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How to disable a service for good (Taming and Tweaking Windows Vista Services)

How to disable a service for good Taming and Tweaking Windows Vista ServicesDamnit ed....Stop telling people to disable superfetch. Disabling superfetch reduces system performance overall, having it enabled also significantly reduces neccessary disk defragmentation, which saves you gobs of time.Where did I say to disable Superfetch?I show this as an...

Tags: Microsoft Windows, Microsoft Windows Vista, Superfetch

Discussion threads 2008-05-20

Fixing Windows Vista, Part 4: Get smart about services

In the three previous installments of this series, I discussed ways to improve the performance of Windows Vista by changing some settings especially those installed by an OEM PC maker. If you need to catch up, go read Part 1 the pros and cons of a clean install, Part 2...

Tags: Microsoft Windows Vista, Service, Superfetch, Trade-off, Windows Search, Windows Defender, Microsoft Windows, Microsoft Windows Vista (Longhorn), Operating Systems, Software, Ed Bott

Blog posts 2008-05-19

Additional Resources

The myth of Windows "Workstation" 2008

The myth of Windows "Workstation" 2008If you want a better Windows experience...switch to Linux/KDE. Sorry I just couldn't resist. I don't really believe that. I do believe if you want a better Windows experience run XP or even W2k. No matter how much I experience Vista it...

Tags: Microsoft Windows Vista (Longhorn), Operating systems, Microsoft Windows Vista, Microsoft Windows, workstation

Discussion threads 2008-07-16

Understand how SuperFetch uses RAM to enhance system performance

Despite how it may appear at first glance, when Microsoft Windows Vista reports very little free memory available it is actually a good thing. That is merely the Vista performance improvement applet SuperFetch at work. In this Windows Vista Report, Greg Shultz explains how SuperFetch worlks and what it is...

Tags: Performance, Microsoft Windows Vista, Applet, RAM, Greg Shultz, Microsoft Windows Vista (Longhorn), Performance Management, Microsoft Windows, Operating Systems, Software, Human Resources, Workforce Management

Download resources 2008-07-09

Windows Embedded 'Quebec' due in 2010

Although it hasn't said much about its plans for a Vista-based successor to its Windows XP-based  embedded operating system, Microsoft already is working on one. Microsoft released during the first week of June a new test build of its latest Windows XP-based embedded operating system, known as...

Tags: Microsoft Windows XP, Microsoft Corp., Windows Embedded, Quebec, Microsoft Windows, Operating Systems, Software, Mary Jo Foley

Blog posts 2008-06-06

Fixing Windows Vista, Part 4: Get smart about services

Fixing Windows Vista, Part 4: Get smart about servicesHave you benchmarked the performance differences ...... that you see when you disable Superfetch, Windows Defender and Windows Search? Last time I benchmarked a system with and without Windows Defender I saw no difference (outside of statistical 'noise').I'm not saying that...

Tags: Microsoft Windows Vista (Longhorn), Printers, Microsoft Windows Vista, Windows Defender, Fixing Windows Vista, Get Smart, Microsoft Windows

Discussion threads 2008-05-19

Another take on Vista vs. XP benchmarks

As anyone who's ever worked in a PC performance lab knows, the #1 rule of benchmarking is: Your mileage may vary. I remembered that rule when I read my colleague Adrian Kingsley-Hughes' epic account of his benchmark tests of Windows Vista SP1 versus Windows XP SP2 (Part...

Tags: Disk, Performance, Microsoft Windows XP, Service Pack 2, Problem, Microsoft Windows Vista, Microsoft Windows Vista SP1, Microsoft Windows Vista (Longhorn), Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 2, Performance Management, Operating Systems, Microsoft Windows, Software, Human Resources, Workforce Management, Ed Bott

Blog posts 2008-02-19

A Vista SP1 FAQ

I've been working with Windows Vista Service Pack 1 for several months now, in beta releases and, for the last two weeks, in the final released code. I've put together this post to answer some questions I'm frequently asked about this long-awaited update. If you have a question that isn't...

Tags: Microsoft Windows Update, Change, Update, Microsoft Windows Vista, Microsoft Windows Vista SP1, SP1, Installation Software, Microsoft Windows, Microsoft Windows Vista (Longhorn), Operating Systems, Software, Ed Bott

Blog posts 2008-02-09

Windows Vista SP1

A little more than one year after its release, Windows Vista will receive its first service pack update in March. Microsoft says the pack will offer better compatibility with third-party hardware, increased reliability, tighter security, and better performance. But unlike the last Windows Service Pack release, Windows XP SP2--which offered...

Tags: Microsoft Windows Vista (Longhorn), Operating systems, Microsoft Windows, Microsoft Windows Vista, Microsoft Windows Vista SP1, Microsoft Corp.

Product reviews 2008-02-07

ReadyBoost - Does anyone use it?

ReadyBoost - Does anyone use it?ReadyBoost should not be a function used dailyIf you do use it daily, or even more than once a month, then get some real memory. ReadyBoost should be used only for those rare times when you need a speedy system while using a high memory...

Tags: Memory, Microsoft Windows Vista (Longhorn), Real RAM, ReadyBoost, RAM, Microsoft Windows Vista

Discussion threads 2007-12-03

Dissecting Microsoft's "100 Reasons You'll Be Speechless"

The other day a list of "100 Reasons You'll Be Speechless" when you use Windows Vista (I guess Microsoft aren't hearing the "Wows!" and assuming that we're all speechless instead) hit the media (I'm pretty sure this isn't a new list ...). I was going to write a piece...

Tags: Game, Version, PC, Problem, Microsoft Windows Vista, Microsoft Corp., Feature, Yes, OK, Pass, Microsoft Windows Vista (Longhorn), Microsoft Windows, Operating Systems, Software, Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

Blog posts 2007-10-24

My 7-step Windows Vista reliability action plan

My 7-step Windows Vista reliability action planA bit over the topYour article implies that you have to go to extraodinary lengths to run Vista reliably. Nothing could be farther from the truth. While many of your steps are valid ways to improve the experience you are setting a...

Tags: Microsoft Windows Vista (Longhorn), Desktops, Operating systems, Microsoft Windows, Microsoft Windows Vista, hardware, PC, Apple Macintosh

Discussion threads 2007-08-21

Size matters in Samsung's latest hard drive offerings (includes video)

Yesterday, I dropped down to Greenwich Village in NYC for a private gadgetfest that was put on by Samsung and it proved to be worth the trip. We captured video of a bunch of new products that the company has in the offing -- ones that span a variety...

Tags: General

Blog posts 2007-07-12

Vista Home Basic on 512MB? Hey, it works!

Vista Home Basic on 512MB? Hey, it works!Well, this certainly hasn't match my experienceGranted, my first try with 512 MB RAM on Home Basic was 512 shared. But after I upgraded it to 1 GB shared (128 to the video card, 896 system) it wasn't any better. It took almost...

Tags: Microsoft Windows Vista (Longhorn), Media Center PCs, ABMers, Microsoft Windows Vista, MCE, Vista Home, extra GB

Discussion threads 2007-05-09

The final word on Vista startup times

As I’ve pointed out in the previous two installments of this series, a properly configured, well-maintained Windows Vista installation should start up in a reasonable amount of time, in most cases taking roughly 10–15 seconds more than it takes to start Windows XP on the same hardware, and in some...

Tags: Uncategorized

Blog posts 2007-04-18

Discover how Windows Vista manages system resources

Take a full-color, visual tour inside the new Windows Vista operating system and see how all the pieces and parts work. With clear and simple explanations and illustrations, How Microsoft Windows Vista Works gives you detailed information on the hidden workings of Windows Vista -- from the new...

Tags: Microsoft Windows Vista, Chapter Coverage, Microsoft Windows, Microsoft Windows Vista (Longhorn), Operating Systems, Software

Book chapters 2007-04-02

I can't get enthusiastic about hybrid hard drives

I can't get enthusiastic about hybrid hard drivesSome minor corrections.The drives in question will use SLC flash instead of MLC and therefore have a longer usefull life. The estimates of usefull life are the same as the devices used in ReadyBoost and should be about 10 years under normal...

Tags: Microsoft Windows Vista (Longhorn), Engineering, Notebooks, Memory, Microsoft Corp., Hybrid Hard Drive, hard drive, ReadyBoost

Discussion threads 2007-03-08

The Great Vista/Mac Showdown: ReadyBoost stands alone

The Great Vista/Mac Showdown: ReadyBoost stands aloneGimmickMitch, MSWindows is the [b]only[/b] platform that hasn't had this forever. Mostly it's not worth the trouble.For Linux, you just add a line like this to [b]/etc/fstab[/b]:/dev/sdf0 none swap sw 0 0(assuming you've set up [b]sdf[/b] to be one of the flash drives...

Tags: Microsoft Windows Vista, Apple Macintosh, hard drive, ReadyBoost, standby

Discussion threads 2007-02-27

The Great Vista/Mac Showdown: ReadyBoost stands alone

Last time, we looked at RAM usage by the Windows Vista and Mac OS operating systems. Now, we turn to memory enhancement, something that is unique to Windows Vista, because it includes a technology called ReadyBoost, which uses flash memory to supplement available system RAM. Its a feature that will...

Tags: Vista/Mac showdown, Business &, Technology

Blog posts 2007-02-27

The Great Vista/Mac Showdown: Goodbye, WinRot

The Great Vista/Mac Showdown: Goodbye, WinRotre: WinRotWhile I know that it exists, I don't generally see the issue. Perhaps I don't do as much with my system as others do. Usually if I restart once a month, my XP system does not slow down enough for me to...

Tags: Microsoft Windows, Apple Macintosh, Microsoft Windows Vista, WinRot, Microsoft Windows XP, restart

Discussion threads 2007-02-21