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Windows Vista
optimization tips, performance tweaks and registry hacks.
Note:
neither we nor Microsoft vouch for any of the tweaks or hacks. As always,
you are advised to use your own discretion and apply them at your own
risk.
Enable
Auto-Logon in Windows Vista (Warning: Security Risk)
a)
click Start and type 'netplwiz' or click that name on the Start menu
b) in the GUI window that comes up, uncheck the "Users must enter a
username and password to use this computer" box
c) click 'Apply'
d) in the new dialog box that opens type the name of the account you want
to auto-logon by default (if the account is not normally passworded then
it blank)
e) click OK and exit
Remove
ToolTips From Showing When You Mouse Over Something
a)
start > run = "regedit"
b) HKEY_CURRENT_USER > Software > Microsoft > Windows >
CurrentVersion > Explorer > Advanced
c) set "ShowInfoTip"=dword:00000000
d) exit and reboot
Remove
Splash Screen in Windows Mail
a)
start > run = "regedit"
b) HKEY_CURRENT_USER > Software > Microsoft > Windows Mail
c) set "NoSplash"=dword:00000001
d) exit and restart
Delete
Hibernate File
When
you use hibernate in Windows Vista, it creates a file called hiberfil.sys.
This file can grow rather large and you may want to remove it. A simple
way to delete it:
a) log on as the Administrator
b) start Command Prompt then type: powercfg -h off
c) hit enter
Start
Windows Explorer at a C:\ Drive Instead of Documents
a)
create a shortcut to Explorer.exe on your desktop
b) right click on the shortcut and choose 'Properties' and click on
the 'Shortcut' tab
c) you will see the default '%SystemRoot%\explorer.exe' in the 'Target:'
field
d) change the value to: C:\WINDOWS\explorer.exe /n, /e, c:\
e) click OK and exit
Getting
Rid of Arrows on Shortcuts
a)
start > run = "regedit"
b) HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT > lnkfile
c) rename 'IsShortcut' to 'AriochIsShortcut' in the right pane
d) close regedit and reboot
Show
Administrator on Welcome Screen
a)
start > run = "control userpasswords2"
b) select administrator account, click reset password (input new pass) and
hit "Ok"
c) start > run = "regedit"
d) HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE > SOFTWARE > Microsoft > Windows NT >
CurrentVersion > Winlogon > SpecialAccounts > UserList
e) create "DWORD (32bit) Value" with Value Name: Administrator
and Value Data: 1
Disable
User Access Protection (UAP)
a)
while logged in with admin rights
b) press the key combo Win+R (the "Run command" box comes up)
c) run "msconfig"
d) go to the "Tools" tab
e) scroll down to "disable UAP" and click the
"launch" button below
f) it will execute a command & leave behind a CMD window, exit that,
reboot Vista
Enabling
Additional Avalon Effects
Once
you have Aero turned on, you can enable additional transition effects.
Follow the steps below to add some additional desktop and explorer
effects:
a) open regedit.
b) HKEY_Local_Machine > Software > Microsoft > Windows >
Current Version > Explorer
c) create a new DWORD and call it MILDesktop.
d) set the value of MILDesktop to 1
e) create a new DWORD and call it MILExplorer
f) set the value of MILExplorer to 1
g) exit and restart
Enable
Glass Without a Supported Graphic Card
a) add an entry to the registery by downloading and clicking on this file.
Turn
on File Extensions
a) go
to any folder, e.g. Documents
b) Layout > Show Classic Menus
c) Tools > Folder Options > View Tab
d) Untick "Hide Extensions of Known File Types"
e) close, return to Layout and put it back as it was
Enable Sidebar in Windows
Vista
a) go to Program Files/Windows Sidebar/sidebar.exe
Top 10 Tweaks for Windows
Vista RC2 (source: ZDNET Blog)
- Add
an elevated command prompt
- Get
an expanded shortcut menu
- Make
the text easier to read
- Snip
a screenshot
- Get
a quick system checkup
- Pump
up the volume
- Master
the Quick Launch bar
- Make
the blinking cursor easier to see
- Make
the security center go away
- Use
the mobility center on a notebook
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