Disable Useless Vista Features
Lose What You Don't Need
If you installed Vista yourself and have experience installing previous Windows OSes, you surely noticed that Vista hardly asks any questions about your computer—and what you plan to do with it—than did prior OSes. Windows Vista makes all kinds of assumptions about your computing habits and the features you may or may not need, and it inevitably installs some overhead that you simply don't need. You can get rid of it. Windows XP had the Add/Remove Windows Features button in the Control Panel Add/Remove Programs applet, and Vista has something like it.
1. Open Control Panel and click Uninstall a Program to launch Vista's Uninstall or Change a Program Window. In the Tasks pane on the left, click Turn Windows Features On or Off.
2. Check the list of features. Each feature is preceded by a check box which, if filled, indicates the feature is installed. If you hover the mouse over a feature, a help tool tip appears to tell you what it is.
3. Do you really need Windows Meeting Space or Tablet PC components?
. Uncheck any feature you don't need. Some of the features are headings with a sub-list below them; just click the little + sign to expand.
For my gaming system, I've purged everything except:
* Some of the games
* XPS Viewer (under .NET Framework 3.0)
* Remote Differential Compression (a network optimizer)
* Windows Ultimate Extras
Note that when you uncheck features, you're not removing these features from your system; you're simply turning them off so they don't sit in the background eating up resources. You can turn any of them back on by invoking this window and filling the check boxes.
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Correct Disk Cleanup shortcuts for Windows Vista 64 B
If you are using a 64-bit (x64) version of Windows Vista, then this is something you should know. By default, the shortcut in the Start menu points to the 32-bit (x86) executable for Disk Cleanup. While Disk Cleanup will work fine from this shortcut for most things, there is one function that does not work correctly – the cleaning of System Restore points and Shadow Copies / Previous Versions.
Note that if you launch Disk Cleanup from another location in Windows, for instance by clicking the “Disk Cleanup” button on a drives properties window, it will launch the correct executable for Disk Cleanup.
If you want to correct the Disk Cleanup shortcut in the Start menu, follow these steps:
1. Click on Start, All Programs, Accessories, and then click on System Tools.
2. Right click on “Disk Cleanup” and from the context menu that appears click on “Properties”.
3. Change the “Target” from “%SystemRoot%\SysWOW64\cleanmgr.exe” to “%SystemRoot%\system32\cleanmgr.exe”.
4. Click on OK. If User Account Control prompts you for consent, click on Continue or provide the appropriate credentials.
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Windows Vista Command Line List Reference:
The list of commands available in the command line shell for Windows Vista is similar to that for Windows XP but with some additions. The commands and a brief explanation of their functions is given.
Several commands are now in the standard list that were formerly available only in Support Tools or the Server 2003 Tools. For example, Robocopy from Server 2003 is now included. There are also some new commands and they are indicated with an asterisk in the list below.
1. ASSOC Displays or modifies file extension associations.
2. ATTRIB Displays or changes file attributes.
3. BREAK Sets or clears extended CTRL+C checking.
4. *BCDEDIT Sets properties in boot database to control boot loading.
5. CACLS Displays or modifies access control lists (ACLs) of files.
6. CALL Calls one batch program from another.
7. CD Displays the name of or changes the current directory.
8. CHCP Displays or sets the active code page number.
9. CHDIR Displays the name of or changes the current directory.
10. CHKDSK Checks a disk and displays a status report.
11. CHKNTFS Displays or modifies the checking of disk at boot time.
12. CLS Clears the screen.
13. CMD Starts a new instance of the Windows command interpreter.
14. COLOR Sets the default console foreground and background colors.
15. COMP Compares the contents of two files or sets of files.
16. COMPACT Displays or alters the compression of files on NTFS partitions.
17. CONVERT Converts FAT volumes to NTFS. You cannot convert the current drive.
18. COPY Copies one or more files to another location.
19. DATE Displays or sets the date.
20. DEL Deletes one or more files.
21. DIR Displays a list of files and subdirectories in a directory.
22. DISKCOMP Compares the contents of two floppy disks.
23. DISKCOPY Copies the contents of one floppy disk to another.
24. DISKPART Displays or configures Disk Partition properties.
25. DOSKEY Edits command lines, recalls Windows commands, and creates macros.
26. DRIVERQUERY Displays current device driver status and properties.
27. ECHO Displays messages, or turns command echoing on or off.
28. ENDLOCAL Ends localization of environment changes in a batch file.
29. ERASE Deletes one or more files.
30. EXIT Quits the CMD.EXE program (command interpreter).
31. FC Compares two files or sets of files, and displays the differences between them.
32. FIND Searches for a text string in a file or files.
33. FINDSTR Searches for strings in files.
34. FOR Runs a specified command for each file in a set of files.
35. FORMAT Formats a disk for use with Windows.
36. FSUTIL Displays or configures the file system properties.
37. FTYPE Displays or modifies file types used in file extension associations.
38. GOTO Directs the Windows command interpreter to a labeled line in a batch program.
39. GPRESULT Displays Group Policy information for machine or user.
40. GRAFTABL Enables Windows to display an extended character set in graphics mode.
41. HELP Provides Help information for Windows commands.
42. *ICACLS Display, modify, backup, or restore ACLs for files and directories.
43. IF Performs conditional processing in batch programs.
44. LABEL Creates, changes, or deletes the volume label of a disk.
45. MD Creates a directory.
46. MKDIR Creates a directory.
47. *MKLINK Creates Symbolic Links and Hard Links
48. MODE Configures a system device.
49. MORE Displays output one screen at a time.
50. MOVE Moves one or more files from one directory to another directory.
51. OPENFILES Displays files opened by remote users for a file share.
52. PATH Displays or sets a search path for executable files.
53. PAUSE Suspends processing of a batch file and displays a message.
54. POPD Restores the previous value of the current directory saved by PUSHD.
55. PRINT Prints a text file.
56. PROMPT Changes the Windows command prompt.
57. PUSHD Saves the current directory then changes it.
58. RD Removes a directory.
59. RECOVER Recovers readable information from a bad or defective disk.
60. REM Records comments (remarks) in batch files or CONFIG.SYS.
61. REN Renames a file or files.
62. RENAME Renames a file or files.
63. REPLACE Replaces files.
64. RMDIR Removes a directory.
65. ROBOCOPY Advanced utility to copy files and directory trees
66. SET Displays, sets, or removes Windows environment variables.
67. SETLOCAL Begins localization of environment changes in a batch file.
68. SC Displays or configures services (background processes).
69. SCHTASKS Schedules commands and programs to run on a computer.
70. SHIFT Shifts the position of replaceable parameters in batch files.
71. SHUTDOWN Allows proper local or remote shutdown of machine.
72. SORT Sorts input.
73. START Starts a separate window to run a specified program or command.
74. SUBST Associates a path with a drive letter.
75. SYSTEMINFO Displays machine specific properties and configuration.
76. TASKLIST Displays all currently running tasks including services.
77. TASKKILL Kill or stop a running process or application.
78. TIME Displays or sets the system time.
79. TITLE Sets the window title for a CMD.EXE session.
80. TREE Graphically displays the directory structure of a drive or path.
81. TYPE Displays the contents of a text file.
82. VER Displays the Windows version.
83. VERIFY Tells Windows whether to verify that your files are written correctly to a disk.
84. VOL Displays a disk volume label and serial number.
85. XCOPY Copies files and directory trees.
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Lose What You Don't Need
If you installed Vista yourself and have experience installing previous Windows OSes, you surely noticed that Vista hardly asks any questions about your computer—and what you plan to do with it—than did prior OSes. Windows Vista makes all kinds of assumptions about your computing habits and the features you may or may not need, and it inevitably installs some overhead that you simply don't need. You can get rid of it. Windows XP had the Add/Remove Windows Features button in the Control Panel Add/Remove Programs applet, and Vista has something like it.
1. Open Control Panel and click Uninstall a Program to launch Vista's Uninstall or Change a Program Window. In the Tasks pane on the left, click Turn Windows Features On or Off.
2. Check the list of features. Each feature is preceded by a check box which, if filled, indicates the feature is installed. If you hover the mouse over a feature, a help tool tip appears to tell you what it is.
3. Do you really need Windows Meeting Space or Tablet PC components?
. Uncheck any feature you don't need. Some of the features are headings with a sub-list below them; just click the little + sign to expand.
For my gaming system, I've purged everything except:
* Some of the games
* XPS Viewer (under .NET Framework 3.0)
* Remote Differential Compression (a network optimizer)
* Windows Ultimate Extras
Note that when you uncheck features, you're not removing these features from your system; you're simply turning them off so they don't sit in the background eating up resources. You can turn any of them back on by invoking this window and filling the check boxes.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Correct Disk Cleanup shortcuts for Windows Vista 64 B
If you are using a 64-bit (x64) version of Windows Vista, then this is something you should know. By default, the shortcut in the Start menu points to the 32-bit (x86) executable for Disk Cleanup. While Disk Cleanup will work fine from this shortcut for most things, there is one function that does not work correctly – the cleaning of System Restore points and Shadow Copies / Previous Versions.
Note that if you launch Disk Cleanup from another location in Windows, for instance by clicking the “Disk Cleanup” button on a drives properties window, it will launch the correct executable for Disk Cleanup.
If you want to correct the Disk Cleanup shortcut in the Start menu, follow these steps:
1. Click on Start, All Programs, Accessories, and then click on System Tools.
2. Right click on “Disk Cleanup” and from the context menu that appears click on “Properties”.
3. Change the “Target” from “%SystemRoot%\SysWOW64\cleanmgr.exe” to “%SystemRoot%\system32\cleanmgr.exe”.
4. Click on OK. If User Account Control prompts you for consent, click on Continue or provide the appropriate credentials.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Windows Vista Command Line List Reference:
The list of commands available in the command line shell for Windows Vista is similar to that for Windows XP but with some additions. The commands and a brief explanation of their functions is given.
Several commands are now in the standard list that were formerly available only in Support Tools or the Server 2003 Tools. For example, Robocopy from Server 2003 is now included. There are also some new commands and they are indicated with an asterisk in the list below.
1. ASSOC Displays or modifies file extension associations.
2. ATTRIB Displays or changes file attributes.
3. BREAK Sets or clears extended CTRL+C checking.
4. *BCDEDIT Sets properties in boot database to control boot loading.
5. CACLS Displays or modifies access control lists (ACLs) of files.
6. CALL Calls one batch program from another.
7. CD Displays the name of or changes the current directory.
8. CHCP Displays or sets the active code page number.
9. CHDIR Displays the name of or changes the current directory.
10. CHKDSK Checks a disk and displays a status report.
11. CHKNTFS Displays or modifies the checking of disk at boot time.
12. CLS Clears the screen.
13. CMD Starts a new instance of the Windows command interpreter.
14. COLOR Sets the default console foreground and background colors.
15. COMP Compares the contents of two files or sets of files.
16. COMPACT Displays or alters the compression of files on NTFS partitions.
17. CONVERT Converts FAT volumes to NTFS. You cannot convert the current drive.
18. COPY Copies one or more files to another location.
19. DATE Displays or sets the date.
20. DEL Deletes one or more files.
21. DIR Displays a list of files and subdirectories in a directory.
22. DISKCOMP Compares the contents of two floppy disks.
23. DISKCOPY Copies the contents of one floppy disk to another.
24. DISKPART Displays or configures Disk Partition properties.
25. DOSKEY Edits command lines, recalls Windows commands, and creates macros.
26. DRIVERQUERY Displays current device driver status and properties.
27. ECHO Displays messages, or turns command echoing on or off.
28. ENDLOCAL Ends localization of environment changes in a batch file.
29. ERASE Deletes one or more files.
30. EXIT Quits the CMD.EXE program (command interpreter).
31. FC Compares two files or sets of files, and displays the differences between them.
32. FIND Searches for a text string in a file or files.
33. FINDSTR Searches for strings in files.
34. FOR Runs a specified command for each file in a set of files.
35. FORMAT Formats a disk for use with Windows.
36. FSUTIL Displays or configures the file system properties.
37. FTYPE Displays or modifies file types used in file extension associations.
38. GOTO Directs the Windows command interpreter to a labeled line in a batch program.
39. GPRESULT Displays Group Policy information for machine or user.
40. GRAFTABL Enables Windows to display an extended character set in graphics mode.
41. HELP Provides Help information for Windows commands.
42. *ICACLS Display, modify, backup, or restore ACLs for files and directories.
43. IF Performs conditional processing in batch programs.
44. LABEL Creates, changes, or deletes the volume label of a disk.
45. MD Creates a directory.
46. MKDIR Creates a directory.
47. *MKLINK Creates Symbolic Links and Hard Links
48. MODE Configures a system device.
49. MORE Displays output one screen at a time.
50. MOVE Moves one or more files from one directory to another directory.
51. OPENFILES Displays files opened by remote users for a file share.
52. PATH Displays or sets a search path for executable files.
53. PAUSE Suspends processing of a batch file and displays a message.
54. POPD Restores the previous value of the current directory saved by PUSHD.
55. PRINT Prints a text file.
56. PROMPT Changes the Windows command prompt.
57. PUSHD Saves the current directory then changes it.
58. RD Removes a directory.
59. RECOVER Recovers readable information from a bad or defective disk.
60. REM Records comments (remarks) in batch files or CONFIG.SYS.
61. REN Renames a file or files.
62. RENAME Renames a file or files.
63. REPLACE Replaces files.
64. RMDIR Removes a directory.
65. ROBOCOPY Advanced utility to copy files and directory trees
66. SET Displays, sets, or removes Windows environment variables.
67. SETLOCAL Begins localization of environment changes in a batch file.
68. SC Displays or configures services (background processes).
69. SCHTASKS Schedules commands and programs to run on a computer.
70. SHIFT Shifts the position of replaceable parameters in batch files.
71. SHUTDOWN Allows proper local or remote shutdown of machine.
72. SORT Sorts input.
73. START Starts a separate window to run a specified program or command.
74. SUBST Associates a path with a drive letter.
75. SYSTEMINFO Displays machine specific properties and configuration.
76. TASKLIST Displays all currently running tasks including services.
77. TASKKILL Kill or stop a running process or application.
78. TIME Displays or sets the system time.
79. TITLE Sets the window title for a CMD.EXE session.
80. TREE Graphically displays the directory structure of a drive or path.
81. TYPE Displays the contents of a text file.
82. VER Displays the Windows version.
83. VERIFY Tells Windows whether to verify that your files are written correctly to a disk.
84. VOL Displays a disk volume label and serial number.
85. XCOPY Copies files and directory trees.
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