Vista Blog

Fix User Folders Showing Simple Folder Icon

2009-07-12T23:58:00.000-07:00

Windows Vista facing a problem . The problem is, the folder icons in User folder change from special glass icons to simple folder icons.

This is how the icons look in User folder which can be accessed using "%userprofile%" command or just select your username in Startmenu.
But sometimes these icons become simple default folder icons. When "Desktop.ini" file becomes corrupted. Actually all these special glass icons are displayed using "desktop.ini" file which is present in each folder (hidden). Sometimes a few software make this file corrupt and these folders start showing simple folder icon.
Solution is simple. Replace "desktop.ini" file present in the corrupt folder with default one. The default "desktop.ini" file for each folder is given below, just download the desired desktop.ini file (Right-click on the file and select "Save Link As..." or "Save Target As...") and paste in the folder which is showing corrupt icon.Windows will ask to overwrite the existing file, select "Copy & Replace".

The Forgotten Password Disk

2009-07-12T08:59:00.001-07:00

As described above, Windows contains a handy hint mechanism for helping you recall your password if you've forgotten it.

But what if, having walked into a low-hanging branch, you've completely forgotten both your password and the correct interpretation of your hint? In that disastrous situation, your entire world of work and email would be locked inside the computer forever. (Yes, an administrator could issue you a new passwordbut as noted in the box on the facing page, you'd lose all your secondary passwords in the process.)

Fortunately, Windows offers a clever solution-in-advance: the Password Reset Disk. It's a CD or USB flash drive (not a floppy, as in Windows XP) that you can use like a physical key to unlock your account, in the event of a forgotten password. The catch is, you have to make this disk now, while you still remember your password.

To create this disk, insert a blank CD or a USB flash drive. Open/ the Start menu and click your picture (top right). The "Make changes to your account" window opens

The first link in the task pane says, "Create a password reset disk." Click that to open the Forgotten Password Wizard. Click through it, supplying your current password when you're asked for it. When you click Finish, remove the CD or flash drive. Label it, and don't lose it!

How the Synchronization Works

2009-06-28T11:38:00.000-07:00

There are some nice improvements in offline files between XP’s implementation and
Vista’s. First, Vista uses a new and faster algorithm to ascertain which files/directories
are different between the server and client. Second, Vista uses a process called Bitmap
Differential Transfer to sync changes. To understand this and the benefits, you must first
know that in XP the entire file (if changed) was copied back to the server. However,
with Bitmap Differential Transfer only the specific blocks that have been modified while
offline (disconnected from the server) are sent up to the server. This allows for faster
synchronization of only modified data.
Along with performance improvements as a result, Vista can now handle larger files
such as .PST and .MDB files (unlike X P, which could not). In Vista, no file types are excluded.

Keep in mind that Bitmap Differential Transfer works only from the Vista client up to
the server. In synchronizing the other way, from server to client, the entire file is sent.
Among the other great changes is that Vista synchronizes only the current user logged
in (unlike X P, which tried to sync all the users of the machine) and you can also script
your synchronization using WMI.

Windows SideShow

2009-06-28T11:37:00.000-07:00

Windows SideShow is one technology to watch for. It has real potential. The concept is
that laptop manufacturers and others can create a secondary or alternative display to
allow users to view critical information without turning on the laptop. It’s literally a
sideshow, in that things like meeting schedules, contact information, map directions,
and email can all be accessed without all the turmoil of turning on the system. The aux-
iliary displays aren ’t all created just yet, but the ideas include keyboards, LCD display
casings (like mini-picture frame displays), remote controls, cell phones, and so forth that
will display information located on your Vista system. Some are even thinking of light
gaming capabilities.
When the host machine is on, it checks in with the SideShow devices and you have
real-time updates. If the host machine shuts down, the information is then cached in
the secondary or alternative system. You can do a quick search online for SideShow
products and you’ll see some of the innovative thoughts being put together.
Once you have a device that works with SideShow, you can go into this applet and con-
figure your gadgets (calendar, email, and so forth) to work with it.

Managing Print Jobs

2009-06-28T11:36:00.001-07:00

To see the jobs printing off a printer, you can double-click the printer icon from the
Printers applet. It opens a dialog box that shows you what’s printing. From here you can
select certain jobs and select to Pause them or Cancel them, if necessary. The print
queue window shows you the print job’s document name, status of the printing, owner,
number of pages, size of the job, time and date it was submitted, and port.
In some locations, printers are set up with servers and a special team of administrators
handles them. In smaller environments, printers might be connected to certain users’
machines while others in the office print documents “through” those systems to the
printer.
In those cases, if you are the user who has the printer connected, you might want to be
aware of how to manage these jobs so you can do things like stop one job to make sure
another job prints first, and so forth.

Search

2009-06-28T11:33:00.002-07:00

Microsoft wants us to be able to store documents that are similar in folder structures we
are familiar with; however, Microsoft now wants to make those similar documents
available regardless of where they are stored. Microsoft’s solution to this problem is a
new concept called the Search Folder. For this reason, we have the Search tab in the
Folder Options and we can configure our search settings as follows:

What to Search
—Here the default setting is best for performance because, if the
location is indexed (which we will be getting into momentarily), it searches through
filenames and content. If not, then only filenames are searched. Leaving the default
will most likely yield the most useful results quickly if you keep your documents in
indexed areas such as your profile folders . However, if you want to search everything
with filenames and contents (the slower option), you can select that, too.

How to Search
—This offers a variety of logical options, but the Use Natural Language
Search selection is one you really might like to set up for users because, as mentioned
in Chapter 1, this will certainly help users who never got the whole Boolean thing. You
can also tell the system Don’t Use the Index if you are trying to troubleshoot a problem
with the index.

Date and Time

2009-06-28T11:33:00.001-07:00

People are really liking the new Date and Time applet, mostly because of its ability to
add two additional times for other time zones (as mentioned in Chapter 1, “General Tips
and Tricks of the Masters”).

There are still the following three tabs:

Date and Time —Enables you to change the date, time, or time zone.

Additional Clocks—Enables you to configure two additional clocks with their own time

zones. When you hover your mouse over the time, you see the time in these other locations.

Internet Time-Enables you to synchronize with systems on the Internet for the proper
time. You can change the time to synchronize or stop this from happening altogether.
You can force it to occur immediately or change the servers it checks the time with.

What everyone seems to love is the new clock graphic that displays when you click the
time, along with the fact that now you can scroll through the calendar and look at other
dates without fear of changing the date. You cannot change the date unless you go into
the settings, so you can scroll through the calendar all you want.

Group Policy Settings

2009-06-28T11:14:00.001-07:00

The Windows Sidebar is neither friend nor foe. It’s an option. And it can be disabled.
For administrators, the big question might be “how can I disable it throughout my
domain?” The two sets of Group Policy settings are the computer level and the user
level. Either one works, but disabling the Sidebar at the computer level ensures that all
users sitting at the system have the policy applied.
To change the Group Policy for Windows Sidebar, go to the Group Policy Object Editor
(using
from the Run dialog box). Open either Computer Configuration or User
gpedit.msc
Configuration settings, under Administrative Templates; then, under Windows
Components, look for Windows Sidebar. You’ll see the following settings:
¦
Override the More Gadgets Link
—By default, the Windows Sidebar directs users to the
Microsoft-provided gadgets. If you would like your users directed elsewhere, you can
establish that change here by enabling the setting and providing the alternative loca-
tion. If you leave this unconfigured or disable it, users are simply directed to the default
site.
¦
Turn Off Windows Sidebar
—The Sidebar is turned on by default (unless your hardware
cannot support it and then it will be disabled). You can force it to be turned off by con-
figuring this setting in your policies.
¦
Disable Unpacking and Installation of Gadgets That Are Not Digitally Signed
—
Gadgets can be packaged up as compressed files being signed digitally or not. You can
configure this policy setting to ensure that all compressed gadget files will not be
unpackaged or installed unless they are digitally signed.
¦
Turn Off User Installed Windows Sidebar Gadgets
—No doubt users will want to install
gadgets of their own, and many gadgets are being created these days. If that doesn’t
bother you, you can leave this setting alone. If you don’t like the idea of any user being
able to add any gadget he chooses, configure this to disable user-installed gadgets.
To turn off the Sidebar for your own personal system, you can always select Control
Panel, Appearance and Personalization, Windows Sidebar Properties and then deselect
the Start Sidebar when Windows Starts option

Using Shift to Slow Down

2009-06-28T11:13:00.001-07:00

Here is another tip: If you are using Windows Aero, you can perform
a neat Registry trick to slow down the animations (minimize/maximize) when you hold
down the Shift key on your keyboard. But you are going to have to modify the Registry
a little.
Not only does this allow you to see the animations a bit clearer but it also leaves Flip 3D
a
on screen when you let go of the Ctrl+WindowsKey+Tab combination. (Normally Flip
3D departs the screen as soon as you let go of the key combo.) Also, whenever you min-
imize or maximize (or close) a window, if you hold the Shift key down you will see how
impressive Vista is in slow-mo. Here’s how to do it:
1. Open the Run dialog box ( +R), type
, and then click OK. (If User
regedit.exe
Account Control prompts you to allow the action, click Continue.)
2. Navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\DWM.
3. In the right side, right-click an empty space and hover over New; then from the
menu that appears, click DWORD (32-bit) Value.
4. Give the new DWORD value a name of
.
AnimationsShiftKey
5. Double-click the DWORD and then give it a value of 1.

Command Prompt for Administrators

2009-06-28T11:09:00.000-07:00

While we are on the subject of configuration, it’s important to note that some of your
programs will be affected by the new User Account Control (UAC). Because User Account
Control restricts a lot of actions that many programs could previously have performed
without obstacle, many legacy applications run afoul of these new security measures.
Enabling programs to get around these restrictions is easy to do, but you have to make
an extra effort to run these tools and applications with administrative credentials. It’s
not so hard to do. You saw earlier in this chapter that it’s a simple matter of right-click-
ing whichever application or shortcut you want to run and then selecting the Run as
Administrator option.
Terri Stratton
Microsoft MVP
Pinning the Command Prompt or any other frequently used program to the Start menu
is also an option. It’s then quickly available to right-click to run as administrator. It can
also be added to the Quick Launch, but most like saving space there for more frequently
used programs.

Tricks of the Windows

2009-06-28T11:08:00.000-07:00

Some of us love the Vista boot screens. We love when that little orb appears in the mid-
dle of the screen and then the colorful login screen displays. For those who don’t love
it just the way it is, well, you can actually change it slightly. During boot, behind the
scenes is a boot screen that Vista techno-geeks call Aurora. The only difference
between it and what you see by default is that, instead of a scrolling bar with a Vista
graphic at the beginning of the process, you see a stationary picture with the text
“Starting Windows Vista” at the bottom

If you are tired of the default boot screen in Windows Vista, there is a better looking one
hidden away, and it looks like the “Aurora” that everyone has been raving about since
Longhorn was in its alpha days.
To enable the “Aurora” boot screen:
1. Press the + R combination on your keyboard to display the Run dialog.
2. Type MSCONFIG.EXE
3. If User Account Control prompts you to allow the action, click on “Continue.”
4. In the “System Configuration” window, click on the “Boot” tab
5. Select your Windows Vista installation and under “Boot options”, check “No GUI
boot.”
6. Press OK.
7. In the dialog that appears, check “Don’t show this message again”, and then
click on “Restart.”
8. Your computer will now reboot, and you will see the “aurora” boot screen with
text that says Starting Windows Vista.

Enhance Explorer Performance

2009-06-28T10:50:00.000-07:00

These are just a few pointers on making your system appear faster. Depending on the
hardware you’re using when you install Vista, you will see varying degrees of speed.
Here are a few ideas to speed things up.
Go into your Advanced System Settings. (Right-click the Computer icon in the Start
menu and select Properties. Then click the Advanced Computer Settings link to open the
System Properties dialog box.) On the Advanced tab, under Performance, click Settings.
The Visual Effects tab opens (see Figure 1.3). From here, you can easily click to have
Vista turn all settings on or off for best Performance or best Appearance. Or you can cus-
tomize this yourself by choosing to disable certain options.
Making adjustments to your Visual Effects can improve your Vista experience.

Beyond Vista Tools

2009-06-28T10:47:00.000-07:00

There has always been a market for tools that can help you make your working expe-
rience more customizable with Windows. In the world of shortcut keys, a great tool we
used to work with was WinKey (the latest and final version is 2.8 from Copernic). You
can still find this on the Web if you run a search for “winkey.”
You can also look for other tools on sites such as download.com and so forth. One nice
tool is AutoHotkey (it’s a little tricky for newbies in the world of scripting, though). It’s
a free, open-source utility for Windows that is constantly evolving. Here are some of the
self-proclaimed uses from the AutoHotKey website (www.autohotkey.com)