I want to do MORE to keep this Vista laptop running well...

Vista has a lot of built-in optimization functions that seem to
work perfectly on my core duo 2GB laptop. With background HD
defrag, automated firewall, Mozy's automated online backup, and
no need for registry "cleaning", all that's left to me is a periodic

-- spyware sweep (Spybot S&D)
-- antivirus check (Avast!)
-- manual desktop cleanup and filing

Surely there's more that will keep this gem glistening, or even
polish up a facet or two. Other than putting it through the
dishwasher once in a while, what more can I do?


Henry

Vista: the best computing experience I've had in 50 years

 

CCLeaner (Free) only use the registry cleaner part of this if you know
what you're doing.

AVG anti-spy (Free).

 

Best advice, if it ain't broke, don't try to "fix" it.

How well Vista works... or doesn't, depends on what hardware you have
and what software you have installed. Show me the typical poster that
claims he has "no problems" and I'll bet the farm such a user has a
minimal configuration and his idea of "using" his computer is limited
to reading/sending email, perhaps doing some Mickey Mouse word
processing once in awhile surfing the web. That's like getting in a
Model "T" Ford, giving the crack a few turns and letting it coast down
hill. OF COURSE it works. Why shouldn't it? Driving it back UP the
hill your experience may be very different.

People that report problems with Vista are more likely to be
multitasking power users and those that have installed something
beyond the run of the mill hardware and more demanding software. Heck
even Vista's core software like Explorer, IE7, Media Player and Movie
Maker all sputter and choke way too often. Seems Photo Gallery can
corrupt files for some users. A lot of things that were promised in
early beta versions never made the final cut. As usual Vista was
shipped with things "broke" to be fixed sometime in the future. Maybe.

Vista more or less "works" for most users, but it doesn't live up to
expectations. That is disappointing as the CEO of one of the major box
makes says. For all the pre release hype, the WOW factor, I just don't
see it. Five years in development to do what? The best "new" thing I
can say about Vista is oh, it's prettier. Only costs me $200 bucks to
get a "pretty" OS. As a bonus I get much slower file transfer, the
highly annoying UAC, many familiar controls changed, altered or moved.
Maybe Microsoft means wow, what did they do with the $9#!$ or wow,
where did they hide (*#!!&*.

 

If parting with $200 is problematic, perhaps purchasing a new Operating
System wasn't a good idea.
Ask your mother if she can let you not pay rent this month.

 

My minimal config is Nforce SLI mb, SB Xfi Xtreme Music, 2 GeForce 6800's,
PD 3.4 Ghz cpu. I have had Word and Excel open, while playing Ghost Recon
AW. All in Vista. Many XP users could not get GRAW running.

 

Try not to install non Vista compliant software on the machine, and you'll
be happy as a Lark.

http://www.bestvistadownloads.com/

 

Typical smartass wannabe comment. I noticed you couldn't come up with
a single FACT to dispute anything I said. That too is typical of your
type.

 

Tell your mom I said Hi.
I have a post that disputes your claim of Vista being good for email and
Word.

 

I have something for you. The tip of my boot kicking you in your big
dump ass.

Hint: If you can't even figure out how to get email or use Word under
Vista, you're utterly hopeless. Instead of playing with your computer
you probably should still be playing with these:

http://www.hamleys.com/content/ebiz/hamleys/invt/0000000122952/122952_f.jpg

 

Reflecting, I guess my post was almost a troll, though I really
was seeking pointers to something like Norton's old "one-click".

As I pressed SEND, it was with pleasure regarding a project that
had just successfully completed. This little laptop flawlessly
ran code we wrote in the '90s, and churned away for an hour less
than it would have taken on my XP (P4 3GHz) system. We do it
fairly often, but never again on anything but Vista.

Someone suggested that noncomplainers must have simple setups
and do simplistic things. My time (on a meter) is about 20% word
processing, 20% spreadsheeting (including tech-based data), 20%
pure science, 20% communication (including www), and the rest is
divided between PowerPoint, utilities, and installs/experiments,
etc. I admit there's no music or entertainment videos, and the
only games I play involve real quarks and mesons.

The absence of gaming and media software makes my setup simpler
than most, but the tasks are not simplistic. The Gadget
depicting memory and core task density is often in the red, so
this thing is running fairly hard.

I must express gratitude to Yuri Kobetz, whose True Launch Bar
has made life easier, and may have reduced conflicts leading to
the crashes that plague some users. This laptop, as an example,
has yet to see its first crash...

Back to my original point. I would like to find a well-designed
utility that examines the system in use, over time, and then
offers ways to optimize various parameters depending on
collected data. I would be surprised to discover that a function
of that sort is not integrated into Vista, but if there's an
add-on available, that's what I want.

Henry

 

I dont think your mom would let you outta the house to kick me anywhere.

But if Vista is so unstable, its ability to run GRAW speaks otherwise. That
program will tax any system.
You really don't know what your talking about, apparently you are a
disgruntled ex employee.

The internet is full of opinions, linking to Vista gripes is no more
difficult than linking to Dell gripes, or HP gripes, or living at home with
your mother gripes.

 

Have you looked at the Reliability and Performance Monitor? I'll admit I
have not used it to create a data collector set, but this may be what you're
looking for.

Lang

 

Well, I'm sure it's an endless list what you can do .. but isn't there some
principle of diminishing returns? Beyond what you've done [and other than
making sure your data gets backed up], the next stage is to simply start
using Vista as a platform for creativity [writing, learning, art, computer
programming, website development and anything else you can come up with].

Saucy