Windows Vista

I've been using Vista for some time now and through time I've found that several annoyances can easily be fixed by several short tutorials found on the internet. I have a compiled a list of these tips that have certainly improved my Vista experience, hope it does the same for you. If you have any comments/questions please let me know.

[Tip #1] Disable Unnecessary Startup Programs - Freeing up some valuable resources to improve your computers performance.

A. Go to Start > Control Panel

B. Select System & Maintenance from the Control Panel Window

C. Click on Performance Information & Tools

***PLEASE NOTE THIS FEATURE IS ONLY AVAILABLE WITH WINDOWS VISTA HOME PREMIUM AND WINDOWS VISTA ULTIMATE***

Vista may have many issues, but we cannot take away the fact that this operating system is bundled with a lot of useful software. Among the number of programs available is Windows DVD Maker, which does exactly what the name implies, it makes DVD's. The neat thing about this program is the ability to creates slideshows of your favorite photos to play on most DVD players in your home. So imagine, you just came back from a vacation and took hundreds of pictures, now you just pop them into Windows DVD Maker, add a title, pick a menu design, burn, and view them on your TV to share with friends and family.

Tamir Khason recently released a neat little application when enabled manages when the Aero effects and the sidebar are activated on your Vista machine. Nick White from Microsoft has admitted to the fact that "...in our testing we've seen that turning on Aero consumes only about 1-4% more of battery life."

The program is designed to disable the Aero interface and sidebar from Vista whenever your laptop is running on battery. The programmer was kind enough to allow the user complete and total control as to when that occurs, the user has options to disable Aero and the sidebar only when the battery reaches a certain threshhold or simply when switched to battery power. The program is very straightforward and easy to use.

Are you tired of holding CTRL down when making multiple selections? Vista has a neat little feature that when enabled allows you to select files within the explorer interface using checkboxes. This method simplifies the process and keeps you from accidently letting go of the CTRL during the selection process and starting all over again. The tutorial below describes the steps necessary to get there, if you need any help let me know.

Instructions below...