4 easy changes make Vista much quicker
September 15, 2008 by Valerie HelmbreckPosted in: Communication, Software shortcuts, Special Report, operating systems
Are employees in your company complaining about Vista’s slow response time? Here’s a simple way to help:
Turn off some of Vista’s unnecessary features.
Many PCs, especially in workplace settings, don’t have the specs to handle all of Vista’s power-gobbling features. That makes the system run slowly, and employees’ productivity suffers.
The good news: A lot of those features just add some extra flash and can be turned off without reducing functionality.
Here are some things you can disable to speed up the OS:
- Sidebar: Features that run in the sidebar suck up a lot of processing power. Turn Sidebar off by right-clicking on it and choosing “close sidebar.” Then un-check the option “Start sidebar when windows starts.”
- Aero: The visual features Aero offers, like thumbnails and 3-D views, add a nice touch but little practicality in a business environment. To turn off Aero, right-click the desktop, select Personalize, Window Color and Appearance, click “Open classic appearance properties for more color options.” Select “Windows Vista Basic” and click OK.
- Internet Printing: If users don’t print via the Web, disable this client in the Programs and Features control panel. Click “Turn Windows features on or off” link and expand the Print Services page. Un-check “Internet Printing Client.”
- Windows Error Reporting: This feature sends Microsoft details of system errors. If you don’t want to waste system resources helping Microsoft, go to the Services window, click “Start and enter services.” Double-click “Windows Error Reporting Service.” In the “Startup type” drop-down menu, select “Disabled,” then click OK.
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September 16th, 2008 at 11:47 am
While I generally agree with the 1st 3 suggestions, you may want to rethink #4: turning off Windows Error Reporting. How do you think Microsoft gets enough information about problems with both their operating system and their applications to intelligently and correctly come up with fixes with the problems. If everyone takes #4 to heart, then we’re all going to have to live with the problems much longer than if we take the time to report them.
As part of the reporting process, you may even be informed of a patch or work-around that will enable you to deal with the problem by eliminating the circumstances that cause it in the first place.
JLatham, Microsoft MVP (Not a MSFT employee: http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/ )
September 16th, 2008 at 12:28 pm
I think it’s incredibly pathetic to have to publish workarounds for a relatively new operating system. I realize that every new operating system has their share of problems, however, I haven’t seen this level of consumer disenchantment since—-dare I utter the words—-Windows 98 (!) I hope that the bugs are eventually worked out (of Vista). In the meantime, however, my next PC or laptop purchase will be decided by whether or not the company offers XP as an option to Vista. If they don’t then they won’t be getting my business.
September 16th, 2008 at 1:14 pm
I am ready to bear the expense of having XP put on my computer. I have tried to give Vista a fair chance by it has caused me much grief. I have to use my old computer because the software I use is not compatible with Vista — and I will have to gradually upgrade because of the cost factor.
September 16th, 2008 at 1:25 pm
N, I think you are confusing Windows 98 with Windows ME. Let’s not dis 98 here, it was far better a product from the get go than Vista is well into SP1.
As for vendors, I’m with you. I have informed my Dell reps that if they do not offer a pre-install of XP Pro, I go elsewhere. Fortunately, so far anyway, they have complied.
September 16th, 2008 at 7:47 pm
Our company’s solution was to move over to Linux and we have never looked back.
September 16th, 2008 at 7:50 pm
Kurt, that was a bold move. Talk about turning off Vista! What’s been your user response?
September 17th, 2008 at 10:42 am
Valerie, User response has been very positive. Our up time is over 99.9% and our whole system is integrated and fast with 30+ users.
December 26th, 2009 at 11:51 am
wow, awesome post, I was wondering
July 12th, 2010 at 8:16 am
The reason I get the gadget is for the instructions, obtain ipod. throw out ipod. play with instructions