Comments on: Vista: Tips and tricks 1

By: Harv

Harv — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 21:51:14 +0000

I’m a heavy user of XP, (i have a WorkStation) and Vista (my new shiny portable). So, i often get so bad notes on vista, i disabled everything i don’t use, because i use it for work, and don’t need a pretty GUI. Another thing it’s compatibility, Vista make useless my common software of Geographic Information System (GIS), so i’m using basic software, in the SAME configuration of portable when i used XP (Yes my old laptop was XP, and i get a new, i think for better, laptop). So, o found this tips so useful, but i rather left some security software ’cause i surf in sharky zones…

Nice site, keep doing

By: Overmind

Overmind — Mon, 26 May 2008 15:35:01 +0000

The only thing vista effectively has over XP is DX10 (10.1 for SP1). But that’s not entirely true since DrirectX is no longer direct in windows vista. Since two additional software-emulator layers exist between application and hardware, DX cannot be called direct anymore. Therefore it should be names IX 10 (IndirectX).
As for disableing stuff… I totally agree that all junk must be gone; just be sure you don’t kill something you may need (like DHCP).

By: UrDrWho

UrDrWho — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 02:53:02 +0000

The laptop I bought for my wife came with the PITA called Vista. IMHO if you “need” UAC then you shouldn’t be the one changing anything on your computer.

Many programs run better than the hog called Defender.

Turn off all the crap you can.

If I wasn’t locked into proprietary software that my contractors require…..Windows would not be on my computers. Mr Gates has this nanny syndrome and passes it on in his OS.

By: Thomas

Thomas — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 23:08:00 +0000

Chris, you are totally wrong about speed improvements in vista.
You did not read carefully what Claus has written.
He said that if you disable everything that was posted on that webpage, than vista is no more than windows 2000. And he is quite right except gui. You can not talk about security in vista if you disable uac and defender, and all those services. You can not talk about using directx 10 unless you are running 8800 graphic card. And you deffinitely can not talk about stability and usability with the lack of software support.
P.S. Andy I would say you are closer to be an idiot than Claus if you judge him be his statement

By: Kevan

Kevan — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 04:56:27 +0000

I have vista and xp on dual boot. Vista home premium came on computer and it seems lousy. it takes 3 times longer than xp to boot and shut down. I have 2 gig of ram and a 2.6 ghz core 2 duo. It is a bit more flashy than xp but it sure needs improvement. I shut some of the services down, but I have always used zone alarm suite and am comfortable with it alone. I also have ubuntu on the computer and it is the best of the lot for stability and lack of problems

By: Scott

Scott — Sat, 03 Nov 2007 21:11:07 +0000

I’m slightly worried that you are recommending switching off UAC and Defender. Yes, both are often criticised for not being the most fantastic security devices ever but they sure as hell help. Linux users are more secure because their operating systems request that any serious system changes require Administrative appoval. Hence the point of UAC, to try and bring something like this to Vista. Defender is not by any measure the best anti spyware product in the world but it is better than nothing. And recommending disabling services when you don’t know what they do… I’ll say no more! For experienced users some of these tweaks may be OK. Having said all of this I did read your disclaimer which is fair enough. So this post was slightly pointless I guess.

By: Johnny Faster

Johnny Faster — Thu, 14 Jun 2007 16:43:25 +0000

Thanks! I came here via Google for instructions on how to move the pagefile.sys off the drive and onto another. (Don’t know if it’s going to work yet, lol. I’ll come back here & bitch if it doesn’t…)

I also appreciated the services to turn off, and I have seen these before for XP. But what no one ever does (a suggestion) is to PRIORITIZE those services you can turn off from safest to least safe. Some are “no-brainers” but some can really screw up your system if you turn them off and need them. FInding the balance point is the hard part. It would be nice to get the easy ones done first, and then start playing with the ones that may or may not be necessary.

By: Cody Breshears

Cody Breshears — Thu, 14 Jun 2007 02:01:15 +0000

I bought a Dell Inspiron e1705 that came with a SigmaTel HD audio card. I was experiencing audio delays. When i would double click to enter a folder i would get an audio double click delay. I would double click and a second or 2 later, Sometimes up to 4 seconds later i would hear it. Here is how to fix it >>>

Control Panel (Classic view) > Sound > Double click Speakers / Headphones > Click Enhancements Tab > Put a check mark in “DISABLE ALL ENHANCEMENTS”

I experienced faster load times, higher FPS in most of my games, and no more audible click delays.

By: Chris

Chris — Fri, 23 Mar 2007 10:40:23 +0000

I don’t know if this is just me finding this but I have run both the Business and Home Premium editions and find that the Home Premium tends to give me a lot of BSODs while the business hasn’t while running on the same machine.

I am sure though if it is a bug with the Home Premium edition MS will sort it very quickly as they are already working on SP1 for release later in the year.

Other than this Vista is a top quality OS.

By: Dan

Dan — Wed, 21 Mar 2007 17:27:36 +0000

One thing that’s important to note above is the disabling of the listed services depends *greatly* on your computer’s environment. For instance disabling DHCP if you have a home network is not a good idea. If you have this at work and can access these options be very careful as your corporate network will need the majority of those services.