Windows Vista Tips and Tricks You May Want To Know

1. How To Create An XPS Document

XML Paper Specification (XPS), included in Vista, lets you create and view documents from any PC while maintaining its appearance. XML is part of the open/cross-platform document that has been pushed, especially by Linux enthusiastic, but also Google, Yahoo, and many others. Some examples are Zoho Writer, Google’s Docs and Spreadsheets, OpenOffice, etc.

You can create a XPS document from almost any application that’s running in your Vista PC. Here’s how:

1. Open a document
2. Select the print option
3. In the printer selection menu, select Microsoft XPS Document Writer and click OK
4. Name the file and click Save

Now you can open your document and it will appear in the XPS Viewer, which is embedded in IE7.

To learn more about XPS, including how to create a XPS files, go here.
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2. How To Create A Shortcut for Locking Your PC

For those who created shortcuts under WinXP to do routine tasks, the good news is that you can do the same under Vista. It just takes practice, trying an error or simply asking someone. Here’s a way to create a shortcut to lock your PC.

1. Right-click an empty space of your Desktop.
2. Select New, then Shortcut.
3. In the space below “Type the location of the item:” type or paste the following: rundll32.exe user32.dll, LockWorkStation
4. Click Next
5. Type a name for your shortcut, e.g. PC Lock (I named mine “Candado”, which is Spanish for padlock)
6. Click Finish.

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3. How To Transfer Data to Another Computer Using Windows Easy Transfer

Depending on your current OS and the version of Vista you decide to purchase, your only choice might be a clean install of Vista. However, you can make your migration easier by using the Windows Easy Transfer wizard.

Using the wizard, you can transfer: User accounts; Files and folders; Program data files and settings; Email messages, settings, and contacts; Photos, music, and videos; Windows settings; and Internet settings. You can transfer your user account or all user accounts on your PC, or you can choose which data or folders to transfer.

Note: You CANNOT transfer any programs.

There are a number of ways to transfer your data:

1. USB Easy Transfer cable (not cheap). This is a special USB cable that is designed to work with Windows Vista and Windows Easy Transfer.
2. Home or small business network. If you already have a wired or wireless network, you can use it to transfer all of your data.
3. Removable (external) hard drive. You can copy your data to the drive and then copy it from that drive to your new PC.
4. CD and DVD. The CD is a good solution if you are moving only small amount of data. The DVD can hold a lot more information.

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4. How To Use Windows Calendar

With technology advances, using a PC to manage our time has become more important than ever. Windows Calendar allows you to manage your time and coordinate your schedule with relatives, associates and colleagues. It’s simple to use, and can be setup to provide you automatic notifications and reminders about specific tasks or future appointments. For example, you can setup the calendar to alert you minutes, hours, or even days ahead of time, depending on how much advance notice you want. Or you can setup a recurring appointment, e.g. staff meeting every Friday at 3:00 p.m., personal budget every two weeks, monthly health club payment, etc.

Windows Calendar also allows you to organize and manage the things you need to do by creating a personal task list. Additionally, for each task, you can describe what you need to do, set deadline for completion, set priority ranking and keep track of your progress. It even allows you to set reminders so you’ll know when a task is nearly due.

To open Windows Calendar, simply click Start, type Windows Calendar and hit enter.

To create a calendar, click the File menu, and select New Calendar. Type a name for the calendar and then press ENTER.

To view your calendar by day, work week, week, or month simply click the View menu and place a check mark next to the view you want to select.

The Details Pane allows you to see a detail of a task or appointment. To view Details Pane click the View menu and check Details Pane. To close the Details pane, simply uncheck it.

To create appointments click New Appointment on the toolbar, then use the Details Pane to enter any additional information.

To create a task, click New Task on the toolbar. Use the Details Pane to write a description and any other information about your task.

You can even search for appointments or task by using the Search box (upper right hand side) by entering keywords.

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5. How To View Files in Stack View

Another great way to view your files is by using Stack View. It shows your data in stacks based on the content of a folder. For example, on a previous post, I mentioned that I ripped a bunch of my CDs to the hard drive. I open the folder where my music files are located, right click and select “Stack by” Album”, they are rearranged into stacks organized by albums.
Now, you can click on a stack just like a folder and select a different view. For example, I recorded an album, which includes various artists, 12 to be exact. I open the stack and it shows all 12 songs by titled. Doing a right click and selecting “Stack by” “Artists”, shows a stack of all artists for that particular album. Selecting “Stack by” “Folder”, shows you the location or folder where the file is located.
You can try it with documents as well. Open your Documents, right click and select “Stack by” “Date Modified” for example. The files are stack by according to when they were modified, e.g. yesterday, last week, earlier this year, a long time ago.
Tip: Once you have selected a “Stack by” view, use the menu bar to select a different view; Name, Date Modified, Type, etc.

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6. How To Run Older Incompatible Software on Windows Vista

Although a great number of Win XP programs will run with Vista, there are a few that will run , but with some issues or won’t run at all no matter what you do. What would you do is this situation? Here are some suggestions:
First, don’t go out to purchase an updated version of the program, at least not yet. Remember that we are still dealing with a Beta version of Vista; there’s always a chance that your program will work once the final version rolls around. Another reason not to purchase an updated version is that by the time Vista rolls around, software developers may have already a Vista compatible update. However, do check for updates before proceeding, as there’s a chance you can download a free update.

If you cannot find and update, the next step is to change the compatibility for the program. There are two ways to change the compatibility settings: Manually or using the Program Compatibility Wizard.

To run the wizard, click Start, Help and Support, the type Compatibility Wizard and select Run the Program Compatibility Wizard. Then just follow the instructions in the wizard.

To change compatibility settings manually, simply right-click the program’s icon, click on Properties, then click the Compatibility tab. You can change the compatibility mode by first placing a check mark to the left of “Run this program in compatibility mode for:”, then selecting the compatible Windows operating system for the program.

You can also check mark the following settings:
Run in 256 colors: Uses a limited set of colors in the program. Some older programs are designed to use fewer colors.
Run in 640 × 480 screen resolution: Runs the program in a smaller-sized window. Try this setting if the graphical user interface appears jagged or is rendered improperly.
Disable visual themes: Disables themes on the program. Try this setting if you notice problems with the menus or buttons on the title bar of the program.
Disable desktop composition: Turns off transparency and other advanced display features. Choose this setting if window movement appears erratic or you notice other display problems.
Disable display scaling on high DPI settings: Turns off automatic resizing of programs if large-scale font size is in use. Try this setting if large-scale fonts are interfering with the appearance of the program.
Privilege level: Runs the program as an administrator. Some programs require administrator privileges to run properly. If you are not currently logged on as an administrator, this option is not available.
Show settings for all users: Lets you choose settings that will apply to all users on this computer.

One more thing; Do not ignore the following WARNING that appears when you start the wizard: Do not use the Program Compatibility Wizard on older antivirus programs, disk utilities, or other system programs because it might cause data loss or create a security risk.
Although you might get the program to work, the antivirus program might not protect your PC against viruses for example, or the Register repair program might cause more harm than good, and so forth. There are many antivirus and a few utility programs compatible with Vista, so don’t take a chance.
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7. How To Sync Desktop and Laptop with Vista Sync Center

When you travel, you want to make sure you’ll have access to the latest files and documents; Windows has made it easier for those who use a laptop, tablet or PDA. Before you leave for your business trip, use Sync Center to make sure you have the latest files on hand.

Sync Center keeps information in sync between your desktop and mobile equipment. It determines the latest version of the file and overwrites the older file with the newer version. To open Sync Center, click Start and type Sync Center in Search box, or click Start, All Programs, Accessories and Sync Center.

If you must rely on the battery while traveling, it will help to utilize the battery power as efficient as possible. Vista Power saver, helps you travel longer with battery power by lowering system performance. Although you might not be able to run a power hungry application, you’ll still be able to answer your emails or relax to some music, for a longer time. To change your power option, click Start and type Power Option, click Power Option and select Power saver.

If you are traveling with friends and coworkers and want to share info, you can use Vista Meeting Space. It allows up to ten people to work to share information through a network or peer to peer (P2P). You can share desktops and programs and distribute and edit files on each other PC. Click Start and type Meeting Space.

Finally, use Vista’s Mobility Center to quickly access your mobile PC settings, all in one central location. You can adjust your screen, speaker volume, select power saver, turn off your wireless adapter, rotate the screen, connect another monitor, access the sync center or prepare your presentation. To access Mobility Center click Start, Control Panel, Mobile PC and the click Windows Mobility Center, or click Battery meter icon on the taskbar, then click Mobility Center or simply press the Windows + X keys on your keyboard.
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8. How To Create and Format a Partition in which to Store Your Documents

1. Click Start and type Management on search box, or click Start, right click Computer and click Manage.
2. Click Disk Management under Storage.
3. Right-click the drive you want to add your partition to and select Shrink Volume
4. Decide how much room you want to allocate to the new partition; e.g. If your hard disk has 60GB and you want to allocate 20GB for your data, you must shrink the partition to 40GB.
5. Now right click the Unallocated partition you just created and select New Simple Volume.
6. In the New Simple Volume Wizard, click Next.
7. You can either create a custom size volume in MB or accept the maximum default size, and click Next.
8. Select the default drive letter or choose a different letter and click Next.
9. Click Next to format the partition and then click Finish.

To have your Documents point to the new partition automatically, do the following:

1. Click Start and right click Documents.
2. Click Properties and select the Location tab
3. On the Location Tab, change the drive letter to the letter corresponding to the drive you just create: e.g. if the new hard drive letter is “D”, then change this C:\Users\Administrator\Documents, to read like this D:\Users\Administrator\Documents.
4. Click OK
5. When ask Do you want to create the folder, select Yes.
6. When ask Do you want to move old files to new location, select Yes.
7. You are done. Now whenever you save a file, it will be stored in your new partition.
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9. How To Use Vista Backup and Restore

Vista provides many layers of backup and restore protection in a single, integrated Backup and Restore Center. Two of the main applications included are Windows Restore and Windows Backup. Together, these applications provide users protection from hardware failure, user error, or other issues.

Windows Backup.

Using Windows Backup you can back up your PC settings, files and applications manually or by using automated scheduling. You can back up to CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, external hard disk, to another hard disk on your PC, or to a network PC or server. With automatic scheduling, you can choose when and where you want the back up to take place. You also have a choice of backing up your systems files and folders or your entire hard drive.

When backing up your entire system, Windows Back Up creates a complete image of you hard drive. you can use this backup to restore your PC contents in the event your hard disk fails. MS recommend creating a new system image backup every six months. Here’s how:
1. Open the Control Panel and click “Backup and Restore Center”.
2. Choose the type of restore you want to create and follow the instructions.

If this is your first backup, I suggest you do a complete PC backup. If you use a lot of programs and have those programs available, install those programs before backing up your hard drive. Vista will create an image of the entire PC, which you can later use to restore your PC in case of a PC failure or if replacing your hard drive.

Note that if you restore your PC from a backup image, you won’t be able to choose individual files or folders to restore, and all of your current files and programs will completely be replaced. Also, do not choose a complete back up if you are experiencing problems with your current settings, if you do, chances are that you’ll have those same problems when you restore your PC.

3. You should backup your files in a regular basis, or schedule automatic backups…Follow steps 1 and 2 above. Note that automatic backup will not be available in Windows Vista Starter or Home Basic versions.

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10. How To Use Windows Remote Assistance

When you feel frustrated about a problem with your PC and can’t think of a solution, your best bet might be to have a friend, or trusted PC guru, show you how to fix it. You can use Windows Remote Assistance to do just that, it gives you the ability to allow someone to access your pc and help you solve the problem. Windows Remote Assistance sessions are secured, as they are encrypted and password-protected.
You can invite your friend to connect to your PC by sending an invitation through instant messaging or e-mail. Make sure to ask someone whom you can trust because that other person will have access to your files. Once your friend is connected, both of you can view your PC and discuss what you both see.
Your friend can even use his or her mouse and keyboard to work with you on your PC and, hopefully, show you how to fix the problem. And don’t forget, you might be able to help someone else using this application as well.
1, Go to Start and type Remote Assistance on Search box. Now click Windows Remote Assistance.
2. On popup window press “Invite someone you trust to help you”.
3. From here just follow the instructions.
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11. How To Set Up Vista Parental Controls

Vista Parental Controls let you decide how your children use the PC. You can use Parental Controls to set the time limit that your kid(s) can use the computer, the types of games they can play, the internet websites they can visit, and programs they can run.

By setting time limits on your kid’s computer, you prevent them from logging on during certain hours. You can set different log on hours for every day of the week. If they are logged on when their alloted time ends, they will be automatically logged off.

You can also control the games your kids will be allowed to play. You can control access to games, choose an age rating level, choose the types of content you want to block, and decide whether you want to allow or block specific games.

You can restrict websites your kids visit, check age rating, indicate whether they’ll be allowed to download files, and set up filters to block and allow content. You can even block or allow specific websites. Additionally, you can prevent your kids from running specific applications on their PCs.
And finally, you can setup activity report so you can track what they are doing when using their PCs.

1. To run Parental Controls click Start and type Parental Control on search box.
Note that that you must set a password for accounts with administrative privilege to prevent others for turning Parental Control off.
2. Create an account if it has not been created.
3. Turn Parental Controls on.
4. Select whether or not you want an activity report.
5. On Windows Setting, select the controls for Internet, time limits, games and programs allow.
Will your kids be upset about their settings? They might, especially teenagers, but as parents, it’s our responsibility to make sure they stay safe while using a computer. Will they be able to hack the controls? When there is a will, there’s a way. You should never rely solely on the software…check and know what they are doing.
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12. How To Quickly Batch Rename Photo FileNames Using Windows Photo Gallery

Windows photo gallery is an excellent application that you can use to better organize your pictures. When saving photos from you digital media, the default file name, e.g. DSC029034.JPG or P0025234.JPG, can be difficult to remember, not to mention time consuming as you go through the process of renaming each file. However, there’s a better way, you can use photo gallery to get rid of all of those pointless file names and organize your photos quickly. You can name pictures all at once using the same word or phrase, and save time to enjoy a slide show of your photo album. Here’s how:
1. Download your photos to photo gallery
2. Open photo gallery, if not already open. Click Start and type Photo gallery.
3. Open the folder that contains the pictures you downloaded
4. Select the pictures by holding down the CTRL key and clicking the pictures want to rename. Or, use Ctrl+A to select all pictures in the folder.
5. Right-click the pictures, and then click Rename.
6. In the Info pane (right pane) type a name in the box, for example “My Summer Vacation”. Now each picture you selected will be given name with a different sequential number, like this: My Summer Vacation (1), My Summer Vacation (2), My Summer Vacation 2005 (3), and so on.
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13. How To Independently Control Volume Levels for Each Application

Have you noticed the new cool feature in Vista? It allows you to independently control the sound level for each application that uses sound. For example, say you want to keep Windows system sounds at a mid range level, and Media Player at a lower level. You can change the volume level settings by opening the speaker volume application (lower/right hand side of notification area of task bar), click mixer, and individually change the volume level for any application that uses sound and is currently running. you can even mute the sound for each individual application.
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14. How To Select Which OS to Start If You Dual Boot

If you dual boot (multiboot) between Vista and WinXP, or another OS, you can choose which one will start when turning on your PC.
1. Open Computer
2. Click System Properties tab, and then click Advanced System Settings.
3. Click the Advanced tab, and then, under Startup and Recovery, click Settings.
4. Under System startup, in the Default operating system list, click the operating system that you want to use when turning on or restarting your PC.
5. Check Select the Time to display list of operating systems box, and select the number of seconds you want the list of operating systems to be displayed before the default OS starts. Default is 30 seconds, but that could be an etternity for some PC users.
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15. How to Use Windows Meeting Space for Collaboration Sessions

Windows Collaboration, or how it’s known today Windows Meeting Space, is a new element of Windows Vista intended to make it simple for PC users to work together (collaborate). With Windows Meeting Space, a PC user can share documents, applications and even the desktop. “Collaboration” sessions can take place over wired or wireless networks, even without the presence of an access point.
To begin Windows Meeting Space
1. Clicks Start, All Programs, Windows Meeting Space.
2. Click “Yes” to the prompt dialog. If a UAC prompt appears, enter admin account password.
3. Enter the information requested on the new prompt dialog. (Note: Two people may be using the same display name during collaborating, so make sure you are collaborating with the right person.)
4. If a session is taking place, you’ll be asked if you want to join.
5. To create a new collaborating session, click Start A New Meeting and specify a password
6. Now you can now invite others to join your meeting, start a shared session, add a notes or handouts, etc.
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16. How To Use the People Near Me Feature

Do you know what People Near Me is or what it does? People Near Me is a an application that lets you know if other people are using a PC near urs. you can use People Near Me with Windows Meeting Space. When you start Windows Meeting Space, it will sign you in to People Near Me. Windows Meeting Space gives you the ability to share documents, files and even your desktop.
To activate People Near Me, go to Control Panel and select it. To select Windows Meeting Space, click “Start”, “All Programs” and click on”Windows Meeting Space.
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17. How To Hide Messages You’ve Already Read in Windows Mail, Outlook Express, or Windows Live Mail

Whether you are using Windows Mail, Outlook Express or Windows Live Mail, if your inbox is getting a little crowded you can hide messages that you’ve already read. Here’s how:

Outlook Express

1. Right-click the toolbar and select the Views Bar.
2. Select Hide Read Messages in Views.

Windows Live Mail and Windows Mail

1. Go to View > Current View and select Hide Read Messages

Now you no longer see messages that you’ve already read.
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18. How To Use Vista’s Speech Recognition Feature (or Talk to Your Computer)

Speech Recognition allows you to control your computer by voice to start programs, open menus, click buttons and other objects on the screen, dictate text into documents, and write and send e-mails. You can do almost everything you do with your keyboard and mouse using your voice. Here’s how to activate speech recognition:

1. Click Start, type Windows Speech the Search box and hit Enter to open Windows Speech Recognition
2. Select Start Speech Recognition
3. Follow the tutorial to setup your microphone and the Speech Tutorial.
4. Set Speech Recognition to start each time you log on to your computer (optional).

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19. How to easily share folders in Vista

Open any explorer windows, e.g. “Documents”. Highlight the document, i.e. single click. From the command bar select “Share”. Use the down-arrow to select Administrator, all users in your list, or type the name of the person in the network, click Add, and then select the permission level.

Vista can also auto-generate an email that will allow the recipient quick access to the shared document.
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20. How To Change the Way Pages Print from IE7

You can make changes to the way a page will print when using IE7. Here’s how:

1. Press the Alt key to bring up the “classic” menu.
2. Go to File, then Page Setup
3. In the dialog box you can select Portrait or Landscape, change the margins and even print specific information by typing a variable into the header or footer boxes. For example, typing &w&bPage &p of &P in the header box denotes printing the Window title, right-aligned text and current page of blank number of pages. (See below for different variables that you can use).

1. Window title = &W
2. Page address (URL) = &u
3. Date in short format (as specified by Regional and Language Options in Control Panel) = &d
4. Date in long format (as specified by Regional and Language Options in Control Panel) = &D
5. Time (as specified by Regional and Language Options in Control Panel) = &t
6. Time in 24-hour format = &T
7. Current page number = &p
8. Total number of pages = &P
9. Right-aligned text (following &b) = &b
10. Centered text (between &b&b) = &b&b
11. A single ampersand (&) = &&

Compiled from: VistaBabble