Make Your PC Ready for Windows Vista

Windows Vista will be released on January 30 2007.

Minimum System Requirements:
Processor: 800 MHz 32 bit or 64 bit
System memory: 512 MB
GPU: SVGA (800x600)
HDD: 20 GB
HDD Free Space: 15 GB
Optical Drive: CD ROM Drive

A graphics Processor that is DirectX9 cabable is better for good Windows Vista experience.

System Requirements to get an even better Windows Vista Experience:
Processor: 1 GHz 32 bit or 64 bit
System Memory: 1 GB
3D Graphics card: Minimum 128 MB DirectX9 capable card with Pixel Shader 2.0 support and 32 bits per pixel.
HDD: 40 GB
HDD Free Space: 15 GB
Optical Drive: DVD ROM Drive
Audio Output capability
Internet Access capability

Features:

1.Start Menu
The start menu of Windows Vista is faster and more helpful than previous Windows versions. The start menu has a new feature called Instant search which can help you find anything on your PC. The new start menu makes it easy for you to navigate across all of the installed applications on your PC.

2.Security
Windows Vista contains new security features. Your PC will be protected from Worms,Spyware,Viruses and other unwanted software. Windows Vista's security features prevent Malware from installing,find and remove Malware if it has already been installed.

Automatic Updates and Windows Security Center will keep your PC up to date with the latest security patches, and also alert you when your PC needs to install an update. Windows Vista Firewall protect your PC from Hackers. Windows Defender protect your PC from Spyware and other unwanted software.The Malacious Software Removal Tool periodically scans your PC for Viruses. You can also keep your computer healthy by using Windows OneCare antivirus software.

3.Search Folders
Windows Vista introduces a powerful new tool Search Folders that makes it easy to find and organize your files-wherever they may be on your PC. A Search Folder is simply a search that you save. Opening a Search Folder instantly runs that saved search, displaying up-to-date results immediately.

4.Windows Internet Explorer 7.0
Windows Vista has Internet Explorer 7.0 version. I.E 7.0 has new Security and privacy features. Also it has so many features like Tabbed browsing,inline search,and shrink to fit printing etc. All these features makes everyday tasks easier.

5.System Restore
In Windows Vista, System Restore allows recovery from a greater range of changes than in Windows XP. The file filter system for system restore used in previous versions of Windows is replaced with a new approach.

Windows vista provides a backup experience that is easier to use with more choices for storing your backed up information. You can choose to back up to CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, an external hard disk connected to your PC by USB or IEEE 1394, another hard disk on your PC, or to another PC or server connected to your network.

6.Networking
Windows Vista networking is easier to setup,easier to use,and more secure and reliable. We can connect wirelessly to our company's network,copy files between computers,share an internet connection and printers etc.

7.Speech Recognition in Windows Vista
You can interact with your computer using your voice with Windows Speech recognition feature. This is a new feature in Windows Vista. We can dictate documents and e-mails,use voice commands to start and switch between applications,control the operating system and even fill out forms on the web. The accuracy with which Windows Vista recognizes your speech improves each time you use it. Windows Speech Recognition was built using the latest Microsoft speech technologies.

Windows Vista supports speech recognition in English (United States),English (United Kingdom),German, French,Spanish,Japanese,Traditional Chinese and Simplified Chinese languages.

Also there are so many new features in Windows Vista O.S. All we make our PC ready for Windows Vista.

Windows Registry

What is Windows Registry?
Registry is a central hierarchical database used to store settings and options for the 32 bit,64 bit versions of Microsoft Windows operating systems. It stores information necessary to configure the system for one or more users, applications and hardware devices. Whenever a user makes changes to a Control Panel settings, or File Associations, System Policies, or installed software, the changes are reflected and stored in the Registry.

The Registry contains information that Windows continually references during operation, such as profiles for each user, the applications installed on the computer and the types of documents that each can create, property sheet settings for folders and application icons, what hardware exists on the system, and the ports that are being used.

The Registry replaces most of the text-based .ini files used in Windows 3.x and MS-DOS configuration files, such as the Autoexec.bat and Config.sys. Although the Registry is common to several Windows operating systems, there are some differences among them. Registry data is stored in binary files.

Under Windows 95 & 98 Registry database is contained in two hidden files called USER.DAT and SYSTEM.DAT in Windows Directory, for Windows Me there is an additional CLASSES.DAT file, while under Windows NT/2000/XP/Server 2003 the files are contained seperately in the %SystemRoot%\System32\Config directory.

You can not edit the Registry files directly. You can edit the registry by using Registry Editor (Regedit.exe or Regedt32.exe). If you use Registry Editor incorrectly, you can cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

Registry Structure
The Registry structure is similar to the directory structure on your hard disk.

There are five main Hives in Registry. Each Hive contains a specific portion of the information stored in the registry. Each Hive contains Keys. Each Key contains other Keys(subkeys) as well as Values. These Values contain the actual information stored in the Registry.

There are 5 types of values. They are String Value, Binary Value(0 or 1), Dword Value(32 bit unsigned integer,number between 0 and 4,294,967,295), Multi String Value, Expandable String Value.

The Main Hives are:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT
This Hive contains all of your file association mappings to support the drag and drop feature, OLE information, Windows shortcuts, and core aspects of the Windows user interface. On Windows 2000 and above, HKCR(HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT) is a compilation of HKCU\Software\Classes and HKLM\Software\Classes. If a given value exists in both of the subkeys above, the one in HKCU\Software\Classes is used.

HKEY_CURRENT_USER
This Hive Contains the preferences of the user who is currently logged on. The user's folders, screen colors, and Control Panel settings are stored here. This information is associated with the user's profile. HKCU is a subkey of HKEY_USERS.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
This Hive Contains local computer's hardware,Software information and settings for any device ever installed in the computer. It Contains all configuration information particular to the local computer(for any user).

HKEY_USERS
This Hive Contains preferences for every user that has logged into the computer. Each user is represented by a SID sub-key.

HKEY_CURRENT_CONFIG
This Hive Contains information about the hardware profile that is used by the local computer at system startup.

The supporting files for all hives except HKEY_CURRENT_USER are in the Systemroot\System32\Config folder on Windows NT 4.0, Windows 2000, Windows XP, and Windows Server 2003 where as the supporting files for HKEY_CURRENT_USER are in the Systemroot\Profiles\Username folder.

We know that there are Five types of Registry Values. Each Value is is stored as one of five data types.

REG_BINARY
This type stores the Value as Raw binary data. Most hardware component information is stored as binary data and is displayed in Registry Editor in hexadecimal format.

REG_DWORD
In this type Data is represented by a number that is 4 bytes long (a 32-bit integer). Many parameters for device drivers and services are this type and are displayed in Registry Editor in binary, hexadecimal, or decimal format.

REG_EXPAND_SZ
This type is a variable legth data string. This data type includes variables that are resolved when a program or service uses the data.

REG_MULTI_SZ
This type is a multiple string. Values that contain lists or multiple values in a form are generally this type. Entries are separated by spaces, commas, or other marks.

REG_SZ
This type is a fixed length test string.

Editing The Registry
You can edit the registry by using Registry Editor (Regedit.exe or Regedt32.exe). If you use Registry Editor incorrectly, you can cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

Click on Start button. Now select Run. Now in the Open box type regedit then Registry Editor will be open.

It is just like Windows Explorer. On the left side you will notice Hives. On the right side you will notice Values of currently selected folder. You can expand any Hive or Branch By clicking on plus sign to the left of Hive or Branch.

Just click any Key like above then it's values are displayed on the right side. You can add new Keys also. Just right click any Key,then select New,then select Key. Type a name to the new Key then press enter. Now a new Key is created. We can rename any Value and almost any Key. We can also delete a Key or Value. We can also Import and export Registry Settings to a text file and we can save the file also.

Windows NT 4 and Windows 2000 were distributed with both the Windows 9x REGEDIT.EXE program and Windows NT 3.x's REGEDT32.EXE program.

Regedit.exe did not support permission editing. The only way to access the full functionality of an NT registry was with Regedt32.exe. Regedit.exe only supports string (REG_SZ), binary (REG_BINARY), and DWORD (REG_DWORD) values. Regedt32.exe supports those, plus expandable string (REG_EXPAND_SZ) and multi-string (REG_MULTI_SZ). Attempting to edit unsupported key types with Regedit.exe on Windows 2000 or Windows NT 4 will result in registry corruption and, possibly, an unbootable system.

Windows XP was the first system to integrate these two programs into one, adopting the old REGEDIT.EXE interface and adding the REGEDT32.EXE functionality. The differences listed above are not applicable on Windows XP and newer systems. On XP systems we can Edit Registry with Regedit or Regedt32.

Registry TIPS

Imp Note:
I will update this article regularly so that you can access a number of Registry Tips from this article.
If you use Registry Editor incorrectly, you can cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

1.How can you make shortcut to Registry Editor?

Right click on a blank area of the Desktop. Now select NEW then select Shortcut. Now you will observe Create Shortcut Wizard.

In the box type regedit.exe then click next. Now enter a title like Registry Editor then click Finish. Now your Registry editor shortcut will be ready on the desktop. Simply double click it then Registry editor window will be open. Now you need not have to select RUN from Start button in order to open Registry Editor Window.

2.Setting your Folders in accessable to others

With the help of registry settings you can set your folders in accessable to others.
First copy all your Important Files in to a Folder. Then right click that folder and select properties. Now tick read only,hidden options then click APPLY and O.K. Now Doubleclick that folder. Now from Tools menu choose Folder options then click View then select Do not Show Hidden Files and Folders and now click APPLY then click O.K.

Now open Registry Editor Program. Then go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
WindowsCurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer
Now create a DWORD Value NoFolderOptions

Now right click NoFolderOptions select Modify then type 1 in Valuedata box then click O.K.

Now Restart your system. Now you can observe that Folder options disappear from Tools Menu of any folder. So nobody can view your folder.

If you want you can disable this Registry setting also. Go to NoFolderOptions as explained above then right click NoFolderOptions select Modify then type 0 in Valuedata box then click O.K and restart the syatem.

Now Folder options appear in Tools Menu of any folder. Now everybody can view your folder.