Tutorials

How to Change Windows Defender Notification Options This will show you how to adjust the Windows Defender notification options for real-time protection to what, when, and how you want it to notify and ask you for permission about system changes in Vista. Obviously Windows Defender will need to be turned on to allow alert notifications. ;) EXAMPLE: Windows Defender asking you to approve this action. Here's How: 1. Open the Control Panel. (Classic View) 2. Click on the Windows Defender icon. 3. Click on Tools. (At top) 4. Click on Options in the main window. (See screenshot below) 5. Scroll down to the Real-time protection options. (See screenshot below)You will need to have real-time protection turned on to allow for alert...

How to Change the Default Vista Fonts This will show you how to change most or all of the default fonts in Windows Vista for Active Title Bar, Icon, Inactive Title Bar, Menu, Message Box, Palette Title, Selected Items, ToolTip, and various Dialog Box text and buttons.The Fonts folder is located at:C:\Windows\Fonts to see a list of available fonts that you can use below. Through Advanced Appearance Settings NOTE: This will let you change the default font, font size, and font color for the Active Title Bar, Icon, Inactive Title Bar, Menu, Message Box, Palette Title, Selected Items, and ToolTip text. 1. Open the Advanced Appearance settings window. 2. Click on the Item: you want to change the Font for. (See screenshot below) NOTE: These...

How to Enable or Disable Flip 3D in Vista This will enable or disable the use of the Flip 3D feature. This can be helpful if you want to disable the shortcut keys for this. Flip 3D is enabled by default. Flip 3D is called Switch between windows in Quick Launch.If you have just lost the Switch between windows (Flip 3D) shortcut icon in Quick Launch and Flip 3D still works by the keyboard shortcut, then see: How to Use and Create a Flip 3D Shortcut in VistaYou must have the Windows Aero color scheme turned on for the Glass Transparency, Taskbar Thumbnail Previews, and Flip 3D features. See: How to Change the Color Scheme in Vista HARDWARE REQUIREMENTS FOR: WINDOWS AERO See: Windows Help and Support: Troubleshoot problems with Windows...

How to Enable or Disable the Caps Lock Key in Vista This will show you how to enable or disable the Caps Lock key on your keyboard for all users on the computer. The Caps Lock key is enabled by default in Vista Using a REG File Download 1. To Disable the Caps Lock Key A) Click on the Download button below to download the file below. Disable_Caps_Lock.reg https://www.vistax64.com/attachments/disable_caps_lock-reg.5549/ B) Go to step 3. 2. To Enable the Caps Lock Key A) Click on the Download button below to download the file below. Enable_Caps_Lock.reg https://www.vistax64.com/attachments/enable_caps_lock-reg.5550/ 3. Right click on the downloaded .reg file and click on Merge to add it to your registry. 4. Click on Run...

Run Commands For Vista This is a list of Run commands that you can type into the Run command window or Start Menu search line to open or run the listed items here. The Run commands are the ones in bold below. EXAMPLE: Run command window and Start Menu . Here's the List: Display Adapter Troubleshooter AdapterTroubleshooter Authorization Manager azman.msc Bitlocker Wizard bitlockerwizard Color Management Color.cpl Computer Management Launcher CompMgmtLauncher Control Panel control Credential Backup and Restore Wizard credwiz Defragment User Interface dfrgui Driver Package Installer dpinst DPI Scaling dpiscaling DVD Player dvdplay Event Viewer eventvwr Firewall Control Panel FirewallControlPanel Firewall Settings...

How to Clear the Thumbnail Cache in Vista The thumbnail cache allows Vista to display thumbnails quicker for you by having all the images stored in a cache ready to use rather than loading them from the hard drive each and every time. This will show you how to clear the thumbnail cache to reset it. The thumbnail cache .db files are located in the hidden system folder location below: C:\Users\User-Name\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer You might clear the thumbnail cache if the Windows Explorer thumbnail previews have become corrupted or the cache file has become to large. Clearing the thumbnail cache will only empty the cache and not delete it. The cache will rebuild itself as Vista reloads the thumbnail images for the icons...

How to Hack your Windows Experience Index Scores This will show you how to change your Vista WEI score to anything you like. This does not actually improve your true WEI score. It is just a cosmetic cover up to make it look better. Remember a 5.9 score is has high as WEI goes to by default per category. If you go over this, then your friends will know that it is a false WEI score. ;) 1) Open an Explorer Window and navigate to C:\Windows\Performance\WinSAT\DataStore and look for the latest XML file [look in the name for dates] 2) Take Ownership of the file first. Use this tutorial from Brink: Take Ownership of file 3) After taking full ownership, open the XML with WordPad. ONLY OPEN WITH WORDPAD. It will look messy if you open it...

SP1 Causes Hibernation Error: "System was shut down unexpectantly" SP1 Causes Hibernation Error: "System was shut down unexpectantly" note to desktop users Desktops set as default hybrid sleep while notebooks default to hibernation, so corrupt bcd store may not be obvious until hibernation use is enabled. Hibernation feature does not work after Installation of Vista SP1. When attempting to resume from hibernation you recieve the following error message: "System was shutdown unexpectedly" This issue occurs when the Boot Configuration Data (BCD) store contains incorrect information for the "Resume from Hibernate" entry. Click Start>All programs>Accessories right click Command Prompt>Run as Administrator Step1 At Command prompt type...

How to Enable or Disable the Menu Bar in Vista Windows Explorer This is the toolbar at the top of a Windows Explorer window with menus. By default, Vista has the Menu bar disabled. The Menu bar includes the File, Edit, View, Favorites (In IE7), Tools, and Help menus. To enable or disable the Menu bar in IE8 and IE9, right click on a empty area of the toolbar and click on Menu Bar to check (enable) or uncheck (disable) it. To for how to have the Menu bar "always" turned on in Internet Explorer 9, see: How to Always Have the Internet Explorer 9 Menu Bar Turned On or Off by Default EXAMPLE: Menu Toolbar Enabled EXAMPLE: Menu Toolbar Disabled Using a Keyboard Shortcut NOTE: This will only temporarily show the Menu bar in Windows...

Workgroup Password Problems How to Fix a Password Not Being Accepted When Connecting to a Workgroup Computer in Vista This will show you how to fix a password from not being accepted when connecting to a workgroup computer. Through Local Security Policy This method is for the Vista Business, Ultimate, and Enterprise editions only. For Vista Home Basic and Home Premium editions, see METHOD TWO below. See the video below to also help 1. Open Administrative Tools. NOTE: In Start Menu or Control Panel (Classic View). 2. Click on Local Security Policy. 3. In the left pane, click the triangle next to Local Policy. 4. In the left pane, click on Security Options. 5. In the right pane near the bottom, click on Network security: LAN...

How to Uninstall the Vista SP2 Prerelease Evaluation Version The prerelease version of SP2 is time-limited software. If you installed a Vista SP2 prelease version, then you cannot install the final Vista SP2 version until you have uninstalled the prelease version of the service pack. This will show you how to uninstall the Vista SP2 prerelease. For more information on this, see: Information about Service Pack 2 for Windows Vista and for Windows Server 2008 This prerelease version of the Vista SP2 will no longer operate after May 1, 2010. You must remove the prerelease version of SP2 before that date for your Vista to continue to run. Here's How: 1. Go to the View Installed Updates window in Programs and Features. 2. In the right...

How to Change the Visual Effects Options for Appearance and Performance in Vista The Visual Effects include most of the special effects in Vista. Select the settings you want to use for the appearance and performance of Vista. You can choose which visual effects to turn off, one by one, or you can let Windows choose a bunch for you. There are 20 visual effects you can control, such as the transparent glass look, the way menus open or close, and whether shadows are displayed.If Vista is running slowly, you can speed it up by disabling some of its visual effects. It comes down to appearance versus performance. Would you rather have Vista run faster or look prettier? If your PC is fast enough, you don’t have to make this tradeoff, but if...

How to Convert a FAT or FAT32 Volume to NTFS in Vista This will show you how to convert a drive or partition volume with a FAT (FAT16) or FAT32 file system to a NTFS file system in Vista without having to format the volume and lose your data on it.Before you start to convert a FAT or FAT32 volume to NTFS, please consider the following limitations and requirements: UDF and CDfs file systems are only used with optical media and cannot be converted to NTFS. FAT12 is the only format used on floppy diskettes (as if these are used anymore;)). This does not apply to a USB flash key though. The conversion to NTFS is a one-way process. After you convert a drive or a partition to NTFS, you cannot convert it back to FAT or to FAT32 unless you...

How to Uninstall or Change a Program in Vista This will show you how to use Programs and Features to uninstall programs or to change the program's configuration by adding or removing certain options. This was called Add and Remove Programs in XP.If the program that you want to uninstall is not listed, then it may not have been written for this version of Windows. To uninstall the program, check the information that came with the program and see if it has a uninstall EXE program for it in it's C:\Program Files or C:\Program Files (x86) folder. Here's How: 1. Open the Start Menu. 2. Click on the Control Panel button. 3. In Classic view, click on the Programs and Features icon. (See screenshot below) 4. Highlight a listed program...

How to Customize the Start Menu Context Menu in Vista When you right click on the Start Menu button (orb) or in the Start menu, you will see the context menu with it's default menu options. This will let you add your own shortcut items to this context menu. EXAMPLE: Before and After Start Menu Button (Orb) Context Menu Here's How: NOTE: For an example, I will add NotePad to the Start Menu context menu. You can add whatever program shortcuts you like and as many program shortcuts you would like. 1. Open the Start Menu. 2. In white line (Start Search) area, type regedit and press Enter. 3. Click on Continue in the UAC prompt. 4. In regedit, go to: (See screenshot below) NOTE: It's there, you just have to scroll past all the file...

How to Manage Stored User Names and Passwords in Vista Vista can store your logon credentials for servers, web sites, and programs. When you revisit one of those locations, Vista will try to log you on automatically.This is not for your Vista user account username and password. Here's How: 1. Open the Control Panel. (Classic View) A) Click on the User Accounts icon and click on the Manage your network passwords link in the upper left corner. (See screenshot below) B) Go to step 3. OR 2. Open the Start Menu. A) In the white line (Start Search) area, copy and paste the command below and press Enter. NOTE: It will list all of your stored logon names and passwords. RunDll32.exe keymgr.dll,KRShowKeyMgr 3. To Add a Stored...

How to Create a Elevated Vista Task Manager Shortcut This will show you how to create a elevated Task Manager shortcut that will run as an administrator in Vista when opened. It will open as if you clicked Show processes from all users in the default Task Manager. EXAMPLE: Default Task Manager and Elevated Task Manager Here's How: 1. Right click on a empty space on the desktop and click on New and Shortcut. 2. Copy and Paste the location below, and click on the Next button. (See screenshot below) C:\Windows\System32\taskmgr.exe 3. Type in Task Manager for a name, and click on the Finish button. (See screenshot below) NOTE: You can name this shortcut anything you like though. 4. Right click on the new Task Manager shortcut...

How to Deny or Allow Access to All Removable Drives in Vista and Windows 7 This will show you how to deny or allow read and write access to all removable drives connected to your computer for all users. This will include access to all removable Hard Disk, CD/DVD, Floppy and USB Floppy drive, WPD (Windows Portable Devices), and Tape drive media.By default, all access is allowed to removable drives in Vista for all users. This can be handy if you do not want people that share the computer to be able to read from or write to any type of removable drive. If you deny read and write access to all removable drives with this setting, it will take precedence over the settings for the individual removable drive settings mentioned in the above...

How to Open and Change Search Options in Vista This will show you how to open and change the Search options to give the search results you want.These settings are for doing searches in the Windows Explorer search box and not from the Advanced Search window. Here's How: 1. Open Folder Options. 2. Click on the Search tab. (See screenshot below) 3. Make your changes here. 4. Click on OK to apply. That's it, Shawn How to Use Advanced Search Options in Vista How to Enable or Disable Search Index in Vista How to Use the Indexing Options in Vista How to Enable or Disable Folder Options in Vista How to Open and Change Folder Options in Vista How to Hide or Show Hidden Files and Folders in Vista How to Use the Find Window to Find...

How to Expand the Context (Shortcuts) Menu in Vista This will show, when you right click on an item, how to see more options in the context menu. Here's How: 1. Hold down the shift key when right clicking on files and folders to get the extra context menu options. ;) File Before and After Shift key : Folder Before and After Shift key : How to Add "COPY TO FOLDER" and "MOVE TO FOLDER" to the Context Menu in Vista How to Customize the Context Menu for the Start Menu in Vista How to Customize the Send To Context Menu in Vista How to Customize the Recycle Bin Context Menu in Vista How to Add "Encrypt" and "Decrypt" to the Context Menu in Vista How to Add and Remove a "New" Context Menu Item in Vista How to Add "Take Ownership"...