Vista Tuneup

• 11Jun

  Resolving Program Compatibility Issues on Windows Vista

  Performance, Security, Software, Windows Vista No Comments
  When Windows Vista came out on the heels of the much respected Windows XP, the PC community was quite underwhelmed, to say the least. Windows Vista seemed so unnecessarily clumsy and bloated, filled to the brim with programs and services that most computer users didn’t want and didn’t need.

  However, what irked most users was the number of compatibility issues they faced when they tried installing and using programs that they were able to use with no problems on Windows XP. There seemed to be a greater number of instances wherein applications would fail to install properly, or initialize with restricted or impaired functionality. Naturally, this has caused many users to get frustrated with the operating system. Fortunately, there are a few things that you can do in order to get Windows Vista to run all of your programs.

  Search for Program Updates

  Some programs that were originally coded for Windows XP might need a patch or upgrade in order for it to be run properly by Windows Vista. Try checking out the website of either the programs developer or publisher and search for these updates. In case the program you are using is old, and no official Windows Vista support is forthcoming, there are third-party sites and programmers who might have made a fix that you can download. This is especially true for old video games.

  Run the Program in Compatibility Mode

  Windows Vista does have a built-in utility called compatibility mode, which should, theoretically, make the OS emulate a previous version of Windows whenever you run a program. All you need to do is find an icon or shortcut of the program you wish to use, right-click on it, and then select ‘Properties’. Select the ‘Compatibility’ tab in the window that opens. Click the ‘Run this program in compatibility mode’ button, which should then allow you to select which past Windows OS to emulate. Click OK to apply the changes. These settings will now automatically apply whenever you access that program.

  Run the Program as an Administrator

  Beefed up security features were one of the promised improvements Microsoft said they’d implement in Windows Vista, but most people have found that these new features are more inconvenient than reassuring. One feature prevents users who are not administrators on the PC from accessing certain programs or from doing simple tasks. Sometimes, even transferring files from one folder to another will require administrator privileges, seriously impeding workflow. To run a program as an administrator, simply right-click on the program icon or shortcut and select the ‘Run as Administrator’ option. You will have to do this for every instance that you want to access the application.

  One more thing you could do is to upgrade your PC’s specifications. Windows Vista usually demands double the amount of RAM and more processing power to run the same programs on Windows XP. So if you switched to Vista on an old PC that used to run Windows XP, a hardware upgrade might be required to run your programs smoothly.

  Tags: fix new program, program application fix, program drivers, program vista

• 16Mar

  How to Backup Your Data on Windows Vista

  Security, Windows Vista No Comments
  If your business or lifestyle is heavily dependent on the convenience of computers, then you know that one of the worst possible things that can happen to you is the sudden and unexpected loss of all your data. For many people, it can be a personal mishap that results in the loss of priceless files and photos, or a financial disaster  where records and other irreplaceable business data simply vanish.

  For this reason, data security should be high among any heavy computer user’s list of priorities, and luckily for us users of Microsoft’s Windows Vista operating system, we have a handy tool that can help us achieve just that.

  Enter the Backup and Restore Center

  All versions of Windows Vista, aside from Vista Home Basic and Vista Home Premium, come packaged with a built-in utility called the Backup and Restore Center. You’ll find that it’s a very convenient and easy to use tool to protect your data against virus infections, hardware failures, software glitches, and even accidental deletions. To acccess the utility, simply click on the Start button and type in the word ‘backup’ in the search box. This will bring up the dialog for the Backup and Restore Center. Just as its name implies, it is segmented neatly into its two main functions: one section for backing up your files and folders and another section for restoring them when you need to.

  Backing Up Your Data

  The backup section of the tool offers two main options: Back Up Files and and Back Up Computer. Option one will simply backup your files and folders, while the more extensive second option will do that plus take a virtual snapshot of all of your installed programs, settings, and preferences. While the first option will only protect your data, the second option also allows you to restore all of your files and reset your OS and all of your programs to the state when you backed up. Because of this, choosing the Backup Computer option is ideal, but bear in mind that it does consume a lot of disk space.

  Done in a Few Simple Steps

  To proceed with backing up your files, simply click the Back Up Files button, which will call up the Back Up Files Window. Here, you will be asked to select the drive in which to store your backups. You can store your files in a CD or DVD, a partition of your hard drive, or even in a folder on a shared network. Once you’ve made your selection, click Next.

  The next step will ask you which partitions of your hard drive you wish to backup, excluding of course, the partition where the backup will be stored. Choose which partitions to save, and click Next. This will lead you to another window where you can choose what specific file types you want to save. This way, you can choose to save your pictures or your music or movie collection without having to make room for other files you don’t consider essential.

  Once you’re done choosing, click Next again. Now, a new window will pop up asking you how often you want to backup your files. This way, your computer can do this automatically without prompting. Once this is done, you can click the button marked Save Settings and Start Backup.

  After a few minutes of scanning your hard drive and saving copies, Windows Vista will have successfully backed up your files, providing you with the assurance that your files will stay safe in even the worst situations.

  Tags: back up computer, Back up files, Backup, Restore, system restore

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