::Vista Tips And Support Thread::
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Heh. OK. I go fix the links. You guys go petition so we can have more images per page.Originally posted by kenn3th:Mayi's lazy
GUess mayi needs an upgrade. -
If you intend to use 3rd-party firewalls, you can leave it off. Otherwise, turn it on.Originally posted by RvnRooRon84:lol..mayi, go upgrade yourself!
Anyway, I have disabled both Windows Defender and Windows Firewall; thus when I run wf.msc, an error message comes up:
http://img530.imageshack.us/img530/7687/37507306le6.jpg
Should I restart Windows Firewall? -
Can't work.Originally posted by kenn3th:Unlock the supersecret Administrator account
Deep inside the bowels of Windows Vista, there's a secret Administrator account, and it's different from the normal administrator account you most likely have set up on your PC. This Administrator account is not part of the Administrator group. (Confused yet? You should be.) It's a kind of superadministrator, akin to the root account in Unix, and by default it's turned off and hidden. (In describing this hack, we'll always use the capital "A" for the secret Administrator account, and a lowercase "a" for a normal administrator account.)
In versions of Windows before Windows Vista, the Administrator account wasn't hidden, and many people used it as their main or only account. This Administrator account had full rights over the computer.
In Windows Vista, Microsoft changed that. In Vista, the Administrator account is not subject to UAC, but normal administrator accounts are. So the Administrator can make any changes to the system and will see no UAC prompts.
Turning on the Administrator account is straightforward. First, open an elevated command prompt by typing cmd into the Search box on the Start menu, right-clicking the command prompt icon that appears at the top of the Start menu, then selecting Run as administrator -- or just use the shortcut you created in the previous hack.
Then enter this command and press Enter:
Net user administrator /active:yes
From now on, the Administrator account will appear as an option on the Welcome screen, along with any user accounts you may have set up. Use it like any other account. Be aware that it won't have a password yet, so it's a good idea to set a password for it.
If you want to disable the account and hide it, enter this command at an elevated command prompt and press Enter:
Net user administrator /active:noThe user name could not be found.
Never mind. Found out liao. I changed the username. LOL
More help is available by typing NET HELPMSG 2221.
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enable alt+clt+del on vista
In older versions of Windows, you had to use the Ctrl+Alt+Delete combination to login to the system. This was supposed to provide a higher security login, although I don't know how. You also might be used to using that combination to login, and there's a way to turn it back on.
Open the Advanced User Accounts panel by typing in netplwiz into the start menu search box, and hitting enter. Then click the Advanced tab, and you'll see this:
Just check the box, and the next time you login, you'll see the old familiar prompt
or u can do it through
start run, >> change passwords2>> adv user accounts and follow the steps above. -
Vista Media center hack
One of the downsides with Microsoft Media Center is that you can't view both your recorded TV movies and your DVD movie collection under one screen.
Fortunately there is a hack for the new Vista Media Center that allows you to combine DVD movies with recorded TV movies in your DVD library.
Unfortunately it is not the most straightforward hack and requires a reasonable knowledge of how to play with computer code
instructions here:
http://mobilewares.spaces.live.com/Blog/cns!78533A1A2E078194!164.entry -
Originally posted by kenn3th:
XP - If using Pro, can use Group Policy
[b] enable alt+clt+del on vista
In older versions of Windows, you had to use the Ctrl+Alt+Delete combination to login to the system. This was supposed to provide a higher security login, although I don't know how. You also might be used to using that combination to login, and there's a way to turn it back on.
Open the Advanced User Accounts panel by typing in netplwiz into the start menu search box, and hitting enter. Then click the Advanced tab, and you'll see this:
Just check the box, and the next time you login, you'll see the old familiar prompt
or u can do it through
start run, >> change passwords2>> adv user accounts and follow the steps above.[/b]
If using Home - registry hack -
Enable Bitlocker Encryption
Windows Vista includes a new hard drive encryption feature called BitLocker Drive Encryption. BitLocker can be a very useful security feature for businesses and home users that have sensitive and confidential information stored on their computer. Unfortunately, BitLocker Drive Encryption by default requires a Trusted Platform Module (TPM Chip) version 1.2 or later installed in your computer. A lot of the computers and laptops on the market do not come with TPM chips installed since they are typically only found in premium model business computers. If you have Windows Vista Business, Ultimate or Enterprise but do not have a TPM chip, you can still use BitLocker Drive Encryption.
Hidden away in local group policy is a setting that will allow you to turn on the ability to use a USB storage device instead of a TPM key to store the encryption key. This is a great feature for users that donÂ’t have the latest high-end hardware because you can still use hard drive encryption. However, every time you turn on your computer, the USB storage device that has the encryption key located on it must be plugged in. Without it, your computer will not boot up. One BitLocker Drive Encryption is setup with a USB storage device, that USB storage device basically becomes the key to your computer.
Follow these steps to turn on the ability to use a USB storage device with BitLocker Drive Encryption on hardware that does not have a TPM device:
1. Click on the Start Button and key in gpedit.msc and hit Enter.
2. Navigate through: Computer Policy, Administrative Templates, Windows Components and BitLocker Drive Encryption.
3. Right click on Control Panel Setup: Enable advanced startup options and select Properties.
Check Enabled and hit OK. -
Yep.Originally posted by ndmmxiaomayi:XP - If using Pro, can use Group Policy
If using Home - registry hack -
Remove Vista SP1 RC Evaluation Watermark from Desktop
As you know by now that after installing Vista Sp1 RC you will end up with a watermark on the lower right corner of your desktop.
The watermark about Windows Vista evaluation on the right corner of desktop is set by “user32.dll.mui” file located in %systemroot%\system32\en-US\ folder (”en-US” depends on which language option Windows Vista is installed). To remove the evaluation watermark from the desktop, simply modify the user32.dll.mui file as shown.
- Download and install a Resource Editor(I have used Resource hacker in this example) which we will use to edit the user32.dll.mui.
- Navigate to %systemroot%\system32\en-US\ folder, and right-click on user32.dll.mui, and then click on Properties on the right click menu. Then, select the Security tab.
- Click on the Advanced button, and the click on the Owner tab.
- Change the settings and edit to take ownership of user32.dll.mui file. Click OK when done.
- Go back to the Advanced Security Settings again, at Permissions tab, edit the permission that assigned to yourself to Full Control to get full access to user32.dll.mui file.
- Make a backup copy of user32.dll.mui located in %systemroot%\system32\en-US\ folder.
- Run ResourceHacker navigate and open the %systemroot%\system32\en-US\user32.dll.mui file.
- In the left tree-view pane, expand ‘String’, then click and open Item #45 and modify the strings so that the final result looks like the image below and compile the script.
- Click and open item #47 under the “String” and modify according the image below(remember to press “Compile script” button after).
- Save the file and restart the pc and the watermark is gone.
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sian man. intel wont release WDDM drivers for intel GMA 900.
poor user like me dun get to enjoy aero...
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Originally posted by hiphop2009:
sian man. intel wont release WDDM drivers for intel GMA 900.
poor user like me dun get to enjoy aero...
There is a bypass in this thread. you can go see
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Rather than a tweak, it's a warning.
I spent 3 days figuring this damn problem out... don't ask me why I didn't Google. About everything breaks down right before CNY.
For those who ever wonder why Vista has so many processes... first thing tweakers do is to hit MSConfig and Services.msc
Don't ever disable this service - Software Licensing.
Hehe, if you are curious, go and try, after that reboot. Then try opening Control Panel.
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Originally posted by ndmmxiaomayi:
Rather than a tweak, it's a warning.
I spent 3 days figuring this damn problem out... don't ask me why I didn't Google. About everything breaks down right before CNY.
For those who ever wonder why Vista has so many processes... first thing tweakers do is to hit MSConfig and Services.msc
Don't ever disable this service - Software Licensing.
Hehe, if you are curious, go and try, after that reboot. Then try opening Control Panel.
what did u do?what would happen?
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Improve management of the RAM
If you are user of Windows Vista you can very easily improve management of RAM memory with these tricks. Just fallow steps and you can do it without any problems.
Click on “Starting”, “Run…” then type “regedit” and click on “OK”
Go to the key: “HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ SYSTEM \ CurrentControlSet \ Control \ Session Manager \ Memory Management \”
Create or modify value DWORD “IoPageLockLimit” and enter one of the following values (into hexadecimal) according to the quantity of your RAM:
- For 128 MB of RAM: “0001C000”
- For 256 MB of RAM: “0003C000”
- For 512 MB of RAM: “00070000”
- For 1024 MB of RAM: “000F0000”
If you have another quantity of RAM, you can find the value added by laying down the following rule:
- If you have 64 MB of RAM or less, to withdraw 7 MB from your quantity of RAM before converting into hexadecimal.
- If have between 64 and 512 MB of RAM, to withdraw 16 MB from your quantity of RAM before converting into hexadecimal.
- If you have more than 512 MB of RAM, to withdraw 16 MB from your quantity of RAM before converting into hexadecimal.
Example for 192 MB of RAM:
- 192 - 16 = 176 (subtraction of the quantity of RAM)
- 176 * 1024 = 180224 (conversion into kilobytes)
- 180224 = 2C000 (conversion into hexadecimal)
To convert into hexadecimal, open the computer of Windows, in the TAB “Posting” select “Scientific”. Check that “Decimal” is selected then type your number. It is enough for you to select “Hexadecimal” to convert the number.
The value which it is necessary added is thus “0002C000”.
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Originally posted by kenn3th:
what did u do?what would happen?
1. Go to Start > Run and type in services.msc and press Enter. If UAC prompts, allow it.
2. Scroll down to Software Licensing. Startup Type, change to Disabled. Then press Stop to stop the service.
Restart your computer.
Do either of the following:
Right click on your desktop and select Personalize
Or Start > Control Panel (Vista Start Menu) OR Start > Settings > Control Panel (Classic Start Menu)
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Ever accidentally hold down your right click button and drag something out?
Want to change that?
Do this:
1. Right click on the taskbar (where the Start Menu, but not on the Start Menu or any of the icons) and select Properties.
2. Select Start Menu tab.
3. Scroll down and untick this box - Enable Context Drag and Drop.
Right clicking on Start Menu items no longer work. Bear in mind that if you elevate privileges this way (right click on programs in the Start Menu and select Run As Administrator), the right click menu no longer shows up. To bypass that...
1. Create shortcuts on your desktop or some folder and put all programs there. Then right click and select Run As Administrator.
Hehe, how to create shortcuts when you have no idea where your programs are?
2. Go to the folder where the programs are (usually C:\Program Files\Program Name for installed programs, C:\Windows\system32 for Windows files), right click and select Run As Administrator
3. Disable UAC
Not recommended -
I dont wish to try leh mayi, you make it sound so scary in ur prev post.
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Originally posted by kenn3th:
I dont wish to try leh mayi, you make it sound so scary in ur prev post.
Your computer will boot up. Not as if disabling that service will kill Vista. It only disables some features of Vista.
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Originally posted by ndmmxiaomayi:
Your computer will boot up. Not as if disabling that service will kill Vista. It only disables some features of Vista.
make it sound so scary =_- -
Originally posted by kenn3th:
make it sound so scary =_-Those features gone will freak the hell out of you. LOL
When Control Panel doesn't work, no Event Viewer error logs, CPL files gone missing, CPL files that are found can't work, UAC gone (seemingly for installing and uninstalling programs only), right click feature gone (for Start menu only)
And re-enabling the service still doesn't repair it fully. Sigh. Right click feature I've got it sorted out myself. Now I've got to figure out why installing and uninstalling programs doesn't cause UAC to prompt despite having UAC turned on.
Basically, it does what it says - Cause the OS or any programs that depends on this service to work in REDUCED FUNCTIONALITY mode. Even my expired Vista worked. -_-
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Quack quack! then how you resolve?
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mayi's bad way - reformat and reinstall. After that, do all those things again to cause Vista to work this way.
FYI - I hate system restore.
I don't think recording down a thousand and one things I did help in restoring it back. Tracking back helped me to some extent, that's how I figured out how it killed my Control Panel. As for the rest, no idea what happened.
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Originally posted by ndmmxiaomayi:
mayi's bad way - reformat and reinstall. After that, do all those things again to cause Vista to work this way.
FYI - I hate system restore.
I don't think recording down a thousand and one things I did help in restoring it back. Tracking back helped me to some extent, that's how I figured out how it killed my Control Panel. As for the rest, no idea what happened.
Poor mayi, but u forgot one way.key in your product code and activate it =/
then it would be licensed?
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Originally posted by kenn3th:
Poor mayi, but u forgot one way.key in your product code and activate it =/
then it would be licensed?
Nah, no need. That one is school de. Vista Enterprise. Although it expired, it worked fine. Just one issue. It's so naggy. LOLThis version that I'm playing with is my own copy of Vista. Disable one wrong service and I need to think so hard and spend so many days fixing it.
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Originally posted by ndmmxiaomayi:
Nah, no need. That one is school de. Vista Enterprise. Although it expired, it worked fine. Just one issue. It's so naggy. LOLThis version that I'm playing with is my own copy of Vista. Disable one wrong service and I need to think so hard and spend so many days fixing it.
hahas, 1hr nags.Btw whr to request for sp1 cds?