Windows Vista Experience Index is a feature of Windows Vista that allows you to rate you computer by it's hardware performance. This is how to hack that rating and brag with the highest score!

Vista's Experience Index is intended to help you choose the best software solution, based on your hardware capabilities. So if you have a low score, that means you shouldn't install resource intensive programs. Enjoy!

Tutorial tags: vista, experience index, score

We will use a feature of Windows Vista called "Performance Information and Tools" to find what slows down your computer.

Tutorial tags: troubleshoot, performance

Internet Connection sharing is a nice tool that comes preinstalled with your Windows Vista and allows you to share your DSL of high speed internet connection with other computers or networks.

In a way ICS helps you save time and money that you otherwise would lose on costly equipment used for internet networks, like phone lines or modems for each computer on that network.

Tutorial tags: ICS, internet connection sharing

A recent study showed that over 60% of virus or worm infections are caused by the users negligence when opening files received as attachment to an email, by some instant messaging client or a download software. It's a very old method that still works! A virus renames itself as "picture.jpg.exe", use a picture icon and some unsuspected user is fooled!

Tutorial tags: show, extension, file type

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

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