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Windows Vista: READ ME: Vista Tips and Guides...
- 3/17/07 6:47 PM
Performing regular maintenance…
by John.Wilkinson - 5/20/07 3:29 PM
In reply to: READ ME: Vista Tips and Guides... by John.Wilkinson
1.) Uninstall any unnecessary programs using Add/Remove Programs in the Control Panel.
2.) Delete any unnecessary files. CCleaner provides an easy, free way of quickly finding and deleting most of the unnecessary temporary and junk files on your computer, recovering disk space for future use.
3.) Run Disk Cleanup (press ctrl + r and type in cleanmgr.exe) to remove additional files that are no longer necessary. This includes memory dumps and old System Restore points.
4.) Run a registry cleaner. While there is no real performance benefit on modern systems, those who prefer can use a registry cleaner such as RegSeeker to delete obsolete entries. Keep in mind, though, that registry cleaners may delete required entries that could potentially cause programs to malfunction. The highly-touted Registry Mechanic is one example of this. Thus, you should always use the program’s option to backup the registry before proceeding.
5.) Defragment the hard drive. Some may dispute the value of defragmentation, but I strongly recommend performing an analysis weekly and defragmenting if it is suggested. Doing so, as needed, will decrease the time needed to search for and open files on the slowest component of your computer.
6.) Perform a virus and spyware scan. Real-time protection is great, but a weekly scan of your hard drive is more or less necessary in a time when destruction of another person’s data is considered ‘recreation’ for some gifted, but misdirected, individuals.
7.) Backup your important files. I cannot stress this enough. The Vista Backup and Restore Center, available through the Control Panel, makes protecting your files easy, and the free Microsoft ‘powertoy’ SyncToy gives those looking to backup just selected directories no excuse. Accidental deletions, malware, hardware failure, and theft demand such precautionary measures.
John
Moving to a new computer…
by John.Wilkinson - 5/20/07 3:30 PM
In reply to: READ ME: Vista Tips and Guides... by John.Wilkinson
If you are moving to a new computer, I highly recommend reviewing this overview of the new Vista Easy Transfer, the replacement to Windows XP’s File and Settings Transfer Wizard. It should enable you to quickly and easily transfer most, if not all, of your personal files and settings over to your new computer. For those that are not transferred, you’ll need to look for an Import/Export option (usually in the File menu of the particular program) or transfer the files over yourself. Please remember that this does not transfer programs from one computer to the next, so you’ll still need to install them from scratch first.
John
Top FREE Security Software…
by John.Wilkinson - 1/18/08 3:19 PM
In reply to: READ ME: Vista Tips and Guides... by John.Wilkinson
Firewalls:
* Jetico Personal Firewall 2.0
* PC Tools Firewall (32-bit only)
* Sphinx Vista Firewall
* ZoneAlarm 7.1 (32-bit only)
* Comodo Professional 3.0
Antivirus:
* Avast Home Edition
* AVG FREE
* Avira AntiVir Personal
* PC Tools Free Edition
Miscellaneous:
* Ad-Aware 2007 Free
* AVG Antispyware
* Spyboy S&D
* Trend Micro’s HiJackThis (power tool)
Please note that the Windows Vista firewall, preinstalled, now offers two-way protection (unlike the Windows firewall in Windows XP), but it is still recommended that you choose a third-party firewall for better protection. Likewise in regards to Windows Defender, Microsoft’s preinstalled antispyware solution.
John
Using third-party themes/styles…
by John.Wilkinson - 6/17/07 2:27 PM
In reply to: READ ME: Vista Tips and Guides... by John.Wilkinson
As you have most likely discovered, Windows does not support the usage of third-party themes and styles, restricting you to those that developed by Microsoft. Namely, that limits you to Aero and “Windows Classic,” based on the Windows 95/98/ME/2000 style. While Aero supports color changing, a great advancement over the three Windows XP Luna styles, it is still quite limited. Stardock’s WindowBlinds and StyleXP , both priced at $19.95, have remained the leading third-party applications designed to make using third-party themes and styles simple. The both have free trials, and you’re more than welcome to experiment with them.
For those of you who do not wish to pay for such an ability, though, I provide the following alternative solutions. First, try Vista Glazz (freeware) a try. It is designed to be a quick and simple ‘click here’ solution to enabling the usage of third-party themes while avoiding the cost and drag on system resources incurred by using the above-mentioned applications. It will work in most cases, is quite safe to use, and its changes can be undone by running the program again.
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You can also replace the three system files manually. Before continuing, however, please keep in mind that you do so at your own risk. As with Vista Glazz, all changes can be undone by simply reversing the process, but if you have any reservations I suggest exploring the above third-party applications.
That said:
1.) Login to an account with administrative credentials.
2.) Click here to download a ZIP archive containing the three files you need to replace, courtesy of anti-tgtsoft.com, and extract them.
3.) Browse to C:\Windows\System32, right-click shsvcs.dll, and select Properties.
4.) Select the Security tab, click the Advanced button, select the Owner tab, click the Edit button, select your username, and OK your way out.
5.) Rename shsvcs.dll to shsvcs.dll.OLD, then copy-and-paste the downloaded shsvcs.dll into C:\Windows\System32.
6.) Repeat steps 3-5 for themeui.dll and uxteme.dll.
7.) Restart the computer.
If the process fails you can download/install the free program Unlocker to assist you. Once it’s installed right-click each of the files to be replaced, select Unlocker, and then choose Unlock All followed by Kill Process. This will temporarily grant you the ability to rename and/or delete the file and replace it with the downloaded version.
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Once your theme files have been patched you can use just about any unsigned third-party theme you want, including those from DeviantArt. Just copy them to C:\Windows\Resources\Themes, then double-click the theme file and click OK to apply.
Please remember:
1.) Vista Glazz and the above manual patch do not enable you to use Window Blinds themes…you still need to purchase Window Blinds.
2.) Not all themes support Aero Glass, so you may want to check before downloading and applying the theme.
Enjoy! 
John
Other *free* customizations…
by John.Wilkinson - 6/17/07 3:05 PM
In reply to: Using third-party themes/styles… by John.Wilkinson
1.) Change your logon screen/Welcome Screen with Stardock’s LogonStudio, a freeware program recently updated to support Windows Vista. Usage is fairly straight forward and free logon screens can be found by clicking here. (Please do not use Logon screens or the original LogonStudio designed for Windows XP.)
2.) Change your cursor on a per-user basis using another Stardock creation, CursorXP, which does indeed work with Windows Vista. Once installed you can download cursor packages by clicking here and apply them just by double-clicking the CurXPTheme file. Please note that CursorXP does not work with other cursor packages.
3.) Windows Sidebar Styler is an up-and-coming application that lets you skin the Windows Sidebar and enable additional support for various widgets/gadgets. There are not many skins to choose from yet, but be sure to watch for them as the project develops.
4.) If the Windows Sidebar isn’t enough for you, check out Yahoo! Widgets, formerly Konfabulator. Backed by a large group of volunteer developers, it boasts over 4,000 widgets to choose from. If you can’t find a widget that suits you, you really need to go outside more.
5.) For Windows Vista Ultimate users only, Deskscapes is another free Stardock application that extends DreamScene’s abilities to create and display animated wallpapers. A collection of animated wallpapers is available here.
Enjoy!
John
32-bit vs 64-bit Overview...
by John.Wilkinson - 10/26/08 11:58 AM
In reply to: READ ME: Vista Tips and Guides... by John.Wilkinson
As this question has been raised numerous times the following is a brief overview of Windows Vista 32-bit (x86) editions and Windows Vista 64-bit (x64) editions.
1.) System Requirements: In order to use a 64-bit operating system you must have a 64-bit processor. (Note: Most processors sold since 2007 are 64-bit.) However, if you do have a 64-bit processor you are not required to have a 64-bit operating system…you may choose to install/use a 32-bit operating system if you wish. Edge: 32-bit
2.) RAM Limitation: 32-bit operating systems are limited to 4GB of physical RAM, with only 3.2GB to 3.7GB being available for use depending on your exact hardware configuration. This is not a Windows- or Vista-specific limitation, but rather the 32-bit architecture. With a 64-bit edition this limit is greatly increased, to 8GB for Vista Home Basic/Premium users and 128GB for Vista Business/Enterprise/Ultimate users. Edge: 64-bit
3.) Software Compatibility: Not all software that ran under Windows XP will work with Windows Vista, so be consult the Windows Vista Compatibility Center and/or the program’s developer to ensure compatibility. However, 98% of all software which works with Vista x86 will also work with Vista x64 with no decrease in performance or reliability. The exceptions are applications which tightly integrate themselves with the operating system, such as antivirus/firewall software and Windows customization utilities. You will need to check the compatibility of these select applications individually with the applications’ developers. Edge: 32-bit
4.) Driver Compatibility: Unlike with software compatibility, driver compatibility remains a significant issue. Many device manufacturers have not released 64-bit drivers for their devices, meaning many older (2006 and before) printers, scanners, cameras, MP3 players, etc, as well as some new ones, may not work correctly or at all under Vista x64 when they may work perfectly under Vista x86. Please check the manufacturer’s website for 64-bit drivers, and Vista compatibility in general, before purchasing the device or upgrading to Vista x64. Edge: 32-bit
5.) Performance: 64-bit computing is designed to offer an increase in performance, generally considered to be between 10% and 20%, for tasks which involve large amounts of computation, such as graphics editing, gaming, video encoding, etc. However, there is little to no benefit from using a 64-bit processor and 64-bit operating system unless the program is specifically optimized for 64-bit use. Thus, AutoCAD x64 would show a performance increase while Microsoft Office or Firefox would not. Edge: 64-bit
6.) License/Media: A retail copy of Windows Vista generally includes only an x86 DVD unless you purchase Vista Ultimate, which includes both. However, Microsoft will ship you a DVD containing either edition for the cost of shipping and handling. Further, note that a retail Windows Vista license works for both x86 and x64 editions, provided you’re only using the product key to activate one installation at any given time. This does not apply to pre-installed OEM copies of Windows Vista from HP, Dell, Sony, etc, which are governed by a different set of licensing restrictions. Edge: 32-bit
7.) Upgrading: Note that it is not possible to upgrade from a 32-bit operating system to a 64-bit operating system, or to go in the reverse direction. Any change between the two would require you to backup all of your personal files, erase your hard drive’s partition, install your operating system and programs from scratch, and restore your files from that backup. You should consider this before the initial installation to avoid a tumultuous transition. Edge: None
Hope this helps,
John
Vista USB. My USB device will not install on Windows Vista
by R. Proffitt - 1/13/09 6:18 AM
In reply to: READ ME: Vista Tips and Guides... by John.Wilkinson
A few makers offer advice on what to do when USB devices stop being registered or installed on Vista.
Links:
http://www.kingston.com/support/USBFLASHDRIVES/faq/pcdt_20.asp
(copy below in case it vanishes)
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/926171 notes what to do if you see a reference to the MF.SYS driver (case does not matter in the driver name.)
Copy of the Kingston text.
"
There are several possible reasons why your DataTraveler is not installing on Windows Vista.
1. If the “Add New Hardware” wizard is searching for device driver, point to Windows\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository and enable “Include subfolders” in the Browse window. If this fails, point to one of the subfolders within FileRepository:
FileRepository\usbstor.inf_...
FileRepository\disk.inf_...
FileRepository\volume.inf_...
FileRepository\wpdfs.inf_...
2. If the FileRepository location does not work, point to the following location: Windows\System32\Spool\Drivers and enable “Include subfolders” in the Browse window.
3. Microsoft has released a hotfix for USB devices that Vista is unable to automatically detect. Click on the following link or copy and paste to your web browser for details: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/940199/en-us.
4. If the hotfix does not work, the usbstor.inf and usbstor.pnf files may be missing or corrupted.
4a. Insert the DataTraveler, if you receive a “Found New Hardware” dialog box, click Cancel and unplug the DataTraveler.
4b. Go to (C:)>Windows>inf to confirm that the usbstor.inf and usbstor.pnf files are present. If missing, they may have been corrupt or deleted during Vista installation/ upgrade and therefore will not load. If the usbstor.inf and usbstor.pnf files are missing, do the following:
(4b) 1. Locate the latest usbstor.inf and usbstor.pnf files from Windows\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository\usbstor.inf
Note: There may be multiple usbstor.inf and usbstor.pnf files. Choose the most recently created file. To do this, sort the files by date.
(4b) 2. Copy the usbstor.inf and usbstor.pnf files to Windows>inf.
(4b) 3. Reinsert the DataTraveler.
If the above instructions did not work, and/or the usbstor.inf and usbstor.pnf exist in Windows\Inf. Remove the drive and reinsert it and wait for the Found New Hardware dialog box. Select “Locate and install driver software (recommended).” Click on the continue button for permission. Select “Don’t search online.” Select “I don’t have disc, show me other instructions.” Select “my computer for driver software (advanced).” Browse the following locations for driver search (enable "Include subfolders" in the Browse window):
a) Windows\Inf
c) Windows\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository\
d) Windows\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository\usbstor.inf_...
e) Windows\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository\disk.inf_...
f) Windows\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository\volume.inf_...
g) Windows\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository\wpdfs.inf_...
h) Windows\System32\Spool\Drivers
"
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