Allowing Network Access with Blank Passwords with Vista

Although you can log in locally without a password, by default, Vista does not allow network users to access the computer without a password. To change this setting in windows vista: Run gpedit.msc Go to Computer Configuration / Windows vista Settings /Security Settings / Local Policies / Security Options Double click on Accounts: Limit local account use of blank passwords to console login only Disable this option.

Resizing Partitions Vista

Vista now has the ability to resize partitions. Right click on my Computer on vista tip desktop Select Manage Click on Disk Management Right click on a partition Select Shrink or Extend depending on what you want to do Note: As with all changes to partition sizes, have a good set of backups beforehand is a good idea.

Editing the Boot file in Windows Vista

One of the major changes in Vista that the average user will not notice but anyone that has a multi-boot system will is that the old text based Boot.ini file no longer exists. It has been replaced by a boot config database that is edited via a command line tool BCDEDIT. Although BCDEDIT works quite well - fumbling around with the command line, ensuring the right switches and settings are put in can sometimes be pretty frustrating.

A freeware GUI Boot database editing tool is VistaBootPRO. should point out at this time that I am under no commercial agreements with the makers of the product - I just like it and have and will recommend it to any administrator of Vista.

See it in Slow Motion

If you'd like to see some of Vista's best effects in slow motion, add an entry to the Registry. Then, simply hold down the SHIFT key. For example, when triggering Flip 3D with the Windows Key+TAB key combination, also hold down SHIFT to see it happen much more slowly. You can also use this while minimizing a window or restoring a window from the taskbar.

To make it happen, tap Windows Key+R to bring up the Run dialog and enter the following text:reg add HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\DWM /v AnimationsShiftKey /t REG_DWORD /d 1A command line window will open asking you if you'd like to add this value to the Registry. Type Y and hit Enter. You may need to restart before it works.

Stop Applications that Auto-start On Startup in Vista

There are 2 ways to stop applications that auto-start when you login to Windows Vista. You can either use the System Configuration Utility or the new Software Explorer in Windows Defender.

Method 1: System Configuration Utility

• Click on the Start Button, enter msconfig and hit Enter
• Click on the Startup tab
• Uncheck items that you do want to auto-start and click OK
  

• Click on the Start Button, enter Windows Defender and hit Enter
• Click on the Tools from the top menu bar
• Click on Software Explorer and select Show for All Users
• Select an application to either Remove or Disable

Hidden Right-click Options in the Windows Vista Shell

In Windows Vista, if you hold down the Shift key and right-click on an item in Explorer, the right-click context menu changes slightly. As Chen explains, the rationale for this is to conceal certain advanced options from users, so they don't blunder into them by accident. (Whether you agree with the wisdom of this is another matter.)

Here's a list of some of these hidden Vista Shell options. (Note: The list is not exhaustive, as it's entirely possible for a program to register its own advanced options with a given file type.)

• Pin to Start Menu: Places the selected item on the Start Menu for quick future access. To remove it, right-click on the pinned item in the Start Menu and select "Remove from this list."
  
  
• Add to Quick Launch: Adds a shortcut for the selected item to the Quick Launch menu.
  Wednesday, May 21, 2008 12:47 PMPath: Copies the filename for the item as a full pathname. This is a handy way to extract the path to an item without having to open its Properties pane or look at it in an Explorer folder.
  
  
• Open as Read-Only: When selected, the item in question is opened as read-only. Any changes will have to be saved to another file. This only works for Office 2007 documents.
  
  
• Open Command Window Here (Shell folder): Shift-right-click on a folder and you'll get this option, which lets you open a command-line prompt in that folder. Note: This is a standard user-command prompt, not an elevated command prompt.

Add "Open with Notepad" to the Context Menu for All Files

The default method of opening unknown files forces you to go through a list of known applications and is generally a pain to deal with. That's why it's nice to have a context menu option for "Open with Notepad" so that you can quickly open up files without having to go through a lot of trouble. This registry hack is nothing new, it's been around forever... think of this as a refresher course. Also note that you can use this same technique to substitute any other application that you'd like by adjusting the path in the registry to point to the different editor.

1. Open regedit.exe through the start menu search or run box, and then browse down to the following key: HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\*\shell
2. Right-click on "shell" folder and choose to create a new key, calling it "Open with Notepad". Create a new key below that one called "command". Double-click on the (Default) value in the right-hand pane and enter in the following: notepad.exe %1
3. The change should take effect immediately.
4. Right-click on any file and you'll see the next menu entry.