by Alden Smith
With the advent of Windows Vista, many people are finding the computer experience a whole new ball game. Because there are 6 versions of Vista, it can at times be a bit difficult to sort out all the differences. Before upgrading to Vista, be sure to visit the Microsoft website and check out all the differences in this operating system. That way, you won't end up with something that doesn't meet your needs. Here we discuss some frequently asked questions about Vista.
How do I install a dual-boot with Windows XP on my Windows Vista computer?
People having trouble with Vista often ask about a dual boot system. Typically, a Windows application will take up the entire partition designated to it. Vista, however, has a neat feature called "Shrink Volume". This feature allows you to decrease the volume of Vista to allow room for XP. Instructions can be found online.
What is the Lock button, and how do I use it?
The Lock button on a Vista OS is useful to lock your computer so other people cannot access your data. You access this by going to Start -> Lock. The welcome screen appears, and the computer can then only be accessed by the user with a password. This is especially beneficial in a work environment where you might handle sensitive data.
What is the difference between sleep and hybrid sleep?
Sleep is typically a feature used on a laptop PC, but with Vistas it is an option that is a good power saving tool. With sleep, the computer goes into a low power mode and open documents are saved to memory. Hybrid sleep does this, too, but also saves the data to the hard disk, so that if a power failure happens, the data can be recovered. In the event of power failure while in sleep mode, data is lost.
How do I prevent my computer from going into sleep or hibernation mode too quickly?
Changing the time limits for sleep or hibernation can be accomplished by going to Start -> control Panel -> System and Maintenance -> Power Options. There you will find a Select Power Plan page. Click Change Plan Settings under the current plan. When you enter the Change Plan Settings For The Plan page, go to Change Advanced Power Settings. Make the appropriate changes here, click Apply then OK.
What happened to My Documents, My Pictures and My Music that were on Win XP?
This is nothing more than a simple change of semantics from Microsoft. These documents are now simply Documents, Pictures and Music.
What happened to my Restart and Shutdown options?
They have been moved to the Start menu, and now reside under the Lock tab - the picture of a padlock on the Start menu. You have there the options to Log Off, Lock, Switch User, Shut Down and Restart.
Why can't I shut down my computer?
There are several reasons for this. One, when a program is being used, it "captures" a portion of memory for its use. When you exit the program, in theory it is supposed to release that memory back to the computer. This doesn't always happen. If this happens, the screen will darken and Vista indicates which programs are preventing the computer from shutting down. Often, it will tell you why the program isn't shutting down. You will see on the darkened screen two radio buttons - Cancel and Shut Down Now. Clicking Cancel allows you to go into the application and save any unsaved work. Clicking Shut Down Now forces shut down, and exits the system. All unsaved data will be lost.
How do I find out what edition of Vista I am running?
System information is stored in the Welcome Center. Go to
Start -> Control Panel -> System and Maintenance ->
Welcome Center. Your edition of Vista will be listed at the top, alongside pertinent computer information.
How do I disable or enable Windows Vista features?
To enable/disable Vista features, go to Start -> Control Panel -> Uninstall a program. This will be listed under the Programs category. This takes you to the Uninstall or change a program screen, where a dialog box opens that allows you to check/uncheck
features you either no longer wish to use or want to add. A tutorial and list of all the options and features can be found at
http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/tutorials/tutorial134.html.
Windows Vista is a new experience for many old Win XP fans. It is a good operating system, but to run efficiently requires strong capabilities of the host computer. If upgrading a Win XP machine, check out information online to see how your computer stacks up.
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