Windows Vista Tips & Tricks

prasannavigneshr · #41 (**permalink**) 08-21-2007, 06:40 AM

Fix Java apps that disable Aero Glass

Do you need to run a Java application and hate how every time you run it the Aero Glass interface reverts to the non-glass look?

This is caused by the way the JRE (Java Runtime Environment) communicates with the display adapter. In short, it does not want to share the 3D surface the desktop is painted on so Windows has to revert to the old method of painting the desktop and turn of Aero Glass.

The only way to fix this is to fix the JRE and Sun has done just that. Java users need to upgrade their JRE to release 6 update 2. Click here for the direct download from Sun. Offline Versions are also available.

prasannavigneshr · #42 (**permalink**) 08-21-2007, 06:42 AM

Customize your system icons with Microangelo On Display

Microangelo, the famous icon tool company, has released an updated version of their On Display application that allows users to easily change and replace the default system icons in Windows Vista. With Microangelo On Display you can:

1. Customize Windows icons quickly and easily. Just right-click on the icon and select "Appearance" from the popup menu. One elegant dialog allows you to change icons just about anywhere on your computer.
2. Use On Display to change icons displayed by Windows Vista, XP and Windows 2000. If you can't change an icon with On Display, it probably can't be done. Folder, shortcut, shell and system icons, On Display can change icons in more places than any other tool available.
3. Turn icon shortcut arrows off, on, or change them. On Display can change the overlays that Windows displays on shortcuts and shared drives or folders.

Click here to download.

prasannavigneshr · #43 (**permalink**) 08-21-2007, 06:45 AM

Windows Sidebar Styler

Windows Sidebar Styler takes advantage of the new technologies introduced in Windows Vista™ in order to provide extensions to the existing functionality of Windows® Sidebar.

Custom styles allow for resizing and customizing the appearance of Windows Sidebar so that it fits other UI elements, such as the Aero Glass colorization or an actual third party theme. Designers could save their visual styles so that other Windows users could apply them. Designers would not necessarily create these files on Windows Vista - Windows Sidebar Styler is backward-compatible with legacy operating systems as well.

prasannavigneshr · #44 (**permalink**) 08-21-2007, 06:47 AM

Quick aero speed tip

The transparent glass in Windows Vista computer can look very nice. However, on some computers that have underpowered video adapters will see a performance hit when running the transparent glass effect. One way to speed up Windows Vista and still get the benefits of aero, such as flip 3D and taskbar thumbnails, is to disable glass transparency.

1. Click on the desktop and select Personalize.
2. Select Windows Color and Appearance.
3. Uncheck Enable Transparency.

rrrajesh84in · #45 (**permalink**) 08-21-2007, 10:37 PM

hi

Discover the new search explorer.

Try filtering by type using the search pane and selecting
Documents. Next choose to see your files in another way,
via the new stack view. Select the author column header
control drop down menu, and choose the option to Stack
by author. Explore all the documents by a particular
author by double clicking on an author’s stack. Now, save
that search as a new search folder. Choose the option
Save Search found on the top command bar and name
and save your search folder. In the future, to
re-run it, simply select the Searches folder link on the
left side navigation pane, and double click on your search folder.

Booom · #46 (**permalink**) 08-22-2007, 06:55 AM

Very good contribution has been made to this thread and so ive made this thread sticky.

Good Luck and continue quality content posting in this thread regularly because our goal must be to get the 1st result in search engines when searched for windows vista tips or vista tips etc.,

Thanks

rrrajesh84in · #47 (**permalink**) 08-22-2007, 11:45 PM

Experience the enhanced user interface.

If your PC supports the Windows® Aero™ user experience,
open multiple files and see how easy it is to locate the
right open window using the breakthrough Windows Flip
(simply ALT+TAB) or Flip 3D (Windows key+TAB).

rrrajesh84in · #48 (**permalink**) 08-23-2007, 05:08 AM

Browse multiple Web sites.

Tabbed browsing in Internet Explorer® 7 enables a single
Internet Explorer window to run with the convenience of
multiple pages. Open a new page by clicking the empty
tab on the toolbar or by right-clicking any hyperlink and
choosing New Tab. Tabs can also be right-clicked to
refresh individual pages or refresh pages as a group. You
can close either individual tabs or an entire group, and
you can save tabs as one favorite group. With the Quick
Tabs feature, the icon just to the right of the Favorites
icon, thumbnail images of all open tabs can be seen in a
single view helping you manage multiple open tabs.

prasannavigneshr · #49 (**permalink**) 08-24-2007, 05:17 AM

Pump up the volume in Vista

If your PC is built using an Intel motherboard with High Definition Audio support, you can take advantage of some cool enhancements. Open the Sound option in Control Panel, select the Speakers icon on the Playback tab, and click the Properties button. The Enhancements tab includes a set of options you can use to control bass levels, create virtual surround sound on a two-speaker system, correct for crummy room acoustics, and change loudness settings.

Thanks

prasannavigneshr · #50 (**permalink**) 08-24-2007, 05:22 AM

Get an expanded shortcut menu:

When you work with files and folders in Windows Explorer, get in the habit of holding down Shift as you right-click an item. The screen shots here show the normal shortcut menus for a file and folder on top, with the Shift-enhanced shortcut menus below each one. Using this shortcut, you can add any file to the Start menu or the Quick Launch bar, open a Command Prompt window rooted in the selected folder, or copy the full path for a file or folder to the Clipboard.

Thanks

prasannavigneshr · #51 (**permalink**) 08-24-2007, 05:24 AM

Master the Quick Launch bar:

The Quick Launch bar has been around forever, but it's a little more useful in Vista. For starters, it's much easier to add programs to the Quick Launch bar, thanks to the new Add to Quick Launch shortcut menu option (see previous post for more details). First things first, though: Make sure the Quick Launch bar isn't hidden; if you can't see it, right-click any empty space on the taskbar, choose Toolbars, and click Quick Launch. Don't feel like aiming at those tiny icons with the mouse pointer? Use the shortcut keys instead. Each of the first ten shortcuts on the Quick Launch bar has its own custom keyboard shortcut. Press the Windows key plus the number 1 to launch or switch to the first item on the Quick Launch bar. Press Windows key+2 for the second, and so on. For shortcut number 10, use Windows key+0.

prasannavigneshr · #52 (**permalink**) 08-24-2007, 05:33 AM

Make the blinking cursor easier to see:

The blinking cursor that indicates where you can type text is as thin as Kate Moss, which sometimes make for frustrating moments when you can't locate the blinking thing. So make it easier to see: Open Control Panel, type optimize visual display in the Search box, and click the shortcut to see the dialog box shown here. Bumping the size of the cursor from 1 to 2 makes a noticeable difference; going all the way to 11 would really make it impossible to miss.

prasannavigneshr · #53 (**permalink**) 08-24-2007, 05:40 AM

Make Security Center go away:

The Security Center icon in the notification area is a nag. There's just no other word for it. And if you're confident that your security settings are in order, you really don't need the nagging. To make Security Center disappear into the background, open its icon in Control Panel and click Change the way Security Center alerts me in the Tasks pane on the left. In the resulting dialog box, choose Don't notify me and don't display the icon (not recommended).

prasannavigneshr · #54 (**permalink**) 08-24-2007, 05:43 AM

Use the Mobility Center on a notebook:

It's about time notebook users got an easy-to-access control panel for common configuration options. Vista's Mobility Center gives you the ability to quickly enable or disable an external monitor, enable or disable a wireless adapter, check your battery level, and much more. To configure your notebook so Mobility Center is always available, add its shortcut to the Startup group. To open or switch to Mobility Center, use its keyboard shortcut: Windows logo key+X.

prasannavigneshr · #55 (**permalink**) 08-24-2007, 05:58 AM

Adjust taskbar preview size:

Taskbar thumbnail preview in Windows Vista is a great new feature that allows you to quickly see a window without having to fully open it from the taskbar. Instead, you can just hover your mouse over the taskbar item and a small preview window will be displayed.

I have been asked many times if it is possible customize the size of the preview thumbnails. Many have expressed the desire to have larger previews so they can better see the window. Finally, I have found a way.

Using a free utility written by Andreas Verhoeven called Thumbnail Sizer, it is very easy to customize the preview size.

Let’s get started:

1. Visit Ave’s Vista Apps and download a free copy of Thumbnail Sizer.
2. Once you have the software extracted, run AveThumbnailSizer.exe to
get started.
3. Move the sliders to adjust the preview window size.

The changes are instant. Move your mouse over a minimized window to see
the results of your change.

4. Check the box if you want to turn on fade-in animation and adjust the
slider.

5. Once you are happy with your changes, click the Start
AveVistaThumbnailSizer with Windows if you want the utility to
automatically start every time you turn on your computer.
6. Close the Thumbnail Sizer when you are finished.

Now your taskbar previews can be so large that you can easily read text on them!

prasannavigneshr · #56 (**permalink**) 08-24-2007, 06:06 AM

Animate your Start Menu user pic:

In early builds of Windows Vista, testers were shown a new 3D interface powered by the Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF) that was filled with animations of all sorts. This interface was very cool looking. However, because of delays, Microsoft had to cut the use of WPF in the UI and most of the “WOW” was removed.

Thankfully, there are some very talented developers out there that have made utilities to bring back the excitement of the cut features. The one I am covering in this article, is the animated user picture shown on the Start Menu.

Video: 3D User Pic in Windows Vista

Using a great utility called 3D User Picture, you can easily make your start menu look just like the video above.

1. Visit Ave’s Vista Stuff and download 3D User Picture.
2. Extract the files, run 3duserpic.exe and click on the Start Button to see 3D User Picture in action.
3. If you want to tweak the appearance, edit values.ini.

Sample values.ini:

;values file for ave's 3duserphoto
; author=ave
[info]
author=ave
[frame]
x=0
y=0
width=96
height=96
[photo]
x=16
y=16
width=64
height=64
[position]
override=0
xmargin=0
ymargin=0
[shutdown]
move=0
xmargin=261
ymargin=4
[rendering]
previewIconSize=81
scaleIconsUp=1
scaleIconsDownPretty=1
iconsHaveDropShadow=0
; 0 = jumbo (256x256)
; 1 = extralarge (48x48)
; 2 = large (32x32 or 48 x 48)
systemIconListToUse=0
usePixelCheckToFilterOutSmallIcons=1
doNotScaleSmallIconsUp=0
[animation]
speed=10
zStart=90
xStart=90
zLength=90
xLength=90
zAdd=0
xAdd=15
zStationary=0
xStationary=15
rotationLength=46
rotationSpeed=2
rotationOffset=23

3D User Picture requires a DirectX 9 compatible graphics card. I have experienced issues with explorer.exe crashing on a laptop with a Intel GMA950 graphics chip that is DirectX 9 compatible.

rrrajesh84in · #57 (**permalink**) 08-24-2007, 06:11 AM

Print picture perfect Web content.

Most Web sites are simply not formatted to fit cleanly on a
standard piece of paper. With the new shrink to fit printing
feature found in Internet Explorer 7 Web sites will no
longer get cut off when sent to the printer.

prasannavigneshr · #58 (**permalink**) 08-24-2007, 06:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rrrajesh84in

Print picture perfect Web content.

Most Web sites are simply not formatted to fit cleanly on a
standard piece of paper. With the new shrink to fit printing
feature found in Internet Explorer 7 Web sites will no
longer get cut off when sent to the printer.

Hey Mate,

This thread for Windows Vista Tips, Tricks & Tweaks. But you have given some features of IE7. But that is useful.

Thanks Mate.

itbarota · #59 (**permalink**) 08-24-2007, 07:00 AM

Show Run Command on Start Menu

Hey Guys. Interesting tread, Here the one i found...

1. Right click on your taskbar and select Properties.
2. Click on the Start Menu Tab and then select Customize.
3. Scroll through the list and check the Run Command check box.
4. Hit OK a few times and it is back.

prasannavigneshr · #60 (**permalink**) 08-24-2007, 07:02 AM

Resize Partitions with Vista Disk Management

1. Click on the Start Button and right click on Computer and select Manage.
2. Expand the Storage section and select Disk Management.
3. Then just right click on any partition and select either Expand or Shrink to
change the size of the partition.