Short cuts and other tips Vista Tips Discuss Short cuts and other tips in the Windows Vista forums; Want to see a detailed look at ur PC performance? Use the new Resource Monitor. Go to the expandable sections just below the graphic displays. This expandable section provides a ...

[felix8406]

Want to see a detailed look at ur PC performance? Use the new Resource Monitor. Go to the expandable sections just below the graphic displays. This expandable section provides a complete and comprehensive look at CPU usage, disk transfer rates, network throughput, and memory use. Check it out. Right click a blank space on the taskbar, click Task Manager, go to Performance tab and click Resource Monitor. Happy computing!

[Znod]

And, there is, perhaps, a prettier version available by, for example, right clicking on Computer, choosing Manage, and then selecting Reliability and Performance. And, by opening Reliability and Performance, the Monitoring folder is exposed. It contains two additional charts--the best of which is Reliability Monitor.

[Davehc]

Or yet another more comprehensive one. Try this. Type Msconfig in the "run" bar.Go along to Tools and "launch" the "Performance Monitor"

[felix8406]

Create shortcuts on ur desktop and/or change icon for those applications u use the most; i.e. Computer, Files, Network, Recycle Bin, Internet Explorer, Control Panel.
1. Click Start and type Personalization
2. Click Personalization
3. Click Change desktop icons (left pane).
4. Under Desktop icons, check the box if u want icon to appear on Desktop or clear the check box if u don't want it to appear and press OK.
5. To change icon: highlight the icon u want to change and click Change Icon
6. Pick the new icon u want and press OK. Happy computing!

Note: U can also right click an empty are o fur desktop and click Personalize

[Znod]

Originally Posted by Davehc

Or yet another more comprehensive one. Try this. Type Msconfig in the "run" bar.Go along to Tools and "launch" the "Performance Monitor"

That's the prettier version, etc., I was talking about.

[felix8406]

Vista Aero is a combination of many visual components. It’s a new theme for Vista. It provides more info about an icon, glass like effect, informative toolbars and better navigation to applications, quicker and sharper movie action and high resolution graphics.
1. What’s needed to run Aero? Windows Vista Business, Enterprise, Home Premium, or Ultimate.
2. How do u know which Vista version is running on ur PC? Open the Welcome Center, click on View computer details, if not already selected. U’ll find ur version at the top of the window.
3. What type of hardware u need? 1GHZ Processor, 1GB of ram, 128MB graphics card.

For best results, MS recommend the following:
• 64 megabytes (MB) of graphics memory to support a single monitor with a resolution that is less than 1,310,720 pixels (for example, a 17–inch flat panel LCD monitor that has a 1280 × 1024 resolution)
• 128 MB of graphics memory to support a single monitor with a resolution from 1,310,720 to 2,304,000 pixels (for example, a 21.1–inch flat panel LCD monitor that has up to a 1600 × 1200 resolution)
• 256 MB of graphics memory to support a single monitor with a resolution greater than 2,304,000 pixels (for example, a 30–inch wide-screen flat panel LCD monitor that has up to a 2560 × 1600 resolution)

To run Aero ur PC color setting must be set to 32 bit, monitor refresh must be higher than 10 hertz, ur Vista theme must be set to Windows Vista, color scheme must be set to Windows Vista Aero, and window frame transparency must be on.

To make these adjustments simply right click an empty area of ur desktop and select “Personalize” Happy computing!

[felix8406]

The Accessibility Options in WinXP has been replaced by Ease of Access Center. It provides a centralized place for all accessibility options, as well as a set of questions to guide u in selecting a particular feature. These features are designed to make the computer easier and more comfortable to use. Additionally, you can visit http://www.microsoft.com/enable/ to add features or to obtain more information.
You can access the Ease of Access Center when logging in to your user account by clicking the Ease of Access Center icon, or click Start and type Ease of Access Center, or go to Control Panel and click the Ease of Access Center icon.
These are some of the options you can select:

1. Using PC without a display: This features uses a screen reader called Narrator that will read the text that appears on the screen aloud.
2. Making PC easier to see: Can magnify the screen, adjust screen colors to make easier to see and read, and removing animations and backgrounds.
3. Using PC without a mouse or keyboard: Use on-screen keyboard to type; and Speech Recognition to control your PC through voice commands, or to dictate text.
4. Making mouse easier to use: Change size and color of mouse pointer, or use the keyboard to control the mouse.
5. Making keyboard easier to use: Adjust how Windows responds to mouse or keyboard input.
6. Using text and visual alternatives for sounds: Replace system sounds with visual alerts and display text captions for spoken dialog in multimedia programs.
7. Making it easier to focus on reading and typing: Use Narrator to read information on the screen, adjust how the keyboard responds to certain keystrokes, and control whether certain visual elements are displayed.
8. Making it easier to focus on tasks: Reduce amount of information on the screen, and set up keyboard to make it easier to type. Happy computing!

[felix8406]

Do you spend a lot of time searching for a file or files that you worked on? Although it may not seem like a big deal, depending on your work environment, every minute count. However, there are better ways to organize your files and stop all that clutter. Keep in mind that organizing your computer documents is very similar to managing your paper documents. You organize your paper files by using folders and storing them in a cabinet, drawer or box so they don’t get lost. Well, just like paper files, if you don’t organize your PC files, they can get lost or become difficult to find.

Here are some suggestions to better manage your files:

1. Use Documents. The “Documents” folder is a handy place to store all your documents whether is Excel spreadsheets, PowerPoint presentations, Word document, or any other file. Documents help you find files faster and keep separate files from programs.
2. Apply a method for naming files and folders. You should develop a naming system for the kinds of files you create most often and then stick to it. For example, “Child Nutrition, ages 2 to 4”, “Child Nutrition, ages 5 and 6”, “Child Nutrition, ages 7 and 12”, etc.
3. Keep names short. Although you can use long file names, you should strive to keep file names as short as possible. You can use folders to do the naming for you. For example, instead of Child Nutrition at different age stage.doc., you can use this or a similar folder structure: Documents > Nutrition > General Information > Children Ages 1 to 5 > Children Ages 6 to 12 > Children Ages 13 to 17 > Adults.
4. Separate files you are working on from completed work. To maintain your files manageable, you should keep completed files separate from files you are still working on. Once a month, move the files you are no longer working on to another folder and rename the folder “Completed Files”. This will make “Documents” more manageable, reducing the amount of files you need to search through.
5. Store like files with like folders. Restrict folders to one specific topic …this will make it easier to find your files. For example, if you write about nutrition and maintaining good health, you might want to keep files about nutrition in one folder and a separate folder for “Maintaining Good Health”.
6. Use shortcuts instead of multiple copies. If you need to access a file from different locations within your PC, create a shortcut instead of copying the file to the new location. For example, if you have a file stored in “Documents” and want to access it from your desktop, create a shortcut of that file on your desktop. This way you avoid having multiple copies all over your PC.
7. Use Recent Items. This tool will help you find files you just worked on.
Note: To open “Recent Items” click Start and then Recent Items. If “Recent Items” is not displayed, click Start, type “Taskbar” to open Taskbar and Start Menu. On the “Start menu”, under Privacy, select “Store and display a list of recently opened files”. You can also view a list of recent documents by clicking Start and typing recent documents. Happy computing!

[felix8406]

Windows Mail is an upgrade from Outlook Express, adding many new features such as phishing and junk e-mail. One drawback, however, is that it does not support the HTTP:// protocol, which was used by Outlook Express to access Hotmail. One solution to this dilemma is Live Mail Desktop.
Although in Beta form, Live Mail Desktop has many options not available with Windows Mail, including support for Hotmail. In addition, it can support web-based accounts, POP3 or IMAP enabled accounts. It also has build in protection against junk e-mail, viruses and phishing. Plus, it provides u with up to 2GB of online inbox storage.
To get Windows Live, simply click Start, go to Welcome Center and click Download Windows Live Mail desktop. Note that to use this application u’ll need either a MSN Hotmail, MSN Messenger, or Microsoft Passport account.
Windows Live Mail desktop is part of Microsoft Windows Live, a set of internet-based product and services. U can view information on these products by opening the Welcome Center and clicking “Go online to learn more about Windows Live”. Happy computing!

[felix8406]

Windows Flip 3D allows u to preview ur open windows without clicking the taskbar. With Flip 3D u can view ur windows in a stack, allowing u to flip through the stack.
Here’s how it works:
1. With one or more windows open, use the Windows logo +TAB keys to open Flip 3D.
2. Hold down the Windows logo key and either press TAB repeatedly or rotate the mouse wheel to cycle through each window. Or press the RIGHT or DOWN ARROW to cycle forward, or the LEFT or UP ARROW to cycle backward.
3. Releasing the Windows logo key will display the front-most window.
4. U can also press CTRL+Windows logo+TAB keys to keep Flip 3D open. Press ESC to close Flip 3D.
5. Another way to open Flip 3D is by clicking the Switch between windows button on the taskbar. Then just click a window in the stack to display that particular window. Happy computing!