Vista tips

Windows Vista - Registry tweaks

2008-02-17T09:52:00.002Z

SetupComplete.cmd - this batch file will run after Windows is installed, but before the logon screen appears. Windows Setup searches for the SetupComplete.cmd file in the C:\Windows\Setup\Scripts folder. If a SetupComplete.cmd file is found, the file is executed.Copy and paste the following text in Notepad, save as Setupcomplete.cmd@echo offcd\start /wait regedit.exe /s c:\windows\setup\

2008-02-03T16:28:00.001Z

Tweak Vista: IE and Services IE settings · Choose whether to have the psyching filter on or off (tools >internet options> Advanced tab> Security> phishing filter). Disabling it altogether will be undone by Sysprep. · Choose a home page: type the address in the address bar

Tweak Vista: Explorer, Defender, Desktop and Start menu, Default profile

2008-01-20T11:12:00.001Z

Explorer settingsStart > control panel > classic view (left pane) > Folder optionsIn the View tab check "always show menus" (so you can access these options from Explorer), "show hidden files and folders", "launch folder windows in a separate process" and "use checkboxes to select items" and uncheck "hide extensions for known file types" and "hide protected operating system files". "hide

Install and configure Windows Vista

2008-01-14T08:54:00.001Z

1. SetupDo not enter a serial number at this stage.When you are prompted to create a user, press Ctrl + Shift + F3 instead. This will take you to the desktop logged as the built-in Administrator. Windows Welcome will open, remove the checkmark besides "start with windows" and close it. Also close the Sysprep window. The Sysprep window will be opened each time you reboot. OBS! Because Oobe has

How to configure a reference PC that once imaged can be deployed to multiple PCs

2008-01-06T13:14:00.000Z

OverviewRequirements• An x86 or x64 based computer running Windows XP SP2, Windows Vista, or Windows Server 2003 SP1 operating system. This will be the machine where WAIK gets installed and various files created.• A PC where windows Vista is to be installed. Can be a virtual machine. Should have internet/network connectivity, preferably wired. This will be the reference PC• CD/DVD burner and CD/

Install Windows Vista (any edition) – Is it a good idea?

2007-09-09T12:34:00.001+01:00

My definition of a successful clean install:Accomplished within the minimum possible timeAll devices workAll software installs and worksNo loss of personal dataAll maintenance tasks are automaticSystem optimized for best performanceReinstalls will require a fraction of the initial amount of timeSeveral scenarios are possible, depending on your specific needs:Install Vista and start using it as it

Core Vista experience-for business users

2007-09-03T13:40:00.001+01:00

XPS Document support: the new format pushed by Microsoft. Microsoft XPS is designed as a direct competitor to Adobe PostScript and PDF. Just like PDF, an XPS document is displayed identically on every computer and will represent the "printed page". XPS uses XML to describe the layout of documents and how they should be rendered. It does however suffer from several problems: MS is only providing

Vista Basic vs XP: IT pros

2007-09-01T21:57:00.001+01:00

These are the features Microsoft labelled the "core vista experience". There are quite a few of them, so in this part I will go through those more specifically targeted at IT professionals.Pluggable logon authentication architecture: correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't this something that has been available in Unix systems for years? Anyway, Vista has it. The way I understand it, this feature sits

Vista Premium features

2007-06-04T00:43:00.001+01:00

In one word video: Media center, DVD playback and authoring and themed slideshows are only available in the Premium and Ultimate editions of Windows Vista.Let's look more closely at these features:Windows media centerI confess that I am not into this entire media on your PC stuff. I don't even own an Xbox. I watch DVDs and TV shows on a 30" HDTV connected to a DVD with integrated HD and to a high

The case against Vista Ultimate and Business editions

2007-05-28T11:20:00.001+01:00

Two last features are only available in these editions of Windows Vista: support for 2 CPU's (two sockets) and support for more than 16GB of memory. In the context of a home user, the two should prove totally irrelevant.Let's recap:Bitlocker, Multilanguage support and native support for Unix based applications are the only bits that are exclusive to the Ultimate version. Of course Microsoft

Features not available in Vista Premium: for business users

2007-05-20T01:39:00.000+01:00

Offline folders In the beginning there was the need to access files stored on a network folder even when the network was unavailable. Another compelling reason to use this feature is the fact that not all networks are created equal: some are slow; some have a tendency to crash just before you saved your work. For businesses, this is a must, no question about it. The problem is that more

Features not available in Vista Premium Part 2

2007-04-28T22:07:00.001+01:00

Features not available in Vista Premium IT professionals 2/2Policy-based quality of service for networkingNice little tool that will allow network administrators to prioritize network traffic by application, user, port, source and destination address. The requirements for this to work are:The computers involved are running Windows Vista or Windows Server "Longhorn".The computers involved are

Vista features: new features/ modified XP features

2007-04-09T21:15:00.001+01:00

Per Microsoft's classification:Black text: features for home usersBlue text: features for IT prosWhite text: features for business usersYellow test: features for allFeatures basic premium business ultimate Application Compatibility features Yes Yes YesYes File-based image format (WIM) Yes Yes Yes Yes Pluggable logon authentication architecture Yes Yes Yes Yes Universal game controller support Yes

Features not available in Vista Premium

2007-04-01T17:43:00.001+01:00

Part 1a: for IT professionalsControl over installation of device driversDesktop deployment tools for managed networksEncrypting File System Network Access Protection Client AgentPolicy-based quality of service for networkingSystem image–based backup and recoveryWindows Rights Management Services (RMS) ClientControl over installation of device driversAllows administrators to create special rules

Ultimate only features

2007-03-01T10:52:00.001Z

Out of a list of 101 features from the different Vista editions, there are only 4 that can only be found in Ultimate (all four are also available in the Enterprise edition, but that one is only available to enterprises with a special agreement with Microsoft)Windows BitLocker Drive encryption.Support for simultaneous installation of multiple user interface languagesAll worldwide user interface