Tweaking and Optimising Windows Vista

Vista is crammed full of various pointless features and settings that can cause your computer to slow down, here at Tech-Xtreme we have the first 5 tweaks and customizations that I (Maxel) always perform and recommend upon a new installation of Windows Vista. I am using Windows Vista Ultimate 32-bit in this guide.

5. First of all, User Account Control has to be disabled! This function was first introduced in Windows Vista and it’s aim is to improve the security of Microsoft Windows by limiting application software to standard user privileges until an administrator authorizes an increase in privilege level. This function can become incredibly annoying as it appears when opening certain programs even ones that are built in standard on the Windows Vista OS. To disable, first navigate to the Start Menu > Control Panel > User Accounts > Turn User Account Control On or Off.

4. Performance. All of the different options that are enabled by default use up memory and if you haven’t got much of it, you don’t want some menu animations using up your RAM. I recommend keeping just three of the options enabled in the performance options dialog box. To access Performance Options, right click “Computer” from the start menu, on the left click “Advanced System Settings” and select “Settings” in the performance box. Disable all but the three shown in the screenshot below.

Another way to improve performance is by downloading and installing CCleaner.  CCleaner can delete all of your temporary internet files, cookies etc…, clear out old registry files that are not needed any more and provide an easy way to disable various start-up processes.  A brilliant piece of software that will definitely free up some space and speed up a slow computer, you can download it here.

3. Upon installing Windows Vista (clean install), bundled in with it is a load of unwanted software. To remove all of the trials, unwanted games, and other applications you need to go to the “Programs and Features” application located in the Control Panel. Once you’re there, all you need to do is select the software you want to remove and click uninstall.

2. Customizing the Start Menu. The start menu holds links to locations all over your computer including Documents, Computer, Control Panel, Programs. Start off by clicking Start and then right clicking in a blank space on the start menu. A menu will appear after doing this, click Properties, then Customize. The window that has now appeared enabled you to change how many items are shown, which items are shown and various other features.

1. For those of you using dual monitors with Vista, switching between Media Center and other programs can be a pain.  The Maxifier is a program that is used in conjunction with Windows Media Center and allows you to use Windows Media Center full screen while easily switching between whatever you have open on your other monitor.  You can download The Maxifier by clicking on this link.

If you would like to download this guide please click here to download a PDF version.

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