Setting up windows Vista
From Hugme.org
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Ok, I've now set up windows Vista. What a pain in the ass. Once you get everything fixed it's not TOO bad but there is very little documentation on getting things fixed and it's not exactly user friendly to do. So here are some pointers.
Fixing the OS
Windows Update
- Do your windows update first. A lot of times the update will change some of the below settings after it runs so get it out of the way first. I do suggest keeping automatic updates off, install them manually.
- Control Panel > Security > Check for Updates
User Account Control
- UAC is a huge pain in the but. It's going to pop up messages every time you try to do anything on your computer. Disable it right away! you are going to be going into your registry quite a bit anyway so you might as well start here
- Hit windows+R and type regedit.
- when the window comes up click on HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE > SOFTWARE > Microsoft > Windows > CurrentVersion > Policies > System
- Double click on EnableLUA and change the value to 0
- You will have to reboot for the changes to take effect
Balloon Tips
- I am of course talking about those anoying pupup message balloons in the lower right hand corner of the screen that decide to jump at you randomly. Turn these off as well, they do nothing for you.
- If you aren't already in the registry, hit windows+R and type regedit
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER > SOFTWARE > Microsoft > Windows > CurrentVersion > Explorer > Advanced
- Click Edit - New - DWORD (32 -bit) value
- Name it 'EnableBalloonTips'
- It should set to the value of 0 automaticly but if it doesn't then set it there yourself
Icon Size
- There is someone over there in Microsoft land who decided that all their users are visually impared. For this reason they have mad the icons HUGE!
- Right click somewhere on your desktop
- Click 'view' then 'classic icons
- You can also use your mousewheel to do it
- from your desktop hold down the Ctrl button and scroll your mouse wheel up or down to adjust the size
Shortcut arrows
- Now that you have your icons a decent size you may have noticed that the shortcut arrow didn't change size at all. To fix this it's back into the registry.
- download blank.ico and put it in your windows directory (more than likly it's c:\windows)
- open the registry, hit windows+R and type regedit
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE > SOFTWARE > Microsoft > Windows > CurrentVersion > explorer
- If you don't have it already create the key 'Shell Icons' By clicking on Edit > New > Key
- Click Edit > New > String Value and name it 29
- Double click on it and give it the value '%windir%\blank.ico'
Allow the running of files without a prompt
- Every time you try to run a file windows will ask you if you really want to do it. This gets annoying especially when you are trying to install software on your computer.
- Open control panel
- Click Network and Internet > Internet Options > Security > Internet
- Take off the check for protected mode then click "Custom Level"
- (Hint: start about 2/3's of the way down)
- Launching Applications and unsafe file - Check "Enable (Not Secure)"
- You will get this stupid message saying you are putting your computer at risk, like all the messages in Vista, this is BS.
Disable and delete OneCare
- OneCare is a beta product by Microsoft they demand putting on your computer. Take it off! it doesn't work properly and it will do nothing useful but annoy you to no end.
Disable OneCare
- hit windows+r and type msconfig then press enter
- under the 'Services' tab uncheck the following:
- OneCare Firewall
- Windows Live OneCare Health Monitor
- OneCare AntiSpyware and AntiVirus
- Windows Live OneCare
- Under the 'Startup' tab uncheck the following:
- Windows Live OneCare
- click ok
Delete OneCare
- If you're not familiar and comfortable with the registry you will not want to do this. However I've done it and it does completely get rid of one care.
- hit windows+r and type regedit then press enter
- search for 'onecare'
- Where you can delete entire keys. Read them, if there is information about another program just delete the dword
- You can safely go in now and delete one care from your computer. You will never see it again.
Turning Off your firewall
The windows firewall is more annoying than it is useful. Actually I don't consider it useful in any way. These instructions will turn it off for you. At least they make this one easy.
- Start > Control Panel > Security > Turn windows firewall on or off
- Click off
Change the view of your folders
- Control Panel > Appearance and Personalization > Folder Options > View > Advanced Settings
- Check "Display the full path in title bar"
- Click on "Show Hidden Files and folders"
- Uncheck "Hide extensions for known file types"