Does anyone else find it hard to pick up work after vacationing? Having completed a weeks worth of vacation I am back to the grind….well….sort of.

I am using this day to read up on new stories and technologies for new content on the site. Please bare with me while I compose myself and get my head out of the vacation cloud. Of course this is not easily done…

As you can see from the last post we are now taking posted questions to better serve our users. As well I would like to add if there is a new technology or concern you would like for me to address please post a comment to this blog. I would be happy to research and address topics for our users.

After all….It is you the end user for which we create the content.

The page file is used by the Windows operating system to store random information. This file is used by Windows when there is not enough room in RAM to store this information.

If you use more than one hard drive there is an option you can use to tweak the performance of the page file. This option does not really improve performance in a two partition scenario but must be used with a secondary drive as you can move the paging file to the secondary drive leaving you c: drive free to perform other actions.

First check to make sure you have a secondary drive. You must first log in with an administrator account.

1. Click Start, Run (just Start in Vista)

2. type diskmgmt.msc, and press <Enter> to open the Disk Management utility (click Continue in the User Account Control, if prompted).

The bottom pane shows each disk installed on your system and the corresponding drive letter. When considering which drive to use choose the fastest drive to store the page file on.

Note: Internal drives are faster than an external drive in most cases.

3. Right click “My Computer” and choose properties

4. ON the system properties page choose the “Advanced” tab

5. Under performance choose the settings option and then the advanced tab on the subsequent window

6. Under Virtual Memory click Change. In Vista, deselect Automatically manage paging file size for all drives.

7. In the drive list select a partition on a different drive where you want to add another paging file

8. Select Custom size if you would like to set the size yourself and type in the initial and maximum size (Microsoft says making them the same amount is most efficient configuration)

Note: If the partition you select contains another installation of Windows you will receive an error message warning that the file pagefile.sys already exists. If the two operating systems are not running at the same time through virtualization then it is safe to overwrite pagefile.sys.

You should receive a notification upon completion that the settings will not take effect until you perform a restart.

In order to alleviate hardware issues in Windows Vista, Microsoft has added a few diagnostic utilities to aid in the detection and prevention of such failures.

To aid you in keeping your PC running smoothly without a lot of effort Vista contains several built-in diagnostics. These utilities help resolve external problems that affect the way Vista performs. These utilities provide diagnostic scenarios which include Network Diagnostics and troubleshooting—to help address the most common issues as well as other types of failure detection software.

Built-in diagnostic scenarios in Windows Vista include the following as described by Microsoft:

Disk Diagnostics. The built-in Disk Diagnostics in Windows Vista detects impending disk failures and guides you through data backup, disk replacement, and data restoration procedures. When Windows Vista detects a potential disk failure, it warns you of the problem and guides you through the backup and recovery process to minimize the likelihood of data loss.

Memory Diagnostics. Defective computer memory is difficult to diagnose. It can mimic software or operating system problems. Memory Diagnostics in Windows Vista works with Microsoft Online Crash Analysis to detect crashes that might be caused by failing memory. It provides guided support and prompts you to schedule a memory test the next time you restart the computer.

Network Diagnostics and troubleshooting. The Windows Network Diagnostics tool in Windows Vista helps you identify the top potential issues preventing network connectivity—and it automatically takes appropriate steps toward correcting them.

Resource Exhaustion Prevention. Occasionally when you are running a large number of applications, the computer will simply run out of system resources, leading to hangs, crashes, and data loss. Resource Exhaustion Prevention warns you when critical resources are low—before a hang or crash occurs. It also identifies which processes are consuming the largest amount of a given resource and helps you reclaim that resource, it logs events in the event log that include detailed data useful for subsequent analysis.

Microsoft seems to be understanding the needs of users. These utilities can aid users in resolving issues commonly faced by the end user.

Having problems with Windows Vista?

Windows Vista has a unique feature embedded in the operating system. This feature is the Reliability and Performance monitor. If for any reason you are experiencing difficulties with Vista or a third party program that is installed this utility can be used to help identify the source of the issue.

The Reliability and Performance Monitor is a Microsoft Management Console snap-in that includes tools for analyzing system performance. You can monitor hardware and application performance in real time. Also available is the ability to customize what data you want to collect. You can define custom triggers for alerts, automatic actions, generate reports, and view past performance data.

The Reliability and Performance Monitor combines many functions of previous stand-alone tools such as Performance Logs and Alerts, Server Performance Adviser, and System Monitor. It provides a graphical user interface for the customization of Data Collector Sets and Event Trace Sessions.

Reliability and Performance Monitor contains three monitoring tools to aid you in determining a root cause of performance issues such as Resource View, Performance Monitor, and Reliability Monitor. Data collection and logging is performed using Data Collector Sets which must be defined to capture any required information.

Reliability and Performance monitor will be a useful utility for identify issues that may slow performance or cause instability.

Having acquired years of experience with windows and how well it performs (or not) I can assure you it will be in my arsenal of diagnostic utilities for Vista.

If you are thinking about upgrading to Windows Vista there is more to it than just buying the cd. First you have to consider which version you want buy. You will need to review the features available in each individual version in order to make an informed decision.

To review features available please click here Options available in Windows Vista versions.

Once you have decided which version is right for you the process has just started. You will still need to review the system requirements for your version and compare those against your current configuration.

An easy way to accomplish this is to use the Microsoft upgrade adviser. This utility will scan your PC for compatibility with Windows Vista versions. As well the utility will give a detailed report on your hardware compatibility as well as program compatibility.

The program compatibility test will detail the software on your computer that may not work with Windows vista and will prompt you to contact the manufacturer about upgrade offers.

To use the upgrade adviser click here.

Now that you have chosen a version and tested your PC and programs for compatibility issues your next step will be to purchase. Microsoft has provided two different options for upgrading. You can simply purchase in store and now you may even purchase and upgrade online.

If you are considering upgrading online you may use the following link to purchase directly from Microsoft. To upgrade online please click here.

Customize Windows Vista

One of the new additions to the new operating system is the inclusion of the word “Personalize” in the user interface. Inside the Personalize interface there are many features that will allow you to customize you computer so that it reflects your needs, style and taste. Some of these features encompass the ability to change the desktop background, the screen saver and Windows Vista color scheme.

Changing the Desktop Background

You can replace your current desktop background with any image that has one of the following formats: .bmp .gif .jpg .jpeg or .png. You can center the image, stretch it to fill or repeat is as many time as necessary to fill the space. You can also create your own background by using a graphic application like Photoshop.

Here’s how you select an image for your background:

Right click on your desktop, select Personalize, and choose Desktop Background

From the Picture Location select a category and click on the picture you want as the background.

If you want an image that is not in any of the categories in the Picture Location, click on the Browse button and select your desired picture.

Change the Screen Saver

Screen savers are moving pictures or patterns that are displayed on your screen whenever there is no computer activity. Screen savers have no real use, other than they are fun to watch.

To change your screen saver, right click on your desktop, choose Personalize and click on Screen Saver. Click on the drop down menu to select your desired screen saver. You can also click on the Settings… button which opens up a dialog box where you can modify with your screen saver settings.

You can also choose when the screen saver will be displayed on your screen by increasing/decreasing the minutes besides the Wait tab.

Change the Color Scheme

You can customize fonts, sizes and colors of certain interface elements by changing the color scheme. To change the color scheme, right click on your desktop, click on Windows Color and Appearance, and select Open classic appearance properties for more colors options. Choose your desired scheme and click on the Advanced… button. Here you can modify the colors and sizes of the scheme.

This guest article has been written by Nick Zara of Windvis.com - Windows Vista help, tutorial and tricks

Now that Vista has been released many people have implemented it’s use. Many users have found out that their PC does not run as crisp with this operating system. If you have implemented Vista on your PC with only the minimum system requirements you have seen how sluggish it can be. I thought I would put together a list of perfomance enhancing tweaks for users in this particular situation.
 

Disable User Access Control (UAC)

This feature protects your PC from malware infection by prompting you with a manual confirmation prompt anytime a program or even you attempt to alter or use features which can alter system critical information. This feature can be very annoying.

To disable User Access Control:

-Click Start then Control Panel
-Select User Accounts
-Select Turn User Account Control on or off
-Un-check User Account Control Box
-Restart as recommended

 Turn off Windows Search Indexing

Vista search indexing constantly reviews files on your PC to make their contents available for quick searching. This is a nice feature, but it can impact system performance.

To disable this constant indexing:

-Click Start then Computer
-Right Click the C: Drive
-On General Tab, Un-check Index this drive for faster searching
-On the subsequent dialog box, Select Include sub-folders and files

 Turn off ScheduledDisk Defragmentation

Vista and comes configured with hard drive defragmentation automatically scheduled. You must remember to run defrag manually.

To disable scheduled defragmentation:

-Click Start then all programs
-Select accessories and then system tools
-Select defragmentation
-Uncheck “Run on a schedule”

 Turn off Windows Hibernation

Windows hibernation background services use a large amount of system resources and hard drive space. This feature as well in previous versions has caused many blue screens and protection errors.

To disable Hibernation:

-Select the Control Panel then Power Options
-Click Change Plan Settings
-Click on Change Advanced Power Settings
-Expand the Sleep selection
-Expand the Hibernate After selection
-Move the selector down to zero
-Click Apply

 Turn off System Restore

Disabling this service will prevent the system restore option from working. In the event of a system crash You will be unable to use system restore.

Disabling System Restore: 

-Control Panel>System
-Click System Protection on the left panel
-Un-check the main system drive
-Agree to the confirmation

 Turn off Remote Differential Compression

Remote Differential Compression measures the changes in files over a network to transfer them with minimal bandwidth.

To disable these services:

-Open Control Panel
-Switch to Classic View
-Select Program Features
-Choose Turn Windows features on and off
-Scroll down and un-check Remote Differential Compression

 Disable Windows Services that Auto-Launch

Vista is configured with many services enabled that load at startup and may never be used.
(these can be re-started manually by reversing the process; please document any changes you make)

Disabling Services:

-Click Start then Control Panel
-Select Administrative Tools
-Choose System Configuration
-Click the Services Tab
-You can safely disable:
      Offline Files (unless you’re using Offline File Sync)
      Tablet PC Input Service (unless you have a tablet PC)
      Terminal Services
      Windows Search (If you have already disabled indexing)
      Fax (unless you’re using a fax modem)

 Disable Extra Windows Features

Vista ships with many other features that are listed separately from the startup services.
You can review and disable these features by following the instructions below:

-Clicking Start then Control Panel
-Select Program Features
-On the left panel, select Turn Windows Features on or off
-You can safely un-check the following:

Note: Please document any changes made in case you need to reverse the changes made.

      Indexing Service
      Remote Differential Compression
      Tablet PC Optional Components
      Windows DFS Replication Service
      Windows Fax & Scan (Do not disable if you use a modem for faxing)
      Windows Meeting Space (Do not disable if you use the Live Meeting Service)

Implementing Ready Boost

 Add a 2GB or higher USB Flash drive to implement Windows Ready Boost (Additional Memory Cache). There are many requirements for the devices which want to use this feature. Microsoft is working with manufacturers to label devices which are compatible with this feature. When purchasing such devices you will need to look for the Windows Ready Boost label.

To configure a USB device:

-Insert a USB Flash Drive (preferably 2GB or more)
-Click Start then Computer
-Right Click the USB Drive in My Computer
-Select the Ready Boost Tab
-Choose Use this device

We all know what a hassle it can be when your computer enters hibernation mode. Many times you can experience blue screens when you attempt to launch your PC from hibernation mode. This is really a pain if you had unsaved data.

 With the release of Vista they have removed the ability from the power options control panel to disable hibernation mode. No where in the control panel will you find an option to disable hibernation mode. It is so nice of Microsoft to remove the abilityto disable this feature considering all the past problems it has caused

Don’t worry though…..there is a simple way to turn off this feature.

Instructions for disabling Hibernation mode:

1. Press the WINDOWS key and type cmd into the Start Search box but DO NOT press ENTER

2. Right-click on cmd in the Programs list  when it appears and select Run As Administrator

3. Click Continue when the UAC prompt appears

4. Type powercfg -h off and press ENTER

You have now disabled Hibernation mode in Vista. You should not experience any of the annoying errors normally experienced from this mode activating. Happy computing!

Microsoft has announced the new Windows Live Mail program which combines features from previous versions of Windows mail applications. After looking over Live Mail it’s abilities include pulling messages from Web mail and other accounts, its photo e-mail composition option, and other new features. Of course the new application still leaves room for improvement.

Once again as with many Microsoft products (even fully released versions) we are beta testers. The program does have many new updated features, but I would recommend waiting until they have had at least one major update for the program.

With a little tweaking it does run pretty well. The photo message option is a nice feature, but photo mail does not seem to be compatible with some other mail providers. When reviewing a test email the photo did not appear correctly.

Live Mail does seem to be much better than any version of Outlook Express. Until fully released I would recommend backups of email as you may end up as one of those users who experiences issues. Now what do they call those again?…………… Oh Yeah! Beta testers.

Vista provides a great entertainment experience. Finding and playing games is a lot easier with the new Windows Vista Games Explorer. The Games Explorer is the new interface for all gaming activities.

As a parent, Vista provides you with a new set of Parental Controls that allows you to manage your youths access to games. Built on groundbreaking graphics technology, Vista takes advantage of the latest gaming hardware for more realistic gaming.
 
With Vista, the new Games Explorer allows you to more easily find games installed on your Vista-based PC. Many new games have a “Games for Windows” branding which will install right in the Games Explorer.
 
With Parental Controls you can control which games your children have access to. If you feel certain games are inappropriate for you children you can block the use of these games according to rating, content, or even titles.
 
With Vista, you can get a more exciting visual experience than you have ever seen on a Windows-based PC.