The UsefulTechnology Blog: Windows Vista

Tales from Windows Vista reinstallations

Fri, 09 May 2008 12:32:28 GMT

I've reinstalled Windows Vista on my main home computer this week. Things had become decidedly sluggish, due in no small part to the massive amount of junk software I've tested over the last year. Having upgraded the PC from Windows XP over a year ago, I was dreading having to find suitable drivers to get everything working again. But, do you know what, it was a breeze. Yes, really. The difference between installing Windows Vista at the start of 2007 and now, midway through 2008, is extraordinary. Gone are those frustrating hours trawling through hardware manufacturers' web site; now Windows Update has everything my computer needed. Sure, I needed a lot of updates - about 57 I think - but these all installed in one go and only one reboot was needed. And I have, as you'd probably guess, a lot of gadgets attached to my PC!

To test this wasn't a one-off I wiped and reinstalled Windows Vista on one of my laptops too. Same story: the installation was fast and Windows Update took care of the rest.

As long as you make sure you back up all your important files, and approach the installation in a methodical and measured way, installing Windows Vista from scratch really isn't difficult any more.

Of course, some tips are definitely worth knowing:

Downloading software is fastest when Internet traffic is low. So save yourself time by running your downloads late at night, or early in the morning.
If you're offered a choice of mirror sites, select one where local time (at the mirror site) will mean that Internet traffic is low. Don't pick the mirror site nearest to you if your local Internet traffic is likely to be high as the server may be busy and your files will take longer to download.
Check your Device Manager for any unrecognised devices. If you're unsure what anything is, reboot your computer without any peripherals attached then plug in each one in turn and monitor the changes in Device Manager.
If you're still having trouble finding a driver for a mysterious device, try an online scanning service like http://driveragent (thanks Rusty!). This will help you identify any missing drivers and point you to a solution. Take out a paid subscription if you like, or use the information provided to find the drivers elsewhere online if you have time.

See things differently in Windows Vista

Fri, 02 May 2008 12:24:09 GMT

The Organize drop down box in Windows Explorer (accessed via the Windows Key + E shortcut) hides a little known feature of Windows Vista. Under the Layout option you'll find the ability to switch on the Menu Bar from Windows XP plus two handy new panes: the Search Pane and the Preview Pane.

Here's what they each do:

The Menu Bar

The Menu Bar is simply the conventional drop down menu choices we had in Windows XP. I suggest you leave this switched off. If you ever need to revert to the old menus you can make them reappear at any time simply by pressing the ALT key.

The Search Pane

The Search Pane allows you to quickly narrow a search using filter buttons like E-Mail and Music or input more precise filtering details like tags and file size.

The Preview Pane

The Preview Pane shows a thumbnail preview of your selected file which can be very handy when hunting through photos and documents. If the file is multimedia you'll see a mini Windows Media Player appear allowing you to preview music and videos right there in Windows Explorer.

Note that the selections you make in the Layout option only apply to your current location. When you move to a new folder the default view will reappear. However, once you make a change in a folder, that change is persistent. So, for example, if you'd like the Preview Pane to appear when viewing your music folder, make this change once and it will reappear every time you visit that folder.

Have a fun weekend!

How to Print by Dragging

Wed, 30 Apr 2008 13:29:08 GMT

Did you know that you can print documents simply by dragging their file onto a printer icon? This is a great shortcut if you don't want to have to open a document before printing. Of course, to make this really convenient you need a way to quickly access your printers folder. You could maybe add a shortcut to your printer to the desktop, or pin it to the Start menu. Here's how to do these in Windows Vista:

To create a desktop shortcut in Windows Vista:

Click on the Start button and type Printers in the search box then press Enter
Click and drag your preferred printer from the Printers window onto your desktop (or just right click and choose Create Shortcut; your shortcut will automatically be created on the desktop)
Right-click on the new desktop icon to rename if desired

To pin this shortcut to the Start menu in Windows Vista:

Drag the newly created desktop icon (from step 3 above) over the Start button, wait a second for the menu to open then drag upwards to drop your shortcut at the top of the list, normally just above the Internet Explorer link

To print your documents:

Locate your document file in Windows Explorer and drag the icon onto your Printer shortcut icon. Windows will automatically open the file, invoke the print command, then close the file down once again.

Bonus tip: Windows Vista users who regularly print files in this way may also like to try out the Drag&Drop and Print Sidebar gadget that does exactly what its name suggests

Gadget Population Explosion

Mon, 28 Apr 2008 15:47:53 GMT

One of the things I like about gadgets for Windows Vista is that you're not limited to a single instance of each gadget. So, for instance, if you'd like to see the time in more than one time zone, simply add another instance of the clock gadget and give each clock a name like this:

Or, if you like to keep track of the weather in different locations, but use a weather gadget that only allows one location, just add the gadget another time:

Plus, of course, you can move gadgets around anywhere on your Sidebar or Desktop so you can customise your world to your heart's content.

Can't find a gadget you like? Try again, there are now gazillions at the Windows Live Gallery.

Now, go forth and multiply your gadgets!

Adapt your keyboard to suit your needs

Mon, 28 Apr 2008 07:00:22 GMT

My recent tip showing how to add an audible alert every time you press the Caps Lock, Num Lock, or Scroll Lock keys has proved quite popular. But if you're still hitting those keys by mistake, or simply want to change the layout of your keyboard for the sheer pleasure of doing so, SharpKeys is a neat little tool you might like.

SharpKeys works by allowing you to remap certain buttons on your keyboard to a different key. So, for example, if you've got a new laptop and would like to swap the Delete Key with the right side Ctrl key to stop you deleting things by mistake, you can do this with ease. Just be sure to remember the changes you've made and add something to your keyboard (a sticker or a little Tipp-Ex®!) to remind you.

This also works as a great trick* to play on co-workers. Remapping a few keys can wreak havoc on an inexperienced computer user and will stump even the most experienced helpdesk operator!

SharpKeys works in Windows Vista, Windows XP, Windows 2000, Windows NT and Windows Server 2003. Download it from here.

* The UsefulTechnology blog does not condone acts of cruelty against novice computer users, although it has been known to laugh quite vigorously when witnessing similar tricks played on unwitting colleagues in the past.

Bypass the Windows Vista log on screen

Fri, 25 Apr 2008 17:58:20 GMT

Here's a question I'm asked extremely often: "I'm the only user of my PC. How can I avoid having to type a password every time Windows Vista starts up?"

The answer is simplicity itself. Click the Start button and in the search box type control userpasswords2, then press Enter. Enter your credentials if the User Account Control dialog appears then remove the tick against 'Users must enter a user name and password to use this computer' and click OK. Enter your password two last times, then press OK. The changes will take effect the next time you start up Windows Vista.

Be warned though: if your computer is in a public place or could be accessed by someone without your knowledge you should think carefully before removing this log on password requirement. Without a password, your computer is open to being used by anyone who can turn it on and your Internet connection and private information could be compromised.

No more broken shortcuts, ever

Fri, 25 Apr 2008 14:58:25 GMT

Maybe I missed this enhancement when it first appeared, but I just discovered that Windows Vista has a neat little feature that 'automagically' heals broken shortcuts. So, if you create a shortcut to a file or program in Windows Vista, then subsequently move that file or program link, the shortcut will be automatically updated to the new location. And your shortcuts should always work! Ingenious!

BTW, you can also remove those ugly arrows from shortcuts in lots of different ways. The Shortcut Overlay Remover from the FrameworkX community, also known as FxVisor, can do this for you without your having to dive deep into the registry. To install, head to www.frameworkx.com, click on Downloads, then look for Vista Shortcut Manager in the Windows Toolbox. If you're running a 32-bit version of Windows Vista (and most people are) you need the x86 download. If you're on 64-bit version you need the x64 version.

Windows Vista: The Missing Manual

Tue, 25 Mar 2008 08:37:29 GMT

Hot off the press (or whatever the digital equivalent of a printing press is), you can now download the freshly updated Windows Product Guide, complete with details of the improvements made in Service Pack 1. The guide is worth downloading, if only for the comprehensive feature comparison charts that help explain the differences between the many different flavours of Windows Vista available to buy.

And, if you already own a printed copy of the original Windows Vista Product Guide you can now download a concise (63 pages!) Revision Document to bring your Product guide up to date with SP1 enhancements.

Managing your Clipboard from the Sidebar (and Office)

Fri, 14 Mar 2008 14:37:38 GMT

The clipboard is a wonderful thing. Every time you copy (CTRL+C) or cut (CTRL+X) any information on your monitor, it is temporarily stored in the clipboard ready to be pasted back when needed. And while working in Microsoft Office applications you can even display the Clipboard at the side of the screen by clicking the tiny button shown below:

Once you've done this it's a good idea to access the Options at the bottom of the Clipboard viewer and select the Show Office Clipboard When Ctrl+C Pressed Twice option. If find a double click on Ctrl+C much easier to remember than that tiny little button on the top ribbon. And while you're at it you may as well select the other two options too to ensure that the Clipboard will retain a history of the items you copy/cut even without the clipboard being visible:

Now that you've done that you can see your clipboard's contents and paste any of the last 24 items you copied/cut whenever you like.

Gone are your days of rigidly sequential copy'n'pasting!

But what to do if you need to copy'n'paste non-sequentially outside of Microsoft Office applications? I recently discovered a handy Windows Vista Sidebar gadget that displays the last 7 items you placed into the clipboard. Clicking each item on the list simply returns them to the top of the clipboard, effectively making them the last thing you placed in the clipboard. Now you can paste (CTRL+V) that item as needed.

So, if you need support for non-sequential clipboard use outside of Microsoft Office applications, take ClipboardManager gadget for a spin from here.

Lush desktop enhancements for Windows Vista

Thu, 13 Mar 2008 14:05:26 GMT

With thanks to Windows Vista magazine, check out some of the cool tools to enhance your desktop at http://mpj.tomaatnet.nl/vista/.

I particularly like the 3D User Picture, Glass Toasts, and Thumbnail Sizer. Nice enhancements, but only if you've got a sufficiently powerful graphics card.

Folder Backgrounds are also pretty quirky, but I've yet to see the end-user value here!

Clean up your disks

Mon, 25 Feb 2008 09:38:07 GMT

I was reminded recently of the importance of maintaining a tidy hard disk. It's time for a spring clean...

Windows Vista makes this pretty painless. Simply typing Clean in the start menu search box will reveal the Disk Cleanup tool. Run this and you'll zap all the unwanted clutter on your disk, no rubber gloves required!

Top tip: if you never use the Hibernate feature in Windows Vista you can free up several gigabytes on your hard disk by removing the files associated with this feature*.

More information about Disk CleanUp can be found here.

Once you've tidied up your disk, it's then a good idea to run the Disk Defragmenter to help speed up your machine even more. Just type defrag in the start menu search box. Learn more about defragging here.

* if you change your mind at a later date and wish to re-use the hibernate feature see this Knowledge Base article for the fix.

A year on

Wed, 30 Jan 2008 17:19:02 GMT

It's exactly one year since the general availability launch of Windows Vista and the 2007 Microsoft Office system. I have some very vivid memories of the 30th January 2007-- the day Bill Gates came to visit us in London and the band The Feeling played a free concert outside the British Library.

Much has happened since then. Both new products have been widely adopted, but it's Office 2007 that's really shined through and proved itself universally popular. Windows Vista remains a great choice on a new PC, but users with older machines often find their hardware struggles to keep up. My advice remains the same: if you're buying a new PC get one based on Windows Vista Home Premium (or Ultimate if you want all the bells and whistles) and ask for a discount when buying Office 2007 at the same time. Home & Student is the ideal version of Office for many users. And, remember, if you're a student you can still get Office 2007 Ultimate for just £38.95 from The Ultimate Steal (offer ends 30th April).

Happy Anniversary Everyone!

[Screengrab of the Microsoft homepage 1 year ago courtesy of the 'usefultechnology' at Wayback Machine at http://www.archive.org/]

Adding time zone clocks to Windows Vista

Sun, 20 Jan 2008 21:59:47 GMT

If you work or communicate across time zones, here's a useful tip that could quite easily have passed you by.

In Windows Vista you can add up to two extra clocks to the taskbar for different time zones. You may already know that you can do this in your Outlook calendar, but here's how you can now add extra clocks to your taskbar too:

Click on the clock in the bottom-right of your screen
Click on Change date and time settings...
Select the Additional Clocks tab
Tick the first box then choose a time zone you want
Add a short name for the new clock (e.g. Redmond USA)
Repeat steps 4 & 5 if you want to add another clock
Click OK
Your added clocks will now appear when you either:
- hover your mouse over the clock on your task bar...
- ...or click on the clock on your task bar to go all picturesque!

Windows Vista's Reduced Functionality Mode

Thu, 02 Aug 2007 13:04:27 GMT

Now, think about it, does that look genuine?

It's not a widely publicised feature, but users of Windows Vista who fail to properly activate their software may find themselves in Reduced Functionality Mode (RFM). In this state, you will be unable to use any of the Windows Vista Premium features like Aero Glass and ReadyBoost, nor will you be able to play any of the built-in games. Tougher still you'll only be able to use the computer for one hour before it automatically logs you off.

The moral of the story is simple: when you see that reminder to activate your copy of Windows Vista, be sure to do it promptly. Users of non-genuine software like the not-even-trying-to-look legitimate counterfeit above may also find themselves placed into RFM state. So be sure to ensure your copy of Windows Vista is genuine before you install it. If you're not sure if your software is genuine follow the links on this page: http://www.microsoft.com/genuine/default.aspx.

And if you'd like to find out more about genuine software see http://www.microsoft.com/genuine/default.aspx.

iTunes and iPods on Windows Vista

Mon, 11 Jun 2007 08:11:08 GMT

Good news for music lovers. Word has finally reached UsefulTechnology Towers that Apple iTunes now works correctly on Windows Vista. Until recently some iPod users were unable to play the songs they'd bought on iTunes through their Windows Vista PC. Some even found their music content got corrupted. But now there's a fix in the form of software updates from both Apple and Microsoft which appear to resolve the vast majority of issues. So, if you're still using one of those odd little iPod things, here are the links you need to get things working:

Apple: http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=305444

Microsoft: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/936824

Windows Vista installations my way

Wed, 06 Jun 2007 13:21:54 GMT

I'm finally getting the hang of installing Windows Vista. Having done 4 PCs in the last few days, I now think I know what I'm doing. To be honest, there's not a lot to it. The hardest part is remembering to reinstall the important applications you use and finding drivers for some of the more obscure peripherals you wish to use. But the actual installation phase is a doddle.

It's definitely a journey that's worth taking if your PC is less than 2 years old and you don't want to buy a new one. There are also some decent deals around for Upgrade copies of Windows Vista including these I found at http://www.microsoft.com/uk/100.

So here are a few little tiplettes to help anyone who's contemplating upgrading their PC into the 21st century:

Make sure your PC is capable of running Windows Vista by running the Upgrade Advisor.
Fix any hardware issues that this flags, especially making sure you have at least 1GB of RAM.
Backup all your stuff onto a reliable external hard drive. Grab everything from your My Documents folder, your desktop and anywhere else you have saved files you don't want to lose. Don't forget your Outlook .pst files (the place where your local emails are stored) whose location can be found by right-clicking (inside Outlook) on the top folder of the personal folder you wish to backup, selecting Properties, then Advanced).
Unplug the hard drive, shut down the PC and sleep on it overnight. This last bit is very important.
In the morning, boot up your PC and check the backup you've made includes every single file you need. With fresh eyes you may spot a few extra files you might otherwise have lost. Once you're happy your backup is complete, unplug the external hard drive and put it somewhere safe.
Remove all non essential external peripherals like printers and scanners from your PC
Install Windows Vista by following the instructions that came with the disk.
After Windows Vista is installed, install anti-virus as quickly as possible, then run Windows Update again and again until there are no more updates to install.
Now plug each of your device in one by one, waiting until the installation of the drivers is completed. Check Device Manager (just type Device Manager in the instant search box under the Start button) and fix any hardware related issues by locating the correct drivers.
Restore your backup files to your PC, tidying things up as you go.
Once everything is tickety-boo, set up a backup routine so your data is automatically saved to an external hard drive location as you go.
Invite your friends round to smugly show off your "new" PC!

Actually, there's a lot more to it than that. But it's pretty idiot-proof really. If you're unsure about what to do, ask a friend for help. Chances are by now there's someone you know who's already successfully upgraded their PC.

That pesky new Windows Vista power button!

Fri, 25 May 2007 10:21:46 GMT

Windows Vista users quickly spot that when they press the power button inside the Start menu their PC goes into sleep mode by default. This is one of the power- and time-saving features of Windows Vista - a PC in sleep mode starts up much more quickly than one that's been shutdown. If you want to hibernate or shutdown the PC you have to click on the neighbouring small arrow to open the complete menu.

The good news is that you can easily reconfigure the big power button so it shuts down the PC rather than sending it to sleep. Here's how:

1. Go to power options (type power options in the Start menu text box and press enter)
2. Press 'Change Plan Settings'

3. Press 'Change advanced power settings'

4. Change your settings for the Start Menu Power Button

All this talk of sleep has made me tired. Guess it's time for my nap...

BBC Money Programme: the story behind Windows Vista

Mon, 12 Feb 2007 09:24:56 GMT

For the last six months or so we have been stalked by a camera team from the BBC Money Programme as they followed our journey to the launch of Windows Vista. On Friday I braced myself with a bottle of whisky as they broadcast their programme. Thankfully, my personal appearances were kept to the bare minimum (I really must stop wearing that pink shirt) and much of the 30 minute programme was given over to interviews with both the UK and USA Microsoft employees including Bill Gates and Steve Ballmer.

Thanks to the miracle of technology you can now watch the programme online at

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_depth/business/money_programme/.

Let me know what you think!

Above: I have no idea who that is. And no, it's not me.

Why buying Windows Vista should be simpler than Toilet Paper

Mon, 05 Feb 2007 10:46:30 GMT

Of all the complaints levelled at Windows Vista since launch, from the plain daft to the bizarre, there's one grievance that I completely agree with. Buying Windows Vista, deciding which version to select, and getting the right flavour for your hardware is absurdly complicated.

Many years ago I was responsible for marketing a well-known toilet tissue brand here in the UK. When you're selling a commodity product that, to be frank, people wipe their backsides with, you never make the purchase decision more complicated than necessary. Every additional SKU (stock keeping unit) had to have a reason to be. Slow selling lines weren't tolerated by the retailers for long and, more drastically, drew shoppers' attention away from the faster selling lines where the profits were greatest. When your product serves no more purpose than to help keep your customers' nether regions fresh, you become exceptionally disciplined when managing your SKU line up.

For some reason, possibly historical arrogance or just marketing naivety, Microsoft doesn't apply similar discipline to its SKU selection. Maybe we think our products are more engaging, more essential, more life-enhancing than anything our competitors can produce. Maybe we just enjoy making life difficult for everyone. Whatever the reason, this chart from Gizmodo tells you everything you need to know about how spectacularly wrong we got it:

The greatest irony here? Nearly every one of those laughably irrelevant toilet tissue products outsells every Windows Vista SKU. People spend more money each year on loo roll than on an operating system. Shouldn't the purchase decision for each be approximately as simple too?

Isn't it time Microsoft learned a lesson from the world around it and stopped making our stuff so insanely complicated to buy? If the toilet tissue people can do it, I'm sure we can too.

Windows Vista Mag to read on-screen

Thu, 01 Feb 2007 16:55:37 GMT

This is very cool. On Tuesday we unveiled a new Turning the Pages application developed in partnership with the British Library. Basically it gives you access to priceless historical documents from any PC anywhere in the world. Great stuff for scholars and academics.

Now though Future Publishing have brought this application right up to date by digitising pages from their brand new Official Windows Vista magazine. Having already proof-read the entire magazine prior to launch I had no real desire to read it again (it's good but I couldn't face reading it all over again!), but seeing this on screen in its full 3D glory gives it a whole new lease of life!

Download it now from http://wpf.windowsvistamagazine.co.uk/ttpdownload/browserapp.xbap.

"Wow" - it's launch day

Tue, 30 Jan 2007 07:24:11 GMT

My blog has been a bit quiet over the last few weeks. Sadly, the same could not be said of my workload. But today, we reached a milestone - the launch of Windows Vista and the 2007 Microsoft Office system - and the fruits of my labours can finally be revealed.

First up, if you're in London today, head over to the Piazza of the British Library on Euston Road where we're hosting a special free gig by The Feeling around noon. Bill Gates will also be in town and making some new announcements to the press to mark this important day. And a gazillion other things. Too many to mention.

Then, head over to www.windowsvista.co.uk and click the Wow Prize Draw link. We wanted to give everyone a good reason to take a few minutes out of their day to discover what all the fuss is about. The prize draw combines some very short video demos with some truly incredible prize experiences that you could win: a safari holiday complete with your very own professional photographer, McFly playing live in your living room, VIP treatment at the world premiere of Transformers in Los Angeles and more. Plus the Ultimate Experience which still makes my mind boggle. To find out about it enter the prize draw! And good luck.

Whatever you're doing, wherever you are, enjoy the launch day and I hope you'll have as much fun with Windows Vista and Office 2007 as I am.

Technology to talk about

Thu, 07 Dec 2006 07:07:48 GMT

This is the first sentence I’ve ever dictated to a blog. I’m using my new laptop with Windows Vista Ultimate edition. Learning to dictate a blog entry is surprisingly easy. It’s worth taking the simple and quick tutorial to help you learn the basic commands. But I have to admit it all feels very weird. The biggest problem I expect to encounter is that I am going to look pretty stupid doing this in the office. I also imagine that I’ll get a sore throat before long. I won’t pretend that I dictated this perfectly first time. I made a few mistakes that were easy to correct and I’ve not had to use my mouse or keyboard. Anyway, give it a try, it’s really simple and very accurate. To get started type speech recognition into the search bar under the Start button. (Blimey, I even managed some formatting there and brackets, or parentheses as they’re known, here!) This is so good it's starting to freak me out!

Windows Vista Countdown Gadget

Tue, 28 Nov 2006 08:03:37 GMT

Counting the days until you can get your hands on the final launch version of Windows Vista? Well count no more, thanks to the Windows Vista countdown sidebar gadget, featuring a sophisticated timing calculation method called 'subtraction'. Get your gadget here.