When looking for a wireless network to connect to there is no refresh button on the screen that displays found wireless networks.  Hit F5 to easily refresh this list.

Title: Wireless Network Search Refresh
Author: Steve Sinchak

With the release of Windows Vista comes a surprising change to the way the upgrade version works.

Unlike previous version of Windows, you can no longer wipe out your existing Windows installation and install a fresh install of Vista with the upgrade DVD.  Instead, your upgrade version on top of the previous version of Windows you have.

This change will help cut down on the number of people buying the wrong version of Windows Vista but creates a huge annoyance for any power user that wants to start fresh with a new Windows operating system.
Users that already wiped their previous Windows installation with the Windows Vista install disk while installing the upgrade version are in for a surprise when they try to active Windows. It won’t activate! Why? Windows is looking for a full version product key because the user did not install the upgrade version of Windows Vista from within a previous version of Windows.

Users that want to perform a fresh Windows Vista install the traditional method are not going to be able to active their upgrade copy.  If you still want to do a clean install with Windows Vista so that your XP settings and junk does not get ported over, there is a new method that will allow you to do a clean install and activate your upgrade version.

Fresh Windows install with the upgrade version of Windows Vista

1. Use your Windows Vista DVD to wipe out your previous Windows installation and install Vista without a product key as shown here.
2. After you have Vista installed, use your Windows Vista DVD again and perform an upgrade using your upgrade product key.  Yes, upgrading Windows Vista to Vista works.
3. Your upgrade key will now activate Windows and you will have a clean install of Windows Vista.

Title: Windows Vista Upgrade Install Fix
Author: Steve Sinchak

When you are in explorer and are manually typing in a long folder path or at a command prompt navigating through many directories, below are two cool tips that will help you save time.

The first is one that I have been using for years.  When working at a command prompt, instead to typing in the full text of an item, just hit the tab key to bring up full items. For example, say I want to change the directory to the Windows folder. At a command prompt I would type in CD wind and then hit the tab key and “Windows” will automatically show up.  Think of the tab key as a kind of auto complete for DOS.  This same technique also works in Windows Explorer.

Another tip was sent in by Robert Warriner also has a similar effect. Instead of hitting the tab key to bring up alternatives, you can use the * wildcard. For example, the command CD wind*\*32\dri* will change your directory to c:\windows\system32\drivers. The * wildcard will also work in Windows Explorer.

Title: Use Path Wildcards to save time in Explorer and Command Prompt
Author: Steve Sinchak

If you are running Windows Vista on a laptop then check out the new Windows Mobility Center by holding the Windows Logo Key and pressing X.

Title: Use Mobility Center
Author: Steve Sinchak

There are many new features in Windows Vista that are installed by default that you may not need. These extra and unneeded features can slow down your computer and take up more storage space.  If you would like to uninstall, or turn off, these extra features, this tip is for you.

Windows Features can be uninstalled using the Windows Features utility. Follow these steps to uninstall applications such as the Windows Fax and Scan and many more:

1. Click on the Start Button and select Control Panel.
2. Under Programs click Uninstall a program .
3. On the side menu, click on Turn Windows features on or off .
4. Scroll through the list as shown below and remove the check from any feature you do not want installed.

   

5. Click OK when you are finished making your changes.  The features will now be uninstalled.

Title: Uninstall / Turn off Unneeded Features
Author: Steve Sinchak

Every time you use the scroll wheel on your mouse you scroll 4 lines at a time in Windows Vista.  This is adequate for most users but did you know that it is possible to tweak this setting to make your scroll wheel more or less sensitive? It is possible with a quick little reg hack.

1. Click on the Start Button and key in regedit and hit Enter.
2. Navigate through HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop.
3. Scroll to the bottom and edit WheelScrollLines. Set this to a lower value for a more sensitive scroll wheel. larger for less sensitive.
4. Reboot.

Title: Tweak your Mouse Scroll Wheel
Author: Steve Sinchak

Check out the new System Configuration Utility in Windows Vista that now includes new troubleshooting tools. Just click on the start button and key in msconfig and hit Enter.

Click on the Startup tab and uncheck any application you do not want to automatically start.

Title: Stop Autostart Applications
Author: Steve Sinchak

Even if you turn on show hidden files in Windows Explorer some files will remain hidden. These files are super hidden. Set the registry value below to 1.

	[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced]
		“SuperHidden” = 1

You will need to reboot after changing this setting for it to work.

Title: Show Super Hidden Files
Author: Steve Sinchak

If you are like me and use the search box in the new Start Menu in Windows Vista as a run box, you can run any command you type in as an administrator by holding down CTRL + Shift and then pressing Enter.

Say you want to start command prompt as administrator:

1. Click start button
2. Key in cmd
3. Press and hold down CTRL and Shift and then hit Enter
4. Command prompt now be run as administrator

Title: Run as Administrator Start Menu Keyboard Trick
Author: Steve Sinchak

Remote Assistance in Windows Vista is a great tool that is ofter overlooked and forgotten about. When it is actually used, it can be very valuable when trying to troubleshoot issues and demonstrate how to do a task to remote users. I find it very helpful when trying to assist my parents when they have a computer issue. Instead of trying to blindly walk them through something on the phone, I can connect to their computer and show how since remote assistance allows them to see what I am doing.

In Windows Vista Remote Assistance has been greatly improved and now has many command line parameters that make it easy for administrators to create shortcuts for their users. Check out the sections below for various Remote assistance shortcuts:

Request Assistance

• msra /novice
• msra /novice <computer>

Remote Assistance Shortcuts

• msra /expert
• msra /expert <computer>

Auto Connect Offer

• msra /offerra <computer>

Title: Remote Assistance Shortcuts
Author: Steve Sinchak