the Indexing Feature:

With the default Category Control Panel:

Head to Start

Select Control Panel

Select System and Maintenance

Select Indexing Options

Select the Modify button

Select the Continue button (if UAC is active) Select the Show all locations button Select the Continue button (if UAC is active) Double click "Users" in the "Summary of selected locations"

Uncheck Users directory

Double click "Start Menu " in the "Summary of selected locations"

Uncheck Start Menu directory

Select the Ok button to close the panel

3: Windows Side bar

The new Windows Vista Sidebar uses between 12MB and 20MB of RAM with the default 3 Gadgets and no news headline feed. This seems good but for a long run, I'm sure you will get fed up with this.

Desire to disable the Sidebar? Several ways exist, but here are two of them:

Locate the Windows Sidebar icon in the System Tray (lower right, near the clock display) Show hidden icons if it is not displayed, Right click the icon to bring up the context menu Select Properties Uncheck Start Sidebar when Windows starts Select the Ok button to apply the settings.

You can disable the Sidebar also by:

Right click on an unused area of the Sidebar (between Gadgets or at the bottom) to bring up the context menu

Select Properties

Uncheck Start Sidebar when Windows starts Select the Ok button to apply the settings

If you wish to close the Sidebar now:

Locate the Windows Sidebar icon in the System Tray (lower right, near the clock display) Show hidden icons if it is not displayed Right click the icon to bring up the context menu Select Exit

or:

Right click on an unused area of the Sidebar (between Gadgets or at the

bottom) to bring up the context menu

Select Exit

I hope it will help you lot, will get back to you soon with more Advanced Tweaks..

Till Then,

Enjoy with cool stuff here:

    

Good Luck! Bye Bye