Windows VistaWindows VistaInside OutInside Out

Ch 3: Ch 3: Personalizing Windows VistaPersonalizing Windows Vista

Last modified 8-28-07 10 am

Customizing the Aero User Customizing the Aero User Interface Interface

For Aero your graphics card must have:For Aero your graphics card must have: Windows Vista Display Driver Model (WDDM)

• You can’t get Aero with Win XP drivers DirectX 9, Pixel Shader 2.0, with 32 bits per

pixel Graphics throughput of at least 1800 MB per

second at resolutions equivalent to 1280 × 1024 At least 1 GB of random access memory

(RAM)

Aero FeaturesAero Features

Transparent window frames Live previews of icons on the taskbar Live previews in Alt+Tab “Flip 3D”—Windows logo key+Tab Smoother window dragging Interactive window controls

Close buttons that glow on hover Animated window closings and openings

Windows Color and AppearanceWindows Color and Appearance

Right-click desktopRight-click desktop PersonalizePersonalize Window Color and Window Color and

AppearanceAppearance If Aero is on, you can If Aero is on, you can

enable transparencyenable transparency

Turning Aero Off Turning Aero Off In Window Color In Window Color

and Appearanceand Appearance Click “Open classic Click “Open classic

appearance appearance properties for more properties for more color options”color options”

Choose any color Choose any color scheme other than scheme other than Windows AeroWindows Aero

Adjusting Font Size Adjusting Font Size This should change font size in windows This should change font size in windows

and programs tooand programs too Right-click desktopRight-click desktop PersonalizePersonalize Adjust font sizeAdjust font size

(DPI)(DPI)

Font Smoothing Font Smoothing Right-click desktopRight-click desktop PersonalizePersonalize Desktop BackgroundDesktop Background Window Color and Window Color and

AppearanceAppearance Click “Open classic appearance properties for Click “Open classic appearance properties for

more color options”more color options” Click “Effects”Click “Effects”

ClearType was designed for LCD displaysClearType was designed for LCD displays Standard may look better on CRTsStandard may look better on CRTs

Other CustomizationsOther Customizations BackgroundBackground Screen SaverScreen Saver SoundsSounds Mouse PointerMouse Pointer Work as they did in XPWork as they did in XP Can be saved as Can be saved as

ThemesThemes

Screen ResolutionScreen Resolution Right-click desktopRight-click desktop PersonalizePersonalize Display SettingsDisplay Settings If you have more If you have more

than a single than a single graphics card you graphics card you can configure can configure multiple monitors multiple monitors herehere

Start Menu Start Menu Search is Search is

newnew Run is Run is

absent by absent by defaultdefault

Right-click Right-click items to pin items to pin or unpin or unpin themthem

Pinned Items

Pinned Items

Pinned Items

Pinned Items

Recently Used Items

Recently Used Items

Pinned Items

Recently Used Items

Personalizing the Start MenuPersonalizing the Start Menu Right-click StartRight-click Start PropertiesProperties Can choose Start Can choose Start

menu or Classic Start menu or Classic Start menumenu

Customize button to Customize button to control items on the control items on the right sideright side Including RunIncluding Run

Folders that Make the Start MenuFolders that Make the Start Menu

Two folders are combined: Personal folder

• %AppData%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu “All Users” folder

• %ProgramData%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu Right-click Start, “Open” or “Open All

Users”

The Quick Launch Toolbar The Quick Launch Toolbar

Single-click icons to launch programsSingle-click icons to launch programs Logo-1 launches first item, etc.Logo-1 launches first item, etc. Right-click taskbar to control toolbarsRight-click taskbar to control toolbars Demo: Add a Desktop toolbarDemo: Add a Desktop toolbar

Customizing the Taskbar Customizing the Taskbar Drag taskbar to any Drag taskbar to any

side of the screen side of the screen (unlock it first)(unlock it first)

Make it wider or Make it wider or narrowernarrower

Control grouping Control grouping and hiding in and hiding in Taskbar PropertiesTaskbar Properties

Controlling the Display of Icons Controlling the Display of Icons in the Notification Area in the Notification Area

By default it hides By default it hides inactive iconsinactive icons

Default ProgramsDefault Programs

Start, Default ProgramsStart, Default Programs Demo each itemDemo each item

Windows VistaWindows VistaInside OutInside Out

Ch 4: Ch 4: Adding, Removing, and Managing Adding, Removing, and Managing ProgramsPrograms

Add or Remove Programs is GoneAdd or Remove Programs is Gone

No one ever used it to add programs No one ever used it to add programs anywayanyway

Programs come with installers. You just Programs come with installers. You just have to deal with:have to deal with: User Account Control (UAC)User Account Control (UAC) Compatibility issuesCompatibility issues

User Account Control (UAC)

Installers change Installers change system files and system files and registry settingsregistry settings

So you need to elevate privilegesSo you need to elevate privileges Updates and uninstalls also require Updates and uninstalls also require

elevationelevation If the installer doesn’t automatically trigger If the installer doesn’t automatically trigger

UAC, you can right-click it and choose UAC, you can right-click it and choose Run Run as Administratoras Administrator

Compatibility Issues

““Program Compatibility Assistant ” boxes Program Compatibility Assistant ” boxes warn youwarn you

Suggest solutionsSuggest solutions

Compatibility TabCompatibility Tab

Right-click shortcut Right-click shortcut or EXE file, or EXE file, PropertiesProperties Note error on page Note error on page

4 of Ch 4 handout – 4 of Ch 4 handout – the Compatibility tab the Compatibility tab is present on both is present on both EXE files and EXE files and shortcutsshortcuts

MS-DOS ProgramsMS-DOS Programs

MS-DOS programs use Autoexec.nt and MS-DOS programs use Autoexec.nt and Config.ntConfig.nt instead of Autoexec.bat and Config.sysinstead of Autoexec.bat and Config.sys

Each MS-DOS program can use custom Each MS-DOS program can use custom Autoexec.nt and Config.nt files, set in the Autoexec.nt and Config.nt files, set in the program’s propertiesprogram’s properties

Installing Programs on 64-bit Versions of Windows

16-bit programs won’t install16-bit programs won’t install 32-bit programs install into the “Program 32-bit programs install into the “Program

Files (x86)” folderFiles (x86)” folder 64-bit programs install into the “Program 64-bit programs install into the “Program

Files” folderFiles” folder

Ways to Make a Program Run at Ways to Make a Program Run at StartupStartup

Registry keysRegistry keys Run or RunOnce or Policies\Explorer\RunRun or RunOnce or Policies\Explorer\Run Load valueLoad value RunServices or RunServicesOnceRunServices or RunServicesOnce Winlogon or BootExecuteWinlogon or BootExecute

Scheduled TasksScheduled Tasks Win.iniWin.ini Group PolicyGroup Policy Shell service objectsShell service objects Logon scriptsLogon scripts

Using Msconfig to Control Startup Using Msconfig to Control Startup ItemsItems

Start, MSCONFIG, EnterStart, MSCONFIG, Enter

Controlling Startup Programs with Controlling Startup Programs with Windows DefenderWindows Defender

In Control Panel, under Programs, click Change In Control Panel, under Programs, click Change Startup ProgramsStartup Programs

Controlling Startup Applications Controlling Startup Applications with Group Policywith Group Policy

To open the Group Policy consoleTo open the Group Policy console Start, GPEDIT.MSC, EnterStart, GPEDIT.MSC, Enter

These policies affect startup applicationsThese policies affect startup applications Run These Programs At User LogonRun These Programs At User Logon Do Not Process The Run Once ListDo Not Process The Run Once List Do Not Process The Legacy Run ListDo Not Process The Legacy Run List

Group Policy is not available in Vista Group Policy is not available in Vista Home Basic or Vista Home PremiumHome Basic or Vista Home Premium

Managing Startup Programs Right-click Right-click

Start, Start, ExploreExplore

Open Open Programs, Programs, and open and open StartupStartup

Shortcuts Shortcuts placed here placed here will execute will execute each time each time you log onyou log on

Task Manager

Ctrl+Shift+Escape

Task Manager TabsTask Manager Tabs

Applications Shows running programs with statusShows running programs with status

ProcessesProcesses Information about programs and servicesInformation about programs and services ““Show processes from all users” reveals Show processes from all users” reveals

processes running under system accountsprocesses running under system accounts You can shut down processes here, but it You can shut down processes here, but it

can cause loss of data or a system crashcan cause loss of data or a system crash

Running a Program as an Administrator

Right-click it and choose “Run as Right-click it and choose “Run as Administrator”Administrator”

Launch it from the Administrator Launch it from the Administrator Command PromptCommand Prompt

Start, type in program name, press Start, type in program name, press Ctrl+Shift+EnterCtrl+Shift+Enter

Uninstalling Programs

In Control Panel, under Programs, In Control Panel, under Programs, Uninstall a ProgramUninstall a Program

When Programs Fail to Uninstall When Programs Fail to Uninstall ProperlyProperly

Remove Registry Keys ManuallyRemove Registry Keys Manually See link Ch 4aSee link Ch 4a