Pinky Mcbanon wrote:


Windows Vista, by default, chooses the best display settings for your computer which includes screen resolution, refresh rate, and color, based on your monitor. The setting for every computer differs depending on the kind of monitor that is used– CRT or LCD. Screen resolution is the setting that determines how much information is displayed on the screen that is measured horizontally and vertically in pixels. Refresh rate is the frequency at which the screen is redrawn. These can be adjusted according to your preference.

The process to follow in changing Windows Vista’s display settings can be done in a few seconds. All you need to do is right-click on a vacant area on the Desktop and select “Personalize” from the menu that pops up. The Personalization box will appear. Click on “Display Settings” which is located at the bottom part (it is the seventh item from the top).The Display Settings dialog box will appear. There you can set the resolution and colors that would best fit your set up. You can drag the resolution slider to the right for higher resolutions and drag left to lower the resolution. You can also click on the “Advanced” button to get to more advanced settings for color management and properties of your adapter and monitor. But I advice not to tamper with what is in the Advanced button because it is for expert technicians. The default settings in the “Advanced” button are usually the best settings and the safest. The display settings of XP and Vista are almost the same so if you are familiar with that of XP you will not be lost in the display settings of Vista.

You can actually fine tune the display and the whole look of Vista by tweaking everything that is in the Personalization box. To adjust window color and appearance simply click on the radio button under the color. Check or uncheck on the “Enable transparency” checkbox if you want the window bar to be transparent. By clicking on the slider and dragging it to the left or to the right as how you want the settings to be, You can adjust the color intensity. By clicking on “Show Color Mixer” and adjusting the scales as desired, you can make adjustments on the hue, brightness, and saturation of the colors.

You can also change desktop background if you click “Desktop Background” and select the image you would like to use. If you want an image that is in one of the folders in your computer, just click on the Browse button and locate the folder that contains it and select the image and click “Open”. The Desktop background will then be changed to that image.

You may also set the Screensaver properties by clicking on “Screensaver”. By clicking on the drop down list you will be able to choose the screen saver to use. You can also see the adjustment box for the time it will take to activate the screensaver when the computer is idle. By clicking on the up or down arrow buttons, you can add or subtract to the number of minutes before screensaver launches.

Logan Albright wrote:


Windows Vista was introduced a while ago as an upgrade to the Windows XP and 2000 users as something more tactile, easier to use - packed with security features that will ensure the safety of your work and your operating system experience. It was also more flashy, more user friendly and gained a lot of popularity because of its more palpable interface. Though it had some compatibility issues when it was first released, Windows Vista has really come ahead in the game and has become the solution for many computer users all over the world. But of course, Windows Vista is built on the same principles as the previous versions of the OS and because of that, it is inevitably an imperfect superstructure. A word of caution here - no OS is perfect because of the degradation effects of technology and the human element in the mix. There are actually quite a few common Windows Vista error messages and this article will discuss how to troubleshoot them if you ever encounter any of them.

The solution is no different from the solution that was available for previous editions of Microsoft’s incarnations. The common element here is the registry, and Windows Vista still operates with the registry as the integral matrix that it uses to ensure that all operations within its operating system environment run smoothly. With the registry, no matter how advanced the OS, common problems will always occur. When ever you introduce third party software and programs in Windows Vista, you will introduce the potential of new problems, especially in the registry. Bad registry keys left by rogue programs, invalid entries left by incomplete uninstalls and orphan keys are still features of an unhealthy Windows registry - be it XP or Vista. Surprised? Don’t be. Microsoft invented the registry for the simple fact that all executions in the computer need a reference point and all instructions for the different programs need somewhere to be stored. It hasn’t changed at all.

The same problems that made those runtime errors, mediahub errors and Active X errors still exist in Windows Vista, and would most likely still exist in future incarnations of Windows. The good thing about most of the registry cleaners is that they have adapted to the new operating system and is compatible with the new code and language that Vista is using. A quick look on the internet reveals many registry cleaners that have the ability to interface with Windows Vista and solve the problems that its registry might incur. Another good thing is that Vista has some bespoke problems that did not exist in XP, mainly because of the new security code and program structure that is being used by the operating system. Registry cleaners have adjusted to this and responded with more feature packed cleaners. Troubleshooting common Windows Vista error messages is now easy with the new stable of registry cleaners out there. Don’t make the mistake of thinking that a new OS means a trouble free registry; you still need dedicated programs to deal with the problems associated with it.

John A. Stevens wrote:


I see this question posted a lot on forums. I have older hardware, were can I get vista drivers for my device. Before even plugging in the new device into Vista you should go and check out the manufacturer’s website for the latest drivers.

The manufacturer of the product is always the best place to search for the latest drivers. There you will also find information on whether the device is capable of working on Windows Vista. Read any and all instructions first before trying to install the drivers. You may find that you need to do a firmware update first.

Some computer components need the software installed before you connect the device. Hp for example is famous for this. If you install the device first and then the software you may run into issues.

Sometimes the manufactures site is not easy to navigate. When this happens do a search for just the model number and the keyword “driver”. Do not click on the first link you see. Look for a link that has the manufactures website in it. Many sites say they have free drivers but you find out later the program you downloaded was just trial software or a virus. Always try the manufacture first and if you cannot find it there then go to one of the third party sites. Be sure you have virus and spyware protection before you download any program from a third party site.

Some older devices will not work with Vista. Even if the manufacturer states it does work with vista do a little more digging and see if have a 64 bit processor. Some programs work with Vista but not 64 bit processors. I have run into a few cameras that had a hard time handling the 64 bit architecture.

Kris Mainieri wrote:


two types of Vista Home versions? Vista Home Basic and Vista Home Premium. The Home Basic is for those with a more conservative budget who will not really use much of their computers except for checking e-mails or news browsing through the web. The Home Premium edition targets a more broad audience as it allows various ways to create, view and edit multimedia. The latter also has that Aero desktop experience that looks very hip!

But whether you are using a Vista Home Basic or a Vista Home Premium, you may want to speed its performance up a tad bit more due to the fact that it is noticeable slower to use this operating system compared to the others you have used before. So how do you speed up Vista Home? Here are 5 ways to do so:

1. Use the MSCONFIG option This allows you to disable unwanted and unnecessary programs that load whenever you boot up your Vista Home. The fastest way to do this is by following the instructions below: a. Press the Windows button on your keyboard, + “R.”

b. A pop-up will show, just type “msconfig” which will lead you to “System Configurations.”

c. Select the Startup tab

d. Uncheck the applications you do not want launching with your Vista.

The more you check, the faster the start up will be.

2. Disable Sidebar Vista Home has a quaint feature called Side Bar that gives you easy access to installed gadgets. However, if this seemingly cool feature is disabled, overall functioning of Vista Home will increase. This frees up processing power.

3. Remove Bloatware If your computer is new, chances are, it has some programs installed to it that came with the PC or laptop. Best to check what your computer currently has installed. Once you have seen applications that you will not use, don’t hesitate to uninstall them as this frees up memory.

4. Use Good Ol’ Disk Cleanup Using disk cleanup allows you to delete the temporary files, temporary internet files and compress old files, freeing space on your (C:) Drive. This is a feature that has not changed much since the dawn of Windows and it is as reliable as before as it is now.

5. Use the ReadyBoost option This is one mighty nice feature of Windows Vista Home. It can use an storage space as a memory cache on a portable storage device to speed up your Vista Home performance. It basically gives your computer a fast memory in retrieving information. You use this by:

a. Plugging in the thumb drive.

b. Follow these links: Start, Computer, right click on the removable storage device icon, select Properties.

c. Click the ReadyBoost Tab which will show so long as you’re device is eligible for this feature, d. Choose Use this Device and specify the amount of space you want to allocate for this. e. Click OK.

Do note that although it may have some bad reviews, Vista Home is a really good operating system, you just have to learn where to tweak it a bit to get the results you want.

Steve Bralovich wrote:


If Microsoft has its way, you won’t be able to buy XP after June 30th, 2008. According to some sources, the public wishes otherwise.

Like all new operating systems, Windows Vista ushered in a new era of incompatibility for existing Windows users. In spite of this, Microsoft plans to start retiring Windows XP on June 30th. Some users, however, want to keep XP alive for years to come so that they can continue to work reliably and efficiently.

According to a Popular Science report, there’s a grassroots effort to force Microsoft to keep selling XP to customers in shrink-wrapped packages and to OEMs. What’s behind this movement? Just to clarify, it’s not really a “grassroots” movement. It’s actually being orchestrated by InfoWorld, an online news publication.

That said, with 71,386 people signed up as of noon Jan. 30th, 2008 to the Save Windows XP petition, clearly the movement is tapping into a well spring of resentment opposing Vista operating system upgrades.

That’s bad news for Vista but it’s not in any way surprising. Windows XP works well enough for me and millions of other people all over the world. Why should we give up all the great applications we’ve relied upon for years only to find out they’re either crippled or refuse to run at all on Vista?

There really is not a compelling reason to switch to Vista for most people. If you want the cool 3D Vista task switcher that previews your apps, you can just buy TopDesk for $20 and XP will do the same thing. Nothing special there.

If XP’s not fast enough and you need more speed, then buy more RAM, a faster hard drive or clean up your PC and install anti-spyware software. These methods will work and It’ll be much cheaper and less frustrating than trying to deal with the plethora of driver issues that many XP users are reporting when they make the switch to Vista.

What Microsoft doesn’t want us to realize and accept is that there’s nothing wrong with us wanting to stay with a tried and true operating system or program. Windows 2000 and 98, for example, still have their business users, even though neither operating system has been supported by Microsoft for several years now. The difference this time around is how little success Microsoft has had in getting users to switch to Vista.

It’s such a bad operating system that web sites are turning up that show people how to DOWNGRADE their Vista systems to XP. And the Apple folks are having a field day showing their Vista vs Apple guys commercials. Vista is spawning a slew of Apple converts! Talk about shooting yourself in the foot with a marketing program gone wrong.

I’m not saying there’s no room for improvement in Windows XP. Dual processor support is a much needed feature but you’re going to have to do a lot better at convincing me to change. Some fancy whiz-bang interface features or some less-than-practical security features are not going to do it for me. There’s just not enough benefit to make me want to change.

Clearly, Microsoft has dropped the ball with Windows Vista.

Anyway, I won’t be hopping on the Vista band wagon anytime soon. If you have Vista and like it, that’s great. But I need the reliability and ease of use that for now, belongs to Windows XP.

Obviously, Vista or perhaps the upcoming Vista replacement Windows 7, will eventually replace most XP systems. Change is good but not if that change creates problems that never existed in the first place. So let’s hope that Microsoft delays killing XP support at least until it can make Vista a worthy choice for upgraders.

Steve Bralovich wrote:


The Free and Easy Way to Downgrade from Windows Vista to XP

If you have Windows Vista installed on your laptop or PC and yearn for the good old days of Windows XP compatibility and miss the familiar interface, there is a solution that will cost you nothing but your time to do it.

It involves the creation of a virtual PC on your existing machine using Virtual PC 2007 software by Microsoft. A virtual PC is the just what it sounds like. A completely separate computer that runs in software on the same system as your original PC. What this means is that, you can have Windows Vista running on one virtual PC and Windows XP on the other. Both at the same time. This way, you can have the compatibility of Windows XP today and still enjoy the new software coming out that takes advantage of Windows Vista. Once installed correctly, you’ll be able to switch back and forth between operating systems just as easily as you switch between programs now.

The beauty of this arrangement is that it works either way. If you have XP, you can add Vista without losing your Windows XP operating system.

*Note: Before making any system changes, be sure to backup your data to an external drive or other external data storage. Anytime you make major changes to your system, always take this precaution. It will save you a world of pain.

Of course, free only means no money. Creating 2 virtual machines has a cost in terms of PC memory, hard drive space and performance.

Installing applications in a guest OS increases requirements. Increasing memory beyond the minimum required can result in significant performance increases.

A vital thing to remember before choosing a virtual machine is that you’ll need lots of RAM installed on your system. More RAM than you ever thought of needing before. While you’ll probably have enough CPU cycles to spare, you need enough RAM for both operating systems to run comfortably. As long as you have double your comfortable minimum, you should be fine.

To really have optimal performance and take advantage of this setup, you should have at least 2GB RAM, and many gigs of hard drive space. I recommend you strongly consider a 4 GB setup if you plan on running lots of apps simultaneously and plan on using up an extra 20 gigs of drive space.

Also worth noting is that installations of Windows XP or Vista will require their own product keys, regardless of whether your host computer is also running it. Since the virtual PC will see whatever hardware your virtual machine portends to have, it will assume that it is a new computer in need of new activation. You’ll also need a licensed copy of Windows XP to be legitimate. Fortunately, unlike Vista, XP’s EULA doesn’t forbid virtual machines. Only Vista Business and Ultimate can be legally run in a virtual environment. Any other flavours of Vista could cause issues if you need official support.

Microsoft has a blog for Virtual PC 2007 that you should check out before making any changes to get a better feel for what the benefits are of switching to a virtual OS and the kinds of issues you may face in running 2 OS’s at once.

John A. Stevens wrote:


If you are like me then you have seen all those Mac vs. Pc commercials and finally they are starting to get through to you. You see more and more of your friends carrying around those slick white laptops and they can’t seem to shut up about it. While I wanted one I was not going to make the plunge because I need a Windows system because of software that will only run on windows. Items like my smart phone, games and business software just won’t work with a Mac.

Well Thanks to a software program called Parallels you can now Run Windows Vista on a Mac. You do not even need to reboot when you are trying to run a Vista program. This is a great piece of software that enables you to run any windows program on your Mac.

Examples are PC based games and other related software that require windows. Smart Phones that run the Windows operating system will also now function on your Mac.

It is important to note that no Mac computers come with Windows pre-installed. You have to go out and purchase a copy of both Parallels and Windows Vista or XP. After that you can install Parallels and then that will help guide you through installing other operating systems. You can even have the Mac OS10 running with XP, Vista and Linux if you wanted.

The install process is straight forward and the software comes with complete documentation on how to use it. Even if you’re not the most technical it is not hard to figure out because the software guides you through the install processes.

If you have doubts about how the software works I would encourage you to go to the Parallels website and download the trial version. After that you will be able to see how well the software works and if for any reason you do not like it just un-install the program and forget about it.

Chris Smith (The TeknoCoach) wrote:


vis-ta [vis-tuh] (n.)1. a view or prospect, esp. one seen through a long, narrow avenue or passage, as between rows of trees or houses.2. such an avenue or passage, esp. when formally planned.3. a far-reaching mental view: vistas of the future.

Certainly, one of the hot technology topics for 2007 is Windows Vista™.

For business owners, the big question is, “When should I upgrade?”

Obviously, no one (except, perhaps, someone selling Microsoft® products) has a definite answer to that question. It depends on what critical software your business is running and what you’re trying to achieve with your technology infrastructure. To that end, I’ve listed 3 general questions for you to consider when deciding whether to alter your own technology vista.

1. Are your critical business applications compatible with Windows Vista?

Microsoft has launched a partnered initiative called Application Compatibility Factory. Part of that initiative is to ensure that businesses have a solid set of assessment tools at their disposal to make a decision on when to upgrade to Windows Vista. These tools include:

- Microsoft Application Compatibility Toolkit 5.0

- Windows Vista Hardware Assessment

- Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor

2. What does Windows Vista have that Windows XP™ doesn’t?

Some key enhancements in Windows Vista:

- Better networking and mobility options

- Better organization of information through the new Windows Aero user interface

- Better OS-resident security features through the redesigned Windows Defender toolset

3. When are you planning on upgrading your computer hardware?

If you’re planning on upgrading to new PCs anytime soon, it might be worth waiting to upgrade with the new PC purchase (most PC manufacturers are able to ship with Windows Vista pre-installed now).

Hopefully, this generates some good “food for thought” as you make a “Tekno Savvy” decision on when to upgrade your enterprise PCs to Windows Vista. To get more information about Windows Vista and other Microsoft products, check out our knowledge base.

B. Bashir wrote:


This guide provides the basic tips on computer networking, hardware, security, troubleshooting and configurations in the Windows XP Professional. These tips can also be applied to Windows 2000/2003 and Windows Vista.

How to Determine the IP address of the Computer

You can determine the IP address of the computer by the following method.

Start Run > Type CMD > Type Ipconfig at the command prompt.

In this way you will get the IP address your computer.

How to Determine the Computer name ?

Start Run > Type CMD > Type Hostname at the command prompt.

You will get the computer name by this command.

How to convert FAT32 to NTFS?

If you want to convert your system’s drive to NTFS use the following command

Covert [drivename]: /FS:NTFS

This command will convert the file system of any specified drive to NTFS. NTFS provides more advanced features as compared to FAT32 such as security, disk quota, encryption and other features.

How to Enable/Disable Firewall in Widows XP?

Firewall is useful for blocking unauthorized access to your computer network as well as blocking the certain applications, URLs and IP addresses on the internet. Windows XP Professional has built-in firewall in it and if you want to enable it, do the following steps.

Start > Control Panel > Double click Windows Firewall icon

Turn on or off Windows firewall according to your choice.

How to Add/Remove Programs from the Start menu?

Click Start > Right click on the empty space > Properties > Click start menu > customize

Here you can increase or decrease the number of programs that appear on the start menu.

Click advance for more options on the start menu.

Removing the programs from Start up?

If can limit the number of programs that loads when Windows starts up.

Click Start > Run > type Msconfig > go to start up and uncheck the programs that you don’t want to load when Windows starts up. You can increase the Windows loading time by decreasing the number of programs at the time of startup.

How to install Net Meeting in Windows XP?

Netmeeting is installed by default in the Windows XP and you can load it by the following method.

Start > Run > type Conf

Netmeeting Window will appear and now you can get connected with your friends family and colleagues.

Hopefully these simple tips will help you out with you working in Windows XP Professional and Windows 2000/2003. More tips, how tos and IT tutorials will come soon.

Vikram kuamr wrote:


When you want to keep your computer activities and data safe and protected, you have to go through various processes. Something as complicated as this matter requires different attempts, in order for you to completely prevent threats. You will be able to prevent your system from being corrupted or from crashing down through various methods. One of the best ways is through Windows updates, wherein the operating system that you are using is kept updated and secure. Basically, all you have to do is to set your system to perform automatic updates. With this strategy, your OS will get on with the downloading and installation of the updates. These updates are usually provided by Microsoft. If you are installing other updates, it can be from the company of the antivirus software that you have downloaded in your system.

Microsoft has a certain website wherein you can update your operating system manually. But if you want to bypass this process, you can simply opt for automatic Windows Vista updates. All you have to do is to set your computer in order for it to download the updates. Once the updates have been downloaded, they will install themselves automatically. This is a convenient way of keeping your files secure since you won’t have to deal with manual computer updating. Microsoft offers updates regularly, which is typically once every month. If the company discovers new threats, the release of the updates happens more frequently. Installing all types of updates is not necessary, that is if your computer is for simple use only. But if your system is used for keeping and storing important data, there is a huge necessity for updates.

If you are interested with Vista updates but you only know a little about it, there is a site where you can gain more information. Through Windows Update Guide, you will be able to read info and news regarding this operating system and its different programs. The information that you get from this online site is offered for free. This is due to the fact that the developers of Windows Update Guide want the users to get the best out of their operating system. If you find the things that you have read useful, you have to know that these are only the opinions of the editors of the site. The information that you will acquire regarding Windows and the company does not come from Microsoft itself, since Windows Update Guide is not an affiliate of the company.

When you log on to the website of Windows Update Guide, you will be able to acquire more information regarding Windows and Microsoft. For one, you will know more about the updates of Windows XP and Microsoft Office. Or else, you can read about the drivers, updates, tweaks, and wallpapers of Windows Vista. What is more, the site also offers information regarding the Service Pack 1 of Windows Vista. If you want to read more entries from the editors, you can click on its archive link.