Microsoft will launch the final version of the server OS at a February 27th event in Los Angeles which the company is calling ‘Heroes Happen Here,’ . Also to be unveiled is Microsoft SQL Server 2008…

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• Microsoft: Vista's 'Black Screen of Death' Is a Hoax
  Ignore the link from yesterday to this story, looks like it's not true.
  (tags: PR Hack Piracy )
• Black screen of darkness to haunt Vista pirates
  If your Vista isn't genuine, you may be headed to the dark side soon!
  (tags: Legal )

First let me start by saying that one of the main features of Windows Vista is the new user accounts security enhancements, but sometimes, defaults don’t meet everyone’s taste when it comes to how we deal with our PCs. I for one, always used full administrator accounts since I first knew what a Windows user account is, and never been hit by a virus/spyware/crap, using common sense and updated AV software, so I don’t want to give permissions to myself or face strange error messages every time I do a simple task on my computer.

We know UAC feature in Windows Vista, and we all know how to disable it, this is not the purpose of this thread, because even after you disable UAC, you’ll have other prompts about folder/file permissions errors sometimes (I faced it in strange, unexpected occasions, like deleting an empty folder for a program left by the uninstaller), or you’ll need to right click and select “Run as Administrator” for most applications to work/install correctly.

That’s because Microsoft made the administrators accounts (in local administrators group) run as standard users, unless we give permissions for every and each administrative tasks, with a little difference…

10 Speed Tweaks that can make a huge difference in Vista performance

1. Turn off Windows Search Indexing
Windows Vista search indexing is constantly reviewing files on your system to make their contents available for quick searching. This is handy, but can severely impact system performance.

To disable constant indexing:

* Click Start then Computer
* Right Click the C: Drive
* On General Tab, Uncheck Index this drive for faster searching
* On the subsequent dialog box, Select Include subfolders and files

2. Turn off Remote Differential Compression
Remote Differential Compression measures the changes in files over a network to transfer them with minimal bandwidth rather than transferring an entire file that has previously been moved. By constantly checking for file changes, this service can hinder system performance.

To disable this service:

* Open Control Panel
* Switch to Classic View
…

• Vista Codec Package 4.4.9 Final
  The latest update to this code package includes an updated AC3Filter and ffdshow, and has some bug fixes as well.
  (tags: Codec Software )
• Featured Windows Vista Download: Get Virtual Desktops on Vista
  Get multiple desktops that allow key combo's to jump between them.
  (tags: Desktop Software Beta )
• Windows Vista Tip: The Fastest Way to Launch Programs with Elevated Credentials
  A keyboard only way to launch a program with Elevated Credentials.
  (tags: UAC Keyboard )
• Bamboo for Vista
  A nice looking pen tablet that works with Vista.
  (tags: Hardware Pen Tablet )
• BeyondTrust Controls UAC Pop-ups
  A group policy extension that allows customization of UAC, providing permissions to applications, users, and computers.
  (tags: UAC GPO Utility )
• AveNoBreadCrumb to Disable Your Breadcrumb
  A hack to disable breadcrumbs (the one folder at a time listing you get in the explorer in Vista).
  (tags: Hack Breadcrumbs )
• Account Reset Console 4.5 Tool
  Interfaces with the Vista Credential Provider to allow users to change

…

Windows Vista’s User Account Control (UAC) is the new operating system’s most universally reviled feature. Sure, it helps protect you, but it also annoys you to no end.

If UAC drives you around the bend, you can turn it off. There are several ways to do it. One way is to choose Control Panel > User Accounts and Family Safety > User Accounts, then click Turn User Account Control on or off.

Alternately, you can run the System Configuration Utility (a.k.a. msconfig) by typing msconfig at the command line or search box. When the tool runs, click the Tools tab and scroll down until you see Disable UAC. Highlight it and click the Launch button, then reboot. To turn it back on again, follow the same steps and choose Enable UAC.

If you’re a fan of the Registry, you can also disable UAC using the registry editor the Registry Editor by typing regedit at the Start Search box or a command prompt and pressing Enter. Go to

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion
\Policies\System\EnableLUA

and give it a value of 0. You will need to reboot in order for the change to

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