Task Scheduler comes pre-installed with your copy of Windows and it's used for starting programs at specified times or with specified triggers. You can run tasks daily, weekly, yearly or just one time.

Now I know there are hundreds of little programs that can shutdown your computer, but why install another program and burden your registry and hard-drive, when the solution is already at hand?

As I said, Task Scheduler is for starting tasks, so one might wonder how can it be used for shutting down a computer. Well, you see, there's actually a little program that sits in your Windows folder, called "shutdown.exe". He must be triggered so the computer can shutdown. So practically what we are doing is STARTING the shutdown procedure! :)

Enjoy!

Tutorial tags: schedule, shutdown, task scheduler

How many times you've watched the "Logging off", then the "Windows is shutting down" texts left frozen on your screen? Ever wondered why Windows takes all that time to simply shut down your computer?

Well, there are a variety of reasons, but one of most importance is that Windows takes a lot of time to stop the running Windows services.
This is how you tell Windows "JUST STOP THE DAMN SERVICES FASTER AND SHUT DOWN!" :)

The registry locations are:
1. "HKEY_CURRENT_USER \ Control Panel\Desktop", with the key named "WaitToKillAppTimeout".
2. "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ SYSTEM \ CurrentControlSet \ Control" with the keys named "WaitToKillAppTimeout" and "WaitToKillServiceTimeout".

The value of these three key must be set to "5000", then restart. NOW THAT'S A SHUTDOWN! FOUR TIMES FASTER!

Tutorial tags: shutdown, speed

If you need to run a program under Administrator account, such as Command Prompt, Registry Editor or any program that access system files or settings, this is how you do it.

Tutorial tags: run program, administrator, account

This is a simple but nice looking option in Windows Vista that few know about. It's true, it will miss the functionality of Windows 7 quicklaunch, but still it will look almost the same.

Tutorial tags: quick launch, customize

Registry backup, although it's easy to perform, it's a very useful thing! If you like playing around with the Registry, adding tweaks and stuff, this is perfect for you.

Now you don't have to worry if you screw up! :)
To restore the backup just double click the saved registry file and wait (it's going to take a while, yes).

Tutorial tags: backup, registry

A restore poing is going to backup your registry, protected Windows files (the DLLcache), your local user profile and... some other uninteresting stuff.

If you knew it or not, the Registry and the local user files are the most important. In case of a virus, 70% change the virus will spread in you temp files and in your Registry. So, if you have a restore point, the virus is half way gone! :)

Don't under estimate the power of a simple Restore Point! :)

Tutorial tags: backup, restore point

Many are the time when add-ons (in Firefox) or plugins (in Internet Explorer) really slows your internet browsing speed. This is how you can improve that speed and see which addon slows you down.

Please keep in mind the first part of the tutorial: CLEAN YOUR COMPUTER WITH SOME ANTI-VIRUS OR ANTI-SPYWARE SOFTWARE!

Tutorial tags: troubleshoot, internet explorer, speed, browse

If you want your Windows Vista to show more recently used programs in the Start Menu or, on the contrary, if you want to show fewer - this is how you do it.

P.S. Yes, we know that there's a Registry way of editing this, but why bother when this method is so simple? :)

Tutorial tags: more, fewer, recently, user, programs

It's a web based world out there and Windows is like the last bastion of double-clicking, so here's how you can bring your Vista in the 21st century and open files or folders with a single click!

Don't forget about the "Use check boxes when selecting items" option, it will make your life easier!

Tutorial tags: single click, open files

Do you like tabbed browsing? Every page in it's own window? Well... here's how you can do it for Windows Explorer! Every folder will open in it's own window!

Tutorial tags: folders, explorer