Vista Startup time etc.

[weewillie]

OK! it has not been out long, but there is problems that should be thought about.

1. Startup time is runniing from 3 minutes to 5 minutes.

Are other people having this problem or is it the nature of the beast?

2. Audio devices were missing on install. This was fixed, especially if you have a built in audio on the motherboard.

This seems to be a new site, lets make it a good one!

[Dallas Cop 2566]

I hate Windows Vista Home Version Basic.

I encounter one problem after another. The latest is it automatically downloads Windows Updates as it should, automatically installs them at a designated time as it should and then demands a computer restart. After the computer restart I check the update history and find the update as failed.

This has occurred once daily since I purchased the computer.

Finding compatible software and downloadable programs is another problem.

Can't use my fax program, Mighty Fax, not compatible with the Vista Operating System as about all the other programs I used on my old computer running Windows ME.

I sure wish they continued updates for Windows ME as I sure enjoyed it much more, had enormously fewer problems and was able to fix most problems with ease, something you can only dream of with Windows Vista.

I did max out the memory and it made most operations somewhat faster, but this is considered an expensive fix to many.

My honest opinion, Windows Vista is a total failure--------------------

[ramsmoker]

The slow start for me was that all the programs were set to run in the back ground on startup. I was told to hit start, run, type in msconfig and edit the startup menu. As a whole I feel betrayed by Microsoft. They have soft selling us for a year about this fine completly new system that would be cutting edge. They never said anything about 75% of our software wouldn't work. Not much is new, just put in a different place. If you look into the file system there are files from win95. A truely new system wouldn't be 6gig. The last thing here is back to the speed issue. My new machine came with 1gig memory. HP said that is like 128meg in a XP machine. I have 3gig more on the way. I'll post the results.

[Guest]

I have vista home basic, the first thing you need to do when you pull a new computer out of the box havening vista on it is plug into the wall and reload it, 99% of all computer problems come out of the box with ethe software that the manufacture puts on there conflicting with Microsoft software, next download Lavasoft AD-Ware 2007 personnel, and install it, next get a relay good antivirus, I recommend NOD 32, install both of the, get a 3rd party registry cleaner too, unless you can fine the old regclean from M/S, Yes it works on vista, I have regclean I don't know anything about how the onecare works, I uninstalled that. All I run is NOD 32 and Lavasoft, my computer is clean and runs fast, so far since I reloaded to get rid of all the junk that was on there out of the box, vista home basic has rocked.

[Guest]

As for slow starts turn off some of the processes that you don't need, I'm not sure which ones they are in vista, so I make no comment about that

[donkuliano]

Thats the real problem with this "new and shiny" operating system. Virtually all programs that you are used to are incompatible - spent the past one month finding compatible versions of all my software that ran fine on XP - did not find for most - . Talk of expensive downtime and maybe unnecessary downtime. Thinking of reverting back to XP as it came in with the New Lap Top. Microsoft should have thought of backward compatibility with other Software that work on XP. For some of us a new O.S is not much fun. You just want to GET ON WITH WORK in as short time as is possible. Then any software that is tagged incompatible; DON'T install as you may not be able to uninstall when you discover it doesn't work in vista anyway! [/b]

[Yash]

I have Vista Home Basic and it is dead slow. Except Office I don't have any other program in the start up, it still takes at least 3 minutes to load...initially system crashed couple of times..and then restarted itself. As one of u mentioned, Windows Update fails most of the time. Worst part is that Microsoft with Hardware manufactures are pushing customers to buy Sys with Vista. I never wanted Vista but had no choice. HP recalled all the sys with XP and shipping only VIsta, which is a heavier application and not compatible with most of the softwares available.

I'll be honest, it's a touch more user friendly, still not worth it..for all the trouble you have to face....

[jas]

hey !!! guys i have been using ma notebook with vista and its very fun to use thou a bit glossy adn a bit complicated ... ANywasys , vistast programming is so inteliigently done that if you even try 2 fromat ur comp. naa it doesnt eed you sitting aside jus instals and discards on its own needs ...

@ yash

it might be because your comp. has loads of sptware or viruses . or it jus has a hardcware prob. most likely to be RaM ... tey cotacting technical support

[Trevor]

Startup time depends on your computer!!! i have windows vista premium and first off, the first time i started vista and did the initial setup i was told by someone that it takes about 40 to 60 minutes and that was a lie. the initial setup only took me computer less than 5 minutes. after that the startup time for just turning on the computer and having everything load takes only seconds for my computer. so for all of you who are complaining that it is vista that takes forever you are wrong, it is your COMPUTER!!!

[doodude]

Im not having any of the problems reported about Vista so Im a little confused as to why others are.

Im no PC guru by any means but I do know any new system needs to be tweaked.

Theres always bloatware that needs to be uninstalled & processes that need to be turned off in order to speed up the system & rid it of those things that most of us will never use.

If you get into your startup files & cant determine if you should turn it off or not then just google the file name & that should tell you what it does & whether or not you need it.

AND... if you look online at sites like "freeafterrebate.com" ot even "outpost.com" you can find all kinds of security software thats free with a rebate. ZoneAlarm, AVG & even the CPU hogging Norton are often on sale.

And lastly ( GOD, will this guy ever shutup!? ) Ive found that "Diskeeper 2007" & "CCleaner" are great programs for keeping Vista quick to start.
CCleaner is free & Diskeeper has a free version but I like the paid version as it defragments the hard drive in the background using only idle resources.

[tls]

I had xp and really liked it, was worried that changing to vista would be a problem..but....so far I love it. Program runs fast and smooth, have thoroughly enjoyed learning the system and am sold on it. I had a local computer guy get everything hooked up and running for me, maybe that was the difference because I would normally get things going myself but maybe it just takes someone who REALLY knows what he is doing to get your Vista running smoothly.

[Bojo360]

I go back to the days of DOS when windows wasn't thought of. DOS had basic operational flaws in the beginning that Microsoft didn't have the foresight to fix. They were already huge. So they built windows on the flawed DOS OS and that is why we have to have fixes every few weeks for security or operations. You can't build on a flawed foundation. That's why Apple doesn't have problems. But then you pay a bigger price for software right?

Many software giants are happy with Vista as it gets the people who "borrowed programs" without paying for them to eventually be weeded out along with people who haven't paid for upgrades in years. Gee, Microsoft takes the hit from the consumer and the software people are so sorry for you. It's about profit. Microsoft will never have a secure operating system and Vista is no exception.

If you unhide system files and select Windows XP or ME as the system which you want to run your older programs under. it should work. Mine do. you might consider dumping all the pay for services while your cleaning up Vista. Many secure web sites ( Brokerage firm Banks etc.) will no longer except information from 95 or 98 and soon 2000. So what are you going to do?

Turn off the "see through" graphics crap and you'll save time loading and switching between programs.

Go to Barnes and Noble or some such bookstore and thumb through either Vista for Dummies or I think, Vista the Unwritten Manual. take a couple of notes and it should help. That's it from the 'ol guy who bought his first computer in1979 from Radio Shack ...a TRS80. No programs period. You had to write your own.
Bojo360

[guest]

FASTER MENU

1. These tweaks require that you venture into your registry, please backup your registry.

2. Go to Start > Run when the Run box opens type in regedit

3. Your registry should have opened [Just checking...have you backed up your registry?] Navigate to the following keys; HKEY_CURRENT_USER > Control Panel >Desktop

4. On the pane to the right double-click on MenuShowDelay, it should open up a dialog box with a set value (it should be 400), change that value to 0.

5. Click OK, you're done

FASTER VISTA

FASTER MENU

1. These tweaks require that you venture into your registry, please backup your registry.

2. Go to Start > Run when the Run box opens type in regedit

3. Your registry should have opened [Just checking...have you backed up your registry?]

Navigate to the following keys; HKEY_CURRENT_USER > Control Panel >Desktop

4. On the pane to the right double-click on

MenuShowDelay

it should open up a dialog box with a set value (it should be 400), change that value to 50.

5. Click OK, you're done

Ditching Aero

Vista's Aero interface gives Microsoft's (Nasdaq: MSFT) Free Trial.

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Latest News about Microsoft latest consumer operating system the glitz that makes it visually appealing.

Semi-transparent title bars and a more three-dimensional appearance overall are trademarks of Aero.

However, Aero eats up a lot of system resources -- and takes a toll on performance as a result.

Microsoft makes turning off Aero pretty easy.

First, right-click on any blank area of your Vista desktop

select Personalize from the resulting pop-up menu.

The Windows Control Panel opens. From there

click the Window Color and Appearance link.

Then click the Enable Transparency check box to remove the check mark.

Before leaving the Window Color and Appearance dialog box,

click the link labeled "Open classic appearance properties for more color options."

That link takes you to the Appearance Settings dialog box.

In Appearance Settings, you'll find a list of color schemes from which you can choose.

Three of those color schemes -- Windows Vista Basic, Windows Standard, and Windows Classic

-- will remove the Aero interface. Specifically, Windows Vista Basic gives you the Vista look without the transparency effects of Aero. Windows Standard revives the Windows 2000 look, and Windows Classic is a throwback to the Windows 95/98 appearance. Switch to any one of these themes, and you should notice that Vista becomes a bit snappier overall.
Revamp Explorer

You can tweak more productivity Save up to $500 off top-selling HP printers.

and performance by changing some behaviors of the Vista version of Windows Explorer,

which is heavy on the glitz but has arguably taken a step backwards in usability.

The first sin of Vista's Windows Explorer is that the menus are no longer visible.

Get them back by opening Windows Explorer, pressing Alt-T to pull open the hidden Tools menu,

and then selecting Folder Options.

From the resulting Folder Options dialog box, click the View tab,

where you'll see a long list of check boxes.

Place a check mark in the second one, labeled "Always show menus,"

and you'll get your Explorer menus back in a flash.

While you're there, check the first option as well --

labeled "Always show icons, never thumbnails."

That option tells Vista not to bother with showing thumbnails of images in a directory listing.

If you can do without thumbnails,

you'll find that Explorer works faster and crashes much less often.

Back to Start

Vista's revamped Start menu has some nifty tricks up its sleeve.

The integrated Search field, for instance,

makes it easy to find programs that are nested deep within the Start menu,

and the integrated scroll bar offers a solution to the monitor-hogging fly out menus

that plagued the earlier Start menu.

However, if you find Vista's Start menu to be overkill --

or long for the simplicity of the earlier version -- you're in luck.

Right-click the Vista Start menu, and select Properties.

The Taskbar and Start Menu dialog box opens.

From there, select the Start Menu tab, and then click the Classic Start menu option button.

Click OK, and Vista will revamp your Start menu, giving you back the old-style XP Start menu.

These tricks won't make Vista work exactly like XP does, but they go some way toward giving you back that familiar look and feel -- as well as improving the performance of Vista.


Stabilize Vista

So, you've reluctantly decided to hang in there with Vista but still prefer the XP experience?

The good news is that there are things you can do to make Vista look

and work a little more like XP.

Faking It

First, right-click on an empty area of the desktop and select Personalize.

Click the Window Color and Appearance link,

and then click Open classic appearance properties for more color options.

From the list, choose Windows Vista Basic to get a quasi-XP look and feel,

or Windows Classic if you prefer the utilitarian interface from Windows 2000 and 98.

Either choice should also improve system performance,

since the flashy (and essentially useless) transparency effects are system resource hogs.

While you're at it, you can also revert Vista's Start menu to the simpler form

it took in earlier versions of Windows.

Right-click the Start button, select Properties, and then choose the Classic Start menu option.

Next, if you're frustrated by the absence of drop-down menus in Windows Explorer

and Internet Explorer, you can bring them back any time by pressing the Alt key.

To make this change permanent in Windows Explorer,

open the Organize drop-down, select Folder and Search Options,

choose the View tab, and then turn on the Always show menus check box.

One of Vista's biggest problems is the Green Ribbon of Death,

the harbinger of a crashed Explorer window.

XP certainly has Vista beat in this area,

but only because XP's Windows Explorer doesn't take on as much.

To make Explorer more stable in Vista, open Folder Options in Control Panel,

and choose the View tab.

Select the first option here, Always show icons, never thumbnails, and click OK.

Now, if you'd rather not do away with Vista's thumbnail previews of videos and pictures,

you're probably going to need to deal with the occasional crash.

If the Green Ribbon rears its ugly head, just press Ctrl-Shift-Esc,

then choose the Processes tab.

Click the Image Name column header to sort the list alphabetically,

then select an instance of Explorer.exe and click End Process to close it

(repeat for each open Explorer window).

If the desktop disappears in the process, don't sweat it:

From Task Manager's File menu, select New Task, type explorer in the box,

and click OK to bring the desktop back.

If this problem keeps happening, particularly each time you browse a specific folder,

the likely culprit is a corrupt photo or video file; delete the file to stop the crashing.

This tip is just a simple way to add shortcuts to your quick launch toolbar

from your desktop shortcuts.

In the past, I found that dragging and dropping these shortcuts was a pain.

Lining up the shortcut just right could prove difficult. Then I found a simpler way of doing it.

Here is how it is done:

Right click on the shortcut you want to move from your desktop.

Click on ‘Add to Quick Launch’. That’s it!


After, you can delete the desktop shortcut; it’ll now be in your quick launch toolbar.

FASTER BOOTUP

1st,make SURE you're running at LEAST 2 GIG'S of memory! Vista is a memory HOG !

next,cut back on the number of programs running with windows boot.

press windows key + letter R

enter

msconfig

click startup tab

disable those programs absolutely NOT needed at start up.

things like shockwave,flash,quicktime,java,anti spyware program

[ removal type,not like spyware blaster ]

use disk clean nightly if an internet junkie

clean out temp file folders [ there are 2 of them in 2 DIFFERENT places ]

clean out prefetch folder [ useless appendage ]

do a disk defrag quarterly [ more often if heavy downloader ]

install Ccleaner to clean out useless crap daily

use your keyboard to lauch the 1st 10 programs from your quick launchbar [ formerly taskbar ]

press windows key + numbers 1-0 to launch programs that way

open mouse [ from control panel ] and set speed at "Fast "

WINDOWS FEATURES

start,default programs,programs & features

turn windows features on or off

turn off: un check box

turn on: check box

got use for Printer Service ? no ? turn it off
Windows Meeting Space
are you a "gamer" ? no ? turn it off
turn off Indexing Service


Sidebar:

start,control panel,Windows Sidebar

uncheck start with windows to turn it off and check box to re start Windows Sidebar

[stargazer1]

Well, so far I haven't had any problems except the usually problem finding things like add and remove, mainly getting use the new OS.. I love the free cell game, wish I could update the one on my desktop.