Random Vista tip

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HavocXphere

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Just found out how to change something that has always annoyed me in Vista.

By default, if you press the power button thing on the start menu, it sleeps/hibernates. It doesn't actually shut-down unless you select shutdown from the arrow menu.

I don't like that because Vista is unstable enough as it is. Carrying over the garbage in the memory from the last session doesn't sound like a good plan.

To change what the power button does:

Hit the windows key. Type power options. [Enter] Click Change plan settings on the plan you've got selected. Click Change advanced settings. Then under Power & Lid there is an option to change it.

Pretty random info, I know, but it has always annoyed me, and I figured maybe I'm not the only one.
 
The most handy one I've come across is changing the user account control option.

I hate that silly box that pops up everytime I want to run Computer Manager or similar.
 
Found an easier & quicker way to shut down. Hit the windows key at bottom on KB, then 3 times the right arrow and enter.
 
Arcam4 said:
Found an easier & quicker way to shut down. Hit the windows key at bottom on KB, then 3 times the right arrow and enter.
Click to expand...
Nice. But with the suggested changes you can do the same thing and save a massive 2 keystrokes in your routine.:D
 
HavocXphere said:
Just found out how to change something that has always annoyed me in Vista.

By default, if you press the power button thing on the start menu, it sleeps/hibernates. It doesn't actually shut-down unless you select shutdown from the arrow menu.

I don't like that because Vista is unstable enough as it is. Carrying over the garbage in the memory from the last session doesn't sound like a good plan.

To change what the power button does:

Hit the windows key. Type power options. [Enter] Click Change plan settings on the plan you've got selected. Click Change advanced settings. Then under Power & Lid there is an option to change it.

Pretty random info, I know, but it has always annoyed me, and I figured maybe I'm not the only one.
Click to expand...

First thing I change on Vista :)

Then the UAC :D
 
Arcam4 said:
Found an easier & quicker way to shut down. Hit the windows key at bottom on KB, then 3 times the right arrow and enter.
Click to expand...

That doesn't do anything. :confused:

If you hit right twice you are on the shutdown button, and that will simply put the computer into a sleep/hibernation state by default.
 
fxit_man said:
Are you on Vista?

Works for me..
Click to expand...

Haha yup, but see if you hit Left twice you're on the power button and that is what I was doing. :o

So left 3 times gets you to the search bar. :p

I don't think it's easier and quicker than changing the button either, I found this in Power options and changed it straight away, although the instant startup is nice.
 
Ekhaatvensters said:
Haha yup, but see if you hit Left twice you're on the power button and that is what I was doing. :o

So left 3 times gets you to the search bar. :p

I don't think it's easier and quicker than changing the button either, I found this in Power options and changed it straight away, although the instant startup is nice.
Click to expand...

Yeah i also think the other ways better but was just wondering why its not working for u :p
 
HavocXphere said:
Just found out how to change something that has always annoyed me in Vista.

By default, if you press the power button thing on the start menu, it sleeps/hibernates. It doesn't actually shut-down unless you select shutdown from the arrow menu.

I don't like that because Vista is unstable enough as it is. Carrying over the garbage in the memory from the last session doesn't sound like a good plan.

To change what the power button does:

Hit the windows key. Type power options. [Enter] Click Change plan settings on the plan you've got selected. Click Change advanced settings. Then under Power & Lid there is an option to change it.

Pretty random info, I know, but it has always annoyed me, and I figured maybe I'm not the only one.
Click to expand...

fxit_man said:
Start, click your User picture in the top right and click "Turn UAC on or off" - its the last option
Click to expand...

Good tips - I learnt something new:).
 
it' strange how UAC annoyed me when using the beta yet I use linux without issue whenhaving to do things as root. I used the Vista beta for hardly two weeks though so one can't really count that as an experience. However it seemed to pop up in places I wouldn't expect in Linux (ie it popped up a lot more than in Linux).

What are the general instances UAC activates?
 
Discovered another random Vista tip:

1. Don't store random stuff on the desktop. Vista indexes it and then the entire search & PC starts to crawl.

2. Rebuild the index occasionally after clearly junk from the desktop. Windows key. Type indexing. Enter. Advanced Rebuild. I just reduced my index from 5k to 1.5k without losing anything useful. Searching is noticeably faster.

3. If you have a huge folder full of tools and utilities. Then go to that folder search for *.exe and then create shortcuts to all the apps in a folder in your start menu be holding down ctrl-shift while dragging all the found EXEs to that folder. That way you can search all the apps without windows indexing many gigs of data. Be *ultra* careful not to move the EXEs though. If it shows a + sign when dragging then its wrong. Has to be an arrow kind thing.
 
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