Windows Vista - A Guide for dummies

[sushrukh]

Something you should know about the Windows Vista

Part 1

Comparing selected features in various versions of Windows Vista Feature

------------------------Performance and Troubleshooting--------------------------

Back up (copy) files from your hard drive to a CD drive, DVD drive, removable storage device, or another PC or drive on a network for the purpose of safeguarding or archiving your data, or for saving your computer configuration so that you can restore it in the event of a crash.



To open

Control Panel -> Back up your computer

Control Panel -> System and Maintenance -> Backup and Restore Center



Description

The Backup and Restore Center, new in Windows Vista, offers tools for backing up data as well as creating a restore "image" of your computer, which can be used to re-create the state of your PCincluding the operating system, applications, and settingsin the event of a hardware failure. It fixes a variety of shortcomings in the backup program built into Windows XP, such as not being able to back up across a network. On the other hand, it's less flexible than the XP backup program because it doesn't allow you to customize it to a great extent. You can't, for example, choose specific folders, or files from specific folders, to be backed up. Instead, you have to back up all files of a particular file type, such as documents.



Perform computer management tasks and run tools such as the Task Scheduler.

To open

Run as a plug-in for the Microsoft Management Console.

Command Prompt -> compmgmt



Description

This plug-in to the Microsoft Management Console lets you perform a variety of computer management tasks, including monitoring performance and reliability. It also provides a way to run tools such as the Task Scheduler.




Reclaim disk space by removing unwanted files from your hard drive.



To open

Start -> All Programs -> Accessories -> System Tools -> Disk Cleanup

Control Panel [System and Maintenance] Free up disk space

Command Prompt -> cleanmgr



Description

Disk Cleanup summarizes the disk space used by several predefined types of files, such as Temporary Internet Files and items in the Recycle Bin. If you have more than one hard drive, Disk Cleanup prompts you to choose one. It also asks whether you want to clean up only your files, or files from all users on the computer (you'll need Administrator rights to do the latter).




Reorganize the files on a disk to optimize disk performance and reliability.



To open

Control Panel -> [System and Maintenance] -> Defragment your hard drive

Command Prompt -> dfrgui



Description

As you create files on your hard disk, they become defragmented so that a single file is stored in several different noncontiguous locations. As more files become fragmented, the reliability and performance of the hard drive diminish. Disk Defragmenter reorganizes the files and folders on a drive so that the files are stored contiguously, and the free space is contiguous as well.

Prepare and partition a hard disk.

To open

Command Prompt -> diskpart


Description

DiskPart is a full-featured program used to prepare hard disks and, optionally, divide them into two or more partitions. It's a command-line program and has no interface to speak of. When you start DiskPart, you'll see a simple prompt: DISKPART>. Type help and press Enter to view a list of all the available commands.




Read system logs and view other system events.



To open

Run as a plug-in for the Microsoft Management Console.

Command Prompt -> eventvwr



Description

A plug-in to the Microsoft Management Console, the Event Viewer provides an easy way to read system logs and view other system events.


Rate your computer's capability to run Windows Vista.


To open

Control Panel -> System and Maintenance -> Performance Information and Tools

Description

This screen rates your PC according to how well it runs Windows, using what it calls a Windows Experience Index. It rates the processor, RAM, graphics subsystem, gaming graphics subsystem, and primary hard disk on a scale of one to five. The higher the number, the better the performance. The lowest rating of any of those is called the system's Base Score.


Controls the balance between using advanced Windows Vista visual features and performance.

To open

Control Panel -> [System and Maintenance] -> System -> Advanced System Settings -> Advanced, click Settings under Performance



Description

Windows Vista contains a great deal of "eye candy" that makes using the operating system a far more visually pleasing experience. But on some systems, these visual effects can slow a system down. Use Performance Options to balance visual effects against performance.


Automatically solve problems with your computer and Windows Vista.

To open

Control Panel -> [System and Maintenance] -> Problem Reports and Solutions



Description

One of the best new troubleshooting features in Windows Vista is its capability to automatically detect problems with your computer and offer automated fixes for them. The Control Panel's Problem Reports and Solutions applet is the place to go to find and launch these solutions.

The applet displays any solutions to install, as well as information about problems that do not yet have solutions, are not serious enough to require solutions, or will have solutions. Click any to launch a wizard that walks you through the steps to fix the problem.

Speeds up computer performance by storing commonly used files in a flash device.

Description

ReadyBoost, new to Windows Vista, uses a flash memory device (USB stick, SD card, etc.) to prefetch and store commonly used files, and essentially treats the device as a way to augment RAM. It's an inexpensive and easy way to speed up Windows Vista performance.

ReadyBoost speeds up Windows Vista performance in several ways. It increases the size of the prefetch cache, and it frees up RAM that would otherwise be used by prefetch. Depending on your system configuration, you may see a dramatic speed improvement.

To use ReadyBoost, connect a flash drive to your PC. Windows Vista will recognize the device, and then it will ask whether to use it to speed up your PC with ReadyBoost or use it as a normal drive. Select "Speed up my system" and ReadyBoost goes into action, without further intervention required on your part.




Track and review system performance.



To open

Run as a plug-in for the Microsoft Management Console.

Command Prompt -> perfmon



Description

This plug-in to the Microsoft Management Console tracks system performance and shows a history of application, Windows, hardware, and miscellaneous failures, as well as software installations and uninstallations. Go to any day for details for the failures, installations, and uninstallations for that day. The graph displays the overall reliability over time, so you can see whether your computer is becoming less reliable as it ages.

Collect and display information about your computer.


To open

Start -> All Programs -> Accessories -> System Tools -> System Information

Command Prompt -> msinfo32



Description

Microsoft System Information is a reporting tool used to view information about hardware, system resources used by that hardware, software drivers, and Internet Explorer settings. Information is arranged in a familiar Explorer-like tree. Expand or collapse branches with the little plus (+) and minus (-) signs, and click any category to view the corresponding information in the righthand pane.


Manage system services.


To open

Run as a plug-in for the Microsoft Management Console.

Command Prompt -> services



Description

This plug-in to the Microsoft Management Console displays system services and lets you start and stop services, control whether they run at startup, and customize how they run.