How to resize Vista desktop icons

How to resize Vista desktop icons

1.Right click an empty space on the desktop.
2.Select View.
3.Click Classic Icons.
Another way is to use the scroll wheel on your mouse or trackball. With the cursor on the desktop, press and hold the CTRL key and scroll the wheel to make icons larger or smaller.

Increase the FileSystem Memory Cache Size in Vista

I've always wondered why Windows doesn't allow you to set an arbitrary size for the filesystem cache. What if you have a slow hard drive in your laptop, but loads of available system memory? Shouldn't you be able to maximize that memory in order to speed up hard drive access?
I've found a slightly documented tweak that will allow you to tell Windows to use more cache for the NTFS "pool", which should increase performance if your system opens and closes a lot of files all the time like mine does.
According to the Microsoft documentation:
Increasing physical memory does not always increase the amount of paged pool memory available to NTFS. Setting memoryusage to 2 raises the limit of paged pool memory. This might improve performance if your system is opening and closing many files in the same file set and is not already using large amounts of system memory for other applications or for cache memory. If your computer is already using large amounts of system memory for other applications or for cache memory, increasing the limit of NTFS paged and non-paged pool memory reduces the available pool memory for other processes. This might reduce overall system performance.
I'll be testing this change out myself, and I really hope to get feedback from our excellent readers on this one. Please note that I've not run any benchmarks yet, so I can't confirm yet that this yields any major benefit in real-world performance.
Command Line Hack
Open up an Administrator mode command prompt by right-clicking and choosing Run as Administrator, or type in cmd into the start menu search box and use Ctrl+Shift+Enter.
Type in the following command to increase the cache setting:
fsutil behavior set memoryusage 2
To check the current value, type in this command:
fsutil behavior query memoryusage
To change the setting back to the default, use this command:
fsutil behavior set memoryusage 1

As always, these "slightly" documented settings can screw up your system, so perform at your own risk. Also, you'll likely have to reboot the machine to see any difference.
Manual Registry Hack
You can also set this value by changing a registry parameter. Open up regedit.exe through the start menu search or run box, and then navigate down to the following key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\FileSystem

Double-click on the NtfsMemoryUsage key on the right-hand side and change the value to 2. Here's the available values:
Not Set: 0
Set to Default: 1
Increase Cache: 2
According to the documentation the default setting is "1″, but by default the key is set to "0″. Typically in that scenario the setting of "0″ means "Not Set", which means the system uses the default setting. You should be able to change the value to either "0″ or "1″ in order to change this back to default.

How to Connect a Second Monitor to Your Laptop

Most modern laptops are automatically equipped to connect an external monitor in addition to the laptop's own LCD. This is because many laptops are often used for storing and showing presentations, and it just makes sense to have the laptop all ready to go in that respect.
To add the external monitor, locate the monitor connector on your PC's rump. Plug in the monitor, and you're ready to go. You can use that monitor in conjunction with your laptop's LCD or as your laptop's only display.
On some laptops, the same image appears on both the LCD and the external monitor.
If you want to use the external monitor exclusively, just close your laptop's lid. Most laptops are smart enough to see the external monitor and let you start using it, and also keep the laptop's power on while the lid is closed. When you open the laptop's lid, control returns to the laptop's LCD.
Note that if you close the lid, it helps to have an external mouse or keyboard connected to the laptop so that you can still use your software.
To activate the external monitor, you may have to press a special key or key combination on your laptop's keyboard.
The monitor connector can also be an S-video connector. It allows you to connect your laptop to not only an external monitor but also many TV sets, VCRs, and DVD players.

The Best Computer Tips and Tricks: Keyboard Shortcuts for Windows Vista and XP and Microsoft Office

Windows Key+E
The best part about shortcut keys is letting your keyboard do half the work. This is a perfect example: This shortcut allows you to open Windows Explorer with one quick keystroke.

Windows Key+M
This is the shortcut to keep in mind when you are at work doing anything but working—it allows you to minimize all of your open windows, leaving just the desktop left exposed. To restore the windows, hit Windows key+Shift+M. Another quick way to do this is Windows key+D, which shows your desktop; to restore, just repeat the same keystroke. This is a handy shortcut to have around the next time your boss is wandering through the office.

Alt+Tab
This allows you to easily scroll through all the windows you have open. If you're working in Word and referring to something in Explorer, for example, you can toggle back and forth between the two programs. You can also use this to switch between windows in the same program, making multitasking a breeze. Very similar is Windows key+Tab: In XP, it lets you scroll the items on the taskbar, and in Vista, it starts Flip 3D for a fun graphical spin on the same idea.

Alt+F4
This shortcut is a quick way to close a window in any program. Alt+Spacebar+C (which requires less stretching, but more keys) and Ctrl+W do the same thing. Any of the ways will allow you to close a window without using your mouse to hit the X in the upper-right corner.

Ctrl+Arrow Keys
In Microsoft Word, the left and right arrows allow you to move the cursor to the beginning of the previous word or the next word; the up and down arrows will do the same with paragraphs. This is very helpful when editing a document or scanning for any reason.

Shift+Delete
If you want to delete a file—and you don't want to deal with it later in the Recycle Bin—this is the way to go. Just be absolutely sure that this is a file you won't want back!

Hold Shift While Inserting a CD
Have you ever wanted to insert a CD and not use it right away? This shortcut allows you to bypass Autorun when inserting a CD so you can control exactly when you will use a CD you've inserted.

Ctrl+Drag
There are many ways to copy a file, but this just might be the easiest. All you have to do is click on the file, hold, and drag it into its desired location. This works the same as another handy shortcut, Ctrl+C.

Windows Key+U+U
Quickly shut down Windows by hitting the Windows key (don't hold it down), hitting U to reach the shutdown menu, and then hitting U again to shut down.

Windows Key+Pause
Need a quick way to get to the Systems Properties menu without too much thought? Just press these two keys and you'll be brought right to it.

Ctrl+Z, Ctrl+Y
Undo an action by hitting Ctrl+Z; if you change your mind, Ctrl+Y will redo the undo.
Shift + Arrow Keys
Holding shift and pressing one of the arrow keys will highlight text in Word (or a group of Excel cells) without the mouse, selecting in the direction the arrow points.

Ctrl+U, Ctrl+B, Ctrl+I
This one's for Office newbies. It's a snap to underline, bold, and italicize without the mouse if you press Ctrl+U (underlining), Ctrl+B (bolding), or Ctrl+I (italicizing).

Vista Tips & Tricks You Didn't Know About

Vista is packed with more tools and utilities than any previous Microsoft OS, so even if you use your PC every day, it can be easy to miss some of the most useful ones. Here's a guide to some of the Vista features and functions you might not know about. Try 'em out—pretty soon, you won't be able to live without them.

BACKUP IN BUSINESS
If you have the Business, Home Premium, or Ultimate edition of Vista, Microsoft has included one of the most critical programs you can find on any computer: one that backs up your data. Backup Status and Configuration—located off the Start menu, in Accessories > System Tools—is incredibly straightforward, with options to back up or restore individual files, groups of files, or even your whole PC. You can also set up an automated backup system, back up immediately, or change settings. The process is so simple, in fact, that setting it up should be one of the very first things you do—if a catastrophe happens, you'll be incredibly glad you did.

GET SNIPPY

Your keyboard's Prt Scrn key might soon feel as neglected as its antiquated neighbors, Scroll Lock and Pause. Vista's Snipping Tool (found in the Accessories folder on the Start menu) allows you to capture only the part of the screen you want. Just start up the tool, click and drag the mouse until you've outlined the area you want to preserve, then release the mouse button. Once you've gotten your snip, you can draw on it with a pen tool, highlight certain portions or erase others, and save it as a JPEG, GIF, PNG, or MHT (HTML) file.

PERFORMANCE? CHECK!

Not sure if your computer is operating at maximum efficiency? Vista can let you know for sure. Just check out the Reliability and Performance Monitor, which you'll find at Control Panel > System and Maintenance > Performance Information and Tools > Advanced Tools > Generate a system health report. Windows will check your disk drives, drivers, services, software and hardware configuration, and more to give you a full accounting of what might be causing you trouble. If it finds a problem, it will explain it to you in detail and suggest how to resolve it.

A BRAND NEW ADDRESS

Whether you're looking for something on your computer or on the Internet, Vista's Address Bar can help you find it—and you don't even need to open up Internet Explorer or the Start menu. Right-click on your taskbar, select Toolbars, then select Address. The Address Bar will appear on your taskbar, looking much like the Address field in IE. You can visit a Web site or use it to start programs and open documents (just like the Run command).

IN CONTROL
Sorry, desktop users, this one's just for the notebook folks. The Windows Mobility Center, which you access by pressing Windows key+X, gives you the opportunity to tweak all sorts of settings on your laptop, all in one convenient place. You can change your display brightness, adjust the volume, check your battery status, turn off wireless connectivity, switch your screen orientation, set up an external display, and more.

Hidden Vista Tips for Laptops

WINDOWS MOBILITY CENTER
One of the handiest additions to Vista is the Windows Mobility Center, which lets you view and modify plenty of laptop-specific settings, all in one convenient place. Bring it up by hitting Windows key + X, or navigating to Start > Control Panel > Mobile PC > Windows Mobility Center. There, you can adjust your display's brightness, adjust speaker volume, change battery settings, turn your wireless network adapter on or off, configure an external display, set up synchronization partnerships with mobile devices or a desktop computer at home or at the office (see Work Offline below), or control your PC's settings for presentation use in a business environment (see Presentations below).

TIME ZONES
If you're a frequent traveler who often strains to remember which time zone you're visiting, setting up Vista to display different clocks could be just what you need. Just click on the clock in the Start bar, then click "Change date and time settings"¦," and then the Additional Clocks tab. Check the box next to "Show this clock" for each additional you clock you want to add, then specify the time zone and display name for each clock. After you apply your changes by clicking OK, clicking on the clock in the Start bar will show you the clocks for every time zone you've selected.

LID AND POWER OPTIONS
Shutting the lid of your laptop is a natural way to end a computing session, but Vista won't know to do that unless you stipulate it first. Navigate to Start > Control Panel > System and Maintenance >Power Options, then click Choose What Closing the Lid Does (it's on the left section of the screen). Here, you can instruct your computer to hibernate, shut off, or do nothing—or prevent it from waking up without the proper password. You can even specify different settings based on whether your computer is plugged in or running on battery power. Plus, you get to decide what the power button (located in the Start bar) does when you click it.

CHECK YOUR BATTERY
The little battery icon in your system tray gives you an at-a-glance idea of how you're faring power-wise, but you can set it to provide more-detailed information. If you hover the mouse cursor over the icon, you'll see a small pop-up box that tells you what percentage of juice you have remaining. If you left-click the icon once, you'll get a larger version of the pop-up that lets you choose which power plan you want your laptop to follow, so you'll get what works best for you, whether you want to save energy (Power saver), maximize performance (High performance), or get something in between (Balanced).

WORK OFFLINE
It's helpful to be able to take files with you, so you can work on them when you don't have access to the office network. Vista (excluding the Home Basic and Home Premium versions) greatly improves your ability to keep track of everything. When you're browsing your network and you find a file or folder you want to make available on your laptop, just right-click it, select "Always Available Offline," and Windows will download the appropriate files in the background. You can also choose to grab them all at once by going to the Sync Center (via Windows key + X or Start >All Programs >Accessories > Sync Center), selecting Offline Files partnership, and then clicking on Sync. If you return to the Sync Center after you've disconnected from your network, simply double-click Offline Files partnership again to get the full list of offline files and folders.

PRESENTATIONS
The ability to hook up your laptop to an external projector, so everyone can view what you have on your computer, is a boon to presenters everywhere. Unfortunately, it also means that everyone can see what else you have on your computer! Fear not, because the Windows Mobility Center's presentation settings make it easy for you to determine what everyone else gets to see: Just click on the projector icon—you can adjust settings that will ensure your computer stays on and screensaver-free, has an appropriate volume level, and displays an uncontroversial background image. Once you've established your settings, you can turn them on or off with a single click of the Mobility Center button.

Encrypting Files in Windows Vista

You have antivirus and anti-spyware software installed and updated. Your firewall is running and correctly configured. You've secured your wireless router from the prying laptops of your next-door neighbors. You've even set up password accounts for all your family members. If you're still concerned about your sensitive information, there's one more step you can take to make sure your files stay for your eyes only: encrypt them.
If you're running the Business, Enterprise, or Ultimate editions of Windows Vista, you can use the Encrypting File System to keep your most personal documents and data safe. (Note that you can't encrypt some kinds of files and folders, such as system files, those in your Windows folder, or any on a hard drive formatted with the FAT32 file system.)
Here's how to use it:
Navigate to the file or folder you want to protect.
Right-click on it to open up the Properties window.
Click on the Advanced... button to bring up the Advanced Attributes window.
Click the check box next to "Encrypt contents to secure data."
Click OK to return to Properties, then click OK again.
If you're choosing to encrypt a folder, you'll be asked whether you want to apply the encryption just to the folder, or to its subfolders and files as well. Make your selection, then click OK to begin the encryption process.
Depending on how many files you're encrypting, the process could take a few minutes. Once the encryption process has been completed, your files are (by default) displayed in a different color in Explorer windows. You can open, edit, move, or even delete them the way you would any other file—other users, however, can't.
If you encrypt a folder, any file or folder you move into the encrypted folder will itself become encrypted. If you move anything out of the encrypted folder, the encryption remains. You can remove the encryption by one of these methods:
Do it manually, the opposite of the way you encrypted the file or folder (by deselecting the "Encrypt contents to secure data" checkbox in Advanced Attributes)
Move the file or folder to a hard drive formatted with the FAT32 file system
Move the file or folder to another network location
Send the file as an e-mail attachment
DON'T LOSE YOUR KEY
The first time you encrypt a file or folder, Vista will prompt you to back up your encryption key, just in case something happens and you lose access to your encrypted files. You should definitely do this—clicking on the prompt balloon will start the Certificate Export Wizard. You can leave all the settings at their defaults, but you'll be required to create a password and specify a name and location for the file you're creating.
Once it's done, you should save the file to something safe and easily transportable—such as on a CD, DVD, or USB stick—so you won't have to worry about being without it if the worst should happen.
If the worst does happen, just access the backed-up key via Windows Explorer, double-click on it, and start the Certificate Import Wizard. (You'll need the password you used when you first backed up your key.)