NBR Vista Tips and Tweaks Guide

But then what of the files that are added, changed or deleted? The indexing would not be updated to reflect those. For me selective indexing is what I suggest. I specify only certain directories to be indexed. The MyDocuments folder is the only thing worth indexing for me, but then I am VERY careful to be sure all data is stored there. If I do need to search anywhere else, latter, I just tell search to look in non-indexed areas and let it take a bit longer.

Gary

 

The only bad side affect is that if you need to boot from a CD or DVD latter, you have to change the boot sequence first. I don't think there is much appreciable difference in boot time though. But I have to say I have NOT tried to time the difference.

Gary

 

I have tried a search for the answer but didn't come up with it unfortunately. I ran TuneXP and it cut down bootup times to around 35-40 seconds I wanted to ask whether using a defragger like PerfectDisk afterwards will screw up the TuneXP fast-boot file settings ? I assume it will, but just wanted to ask you guys as well. Cheers.

 

It MIGHT, not likely but it might. But you can safely run the TuneXP tweak again if you want, or need.

Gary

 

Thanks. I just tried defrag with PerfectDisk and then rebooted. Same boot-up time as before, so all's well.

 

Well i may not know what you guys are talking about now but for a defrag program i suggest auslogics disk defrag. Try that. I don't know if it reorganizes your boot files like Gary wants it to but it'll help out none the less.

 

Does anyone know what the RO*.bac, RO*.tmp.log1 and RO*.tmp.log2 files are in the system32 folder ? Those total a huge 2,33Gb ! Must have something to do with Vista OS, right ? Not a good idea to delete I guess. Or...?

 

i don't get it.. my computer takes about 45-50 seconds to start up after tweeking.. what else could it be slowing it down??...

my gf's 800 dollar hp starts up in like 40 seconds... :S and i have much better specs then her in every area.

i do have ALOT more programs instealld then her and more sidebar gadgets...

but she has about 15-20 more processes then me in startup. :s

 

Ive been slowly getting through the tweaks and having a problem with tune xp.

i have downloaded it and when i start the program a little box comes up ad says

"Failed to get data for start"

it still lets me get into the program and run it but not actually sure if its working, has anyone else experienced this problem or know how to fix it?

 

Never had that problem at all.

 

I've get the same error message, but the app starts and seems to work.

 

The error doesnt matter. Simply ignore the error and close it. Just run the fast boot option on the program and then open up task manager in windows. Shortly after, you will see a process (in the processes tab of task manager) called defrag.exe and another one called DfrgNtfs.exe. Just wait until these two disappear from the task manager processes list and then reboot.

 

I'm sorry if this has been mentioned before, but there is a Vista Battery Saver alternative called Aerofoil. Just thought that I'd throw it out there

 

It doesn't seem to turn off the sidebar gadgets. I have noticed that there is a significant difference in power consumption with and respectively without the gadgets.

I would still recommend Vista Battery Saver, and turn off both Aero and Gadgets on battery.

 

Maybe its been done already, maybe not, but is there any way possible to have the Start Menu open up with "All Programs" already maximized?

 

I don't think so JAPPLER. At least not to my knowledge.

 

And that stretches for all of...20 feet. LMAO! Couldn't resist Cal!!

 

I see how it is. :twitcy:

 

It won't take 20 feet if your Programs menu is properly organized...

 

I would like to have programs as a menu item in the startmenu, with subdirs sliding open on the right.

 

Then, turn off the fancy Start menu UI, and use the classic start menu. Properties on the taskbar (just like in WinXP).

 

I want the best of both worlds

 

I want XP start menu back *cries*. lol

 

Well you shouldn't have bought vista then.

 

who buys vista? ...its been forced into market....all new laptops come loaded with vista....and u really dont feel like uninstalling something without trying it out....


The Startmenu is really ineffecient....the XP start menu was easier to use ....Microsoft should NEVER innovate..they are better at copying..

 

You Should add this If you want to Limit the amount of System restore storage Space!!!! Its really practical!!!

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Ok. if you want to control the amount of disk space that the System Restore uses, follow these steps:

1) Logon as Administrator or Go to Start>>All Programs>>Accesories>> and right click on Command Prompt and choose "Run as Administrator" when the User Account Control windows appear click on continue.
2) When you're at the Command Prompt window type: vssadmin resize shadowstorage /For=C: /On=C: /MaxSize:8GB (what I recommend). In the MaxSize option the least you can set is 300MB, if you leave it blank it will set no limit for the storages (as you have now). Don't for get to use the initials MB for Mega Bytes or GB for Giga Bytes at the end of the amount you want to set (e.g. 2GB or 500MB).


Found it on these forums... really practical!!!!

 

Why in the world will one want to go backwards in technology? In another 3-5 years will windows xp will be a memory. I accept with you that the vista start menu UI is not the best out there.

 

Just use the Windows Classic theme and all your pains will be gone. Or like I said before just enable the classic start menu and keep the rest of the silly interface.

Why in the world will one want to go "forward" (as in "newer") technology if it has no advantages? In any amount of years, XP will still perform better than Vista on the same applications. Of course, in a few years XP will be a memory because noone will be able to buy it anymore, no machine will come with it preinstalled, and 50% of the applications will lose XP support.

A great amount of software updates (certainly above 50%) serve no real need of the user; they only serve the need for money of the software producer. Furthermore, they produce the need for new hardware because the old hardware will not run the updated, bloated software anymore. The new hardware requires new drivers, and maybe just as well a newer OS which installs those drivers by default.

And everybody's happy. Money go around for no real purpose besides keeping the consumerist economy running smoothly

But this is not the thread to discuss these things...

 

That happens when the hardware differs from one PC to the next. Different parts have different POST tests, which can take significantly longer. Make sure you've checked your BIOS and disabled any "boot from CD" or "boot from floppy" options, and set your Windows hard-drive to be the primary boot.

Apart from that, just nuke all your programs from the startup except for the important stuff (anti-virus/firewall) and start them manually when you need them instead.

 

Dual boot for 8 months now. Never use Vista, and hopefully will never have to.

 

Why don't you just give vista a try? It's good once you get to use it for a while. It grows on you.

 

For some reason whenever i press the power button and put my computer to sleep, when i try and press it again to 'wake it up' nothing happens. The blue lights turn on but the screen still remains off. Anyone else had this or know how to help me fix it. I hate the idea of having the do a restart by holding the power button down when it doesnt come back on

 

This apparently occurs in some systems although i have never seen it myself. There are video drivers at laptopvideo2go.com that state that they are a fix for this problem. You may have to check on the specific versions until you find the one that addresses the issue.

I speak of this in my tweak with respect to video drivers in the article below.

 

Hey Davidt1, knock yourself out! For me, after 6 or so years of XP, I would have moved on to just about anything. But Vista does grow on a person, in my case anyway.

 

BTW Flamenko I just wanted to say that this has evolved into a great guide. I remember when you were first creating this.. it has come a long way since then. I often check back for new tweaks/tips/etc on the front page, but also in the discussion because many people have good ideas. Thanks for keeping the guide current, it's really great and useful to many.

 

Thanks crash....appreciated!!!

 

You're welcome.

I liked when you included a "last updated" line at the top of the guide. It was useful in determining if something has been added/changed since I last checked without have to scroll all the way down to the bottom of the post. Perhaps you could add it back on?

 

If I could find others at the quality of these and also, at the level of the average person that uses this thread, I may throw them in...

 

Flamenko, i found it! Thank you!

 

I second the return of the last updated. It was very useful indeed.

 

Do these tweaks apply to SSD's as well, or just HDD's?

 

SSDs as well... My testing is mainly ssds but backed up by others with HDs.

 

Oh okay then. Too bad I have to wait two weeks before I get my hands on my m1330 to implement the tweaks.......

 

I third the return of the last updated line. That's how I knew if anything new was added.

 

I fourth it.

 

I definitely would like that also.

 

Heh, a lot of people want to see it return Flamenko. Why don't you put it back? It couldn't hurt.

 

I don't think this has been posted in these forums, as I asked about it yesterday and didn't get this particular suggestion; however, as several users of Vista and the generic SigmaTel Dell soundcard have been finding, no matter what speakers or headphones are installed, they tend to crackle, particualry whilst surfing the internet (making youtubing a far less enjoyable experience, per exempla).

Not guarenteeing that this will work, but what I have done (after a little bit of looking around) is:

Control Panel-------> Device Manager------> Double click wireless card-------> "advanced" tab------> "disable bands" (from the drag down menu)--------> "disable 'a' band" (from the drag down menu on the right)

I haven't noticed any bad side effects as of yet (been using this for a couple of hours), and I have yet to hear a crackle; granted, this is no panacea (as Dell will have to eventually release a driver for this bloody sound card), but it seems like a good temporary fix for now.

 

hmmm interesting. why would turning off one of the wireless frequencies have any effect on sound?

i had a jetway motherboard that crackled and hummed though the speakers (VERY noticable when moving the mouse around), and nothing i did could change that, the system didn't even have wireless.

 

Useful tip if you use Intel Turbo Memory

To turn Advanced Write Caching (that you can not turn on in Device Manager due to Intel Matrix Storage AHCI driver used)

Add a DWORD value CaEnableAdvPerf equal to 1 in the HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\IaNvStor\Parameters

You will see noticeable perf increase on random disk writes (and since notebooks already battery-backed, no big worries about data loss).

Lifted directly from official sources - http://downloadmirror.intel.com/13805/ENG/ReleaseNotes.pdf

Also you may want to at least try to disable ReadyBoost in the ITM Console. Its not of very good implementation - try to disable it, for me it gave me tremendous boost on next reboot. Leave ReadyDrive on though.