Vista Tips

Opening CHM Files – Added 6/7/09
Changing the Registered Owner and Registered Organization – Added 1/11/09
Fixing the Boot Record – Added 1/9/09
Changing the OEM Information – Added 1/9/09
Using the Windows Explorer Favorites Links – Added 6/13/08
Getting More Information from Programs and Features – Added 6/13/08
Showing Super Hidden Files – Added 6/13/08
Cleanup Files After Upgrading to SP1 – Added 6/13/08
Fixing Corrupted TCP/IP Files – Added 6/13/08
Repairing a Corrupted Winsock Registry Entry – Added 6/13/08
Searching a Folder – Added 3/28/08
Turning Off Vista’s Built-In CD Burning – Added 3/28/08
Quick Access to the TEMP Directory – Added 3/28/08
Turning On/Off Thumbnail Preview – Added 3/28/08
Changing the Windows Border Padding – Added 3/28/08
Another Way to Open Command Window Here – Added 3/28/08
Disabling Unneeded Windows Features – Added 1/13/08
Access My Computer (or any Folder) from the Toolbar – Added 1/13/08
Organizing File Display into Stacks – Added 1/13/08
Organizing File Display into Groups – Added 1/13/08
Reliability and Performance Monitor – Added 1/13/08
Changing the Size of the Details Pane – Added 1/13/08
Shutdown Icon is Missing – Added 1/12/08
Changing the Location of the Documents Folder – Added 1/12/08
Quick Access to Programs in the Quick Launch Bar – Added 9/15/07
Easy Access to Clock / Calendar – Added 9/15/07
Displaying a Checkbox For Selecting Files and Directories – Added 9/15/07
Flip3D Task Switching – Added 3/24/07
Changing the Desktop Icon Size – Updated 3/24/07
Installing Vista With No Product Key – Added 3/10/07
Changing the Windows Explorer Columns – Added 3/3/07
Initial Configuration Changes – Added 3/1/07
Changing the Folders Vista Includes to Index and Search – Added 2/28/07
Turning Hibernate On or Off – Added 2/21/07
Changing the Action for the Start Menu Power Button – Added 2/21/07
Opening to a Command Prompt from the Explorer – Added 2/17/07
RoboCopy – Added 2/17/07
Showing the Explorer Menu – Added 2/17/07
Viewing Hidden and System Files – Added 2/17/07
Turning on Single Click for Icons– Added 2/17/07
Displaying the Volume Control on the System Tray – Added 2/17/07
Removing the Shortcut Arrows – Added 2/17/07
Vista Opening Links to Another Web Browser Than IE – Added 2/12/07
Allowing Network Access with Blank Passwords – Added 2/8/07
Adding the IE 7 Icon to the desktop – Added 2/8/07
Resizing Partitions – Added 2/7/07
Access Denied to Folders – Added 2/7/07
Using the Snip Tool – Added 2/6/07
Sending a Picture as an E-Mail – Added 2/6/07
Pinning Programs to the Start Menu – Added 2/6/07
GUI Performance – Added 2/6/07
Displaying Run on the Desktop – Added 2/6/07
Displaying Run on the Start Menu – Added 2/6/07
Changing the Sidebar – Added 2/6/07
Services You Can Disable – Added 2/6/07

Opening CHM Files

Added 6/7/09

If you get the error “Navigation to webpage was cancelled” when trying to view a .chm file:

  1. Right click on the File

  2. Select Propertie

  3. Click on the Unblock button

Changing the Registered Owner and Registered Organization

Added 1/11/09

If you want to change the registered owner and organization:

Start Regedit

  1. For 32-bit – Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion

  2. For 64-bit – Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion

  3. From here change the RegisteredOwner and RegisteredOrganization

Fixing the Boot Record
Added 1/9/09

If the boot record need to be repaired

  1. Boot from the Vista installation CD
  2. Although they are likely set correctly, select a language, a time, a currency, a keyboard or an input method, and then click on Next.
  3. Click Repair your computer
  4. Click the operating system, and then click Next.
  5. In System Recovery Options dialog box, click Command Prompt.
  6. At the command prompt, type in  Bootrec with the option you want , and then press the ENTER key.

/FixMbr

The /FixMbr option writes a Windows Vista-compatible MBR to the system partition. This option does not overwrite the existing partition table. Use this option when you must resolve MBR corruption issues, or when you have to remove non-standard code from the MBR.

/FixBoot

The /FixBoot option writes a new boot sector to the system partition by using a boot sector that is compatible with Windows Vista. Use this option if one of the following conditions is true:
The boot sector has been replaced with a non-standard Windows Vista boot sector.
The boot sector is damaged.
An earlier Windows operating system has been installed after Windows Vista was installed. In this scenario, the computer starts by using Windows NT Loader (NTLDR) instead of Windows Boot Manager (Bootmgr.exe).

Typically you would run either bootrec /fixmbr or bootrec /fixboot

Changing the OEM Information
Added 1/9/09

When you right click on My Computer, you can see information for the Manufacturer, Model, Phone Number, Support Hours and Web Site

If you want to change these:

  1. Start Regedit

  2. Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\OEMInformation

  3. From here you can make any of the changes you would like.

Changing My Pictures and My Music
Added 9/26/08

Normally, when you open up the Start Menu, below Documents, is shown My Pictures and My Music

If you want, you can change these to any other locations you may use more frequently.

  1. Start Regedit

  2. Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders

  3. On the right side, change the location for My Pictures and My Music

  4. This new location will now show on the start menu

Using the Windows Explorer Favorites Links
Added 6/13/08

One of the useful features of the Internet Explorer is the Favorite Links section.
It allows you to put shortcuts to your commonly used folders on your hard drive.

  1. Simply start the Explorer

  2. In the upper left hand panel is the Favorite Links section

  3. Simply drag shortcuts from whatever folders you want to this panel

  4. You can even organize them so the most commonly used ones of these are at the top.

Getting More Information from Programs and Features
Added 6/13/08

When you go to the Control Panel’s Programs and Features page, normally you get a view somewhat similar to what was available with XP.
With Vista you can customize the information shown on that page.
For example, normally you only see the Name, Publisher, Installed On, and Size.

  • If you right click on the menu bar with these names, you can add in other useful information like Support Link, Used and Version.

  • Support Link lets you directly go to support for a particular program.

  • You can then sort by Used to see which programs you use the least. Perhaps there are some you can remove to help keep a cleaner system.

  • You can look at the Version to make sure you are current with your applications.

Showing Super Hidden Files
Added 6/13/08

Even with the Folder options configured to show hidden files, there are super hidden files that you still can’t see.
To view them:

  1. Start Regedit

  2. Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER \ Software \ Microsoft \ Windows \ CurrentVersion \ Explorer \ Advanced

  3. In the right hand panel, scroll to SuperHidden

  4. Change the value to 1

  5. Reboot

Cleanup Files After Upgrading to SP1
Added 6/13/08

During the upgrade to SP1, Vista makes a backup of all the files it is upgrading. This is in case you want to uninstall SP1 for any reason.
If you have no problems with SP1 and want to remove the backup files, run:

vsp1cln.exe

You will be prompted if you want to remove the files. Simply press the Y key.

Fixing Corrupted TCP/IP Files
Added 6/13/08

If you suspect you have corrupted TCP/IP files, run:

netsh interface ipv4 reset
netsh interface ipv6 reset

Then reboot

Repairing a Corrupted Winsock Registry Entry
Added 6/13/08

If you suspect you have a corrupted Winsock Registry Entry (one of the symptoms is that you can’t connect to the Internet), run:

netsh winsock reset

and then reboot

Searching a Folder
Added 3/28/08

With Vista, when viewing a directory, you can configure it to automatically start searching when you type in text,

  1. Go to the Control Panel

  2. Select Folder Options

  3. Click on the View tab

  4. Scroll to the bottom

  5. Check Automatically type into the Search Box

Now when you are in a folder and simply start typing in text, Vista will start a search

Turning Off Vista’s Built-In CD Burning
Added 3/28/08

Since most computers come with 3rd party programs that are easier to use than Vista’s CD/DVD burning,
you can turn this off with a simple registry edit.

  1. Start Regedit

  2. Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\ Software \ Microsoft \ Windows \ CurrentVersion \ Policies \ Explorer

  3. Create a new DWORD key NoCDBurning

  4. Give it a value of 1

  5. Log off and back on again

Download Reg File

Quick Access to the TEMP Directory
Added 3/28/08

If you want to quickly access a user’s TEMP directory:

  1. Click on the Start (Search) button

  2. Enter %temp%

  3. This will bring up the currently logged on user’s TEMP directory

This can be useful when you want to clean out unneededitems in that directory which can often accumulate.

Turning On/Off Thumbnail Preview
Added 3/2808

If you want to show a thumbnail preview of graphic files

  1. Go to the Control Panel

  2. Select Folder Options

  3. Select View

  4. Uncheck Always show icons, never thumbnails

  5. To turn this off, check the box

Changing the Windows Border Padding
Added 3/28/08

By default, Vista has a somewhat thick border around the windows. If you want to reduce this:

  1. Right click on an open area of the desktop

  2. Select Personalize

  3. Click on Window Color and Appearance

  4. If you have Aero then Open classic appearance properties for more color options

  5. Click on the Advanced button

  6. In the Item section, select Border Padding

  7. Change the size

  8. Apply / Ok

Another Way to Open Command Window Here
Added 3/28/08

When using the Windows Explorer, and you want to open a CMD prompt to a particular directory,
another way to accomplish this is to hold down the Shift key while you right click on a directory in the right hand panel

Then select Open Command Window Here

Disabling Unneeded Windows Features

Added 1/13/08

There are likely Windows Features running on the computer you don’t need.

To see what these may be and make any changes you want:

  1. Start / Control Panel

  2. Programs and Features

  3. Click on Turn Windows features on or off

  4. It typically takes a little while for this window to populate

  5. Hovering the mouse over an entry gives a short description of it

  6. From here you can check or uncheck any entries you want.

  7. For example, you may not need Windows Fax and Scan

  8. Click the OK button when you are done

Access My Computer (or any Folder) from the Toolbar

Added 1/13/08

Often I want to access files on My Computer but the desktop is full of Windows.
Rather than having to close them down, it is easy to add My Computer to the toolbar

  1. Right click on an open area of the toolbar

  2. Select Toolbars / New Toolbar…

  3. Click on Computer in the left panel

  4. Click on Select Folder

  5. Now when you click on the >> on the new toolbar, you will see a listing of all your hard drives.

  6. Of course you can add any folder you want in the same manner.

Organizing File Display into Stacks

Added 1/13/08

Normally when you look at files in the Explorer, they are commonly shown alphabetically or by type

There is another way you can view them which is in Stacks. This is different than organizing into Groups

  1. Start the Windows Explorer

  2. Go to a directory that has different types of files

  3. Hover over Type in the bar at the top

  4. Click on the down arrow

  5. At the bottom, click on Stack by Type

  6. Now you will see icons representing the different file types. You won’t see the actual files at this point

  7. Clicking on one of the icons will show the files that are in that type

  8. If you Stack by Name, files will be grouped into 0-9, A-H, I-P, and Q-Z

Organizing File Display into Groups

Added 1/13/08

Normally when you look at files in the Explorer, they are commonly shown alphabetically or by type

There is another way you can view them which is in Groups

  1. Start the Windows Explorer

  2. Go to a directory that has different types of files

  3. Hover over Type in the bar at the top

  4. Click on the down arrow

  5. Click on Group

  6. Now you will see your files sorted by Group with the heading for each group type clearly shown. This heading makes it easier to see what type of files it is.

Reliability and Performance Monitor

Added 1/13/08

If you want to get a reasonably detailed view of the compter’s CPU, Disk, Network and Memory access,

Start / reliability

From here there is quite a lot of information you can see about your computer.

Changing the Size of the Details Pane

Added 1/13/08

When you use the Windows Explorer to view the files on the computer, a details pane opens along the bottom.

  1. To change the size or hide it all together, right click on an open area
  2. Select the option you want
  3. If you delete the Details Pane, you can get it back by clicking on Organize / Layout / Details Pane

Shutdown Icon is Missing

Added 1/12/08

If the left button is missing so you can’t assign it to shutdown your computer,
you may need to make a change to your Group Policy

  1. Start
  2. Run
  3. regedit
  4. Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER \ Software \ Microsoft \ Windows \ CurrentVersion \ Policies \ Explorer
  5. On the right hand panel, delete the key NoClose
  6. Log off and back on again.

—

Another method is using the Group Policy Editor

  1. Start
  2. Run
  3. gpedit.msc
  4. Go to User Configuration / Administrative Tools / Start Menu and Taskbar
  5. In the right hand panel, double click on Remove and prevent access to the Shutdown, Restart, Sleep, and Hibernate commands
  6. Double click on Disabled
  7. Click on Apply and Ok
  8. Log off and back on again.

Changing the Location of the Documents Folder

Added 1/12/08

If you would like to change the location of the Documents folder to a new location:

  1. Create the new location’s folder
  2. Click on the Start button
  3. Right click on My Documents
  4. Select Properties
  5. Click on the Location tab
  6. Click on Move and select the new location you just created

For example, I prefer to keep all my data on a second partition for easier backup. My Documents folder is moved to D:\Data\Documents

Quick Access to Programs in the Quick Launch Bar

Added 9/15/07

If you want to quickly access any of the programs in the Quick Launch bar,
Press the Windows key with the number corresponding to the location of the program.

For example, if Outlook is your fourth item, you would press Windows+4

Easy Access to Clock / Calendar

Added 9/15/07

By left clicking on the clock in the system tray, you have a quick view of the clock and the current month’s calendar.

You can then scroll for preceding and upcoming months as well

Displaying a Checkbox For Selecting Files and Directories

Added 9/15/07

Normally when you want to select a file or folder, it is somewhat difficult to determine exactly what is check and what isn’t.

To change this:

Start the Windows Explorer

Go to Tools / Folder Options

Click on the View tab

Check the box for Use check boxes to select items (it’s towards the bottom)

Changing the Desktop Icon Size

Updated 3/24/07

By default, the icons on the desktop are quite large.
To change the size

  1. Right click on the Desktop
  2. Select View
  3. Set it to Classic Icons

 

  1. You can also hold down the Control key while the desktop is displayed
  2. Use the wheel mouse to make the icons larger or smaller
  3. This gives more control

Flip3D Task Switching

Added 3/24/07

Added more information on how to use Flip3D Task Switching

Installing Vista With No Product Key

Added 3/10/07

You can install Vista with no product key and have 30 days to evaluate it

  1. Boot from the DVD and start the installation
  2. Select the Language, Time and Currency, and Keyboard
  3. Click on Next
  4. Click on Install Now
  5. Don’t enter a Product Key
  6. Uncheck Automatically activate Windows when I’m online
  7. Click on Next
  8. Click on No to confirm you do not want to enter a product key
  9. Highlight the version of Vista you want to install
  10. Check that it is the same edition you have purchased (if you want to enter in a product key at a later time).
  11. Click on Next
  12. Check accept the license and terms
  13. Click on Next
  14. Install a clean copy and continue as with a regular install

Changing the Windows Explorer Columns

Added 3/3/07

By default, the Windows Explorer displays file’s Name, Date Modified, Size and Type
If you want to Add or Change these,

  1. Right click on any of the columns
  2. Check or Uncheck any times you want
  3. Click on More to display an extremely rich list of options to display

To Move columns

  1. Left click and drag the column to the location you want

Initial Configuration Changes

Added 3/1/07

Although some of these are covered in other sections of the tips area,
I compiled a page with the more common Vista Initial Configuration Changes I have been making on
all new computers with Vista.

Changing the Folders Vista Includes to Index and Search

Added 2/28/07

When you search for files, the default setting for Vista is to search only in the User’s Documents folder
To add to the locations that are included in Vista’s Indexing

  1. Open the Control Panel
  2. Go to System and Maintenance
  3. Go to Indexing Options
  4. Click on the Modify button
  5. Click on the Show all locations button
  6. Check the Drives or Folders in Drives that you want to include
  7. Click on the Close button

For more details with screenshots see Vista Indexing and Search 

Turning Hibernate On or Off

Added 2/21/07

If you don’t need your computer to Hibernate or want to turn it back on again

  1. Open the Start Menu
  2. Right click Command Prompt
  3. Select Run as administrator
  4. To turn Hibernation off – powercfg -hibernate off
  5. To turn Hibernation on – powercfg -hibernate on
  6. If you turn it off, it won’t even show on the Start Menu

Changing the Action for the Start Menu Power Button

Added 2/21/07

At the bottom right of the Start Menu are three icons.
The left one (circle with a vertical line) is the Power Button
To change the action (Sleep, Hibernate or Power Off)

  1. Go to the Control Panel
  2. Select System Maintenance and then Power Options if it is the Default View or
  3. Select Power Options if it is the Classic View
  4. Under your current plan, click on Change plans settings
  5. Click on Change advanced power settings
  6. Click on the + by Power buttons and lid
  7. Click on the + by Start menu power button
  8. For the Setting, select Sleep, Hibernate or Shutdown
  9. Click on Apply and OK
  10. Now when you hover over icon, you can see the action it will take.

Opening to a Command Prompt from the Explorer

2/17/07

If you are using the Windows Explorer, and want to open a folder to a command prompt:

  1. With the folder in the right hand panel
  2. Hold down the Shift key
  3. Right Click
  4. Select Open Command Window Here

RoboCopy

Added 2/17/07

RoboCopy or Robust File Copy for Windows is an enhanced file copy that far surpasses what you can do from either the Explorer or XCOPY.
It is a  very robust command line driven program with a huge amount of switches and options. In addition to standard switches like /S for subdirectories,
Just a short list is:

  • /PURGE :: delete dest files/dirs that no longer exist in source
  • /MOV :: MOVe files (delete from source after copying)
  • /MON:n :: MONitor source; run again when more than n changes seen.
  • /MOT:m :: MOnitor source; run again in m minutes Time, if changed
  • /MAX:n :: MAXimum file size – exclude files bigger than n bytes.
  • /MAXAGE:n :: MAXimum file AGE – exclude files older than n days/date
  • /R:n :: number of Retries on failed copies: default 1 million
  • /TBD :: wait for sharenames To Be Defined (retry error 67)

Showing the Explorer Menu

Added 217/07

By default, the Windows Explorer does not show the menu bar.

  1. To temporarily display the menu, press the Alt button
  2. To turn it on permanently, press the Alt button.
  3. Tools / Folder options
  4. Click on the View tab
  5. Check Always show menus

Viewing Hidden and System Files

Added 2/17/07

To configure the Explorer to view hidden and system files.

  1. Click on the the Control Panel / Folders icon
  2. Click on the View tab at the top
  3. Check or uncheck the options you want
  4. Common ones to change are:
  • Check Show hidden files and folders
  • Uncheck Hide extensions for known file types
  • Uncheck Hide protected operating system files  – You will get a warning when you do this last one.

Turning on Single Click for Icons

Added 2/17/07

To make it so you can single click on your icons

  1. Click on the the Control Panel / Folders icon
  2. Check Single click to open an item

Displaying the Volume Control on the System Tray

Added 2/1707

  1. To show the volume control on the task tray:
  2. Right click on the taskbar
  3. Select Properties
  4. Click on the Notification Area tab
  5. Check Volume

Removing the Shortcut Arrows

Added 2/17/07

  1. Open REGEDIT.EXE
  2. Open the key HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT
  3. Open the Key LNKFILE
  4. Rename the value IsShortcut
  5. Log out and back in again.
  6. To reset it, just rename the key back again, and log off and back on.

Vista Opening Links to Another Web Browser Than IE

Added 2/12/07

By default, when you click on a link to a web page, Vista will automatically use the Internet Explorer.
If you want it to use some other program like Firefox:

  1. Go to the Control Panel \ Programs \ Default Programs
  2. Click on Set your default programs
  3. Select the Web Browser you want to use
  4. Click on Choose defaults for this program
  5. Under Protocols, check HTTP
  6. Click on Save
  7. You can also check .htm and .html as well

Now when you click on links in an e-mail for example, your other web browser will start.

—-

If your other browser does not show here, then you can make a change to the registry

Go to:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Associations\UrlAssociations\http\UserChoice

Change it from IE.HTTP to Firefox.Url (if you are using Firefox for example)

No reboot is necessary

 Allowing Network Access with Blank Passwords with Vista

Added 2/10/07

Although you can log in locally without a password, by default, Vista does not allow network users to access the computer without a password.

To change this setting:

  1. Run gpedit.msc
  2. Go to Computer Configuration / Windows Settings / Security Settings / Local Policies / Security Options
  3. Double click on Accounts: Limit local account use of blank passwords to console login only
  4. Disable this option

Adding the IE 7 Icon to the desktop

Added 2/8/07

By default, the icon for the Internet Explorer 7 does not show up on the Vista desktop

  1. To add it back in again, a registry edit is needed.
  2. [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\HideDesktopIcons\NewStartPanel]
    “{871C5380-42A0-1069-A2EA-08002B30309D}”=dword:00000000
  3. You can download the reg file and then run it to do this automatically.
  4. Then log off and back on again

Resizing Partitions

Added 2/7/07

Vista now has the ability to resize partitions.

  1. Right click on Computer
  2. Select Manage
  3. Click on Disk Management
  4. Right click on a partition
  5. Select Shrink or Extend depending on what you want to do

Note: As with all changes to partition sizes, have a good set of backups beforehand is a good idea

Access Denied to Folders

Added 2/7/07

If you are getting Access Denied errors when trying to open folders like Documents and Settings, Application Data, Local settings:

  1. Right click on the Folder
  2. Select Properties
  3. Click on the Security tab
  4. Click on the Advanced button
  5. Click on the Owner tab
  6. Click on the Edit button
  7. In the Change owner to box, highlight your account
  8. Check Replace owner on subcontainers and objects
  9. Click on Apply
  10. Click on Yes to replace all permissions
  11. Continue to click on OK until you

Using the Snip Tool

Added 2/6/07

There is a program called Snip that will let you capture screenshots to put in documents or send as e-mail.
To access it, simply open the Startup Menu and type SNIP

Next to the New button, click on the down-arrow and select what type of capture you want to do, Free Form, Rectangular, Window or Full-Screen.

Once you capture the screen, you can save it as a HTML, PNG, GIF or JPG

Sending a Picture as an E-Mail

Added 2/6/07

In previous versions of Windows, you could always right click on a graphic and have the option to send it to a mail recipient.
But you could only send an small or full size image.

With Vista you also have several size options to choose from, 640×480, 800×600, 1024×768, 1280×1024 and Original Size

Pinning Programs to the Start Menu

Added 2/6/07

You can add programs that appear on the top of the Start Menu.
These are always there and are above recently opened programs

  1. Right click on the program
  2. Select Pin to Start Menu

GUI Performance

Added 2/6/7

You can turn off some of the eyecandy to help speed of graphics performance

  1. Open the Start menu
  2. Right click on My Computer
  3. Select Properties
  4. Click on Advanced System Settings
  5. In the Performance section, click on the Settings button
  6. Click on Custom
  7. I usually only have:
    Show preview and filters in folder,
    Show shadows under mouse pointer,
    Show thumbnails instead of icons,
    Show window contents while dragging,
    Smooth edges of screen fonts,
    Use drop shadows for icon labels,
    Use visual styles on windows and buttons

Displaying Run on the Desktop

Added 2/6/07

You can create a shortcut for the Run command on your desktop

  1. From the Start Menu, go to All Programs / Accessories
  2. Drag a shortcut for Run to the desktop

Displaying Run on the Start Menu

Added 2/6/07

By default, Run is not shown when you open the Start Menu.
To enable this:

  1. Right click on the taskbar
  2. Select Properties
  3. Click on the Start Menu tab
  4. Click on the Customize button
  5. Scroll down and check Run (it’s about 2/3’s of the way towards the bottom

Changing the Sidebar

Added 2/6/07

By default, the sidebar can take up a unwanted room on the desktop. You also can’t put icons on the space it uses.
If you want to retain the ability to display the sidebar gadgets but also want full use of the desktop,
you can detach individual gadgets.

  1. Right-click the gadget you want to detach
  2. Click Detach from Sidebar
  3. Move the gadget wherever you want on the desktop
  4. Right click on the sidebar
  5. Click on Close Sidebar
  6. There will now be an icon in the system tray for the sidebar if you want to get it back

You can also get more gadgets on-line

Services You Can Disable

Added 2/6/07

There are several services you can disable to help improve performance.

Desktop Window Manager Session Manager – Provides Desktop Window Manager startup and maintenance services.
If you don’t plan on using Aero Glass, you can disable this service.

Diagnostic Policy Service – Enables problem detection, troubleshooting and resolution for Windows components
Set to Disabled

Diagnostic Service Host – Same as above

Diagnostic System Host – Same as above

Offline Files – The Offline Files service performs maintenance activities on the Offline Files cache, responds to user logon and logoff events, implements the internals of the public API, and dispatches interesting events to those interested in Offline Files activities and changes in cache state.

Terminal Services – Allows users to connect interactively to a remote computer. Remote Desktop and Terminal Server depend on this service. If you don’t use either of these, then you can disable the service.

Windows Error Reporting Service – Allows errors to be reported when programs stop working or responding and allows existing solutions to be delivered.

Windows Search – Formerly this was the Indexing Service. Provides content indexing.

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