Windows Vista updates and the importance of updates

NEW! Windows Vista Service pack 1
read more about it at the end of this page.

Windows Vista is the best secured Windows version until now. But even tough your computer is never safe for 100%.
Therefore you should enable all the security functions in Vista. And you should also install the available security patches at any time.

Automatic updates
Some people don't dare to install Windows Vista updates because they are affraid that something goes wrong. It can be that something goes wrong after an update but the chance that this will happen is very small. But the security risk is even much higher if you don't install the updates.

It is very important to install the automatic updates for the security of your computer. Many harmful software like viruses and worms, misuse the software bugs.

How to enable Automatic Updates?
It is recommended to use Automatic Updates to download the Windows Vista updates. If the function for Automatic Updates is enabled, then new security updates will be installed automatically to protect your computer better. To check if this function is enabled you open the Security Center which can be found in the Control Panel.


If 'Automatic updating' has the green color and it says 'On' then the automatic updates will be downloaded and installed automatically.
If the function for automatic updates is disabled, we strongly recommend to change the settings.

Sometimes there are also optional updates available, for example for new versions of drivers. These Windows Vista updates have no influance on the security of your computer and therefore these updates are optional updates.


In the screen you see above you see that not every setting is green or 'Ok'. This is because the 'Other security settings' (which is red in the screen above) contain the 'User Account Control' setting. Read more about the User Account Control and understand why this can be red instead of green.

Manage optional updates
If you want to download and install the Windows Vista updates with the optional updates or if you want to change the settings of Windows Update, you open the Windows Update screen.
To open the Windows Update screen click Start -> Control Panel -> Windows Update.

Then you see the next screen.


If there are optional updates available, you click on 'View available updates'. The available updates will be sorted in a list with a checkbox on each update.

There are three options to choose here:

1. mark the checkbox if you want to install the update.
2. If you want to hide the update so it will not be showed here anymore in the future, until this screen will be opened again.
You can hide the update by clicking the right mouse button on the update and select 'Hide update'.
3. If you want more information about this update before making the decision to install it or not, you click the right mouse button on the update and select 'View details'.

If you have marked the update(s) to be downloaded and installed, you click the 'Install' button and follow the instructions on the screen.

Change update settings
If you want to change the way install the Windows Vista updates, you click on 'Change Settings' in the left pane in the Windows Update screen to change the settings for automatic updates. Then another screen appears with settings.



In this screen you see the recommended settings. Now Vista will check every day if there are updates available.

If the computer is powered off during the time you set here on the left, then Vista will check for updates as soon the computer is powered on and has an internet connection.

If you don't want to let Vista download and install the updates automatically, you can choose another option which you can see in this screen. You simply click on the option you prefer and click Ok.

Show updates and uninstall updates
Because Microsoft cannot test every update in combination with every device, it can be that there is a conflict after installing an update. A solution for a problem can often be found on the website of that device.
If you can't find the solution on the website of that device but you still want to use that device, you can uninstall the update which caused the conflict.

To uninstall the update go to the Windows Update screen and click 'View update history' in the left pane to get an overview of the installed updates. If you want to uninstall an update you click in the 'Update History' overview screen on the link 'Installed Updates'.

In the screen that now appears you select the update you want to uninstall and you click the 'Uninstall' button.

How to Uninstall windows vista on a multiboot system?

1. Boot into other Windows version. Suppose you have Windows XP installed along with Windows Vista, then boot into Windows XP.

2. Insert your Windows Vista Setup DVD in your DVD drive. Click on "Start button -> All Programs -> Accessories". Right-click on "Command Prompt" and select "Run As Administrator". If you are prompted to enter password, enter the password and continue. You can also open Command Prompt in Administrator mode by typing "cmd" in Startmenu Search box and press "Ctrl+Shift+Enter".

3. Now provide following command: [DVD_drive_letter]:\boot\bootsect.exe /nt52 ALL /force and then press Enter. Suppose your DVD drive letter is F:, then provide following command:

F:\boot\bootsect.exe /nt52 ALL /force

4. Eject the Setup DVD and restart the system. Now your system will start in Windows XP automatically.

5. Now you can safely delete Windows Vista folders to reclaim the disk space:
Program Files
Users
Windows

You can format the whole partition too if its not the boot partition.e.g. if your Windows Vista was installed on a partition other than C:, then you can safely format that partition but if it was installed on C: drive, then don't format it. Just manually delete the above mentioned folders.

How to install Windows Vista/7 using bootable USB storage device

Requires:
- Windows Vista/7 DVD 0r installation source (setup backup files)
- A 4GB USB 2.0 Storage device (Its recommeded to use USB 2.0 device for optimal performance)

* Plug your USB storage device.
* Run CMD and execute the following commands one by one.
* Diskpart

Run Disk parition utility

* List disk

To get disk index that is used to pefrom disk paritioning.

* Select disk 1

Selects disk to pefrom disk paritioning.

* Clean

Flush your existing all USB drive's partitions.

* Create parition primary

Creates a parition as primary parition.

* Format recommeded

Format your USB drive w/ recommeded parameters. (No need to worry about file system format)

* Active

Set the parition as active to hold bootmgr.

* Exit

To quit Diskpart utlity
Now copy all Windows Vista/7 files to USB storage device... thats all.

* Boot your PC w/ it, you can install Windows Vista/7 via bootable USB storage device.

Note: If you face any trouble to boot w/ it or unable to boot, try this

FIX.

I:\Boot\Bootsect.exe /NT60 I: Where I: is the drive letter of USB storage device

Set the Run option in the Windows Vista Start menu

The Run option in the menu of Windows XP is a handy way to access various features of the operating system. Windows Vista Versions do not have that option because it have a search box on the Start menu, where you just enter the name of the desired option or for the results to appear.

In general, the option to search in Windows Vista is more practical, but it does not record a history of words, terms and commands searched. Therefore, many users do not like to use the menu of modern and sophisticated operating system from Microsoft.

The good news is that you can add a much desired option Run in the Start menu of Windows Vista and best of all is that you will not need to change registration or administrative settings. Follow the instructions below and see how easy it is.

1) Clicking the right mouse button over the symbol of the Start menu, choose "Properties."



2) In the properties window that opens, go to the "Start Menu" and click "Customize ...".

3) Now just check the option "Run Command" to implement the changes made, click "OK" and on "Apply" then



4) There, the Run command is within reach of your mouse.

If you from some reason need to remove this Run command from start menu simply repeat above steps but at the last step you have to uncheck file "Run Command".

How to disable unnecessary features in Windows Vista

Windows Vista is automatically installed with many features, not always useful for the use of your computer. You can optimize your system and win a few seconds to start disabling the functionality you're not using. Here is how:

1. Click the Start button and then click Control Panel.

2. Click on the Programs icon.

3. Then click the Enable or disable Windows features of the Programs and Features heading.

4. Click the Continue button.

5. The list of features of the system is displayed. Uncheck the boxes just before the features you do not and you want to disable. For example, you can uncheck the box in front of optional components for Tablet PC if you do not have a Tablet PC, before games if you do not use Windows games before DFS Replication Service Windows if you do not need to synchronize files between multiple computers, etc..

6. Finally, click on the OK button at any time you can re-checking features and return them in their previous state.

How to make screenshot quick and easy in Vista?

Vista has a great tool to make screenshots very easily. This tool is called the 'Snipping tool'.
Using this tool you can make screenshots of your screen or a selection of it very easily.

This tool can be found at:

* Start
* Programs
* Accessories
* Snipping Tool

Using this tool you can make screenshots in several ways, for example you can make a:

* Free-form snip
* Rectangular snip
* Window snip
* Full screen snip

Below you find a screenshot I made using the 'free-form snip'. So if you need to make a screenshot of something on your screen you can use this tool for it.

How to disable Windows Vista User Account Control ?

This new security tool called 'Windows Vista User Account Control' is meant to keep your computer
safe and clean of viruses that's one thing which is very important for your computer. But you don't want to get bothered with annoying warnings from Windows Vista each time you install a program or when you make a change in Vista's settings.

Without any doubt is Vista's most irritating tool this User Account Control (UAC). The User Account Control takes care that Windows asks permission to several system sources over and over again. I have to admit that this standard setting helps you to keep your computer clean, but do you really want to give permission for every small setting change, like changing the Windows' standard font?

I think your answer is NO!

Fortunately there is an easy way to disable the User Account Control. You can disable the UAC by clicking:

* Start
* (Settings)
* Control Panel
* User Accounts

The next screen is shown:



In this screen you see the option 'Turn User Account Control on or off'.
By clicking this option the next screen is shown:



Here you simply remove the '√' from the checkbox to disable the UAC tool. After clicking the 'Ok' button you will be asked to restart your computer the activate your changes. After your computer is restarted you won't be bothered anymore by the UAC.

If you want to enable the User Account Control again, you simply repeat the above and you place back the '√' in the checkbox and click 'Ok'. After restarting your computer the UAC is activated again to help you protect your computer better.

Shrink a partition in windows vista

Step 1:
Click with your right mouse button on 'Computer' and then click 'manage'.
The next screen is shown.



In this screen you click in the left pane on 'Disk Management' below 'Storage'.
Then the next screen is shown.



Now you see all your partitions which you have created. To shrink a partition you simple right click on the partition and in the menu which appears you click 'Shrink Volume'.
The next screen is then shown.



Here you can enter the amount of space to shrink in MB.

If there is empty space available behind the partition there is also the possibility to extend the the partition using the option 'Extend Volume'.
There one thing you can not do. You can not move a partition or extend it with an empty space which is in front of a partition.

The Power User's Guide to the Windows 7 Taskbar

The Power User's Guide to the Windows 7 Taskbar


It seems like every week we learn about a new tip to enhance the Windows 7 taskbar, and it's hard to keep them all straight. Here's the complete power user's guide to tweaking and using your taskbar like a pro.

Learn to Use the Taskbar Like a Pro



Before you even get started trying to tweak your taskbar, you should make sure that you understand how to use all of the features, and there might be more than you think—check out our complete guide to Windows 7 shortcuts to learn useful basic maneuvers, like how you can hold down the Ctrl key while left-clicking to cycle through a group of taskbar buttons, or hold down Shift while right-clicking to show the regular window menu. Here's the full list of Taskbar-specific shortcuts:

•Win+number (1-9): Starts the application pinned to the taskbar in that position, or switches to that program.
•Shift+Win+number (1-9): Starts a new instance of the application pinned to the taskbar in that position.
•Ctrl+Win+number (1-9): Cycles through open windows for the application pinned to the taskbar in that position.
•Alt+Win+number (1-9): Opens the Jump List for the application pinned to the taskbar.
•Win+T: Focus and scroll through items on the taskbar.
•Win+B: Focuses the System Tray icons.
•Drag+Drop taskbar buttons or System Tray icons: to reorganize them.
•Shift+Click on a taskbar button: Open a program or quickly open another instance of a program.
•Ctrl+Shift+Click on a taskbar button: Open a program as an administrator.
•Shift+Right-click on a taskbar button: Show the window menu for the program (like XP does).
•Shift+Right-click on a grouped taskbar button: Show the window menu for the group.
•Ctrl+Click on a grouped taskbar button: Cycle through the windows of the group.
•Drag a File to a taskbar button: to pin the file to the current application's Jump List.
•Shift+Drag a File to a taskbar button: to open a file with the current application.
•Middle-Click on a taskbar button: to open a new instance of the application.
•Middle-Click on a Aero Thumbnail: to close that application instance.
•Left-Click + Drag upwards: to open the Jump List for an application.

Once you've mastered the shortcut keys and mouse tricks, or at least those you'll actually use, it's time to learn how to fully use Windows 7's Jump Lists, from tweaking the number of items shown to pinning document templates and quickly accessing private browsing modes.

Tweak Your Taskbar Settings




Now that you fully understand all of the tips and tricks to using the built-in features, it's time to tweak the taskbar to work just the way you want it to-for instance, if you don't want taskbar buttons pulling up the Aero Peek thumbnails every time, there's a registry hack that can change the default left-clicking behavior to switch to the last active window instead.




Rather than dealing with messy registry hacks, the 7 Taskbar Tweaker customization tool gives you fine-grained control over what happens when you left, middle, or right-click on taskbar buttons, and even customizes window grouping and whether dragging to the taskbar pins items or opens them. If the new Aero Peek doesn't work quite the way you want, you can use a registry hack to make Aero Peek display instantly, or just use the Desktop Peek Tweak tool to make the changes more easily.



If the look and feel is what you want to change, you can check out AeroWorks to re-skin your Windows 7 taskbar without patching anything, or use the Windows 7 Start Button Changer to change that orb to something that fits your mood a little better. You can use the Windows 7 Taskbar Thumbnail Customizer to tweak the size and spacing of the thumbnail windows that show up when you hover your mouse over a taskbar button. You can even get the old-style network activity icon back in the system tray if you really want it.

Pin Anything to Your Taskbar




So you've mastered the taskbar, tweaked the settings just the way you want, and it's time to pin all of your favorite applications to the taskbar, but there's just one problem: Windows doesn't let you pin just anything. No worries, however, because you can use a trick to not only pin individual folders to the taskbar, but actually pin any item. If you really want to tweak your system, you can use transparent shortcuts to separate and organize your taskbar icons, or add a fully functional recycle bin.



Once you've pinned an application to the taskbar, there's a simple trick to customizing it that might not be immediately obvious—just pop up the Jump List, and then right-click on the application name to get to the real properties screen, where you can add extra command-line parameters, or set the compatibility mode.

Enhance the Taskbar's Application Launching




The windows 7 taskbar combines window management with an application launcher, since you can right-click on any item and pin it to the taskbar, but that's not nearly enough for a power user. We've already told you how you can boost your productivity with Jump Lists, and that starts with using some more powerful application launchers that enhance your taskbar experience-Jumplist Launcher consolidates applications into a single button, while JumpLaunch turns your Quick Launch folder into a Jump List.
If you like some minimal eye candy for your taskbar, check out the slick 7 Stacks utility, or use Standalone Stack to not only launch applications, but browse through your file system with popup navigation that can be pinned to your taskbar. Of course, you aren't limited to launching applications, since you can also close all windows from the taskbar.




Monitor Your System with Add-ons



There's any number of desktop widgets that can show you the weather or monitor your system, but they all have the same problem-if you've got a window maximized, you won't be able to see anything. You can get around this problem by simply docking an application to the taskbar that gives you your system monitoring right there in the taskbar button itself.
If weather is your thing, check out how Weatherbar integrates weather forecasts directly into the taskbar, or you can use SuperbarMonitor to add drive space, battery life, and memory or CPU usage into separate buttons on the taskbar. If monitoring the web is more your thing, you can integrate a taskbar RSS reader, or put Gmail notifications into a taskbar button.


Virtual desktop application Dexpot is not only a powerful virtual desktop manager, but the latest version includes full support for Windows 7's Aero Peek thumbnails—you can pin the application to the taskbar, and use the thumbnails to easily navigate between multiple virtual desktops.


Revert the Whole Thing Back to XP/Vista Style



If the new taskbar with all of the great functionality just isn't your thing, you can actually revert everything back to work almost the same as it did back on the Windows XP or Vista days.

One of the first things most Windows 7 adopters ask is how to get the Quick Launch back, and luckily there's an easy trick to add the Quick Launch bar back—just add a new toolbar with %appdata%\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch as the folder location. You can also head into the taskbar settings and tweak the whole thing to look just like older versions of Windows. Of course, if you really hate the taskbar, there's always the option of using Taskbar Eliminator to ditch the taskbar entirely.

One-click To Add Elevated Command Prompt Shortcut In Right-click Menu

Start from Windows Vista to Windows 7, a user created Windows account of Administrator group doesn’t explicitly running program with true administrator privilege, unless using the system defined administrator account.

Thus, when you hold down the SHIFT key followed by right click a folder to select “Open command window here” doesn’t execute CMD.exe with elevated privilege.

To fix this nuisance, you can either log in with the system defined administrator account or apply a simple Registry hack that add an elevated Command Prompt shortcut in right-click context menu.

One-click Registry hack to add true administrator Command Prompt shortcut in right-click context menu

This Registry hack is applicable to Windows Vista and Windows 7, both x32/64-bit.

Download and extract the ElevatedCmd.zip, verify the file checksum (given at below), double click ElevatedCmd.reg to proceed:

[ md5 checksum (.zip): e94fc460bf480265670330203cb0c3cc ]
[ md5 checksum (.reg): 8a76ef862374e65bc9229ad6c32a58fe ]
(You might interested in HashCheck that integrate MD5 file checksum function in right-click menu)

You will be asked by User Account Control to allow ElevatedCmd.reg makes change in your computer followed by Registry Editor warning message:



If you trust me, just click OK/Yes to apply the hack on Windows Vista, Windows 7 or higher.

Explorer Closes with Error Message – Solution:

When i open computer ,one error message comes with only close message to click which is about explorer,and when i click on it disappears and my computer doesn't work. Nothing opens, just a desktop background,nothing works,please give me help, I can't format because I have important files in C drive in which I have windows installed.

Lets dig it. More precisely, lets put it this way:

When you start your Windows XP-based computer, you may receive the following error message:

Explorer has encountered an error and needs to close. We are sorry for the inconvenience.
Also, you may not be able to open folders, such as the My Documents folder or the My Computer folder.

Cause
This problem may be caused by Qcbar.dll, a program that adds adult Web site links to the Internet Explorer Favorites menu.
Solution

Tips: When everything disappears, try hitting Ctrl+Alt+Delete at keyboard. Windows Task Manager will appear. Click at the New Task button. Type there explorer. Hit Ok. See if explorer opens for you. You can choose command to open any application from another post which is 99 commands for windows.

Some commands you may try are as:

Add/Remove Programs command is appwiz.cpl
Command Prompt cmd
Computer Management compmgmt.msc
Network Connections control netconnections
Network Connections ncpa.cpl
Registry Editor regedit
Registry Editor regedit32
My recommendations are to disable internet connection before you start computer and open task manager and then view processes and delete any process you find suspicious. Then try above add or remove command there. Remove any malicious program if installed. If the problem remains, then proceed to the steps mentioned below.
To resolve this problem use one of the following methods.

Method 1
Remove the Link from Your Favorites Folder in Internet Explorer.
To do so, start Internet Explorer, and then click Uninstall on the Adult Links menu in the Favorites folder.

Method 2
Manually Delete the Qcbar Program Files.
This section, method, or task contains steps that tell you how to modify the registry. However, serious problems might occur if you modify the registry incorrectly. Therefore, make sure that you follow these steps carefully. For added protection, back up the registry before you modify it. Then, you can restore the registry if a problem occurs.
To do this, follow these steps:
• Click Start, and then click Run.
• Type regedit in the Open box, and then click OK.
• Delete each of the following registry entries. To do this, right-click each registry entry below, click Delete, and then click Yes.
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTAllch.IEObj
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTAllch.IEObj.1
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTCLSID{765E6B09-6832-4738-BDBE-25F226BA2AB0}
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTCLSID{D6FC35D1-04AB-4D40-94CF-2E5AE4D0F8D2}
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTInterface{ED7D1356-F7C2-4A27-A87C-C0DFEB3A628F}
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTInterface{242CA913-1637-4F74-9729-EA349AF3ECAC}
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTQcBar
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTQcBar.1
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTTypeLib{C02EE3A0-1881-419F-A5ED-737223463292}
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTTypeLib{60381D4B-8129-449A-A5F2-5417AD0571CC}
HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareQcBar
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftCode Store DatabaseDistribution Units{765E6B09-6832-4738-BDBE-25F226BA2AB0}
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftInternet ExplorerToolbar{765E6B09-6832-4738-BDBE-25F226BA2AB0}
• Shut down, and then restart your computer.
• Manually delete the Qcbar program files. To do this, follow these steps:
Click Start, and then click Run.
Type cmd in the Open box.
Switch to the C:Documents and SettingsUserNameStart MenuProgramsAccessories folder, and then type the following commands:
del "%WinDir%Downloaded Program Filesallch.dll"
del "%WinDir%Downloaded Program FilesQcBar.dll"
• In the Internet Explorer Favorites folder, delete the Adult Links folder, delete the AdultSearch folder, and then delete the Sports folder.
• Delete the Adult Links Daily shortcut from the Desktop menu and from the Start menu.
Hope it helps.
If all fails, remove hard disk, approach any computer nerd friend, tell him to boot this hard with his PC, secure your files from C and reinstall windows.
If you have any other computer related problem, you can use TechMynd contact page to ask the solution to your PC related problems.