Learn Windows Vista Basics - Better Vista Performance?

Learn Windows Vista Basics - Better Vista Performance?
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Introduction

If you want to put in some good words for Vista, there are many like great looks, strong security features, improved stability, efficient troubleshooting tools, and some fabulous new applets. When considered along with previous versions of Microsoft’s operating systems, Vista is also not with­out its faults and drawbacks. As you begin to explore Vista, you’ll find its hidden flaws. Some may think that there are many areas in which other operating systems like Linux or Mac OS X still excel over Vista. However, this should not be considered demoralizing. The good news is that once you have identified the weaknesses in Vista, it becomes easy to patch them with third-party tools and applications.

This, in fact, is the purpose of this series. We’ll talk not only about applications that overcome flaws and weaknesses in Vista, but also about tools that provide a faster, more efficient, and productive PC. Some of the applications are free; others are commercial. For your convenience, we’ll also provide links to the applications we mention.

Do you consider Windows Vista to be a Poor performer?

Many of us, who have used Vista, find it to be a poor performer. It is true in some sense, but if you compare it with the older Windows versions you will agree that this operating system is doing far more than ever before. If you are using an older PC or a Notebook you will feel a noticeable effect after you have installed Vista. For instance, let us consider the Aero interface. It takes lots of memory and system resources to run the stylish Aero interface, but you can always turn it off, if you feel that your system is not able to cope with it. To do this simply right-click the Desktop → Personalize → Window Color and Appearance → Classic Appearance → Windows Vista Basic in the Color Scheme box. You can customize other performance related settings that need to be care­fully checked to make sure your system is giving you the best performance.

You can also replace Windows tools with third party applications which in some way or other provide much better performance than Windows itself. For example if you feel that copying large files is a bit slower in Windows Vista, you can use a tool called TeraCopy, which can move data more quickly, allowing you to save a lot of your precious time.

Again, if you find that search tool in Windows Vista is not as fast as you would like it to be, try using Copernic. This application locates your searched files in a flash and at the same time uses minimal system resources so that there is no interference with any other programs that are currently running.

There is another tool that provides ultimate performance and is called vLite. This tool constructs a custom Windows Vista installation that only includes the components you require the most. This tool delivers great results, but you must also note that it may also cause problems for you if something important is accidentally removed by you. This tool is only to be used by Windows experts or under their supervision.

This post is part of the series: Taming Windows Vista

There is an old saying that nothing is born perfect. Same goes with Vista too, as this new Windows isn’t perfect at all. Some drawbacks are easier to spot and can be fixed to provide ultimate perfection. In this series, I have tried to find out what Windows Vista lacks and how to fill these spaces.

  1. Taming Windows Vista - Poor Performance Tweaks
  2. Taming Windows Vista - Optimize Your Windows Interface
  3. Taming Windows Vista - Security Options
  4. Taming Windows Vista - Backup & Recovery Solutions
  5. Taming Windows Vista - Bundled Applications & Add-ons
  6. Taming Windows Vista - User Access Control
  7. Taming Windows Vista - Installing the Latest Windows Updates
  8. Taming Windows Vista - Restore, Monitor Management & More
  9. Taming Windows Vista - Media Burning, Remote Access & More
  10. Taming Windows Vista - Sample Registry Tweaks & More