Spooky

I posted the way to do auto login for Vista in the Vista tweaks and tips section a few weeks ago. I know it works because I use it myself. http://www.msfn.org/board/index.php?s=&amp...st&p=587471

How are you deleting them, what method? Thru the GUI? It might be some sort of permissions thing. I can't see the pic you posted from where i'm at right now (because the network i'm on right now has banned pics from that location) so i'm not really sure of the error so i'm just guessing.

Microsoft just released a new SyncToy (version 1.4 I think) power toy for Vista that lets you do just what you want to do. Might help you out.

For Vista also, if i'm not mistaken and if I'm remembering correctly, there was a multi-time zone gadget for the sidebar on the microsoft web site.

The humble search engine in Windows has grown up, its no longer the simple search thing that was in previous windows. It may seem as if the new search in Vista is very complicated but actually its not once you realize its now more robust and useful then it was in previous versions of windows. Some of the old familiar search syntax you used in search in WindowsXP may no longer work in Vista but that shouldn't upset you, remember - even an old dog can learn new tricks. To help you out with the new search you might want to visit the Windows Desktop Search: Advanced Query Reference where a wealth of information in sort of a 'Cheat Sheet' format exists.

You can turn off driver signing for good in one of three ways: 1. gpedit.msc 2. Registry 3. Or you can use the command line switch in an admin command prompt. Or you can keep doing F8.....

is there a link to the interview? I can't see the pics.

I'm not really sure when computers became total entertainment centers. Anyway, the Vista help files tell you how to configure channels. Then using the information outlined in the WAIK you can produce an OEM install by creating a standard image for deployment. Basically what you will do is actually install Vista on a machine, configure it the way you want with all your channels, create an image of that install using the WAIK, then deploy that image to what ever computer you want. I think also there is a way to do it with building an extender for MCE and deploying the extender.

Mostly for an unattend install set up. If your running the Vista Aero theme and you don't like the default blue color you can change it to any color you want via the registry. All you need is your trusty Windows Calculator set to secietific mode for the hex values were going to use and maybe the Paint program in windows also for getting the numbers for the colors you want to use in the custom colors section. OK, i'm going to do this by example for the hex un-initiated in the class The registry area were dealing with is in the registry at: [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\DWM] "Composition"=dword:00000001 "ColorizationColor"=dword:45409efe "ColorizationOpaqueBlend"=dword:00000000 "CompositionPolicy"=dword:00000000 The defaults at that location are shown above. The particular key we are going to change is this one: (BTW - don't alter this key by changing the decimal value of the key, you will meet with lots of frustration, use the hex values) "ColorizationColor"=dword:45409efe See the value 45409efe ?, that is an ARGB value. An ARGB value is nothing but the regular Red - Green - Blue value with an Alpha component thrown in. Lets break it down a little; A = Alpha - this is the Alpha component (basically the color intensity for our purposes) R = Red - this is the color Red component G = Green - this is the color Green component B = Blue - this is the color Blue component Now, how do these coorespond to the hex value of 45409efe? OK, a very quick hex numbering system class: Our decimal numbering system is in whats called Base 10, the Hex numbering system is in whats called Base 16. Since in computer-eze most of the time when we talk about ranges for color or other things we deal with ranges of adjustments that normally deal with 0 to 255, every decimal/integer number from 0 to 255 can be expressed as an 2 character hex number also from 0 to F. For example, the decimal number 255 becomes FF in Hex. OK, hex class over Keeping the hex numbering system in mind lets explore our above registry default value a little and break it down. 45 = our Alpha value in hex 40 = our Red value in hex 9e = our Green value in hex fe = our Blue value in hex So lets say we want to make our window tool bars and frames just all Red but we want to keep the Alpha value the same. Well... we know from our windows paint program in the custom colors section if we use 255 for the Red, 0 for the Green and 0 for the Blue we will have just Red and thats it, so lets plug this red value into our hex value for the registry - but first we need to convert our decimal integer number of 255 to hex so we just plug that into the windows calculator and find out that 255 decimal (all red = 255 0 0 from our paint program - don't forget that you need all three RGB values for this even the 0's) = FF hex. OK, now lets modify our value in the registry keeping the present Alpha value. Our new value for all Red title bars and frames for our windows in Vista Aero is: 45FF0000 We change the value and now we need to restart the computer for our new value to take effect. Once restarted you will find you window title bars and frames with your new color (Red in our example). Actually since we kept the above existing Alpha value it will look a little Pink with the Aero theme translucent glass look, so lets say we don't like the Pink, the girls in the group might - some of the guys might too, and want more Red, so we need to adjust our Alpha value. Its easy to do, we plug the hex value of 45 into our windows calculator, click on the decimal button and we find out that 45 hex = 69 decimal...well since we want our Red to be a little more robust what do you think we need to do? Thats right, increase the Alpha value. Lets say we want the Alpha value to be 80 instead of 69, so we convert 80 to hex using the calculator again, 80 decimal = 50 hex. So our new value for the registry key for the color Red we want now becomes 50FF0000. We change the value and restart the computer, and we are done. The ranges on the Alpha and colors are 0 - 255, or in hex they are 0 to FF. Have fun, and as always - remember to back up any registry keys your going to change before you change them in case something goes wrong.

Ahh...the Vista Aero glass theme. It's billed as allowing transparency but it really doesn't. The tool bars and window frames are really translucent not transparent. Transparent means you can see through them, translucent means you can sort of see through them but the view is blured sort of like with frosted glass. To top it all off when a window is fully maximized to fill the screen the tool bar becomes black. Then there is another term, opaque which means you can't see through it at all, its solid. Theres not much you can do about it in Vista its self but its come to my attention that some don't like the translucent look in the Aero theme and perfer a solid look, or in other words they like it to be opaque. Heres how you do that using a registry entry. Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00 ; makes menu bars and window frames opaque instead of translucent [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\DWM] "ColorizationOpaqueBlend"=dword:00000001 The "ColorizationOpaqueBlend" already exists in the registry but its normal value when using the Aero theme is 0 (off). Changing it to a 1 (on) causes the normal translucent area to be filled with the tool bar/frame color thus making it opaque. The black color will still appear when fully maximized, but in windowed mode it will be opaque. I personally don't like the opaque but some do. A reboot is required after this change is made.

The watermark isn't in the RTM because the files and code/entries to produce the watermark are not in the RTM. As far as the version not sure if one of these will do it for you or not as I haven't tried it (this is from an old XP reg entry that still exists in Vista): Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00 [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop] "PaintDesktopVersion"=dword:00000001 or..... Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00 [HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT\Control Panel\Desktop] "PaintDesktopVersion"=dword:00000001 Ok then, on the flipside, how would you cause the watermark to appear if you wanted it? On Vista64 RTM. I mean, its not as if its not there, it is, but disabled. I'd like to be able to show my build version. Anyone know??? Cheers. D.

have you tried getting rid of the beta nvidia drivers?

Take a look here: http://www.msfn.org/board/index.php?showtopic=87728 That didn't answer my question.

Thats interesting, that it would encounter an error like that. I wonder if it could have been some type driver or service installing during install that interfered. What kind of laptop was this (make/model etc...)? If you find out what it was would you be so kind as to let me know since i'll be doing about 75 laptop installs for one of my clients in the near future.

Too much trouble...you can use the WAIK to do everything you want to do. You just import the install.wim, make changes, then build your new .wim, replace the one on your Vista DVD/CD, and make your self a new .iso. The WAIK help files have complete instructions. As an alternative method, you could actually do an install of Vista and set it up the way you want with all your drivers and everything, then using the waik you can make a normalized deployable install.wim to replace the one on the Vista DVD/CD.

Yeah, thats it...thats the 'Orb' That other little rotating bluish-green circle is dubbed the 'Cheerio' (was dubbed that by beta testers during the beta.

Your correct some people don't trust Microsoft, but the same people will eat in restruants which are the most dirty place in the world to eat and not give it a second thought. Big deal if it communicates with the net, thats what web focused OS's are supposed to do, every one of them does. The Vista firewall does tell you when something is asking for access and leaves the choice up to the user to allow it or not. The Vista firewall does have logging, you just have to click the box to turn it on. Right now, aside from a hardware firewall, the Vista firewall is just about it. If you use the advanced firewall (in the start menu enter 'Firewall' in the search field) you have have access to complete control for the firewall.

are you talking about the windows logo orb?

don't use the -nt switch

darn it! I was just going to suggest the Split command when I saw this topic Or you could wait until you can aford Blu-Ray

I use WinRAR and Winzip both. I know one will do the others files, but I like having the flexability of both.

Did you use an actual licensed key belonging to you or an evalutation type key? Could be a driver signing issue where it might not install because it can't verify the install is genuine properly licensed RTM. Could also be an issue with the driver its self. Have you tried to install it logged in as the Administrator?

Acronis 10 is for use with Vista. I think they have an evaluation version for download for free that will do it for you. Try using ImageX to backup the Vista installation, I am not sure if Arconis can Backup a Vista image properly or not (since it is a sector based Imaging tool) which Version are you using (10.0 is the only one that supports Vista)

All these partitions are on a single physical drive?

Then your using a pirated version and we don't do that here.