Use Vista for 120 Days Free! Longer Trial Period:

Windows Vista can be installed, and run without any license, product key or activation for 30 days, This is solely for the purpose of trial/evaluation. Microsoft stress's that users should purchase a license with a valid product key before the trial period expires, or else Windows Vista will lock into Reduced Functionality Mode.

Although, A method has been discovered which will allow you to extend the evaluation period for a fresh 30 days, 3 seperate times. Microsoft has confirmed that extending the evaluation period is not a violation of the EULA and is aware of this tweak but does not seem to mind one bit, as no fixes or updates have been released to fix it.

All versions of Vista include Windows Vista Ultimate allow a 30-day free period without activation, except the corporate-oriented Vista Enterprise, in which case it supports only a three-day trial.

To reset or restart the initial grace period of Windows Vista to another 30 days, use the following steps:

1. Click on Vista Start button and type in "Cmd" in Start Search box (without quotes).
2. Press on Ctrl-Shift-Enter to open Command Prompt with administrative credentials (equivalent to “Run as Administrator”).
3. In the Command Prompt window which you opened, type the following command and press Enter when done: "slmgr -rearm" or "sysprep /generalize" (without quotes)
4. Reboot the computer.
5. Run the script again when the remaining activation grace period timer counts down to 0 days, you can run the code sooner but it is a waste. As if you have 20 days left and you run the script it will bump you back up to 30 again not 50.

__________________
Prasanna Vignesh
MCPD | Web Developer

Collaborate with a co-worker.

Want an easy way to share files and applications with a
colleague or customer—even when you may not be part
of the same network? Windows Meeting Space is a new
experience in Windows Vista that enables you to start
an impromptu collaboration session with other Windows
Vista users. Simply open Windows Meeting Space and
start a session. Windows Vista will automatically detect
other Windows Vista users that are on the same sub-net
infrastructure or close enough for you to create an
ad hoc (direct PC-to-PC connection) wireless connection.
Once you have invited them and they have accepted,
you can share documents by simply dragging a document
to the Handouts area on the bottom right which instantly
replicates that file across the other meeting participants’
machines. Dragging the file to the presentation area on
the left side starts application sharing, enabling the other
participants to watch as you present that file. If someone
has a good edit for your file, you can make that edit in
real time, or pass control of the application directly to that
participant for them to make that edit for you.

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''''''Rajesh''''''
Ants. . . . . . Like me

Disable Network Printer Search.

When browsing through shared folders and network computers Explorer can slow down when it is searching the local network for printers. This sounds like a great feature and may be useful for some but I would rather disable it to get maximum performance when browsing through folders.How to do it…..

* Hit Alt to bring up the menubar if it is not already on the screen.
* Click on Tools and select Folder Options.
* On the View Tab, uncheck Automatically search for network printers.

__________________
Prasanna Vignesh
MCPD | Web Developer

Disable the not required services.

Services are background processes which keeps running waiting for a response, so if you dont use the application it still runs and uses resource.How to do it…

* For this type “msconfig” without double quotes in the run prompt or at the command prompt.
* Go to services up tab un check the unneeded startup items.

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.

__________________
Prasanna Vignesh
MCPD | Web Developer

Disable some useless start up items first.

Some of the software like Windows Sidebar ,Windows media player ,Nero check and other applications being loaded at the start up but of no use but eating away the resources like memory and cpu.How to do it…

* For this type “msconfig” without double quotes in the run prompt or at the command prompt
* Go to “startup” tab un check the unneeded startup items.

__________________
Prasanna Vignesh
MCPD | Web Developer

Disable Welcome Center

As soon as you install Windows Vista you are bombarded by the Welcome Center that is designed to help beginner Windows users easily configure their new computer. This new welcome screen is a nice feature the first time you start using Windows vista but quickly becomes annoying. Disabling the Welcome Center is very easy to do and can speed up your boot as well.How to do it…..

* Go to program menu, click on run. Typer “Regedit” and enter. This will open the registry windows.
* Navigate through HKEY_CURRENT_USER > Software >Microsoft > Windows > CurrentVersion >Run.
* Right click on the WindowsWelcomeCenter key and select Delete.

Thats all , the next time you restart the Welcome Center will be gone.

__________________
Prasanna Vignesh
MCPD | Web Developer

Speed up Start Menu Search

When a users enters text in the search box on the start panel Windows automatically searches the file index as well. The file index includes all of the searchable files on your hard drive and can be quite large. One way to speed up searching through your start menu applications is to narrow the scope of the search so that it does not include hard drive files. Prevent Start Menu Searches from searching the File indexHow to do it….

* Open Registry Editor (regedit) as above.
* Navigate through HKEY_CURRENT_USER > Software > Microsoft > Windows > Current Version > Explorer > Advanced.
* Find and right click on Start_SearchFiles and select Modify.
* Set the Value to 0.

Restart the Explorer.exe process or just reboot your computer.

__________________
Prasanna Vignesh
MCPD | Web Developer

Uninstall / Turn off unneeded features

There are many new features in Windows Vista that are installed by default that you may not need. These extra and unneeded features can slow down your computer and take up more storage space.If you would like to uninstall, or turn off, these extra features, this tip is for you.Windows Features can be uninstalled using the Windows Features utility. Follow these steps to uninstall applications such as the Windows Fax and Scan and many more:How to do it…

* Click on the Start Button and select Control Panel.
* Under Programs click Uninstall a program .
* On the side menu, click on Turn Windows features on or off .
* Scroll through the list as shown below and remove the check from any feature you do not want installed.
* Click OK when you are finished making your changes. The features will now be uninstalled.

__________________
Prasanna Vignesh
MCPD | Web Developer

Disable Vista Graphics.

Don’t be surprised but this is required if you are running a software which might take huge cpu resources or memory. You can disable it for sometime so your work is completed fast.This setting however will change the look of windows vista drastically but according to me this setting is the most efficient setting for increasing the operational speed of windows vista.How to do it….

* Right click on desktop go to personalize.
* Now go to color and appearance settings
* Then go to classic windows appearance settings and select windows classic or windows standard display settings.

__________________
Prasanna Vignesh
MCPD | Web Developer

Tag Your files with Windows Vista.

Now its easy to search files on Windows Vista with a new property called as “tag”. With all previous edition of windows it was very difficult to search a file if you have forgotten the exact name. Even if you remember partial name, search was difficult.But with this new feature of of “tagging” a file in Vista, searching will be much easier.

But before I tell you how it works get to know what is tagging.Tagging is adding a nick name to something which you can easily remember.Like you call your friends with nicknames rather than original name. So next time you make document on a project tag it with some cute name which is easier to remember. Lets see how do to it now!!

Steps on “How to tag files with windows vista?”

1. Select the file which you want to tag.
2. Right click and go to properties.
3. It will open up the property window for the related file.
4. Then on the property window go to Details Tab.
5. There you will see a label as “Tag”, You can add your tags there
6. Then click on Ok or Apply
7. Job Done.

__________________
Prasanna Vignesh
MCPD | Web Developer