Tips and Tricks to Speed Up Windows Vista

Microsoft developed Windows Vista in order to provide users with the best performance possible, but this doesn't mean there is nothing you can do to improve the experience even further. Gathered below are some of the simplest tips and tricks available for Microsoft's Windows Vista.

Tip #1: TweakVI
The most powerful option available will always be to download specialized software that does all the hard work for you. While manual tweaks are useful, there's simply no comparison; TweakVI and similar programs cover many aspects of Windows Vista and can perform the tweaks that would take you and I hours in a matter of minutes. You choose what you wish to see and these tweaking programs do it for you.

TweakVI is recommended due to its ease of use and freeware status. It can be found at:
http://www.totalidea.com/

Tip #2: Disable the "Aero" Interface
Windows Vista contains a flashy new look that Microsoft has dubbed "Aero." While this theme changes the look of your PC, the flashy effects and stylistic decisions also slow it down! If you want to squeeze a bit more speed out of your Vista machine, disable the new Aero theme.

To disable this Aero interface, head to your Control Panel and click on the Themes section. There are a wide range of classic and modern themes for you to choose from; Windows Classic and Windows XP both provide great-looking interfaces without the performance hit caused by the new Aero look. You may find these themes a bit more familiar!

Tip #3: Turn Off Unwanted Vista Services
There are many features of Windows Vista that you will never have a use for. These unnecessary features do nothing but occupy memory and slow down your Vista experience. It is strongly recommended that you turn off the features you know you will not use in order to increase the performance of your machine. This is perhaps one of the most beneficial tweaks you can do for your system!

To begin, go to your Start Menu and click on Run. From here, type in services.msc and hit enter. You will see a list of services pop up; at this point, choose which services you wish to disable. Doing so will save you valuable memory and spare your processor the trouble to boot! For a list of services and full descriptions for each, please visit:
http://www.speedyvista.com/services.html

Tip #4: Make the UAC Notifications Go Away
If you're like most Vista users, you've already become annoyed with the constant pop-ups that Vista displays while doing pretty much anything. While these security notifications are a good idea in theory, in practice they simply become a big hassle. Disabling these User Account Control notifications will keep your patience (and your time clicking "accept") in check.

Disabling the User Account Control notifications is no short process, so we will break this down in a numbered list.

1. First, click the Start Menu and go to Run. From here, type in secpol.msc to open the Security Options Menu.

2. Find and open "Security Options" under the Local Policies section.

3. Scroll down until you find and open the "User Account Protection" settings.

4. Right-click and select "Modify" on the notification settings you wish to change. Voila! You will no longer be barraged with unwanted notifications.

Note: Some users may find comfort in these notifications. If so, feel free to skip this tweak; if you know your security settings are in line, however, there is no need to deal with these repeated pop-ups.

Tip #5: Vista Diagnostics
Last, but certainly not least, Windows Vista is packed with diagnostic tools to help you discover and fix any issues that may be plaguing your system. To access these tools, head into your Control Panel, click on System and Maintenance and then choose Performance Information and Tools. Inside, you will find the ability to "Generate a system health report." Select this option and Vista will quickly scan your computer for everything from errors in disk space to security holes your software may contain! As a quick and accurate report, these diagnostic results can tell you a great deal about your computer and will help troubleshoot any situations that may arise.

Congratulations on Your Well-Oiled System!

These tips and tricks will go a long way towards making your Windows Vista experience much more efficient than when we begun. While new operating systems come and go every few years, there will always be ways of customizing and improving the performance of these products to fit your wants and needs. As we become more familiar with Windows Vista and its workings, our ability to expand upon its capabilities will only improve.