Tip #1: Shrink a partition
If you have created one or more partitions on your hard drive and a few months later you think "mmmmh this partition has to be a bit smaller", it is possible in Vista to shrink them. You can do this even with a 'system partition'.How to shrink a partition?
Step 1:
Click with your right mouse button on 'Computer' and then click 'manage'.
The next screen is shown.
In this screen you click in the left pane on 'Disk Management' below 'Storage'.
Then the next screen is shown.
Now you see all your partitions which you have created. To shrink a partition you simple right click on the partition and in the menu which appears you click 'Shrink Volume'.
The next screen is then shown.
Here you can enter the amount of space to shrink in MB.
If there is empty space available behind the partition there is also the possibility to extend the the partition using the option 'Extend Volume'.
There one thing you can not do. You can not move a partition or extend it with an empty space which is in front of a partition.
Tip #2: Use ReadyBoost to speed up your system!
What is ReadyBoost and what is SuperFetch?
Microsoft introduces, using Windows, these new techniques, which have to speed up your computer which is used for daily usage.
How do these technologies work?
Do you really get a super system when you extend the memory using a USB stick?
The memory in computers increased dramatically since a few years ago. This is logical because there is nothing what makes a computer more stable and faster than extra memory. Microsoft wants to use that new memory maximum and equipped Windows Vista with a few techniques which have to take care of this.
The memory manager of Windows Vista can change the grouping of the memory any time, which decreases the chance of overloading a part of the memory. Microsoft calls this 'dynamic kernel address space'.
The possibility to assign memory dynamically is also used to decide which data have to be loaded into the memory and which data is mend for the virtual memory. Previous versions of Windows did not make any difference between data which is used much and which is used less. Windows Vista does it on another way. SuperFetch doesn't look at the data which is unused the longest, but it predicts which data will be needed as first again and keeps this data stored in the memory.If there will be any free space in the RAM-memory then SuperFetch will fill these spaces with the data of which it predicts it will be needed as first again.
Tip #3:How to disable User Account Control?
To keep your computer safe and clean of viruses that's one thing which is very important for your computer. But you don't want to get bothered with annoying warnings from Windows Vista each time you install a program or when you make a change in Vista's settings?
Without any doubt is Vista's most irritating tool the User Account Control (UAC). The User Account Control takes care that Windows asks permission to several system sources over and over again.
I have to admit that this standard setting helps you to keep your computer clean, but do you really want to give permission for every small setting change, like changing the Windows' standard font?
I think your answer is NO!
Tip #4: How to make screenshot quick and easy in Vista?
Vista has a great tool to make screenshots very easily. This tool is called the 'Snipping tool'.
Using this tool you can make screenshots of your screen or a selection of it very easily.
This tool can be found at:
- Start
- Programs
- Accessories
- Snipping Tool
- Free-form snip
- Rectangular snip
- Window snip
- Full screen snip
Below you find a screenshot I made using the 'free-form snip'. So if you need to make a screenshot of something on your screen you can use this tool for it.
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