How To Make Windows Vista Less Annoying
When Windows Vista was first released it was a disaster. It was filled with bugs and felt like a beta release of software, and perhaps it was. Now that’s mostly bug free, why is the OS still so annoying? Well, there are many aspects of Vista that are designed to help you, the user, but instead they just end up being even more of an annoyance. This article will outline a few of the things in Vista that can drive a person mad and how to fix them.
* UAC (User Account Control) - UAC was a feature that Microsoft added to their Windows OS with the newest iteration, Windows Vista. UAC was designed to keep the user safer, due to the increasingly loud voice of people complaining about viruses and virus protection, but instead UAC has been more of an annoyance than a helper. So how do I get rid of the annoying UAC messages EVERY time I try to run something? If you’re annoyed by the UAC settings in Vista, they can be removed by: going to control panel then User Account and Family Settings, Add or Remove User Accounts, Go to Main User Account page, Change Security settings, and then uncheck UAC. If you ever need to turn the UAC features back on, you just have to follow those instructions and click the checkmark again, but trust me, you won’t want too.
* Compatibility- Compatibility of programs was one of the biggest initially complaints of Vista, and it still is! So what can you do to run programs that don’t run well under Vista? Well luckily, Microsoft added a nifty feature called compatibility mode which lets you choose to run an option under XP capability. To run a Vista application in XP compatibility mode, simply right click the exe, go to properties then compatibility mode, and under the drop down box select XP mode and apply. This will help you run older software that didn’t translate well in the jump to XP to Vista.
* Disable the Clicking Noises- One of the most aggravating things that Microsoft decided to include in Vista was a clicking noise that you may have noticed while generally using your computer. Well you’re in luck, because there is a way to disable them! All you need to do is go into your start menu and in the start box type mmsys.cpl and then move over to the sounds tab. Browse the list until you find the ‘Start Navigation’ sound and then simply click ‘none’ under the sounds tab and click apply. This will solve your clicking problem permanently.
Vista can be an annoying OS, but these three fixes should help you immensely in making your experience a better one. If all else fails you can simply reinstall Windows XP and Windows 7 is right around the corner!
Photo Credits: Alan_D
Originally posted 2009-10-09 03:25:11.
This post involves:
... and focuses on:
Posted by Fix Handyman on July 26, 2010 in
Computer
XP and Vista not cutting it?
If your Windows Vista, or even XP not working as well as you'd like? It's time to upgrade! Microsoft is releasing Windows 7 this October and it proves to be a much better experience than Vista ever was. No one wants to upgrade without good reason however, so why would someone want to upgrade to Windows 7? This article will outline four good reasons to upgrade to Windows 7.
Four Reasons To Upgrade To Windows 7:
1. UAC Improvements. User Account Control was a new feature that Microsoft added to Windows with their release of Vista. It was the hot issue and ultimately turned many people off from using Windows Vista. The UAC was meant to protect you by prompting you to verify that you wanted to open a program or file, but it quickly became a hassle and was very unnecessary in many situations. Windows 7 has improved this feature by allowing the user much more control over the UAC
2. Software Compatibility. One of the biggest issues with users upgrading from Windows XP to Vista was the amount of software that their new OS wouldn’t allow them to use anymore. This problem is common in Microsoft’s OS, but its complaints reached a new height with Vista. This has prompted Microsoft to add a Windows XP Mode into Windows 7 which will allow users to run any software that Windows 7 may not be able to run with their new OS. The compatibility mode may not be perfected yet, but it’s a step in the right direction for a company like Microsoft which usually shows little interest in keeping old software compatible with their new OS’s.
3. Better Pricing. Windows recently released their pricing scheme for Windows 7, and the good news is it’s even cheaper than Vista was on release. The Home version of 7 will be $40 cheaper than its Vista counterpart on release, and the Ultimate version will be $80 cheaper. These two OS’s check in at $200.00 and $319.00 respectively. While they’re still not ‘cheap’, any price decrease is appreciated. If you were a Vista user upgrading is even cheaper with the Home version of 7 only costing $120.00 to upgrade, which is $80 cheaper than buying a new version.
4. Recognized Drivers. One problem many people faced with Windows Vista and XP was that their drivers for devices such as their video card weren’t recognized after they installed. This forced them to hunt for the drivers for their device online just to get their hardware to function properly. This can be hard for the non-computer savvy, so that’s why Microsoft has improved their automatic driver support. Microsoft has much improved the ability for Windows to locate a correct driver making the transition from OS to OS a much smoother experience.
Windows 7 is looking like one of the best OS releases Microsoft has had, but what couldn’t be better than Vista right? Expect Windows 7 to drop this fall.
Photo Credits: Taller Hikari
This post involves:
... and focuses on:
Posted by Fix Handyman on September 22, 2009 in
Computer, Tech Repair
Stumble
Reddit
Digg
Del.icio.us
