Windows Vista Ultimate Edition Features

Windows Ultimate is unique in that it not only features all the features of the other Windows editions, but also includes downloadable Windows Ultimate Extras. accessible through Windows Update, they are slated to include some pretty incredible software. Microsoft bills them as cutting edge utilities and applications.
Flip Three D is a cool way to breeze through the open applications on the Windows desktop. Now, however, you can also use the Windows key with Tab to present a Three D view of your open applications. The applications also show what's going on inside them. This Aero feature is both nifty and handy.
Windows Vista Support Ultimate is the first operating system to live up to its name. It truly is the ultimate in desktop operating systems. This book guides you through the new features with a strong focus on multimedia and gaming, as well as shows you how to install Windows Vista fresh or upgrade your legacy Windows installation; how to network multiple computers in a home environment;
how to get the most out of your movies, photographs and music; and how to leverage the new gaming features to your advantage; and that's just the beginning.
Windows Vista Ultimate is designed for multimedia and gaming, and it boast a host of new features to make audio, video, and interactive experiences better than ever before. Besides the Games folder, mentioned earlier, it incorporates a bunch of other nifty upgrades.

Why Switch to Windows Vista

In addition to hype there are some solid reasons to upgrade and or switch over to Windows Vista. I can recount only some of them. Start from the appearance. Windows Vista help looks different; window, desktop, start button, start menu, taskbar, everything has a new look. Window in Windows Vista looks somewhat similar to that of in Mac OSX. Minimize, maximize and the close buttons seem new. The windows can be made to appear in lucent ,if the new Aero is applied. The start button has been modified to give a new look and the word "start" is gone. Instead new Windows vista logo appears in start button. Start menu and wallpapers are also new. The desktop contains a side bar, which shows a clock, and some of the widgets.
Windows Vista provides high level of security measures. Windows Vista that comes with Internet Explorer which provides a higher degree of security to the system, as well as, the operating system environment. It includes phasing filter to provide higher security while surfing the net. Protection against spamming is also provided. The other security measures include tools such as Windows defender, advanced firewall, Encryption/Decryption of data, support partitions, auto backup. The Windows Defender is a program which blocks suspicious programs which tries to do some illegal activity in the computer system. Also users can control kids by using parental controls in Windows Vista. Parents can now deny access to certain programs especially, the games. At the same time the Windows Media Player 11 enhances video, audio quality when playing sound, music, videos.
One of my favorite thing in Windows Vista is search results. Users can have a new and improved search experience in Vista; they can manage images more efficiently with inbuilt Photo Gallery and a lot more.

How to Dual Boot Windows Vista and XP on Your Computer

Step 1: Understand What You're Doing
Dual booting is a nice idea - however, you do need to understand what you're doing. Meddling around with drive partitions and boot sectors might cause you to lose data. So one thing that I'd advise you to do is to do more research into your dual booting needs first - do you really need to dual boot? Think about that before embarking on this little dual booting adventure.
Step 2: Data Backup
The first thing you must do - the FIRST thing - is to back up all your critical documents and files. Also, make sure you back up and try to restore those documents back. I've seen many folks who use an imaging program (e.g. Acronis TrueImage) and successfully back up their documents. However, when their system crashes and they try to restore the files - it doesn't work. So always, always make sure you back up and try restoring the documents before proceeding to the next steps. Another option for back up is to get an external hard disk - this is a simpler solution. If you get a big external hard disk, you can copy all your documents over and they will be quite safe.
Step 3: Download GParted
What do you do next? Well, you download this neat program called GParted. What GParted does is that it shrinks the Windows XP partition. Once it is shrunk, you can burn the Windows XP partition into a DVD. You can then leave room for Vista (at least 10 GB worth of space).
Step 4: Install Vista and run EasyBCD
Once you've used GParted and shrunk the Windows XP partition, you should install Windows Vista to get Windows vista help. Once installed, you should download a software called EasyBCD. This program allows you to change boot up name of the different partitions to your liking.
Step 5: Try it out
The last step here is to try out the dual boot configuration. When the machine boots up, you should be able to choose either Windows Vista or XP as your installation choices. Make sure that you can boot into both operating systems and they work normally.
Conclusion
In summary, you can see that there is an advantage to dual booting. It is not that hard a process, but you do need to know what you're doing before you try it out. So until next time, happy dual booting and good luck!

Repair Windows Vista

Now that just about everybody knows how to use the XP Recovery Console Microsoft's newest operating system does not contain one. Not to be bothered we have a detailed article that will walk you through how to use these great new features in Vista.
The reason of this article is to teach you how to make vista repairs if you are having startup issues or you can't seem to use the vista system restore option. There are two ways to use these options and they depend on if you have a Microsoft Windows Vista install disk or if Vista was pre-installed on your OS you will have a ghost image on your hard drive.
If you have the windows vista repair disk: (This should be your backup copy of Vista if you made one)
PLEASE NOTE: This Vista install CD can be run from within Vista. Just insert the CD once Vista has loaded up and go to install, go > Install Now > Upgrade.
1. Boot up with the Vista install disc
2. You should see a screen that says "Windows is loading files"
3. After a few minutes you will get a language option. Select your language and hit next.
4. On the install screen select "Repair Windows Vista computer"
5. Windows will find your copy of Vista on the machine
6. Select your copy of Vista and click next
7. You will now see the following 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
8. Assuming you are using this option because you were unable to boot to Windows Vista select the system Restore option and then select the date you would like to go back to. If your OS is fine you can always use the startup repair option.
Pre-Installed and OEM versions: (please check with your manufacturer fist. They may have replaced these tools with their own.

1. Turn your computer on and start pressing the F8 key. If you see the Windows Vista Logo you have gone too far and need to reboot and try again

2. You will get an advanced options screen. Select the "Repair your computer option" and hit enter.

3. Select your language and hit next.

4. Enter your user name and password and then next.

5. The recovery options should now appear.

6. In most cases just using the system restore to set your computer back will solve your issue. If this is not the case try the Startup repair option.