How to resize a partition in Windows Vista

Because programs such as Partition Magic don’t work on Windows Vista, some of you may be wondering how to resize partitions without losing any data. The good news is that you probably won’t be needing those programs because Windows Vista can manage your partition resizing.

To resize a partition with Windows Vista, follow these steps:

Be sure to back up any valuable information, because there is a slight chance that data can be lost when dealing with partitions.

1) Click on the Start menu

2) Right click on Computer and click on Manage

3) You may get a User Account Control dialog here; just click Continue

4) In the left pane, open up the Storage category and click on Disk Management

5) Here, you will find your partitions for your disks. Right click on the partition you’d like to modify.

6) Click on Extend Volume or Shrink Volume to extend or shrink the selected partition.

If this doesn’t work for you because some options were greyed out, you can check out this post for an alternate method.

Add Internet Explorer Icon to Windows Vista Desktop

I know what you are thinking. Can't I just make a shortcut? Of course you can. But using this tweak you can recreate the native Internet Explorer icon the way it used to be in prior versions of Windows.

The native icon gives you two benefits: First, you can right-click and get directly to the Internet Options panel, and secondly it doesn't have the shortcut icon arrow.

Manual Registry Tweak

Open up regedit.exe through the start menu search or run box, and then browse down to the following key:

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\
HideDesktopIcons\NewStartPanel]

Find the key named "{871C5380-42A0-1069-A2EA-08002B30309D}" on the right-hand side, and then set the value to 0. If the key does not exist, then create a new 32-bit DWORD value with the same name. To remove the icon, you could set the value to 1 instead.

Note that if you are using the classic start menu, you should create this value under the ClassicStartMenu key instead of the NewStartPanel key.

Download Registry Hack

Even easier, you can just use one of the registry files I've prepared. Just unzip and double-click to enter into the registry.

Add IE Icon to Desktop

Remove IE Icon from Desktop

Windows Vista Repair Options

Windows Vista does not contain a Recovery Console, therefore doing a repair install like that we are familiar with in Windows XP is not possible. Instead, if you need to replace the operating system, you either have to re-install Vista from scratch, or else re-image the drive from a backup source created using the Windows Vista Backup Status and Configuration application. this then effectively replaces the current copy of Windows Vista with a shadow copy you backed up previously.

This backup option is the only one provided by Windows Vista. of course there are other ways of imaging your hard drive, but these require the user to purchase a third party application.

Of course, re-imaging is one option. If, however, you are simply experiencing startup problems or perhaps you cannot readily access your system and need to do a system restore, then you need to look at Windows Vista's Repair Your Computer options.

How you access the repair options will depend upon whether you have a Windows Vista installation disk or whether your operating system came pre-installed by your PC manufacturer.

Windows Installation Disk

NOTE

With the Complete PC Restore Option you must have made a backup of your system, either on your hard drive or on a set of DVDs, in order to use this option. If you don't have a backup then don't use this option

1/ make sure your PC can boot directly from the Vista DVD. Obviously, most modern PCs can. With older machines you may need to check the PC's BIOS

2/ Start the PC

3/ Immediately insert the Windows Vista DVD into the DVD drive

4/ A Black screen will appear with the words 'Press any key to boot from CD or DVD'

5/ Press Any key to start the booting process

6/ A new screen will now appear with a progress bar. The legend say's 'Windows is loading files'

7/ After a few minutes the Microsoft copyright window ill appear and another small progress bar will be visible

8/ You will next see a Blue curtained screen

9/ After a short while the Language option screen will appear

10/ Select your language and keyboard language and the Click the Next button

11/ At the bottom left of the next screen - the Install screen, Click on the Repair Your Computer option

12/ The System recovery options will now search for your Windows Vista installation

13/ Once the Vista installation has been located, Highlight it and then Click the Next button

14/ You are now presented with the following set of recovery options

• Startup repair - This automatically fixes problems that are preventing Windows from starting
• System Restore - This will Restore Windows to an earlier point in time
• Windows Complete PC Restore - This will completely restore your entire PC - programs, system settings and files - from a back up that you have previously created (Available in Windows Vista Business, Enterprise and Ultimate editions only)
• Windows Memory Diagnostic Tool - This checks your computer's memory hardware for errors
• Command Prompt - This opens a Command Window

15/ Click on the Option you require and follow the onscreen prompts

Pre-Installed Options

NOTE

If no repair options are available your PC manufacturer may have replaced the tools or customised them. Check your Computer Manual before proceeding.

1/ Start your PC

2/ If your PC has one operating system Press and Hold the F8 key as your PC starts. If the Windows Logo appear you will need to start again

3/ If you have a dual boot system a Boot option menu will appear. Highlight the Vista operating system and Press the F8 key

4/ In both cases, if all has gone well, an Advanced options screen will now appear

5/ Highlight the repair Your Computer option and Press Enter

6/ Select a keyboard layout, and then Click the Next button

7/ Next select your user Name and Enter your Password, then Click OK

8/ The recovery options should now appear

An anti spyware hidden in Windows Vista

There are a number of software "spies" who spend their days scrutinizing your computer to inform their employers… To avoid this there are programs like Ad-aware responsible for removing them.

Windows Vista includes two anti-spyware: one "official" Windows Defender and another who does not enjoy the same reputation: "Malicious Software Removal Tool."

The first is useful, think well to keep activated. To do this, type "defender" in the pursuit of quick start menu and click windows defender. Try a search to verify that your system is clean.

The Malicious Software removal tool when asked to gymnastics more important to be used:

Also in the quick search Vista, type "command" and run the command prompt.

Once the window pseudo launched MS-DOS, type "mrt" wait and that the software is displayed.

Simply do searches on your computer to see that your system is finally healthy (or not).

I do not know what the analysis of the two programs differ, but as the saying goes: prevention is better than cure (and this is especially true for Vista).

Block the screen saver when using Windows Media Player

Normally when you play video content with Windows Media Player, the screen saver should not be set in motion. For some reason, it may happen it is run anyway, which is inconvenient and requires stop reading the content or moving the mouse, at the risk of again later.

Once launched Windows Media Player, press ALT, which will have the effect of bring up the menu. Then click on Tools, then Options. In the first "Player" tab of the window that opens, just check a specific case is NOT selected: "Allow the standby display during playback.

If this box is checked, uncheck it to no longer be alone

Activate the administrative share (C$, D$, etc.)

Since Windows Vista administrative share is not enabled by default, probably because of security reasons, therefore I will show you how to activate the administrative share.

Clearly, this trick is for people who use their computers at home (except professionals who can connect to the VPN and corporate network and log on to a Microsoft).

Launch First the Registry Editor using the module with real-time search from Start menu and then type "regedit" and click on search.

Once you are inside the register go to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ SOFTWARE \ Microsoft \ Windows \ CurrentVersion \ Policies \ System

From there, make a right click on the "System" and, in the context menu that appears, click on "New" then "Key DWORD 32-bit", if you have Windows Vista 64 then type "Key DWORD 64-bit"

A new key appears. Select it and press F2 to change it's name.Name it"LocalAccountTokenFilterPolicy" and then double mouse click on the key and change it's value to "1"

Now, you can access hidden resources, here are some examples of use:

• A Windows XP PC can access C$, D$, etc. on a Windows Vista
• A Windows Vista PC (registry key unmodified) may reach C$, D$, etc. on a Windows Vista
• A Windows Vista PC (registry key amended) does not have access to C$, D$, etc. on a Windows Vista (registry key unchanged)

If you want to access to these resources, even if you made good changes to the registry, you must have a valid user account with the necessary rights.

Change Workgroup

Workgroups are an easy way of grouping a collection of network PCs (for example, all of the computers in your house could be one). When you get your PC you may find that it is already of a workgroup and want to change it, or perhaps you need to join a new workgroup.

To start this process, press WINDOWS KEY + PAUSE/BREAK to load up the System information window. Then click Change Settings under the Computer Name, Description and Workgroup settings menu
Then, click Change:

Now type in your new workgroup into the appropriate box and then click OK:

You are now a member of the new workgroup and should be visible to other networked PC's.

Services You Can Disable

There are several services you can disable to help improve performance.

Desktop Window Manager Session Manager - Provides Desktop Window Manager startup and maintenance services.
If you don't plan on using Aero Glass, you can disable this service.

Diagnostic Policy Service - Enables problem detection, troubleshooting and resolution for Windows components
Set to Disabled

Diagnostic Service Host - Same as above

Diagnostic System Host - Same as above

Offline Files - The Offline Files service performs maintenance activities on the Offline Files cache, responds to user logon and logoff events, implements the internals of the public API, and dispatches interesting events to those interested in Offline Files activities and changes in cache state.

Terminal Services - Allows users to connect interactively to a remote computer. Remote Desktop and Terminal Server depend on this service. If you don't use either of these, then you can disable the service.

Windows Error Reporting Service - Allows errors to be reported when programs stop working or responding and allows existing solutions to be delivered.

Windows Search - Formerly this was the Indexing Service. Provides content indexing.

Changing the Sidebar

By default, the sidebar can take up a unwanted room on the desktop. You also can't put icons on the space it uses.
If you want to retain the ability to display the sidebar gadgets but also want full use of the desktop,
you can detach individual gadgets.

1. Right-click the gadget you want to detach
2. Click Detach from Sidebar
3. Move the gadget wherever you want on the desktop
4. Right click on the sidebar
5. Click on Close Sidebar
6. There will now be an icon in the system tray for the sidebar if you want to get it back

You can also get more gadgets on-line

GUI Performance

You can turn off some of the eyecandy to help speed of graphics performance

1. Open the Start menu
2. Right click on My Computer
3. Select Properties
4. Click on Advanced System Settings
5. In the Performance section, click on the Settings button
6. Click on Custom
7. I usually only have:
   Show preview and filters in folder,
   Show shadows under mouse pointer,
   Show thumbnails instead of icons,
   Show window contents while dragging,
   Smooth edges of screen fonts,
   Use drop shadows for icon labels,
   Use visual styles on windows and buttons

Access Denied to Folders

If you are getting Access Denied errors when trying to open folders like Documents and Settings, Application Data, Local settings:

1. Right click on the Folder
2. Select Properties
3. Click on the Security tab
4. Click on the Advanced button
5. Click on the Owner tab
6. Click on the Edit button
7. In the Change owner to box, highlight your account
8. Check Replace owner on subcontainers and objects
9. Click on Apply
10. Click on Yes to replace all permissions
11. Continue to click on OK until you

Resizing Partitions

Vista now has the ability to resize partitions.

1. Right click on Computer
2. Select Manage
3. Click on Disk Management
4. Right click on a partition
5. Select Shrink or Extend depending on what you want to do

Note: As with all changes to partition sizes, have a good set of backups beforehand is a good idea

Adding the IE 7 Icon to the desktop

By default, the icon for the Internet Explorer 7 does not show up on the Vista desktop

1. To add it back in again, a registry edit is needed.
2. [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\HideDesktopIcons\NewStartPanel]
   "{871C5380-42A0-1069-A2EA-08002B30309D}"=dword:00000000
3. You can download the reg file and then run it to do this automatically.
4. Then log off and back on again

Allowing Network Access with Blank Passwords with Vista

Although you can log in locally without a password, by default, Vista does not allow network users to access the computer without a password.

To change this setting:

1. Run gpedit.msc
2. Go to Computer Configuration / Windows Settings / Security Settings / Local Policies / Security Options
3. Double click on Accounts: Limit local account use of blank passwords to console login only
4. Disable this option

Vista Opening Links to Another Web Browser Than IE

By default, when you click on a link to a web page, Vista will automatically use the Internet Explorer.
If you want it to use some other program like Firefox:

1. Go to the Control Panel \ Programs \ Default Programs
2. Click on Set your default programs
3. Select the Web Browser you want to use
4. Click on Choose defaults for this program
5. Under Protocols, check HTTP
6. Click on Save
7. You can also check .htm and .html as well

Now when you click on links in an e-mail for example, your other web browser will start.

----

If your other browser does not show here, then you can make a change to the registry

Go to:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Associations\UrlAssociations\http\UserChoice

Change it from IE.HTTP to Firefox.Url (if you are using Firefox for example)

No reboot is necessary

RoboCopy

RoboCopy or Robust File Copy for Windows is an enhanced file copy that far surpasses what you can do from either the Explorer or XCOPY.
It is a very robust command line driven program with a huge amount of switches and options. In addition to standard switches like /S for subdirectories,
Just a short list is:

• /PURGE :: delete dest files/dirs that no longer exist in source
• /MOV :: MOVe files (delete from source after copying)
• /MON:n :: MONitor source; run again when more than n changes seen.
• /MOT:m :: MOnitor source; run again in m minutes Time, if changed
• /MAX:n :: MAXimum file size - exclude files bigger than n bytes.
• /MAXAGE:n :: MAXimum file AGE - exclude files older than n days/date
• /R:n :: number of Retries on failed copies: default 1 million
• /TBD :: wait for sharenames To Be Defined (retry error 67)

Opening to a Command Prompt from the Explorer

If you are using the Windows Explorer, and want to open a folder to a command prompt:

1. With the folder in the right hand panel
2. Hold down the Shift key
3. Right Click
4. Select Open Command Window Here

Changing the Action for the Start Menu Power Button

At the bottom right of the Start Menu are three icons.
The left one (circle with a vertical line) is the Power Button
To change the action (Sleep, Hibernate or Power Off)

1. Go to the Control Panel
2. Select System Maintenance and then Power Options if it is the Default View or
3. Select Power Options if it is the Classic View
4. Under your current plan, click on Change plans settings
5. Click on Change advanced power settings
6. Click on the + by Power buttons and lid
7. Click on the + by Start menu power button
8. For the Setting, select Sleep, Hibernate or Shutdown
9. Click on Apply and OK
10. Now when you hover over icon, you can see the action it will take.

Turning Hibernate On or Off

If you don't need your computer to Hibernate or want to turn it back on again

1. Open the Start Menu
2. Right click Command Prompt
3. Select Run as administrator
4. To turn Hibernation off - powercfg -hibernate off
5. To turn Hibernation on - powercfg -hibernate on
6. If you turn it off, it won't even show on the Start Menu

Changing the Folders Vista Includes to Index and Search

When you search for files, the default setting for Vista is to search only in the User's Documents folder
To add to the locations that are included in Vista's Indexing

1. Open the Control Panel
2. Go to System and Maintenance
3. Go to Indexing Options
4. Click on the Modify button
5. Click on the Show all locations button
6. Check the Drives or Folders in Drives that you want to include
7. Click on the Close button

For more details with screenshots see Vista Indexing and Search