Description: VolumeTouch gives quick control over your PC’s volume by using a combination of hotkeys and the mouse or arrow keys. The first thing I will say about this program is that, aside from performing a very useful function, it scores high marks in terms of the user experience it provides. Once you start experimenting with the combination of hotkey/mouse controls for volume you will find that these are very intuitive and well conceived. The program also uses a system tray icon to display volume levels as a bar gauge or a percentage numeric, which also turned out to be a much more useful that I would have initially thought. More notes on this program: The verdict: overall this is a great program and very intuitive to use. If you are sensitive to .NET and/or memory consumption you might want to try Volumouse instead; however when it comes to simplicity of design and providing a good user experience VolumeTouch definitely delivers. Download Now - Size 299KB - http://www.hi.is/~antoni/volumetouch/ Source : www.freewaregenius.com
Showing posts with label Windows Vista. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Windows Vista. Show all posts
Windows Vista can be considered as the first Microsoft operating system that requires specific requirements to run. Unlike its predecessor, Vista users generally need a high spec computer to run Vista smoothly. While running Windows Vista, users should have noticed Vista actually takes up a lot of resources. Due to this, it is good to remove those unwanted or rubbish components in order to speed up the Operating System. vLite is a useful tool designed particularly for users to remove the unnecessary or unwanted Windows Vista components and thus help to speed up the operating system. Besides, it can also create the bootable ISO and apply the tweaks directly. The latest version recently released was vLite v1.2.0 Beta. vLite needs Framework 2.0 and above to run smoothly. Users can download vLite 1.2.0 Beta via the link here. The summary of the key features are
vLite is a free Vista compatible application which can customize the operating system before installing it. It will configure the installation directly before installation, meaning users have to remake the ISO and reinstall it. This method is much cleaner, not to mention easier and more logical than doing it after installation. Technically, vLite is not a hacking tool and it is not functioning on any kind of hacking. All files and registry entries are protected as they would be if users install the unedited version only with the changes they select.
• hotfix, language pack and driver integration
• component removal
• unattended setup
• tweaks
• split/merge Vista installation CDs
• create ISO and burn bootable CD/DVD
It might sound strange to you but we actually asked average computer users if they or somebody they know are using Vista. After all, Microsoft has sold over 100 million licenses of Vista since the introduction of the operating system last February. Besides, this number is supposedly well distributed around the world. We wanted to find out why so many people hesitate to buy Vista and hence, we conducted an online survey. “My current programs won’t run since they are incompatible with Vista”, dreaded about 22 percent of those surveyed. They are not completely wrong in their assertion. Even with an installed XP emulator, some programs refuse to operate in Vista.
More than a year after Vista’s release, frustrated users feel that they have been unknowingly tangled in a beta test of incomplete software. Service Pack 1 (SP1) seems to provide relief to the disgruntled. Microsoft hopes that the release of SP1 will make Vista a full-fledged operating system. Yet, at first glance, it doesn’t seem to promise much. When the update is first run, the improvements are not very obvious. The situation is analogous to that in the auto world: If Volkswagen introduces the next Golf VI, it will look very much like the Golf V but underneath the surface the changed mechanism may actually make the vehicle run smoothly, or better still, it may even be a complete overhaul. That’s exactly how it is with Windows: the manufacturers claim to have improved features such as performance, security, and reliability under its bonnet. How much more exactly? We tested the claims in detail.
Performance: Vista is much faster with Service Pack 1
Microsoft still asserts that an 800 MHz PC with 512 MB RAM and a DirectX 9 graphics card should be enough to run the system smoothly. In practice however, it turns out that Vista performs best only on the latest CPUs with dual-core technology and a minimum of 1 GB RAM. Still, there are performance problems even with fast computers: music crackles, power consumption on notebooks is extremely high, and it still takes ages for Vista to launch. Resource sparing, stability and faster operations are still the mainstays of the proven success of Windows XP. Microsoft has, however, improved considerably with the Service Pack.
Security: Better protection against viruses, hackers etc
Vista is relatively safer and some new features have improved the security aspects of SP1. But, these improvements will only benefit corporate customers.
Encrypting data: If you want to use the in-built Windows encryption-function BitLocker, you either require an ‘Ultimate’ or an ‘Enterprise’ version of Vista, both of which are expensive and are seldom installed on any of the PCs available in the consumer market. Users not equipped with either and still wanting to encrypt their operating system will have to resort to programs from third party providers. Until now, the problem with BitLocker was the limitation on the size of system volume. With SP1, users can now also protect additional partitions from strange eyes. Yet, it’s incomprehensible why Microsoft is releasing this function now since experts could already encrypt their other partitions using BitLocker, via the command line on Vista systems without SP1—only the user interface was missing. Microsoft has added it now so that the average user can perform the same function.
Better updates: If Windows had been a car with a broken brake, Microsoft would have asked the driver to apply the brakes gently instead of completely replacing the brake disc. This situation is comparable to the security updates: If the technicians at Redmond discovered a security leak, they would only plug the hole, and never strive to find the cause of the leak. This has fortunately changed with Vista. Maybe because this is the first consumer operating system from Microsoft that has been developed taking SDL (Secure Development Lifecycle) into account.
A new security strategy from Microsoft is hidden behind SDL: right from the initial phase of developing new systems, the specialists study current threats and predict possible future threats. The programmers have upgraded the operating system so that it can withstand all those dangers. If you believe Microsoft, you require around 50 percent lesser updates—all thanks to SDL. With SP1, Vista includes a corresponding SDL update that should make certain parts more secure: If Vista now blocks a program with the user account control; the user receives more information about it. However, the continuous messages are still just as annoying as before.
Reliable Info: If you want to know whether the antivirus protection has been activated and updated, or whether the firewall is active or not, then you don’t need to open Vista security any more. With SP1, it looks like Microsoft has improved the technology too. Before, in certain cases, malicious software could change the status of the security applications within the centers. Thus, it happened that Windows would show a green light but the firewall, for instance, would be inactive. Security tools can now report their status to Windows monitoring via new and safer interfaces. The user can thus be sure that everything really is in order when Windows says so—at least until hackers find a new way of attacking it.
User account control: The user need not constantly certify for multiple UAC (User Account Control) messages any more—a single authorization will suffice in future.
Vista-Backup: Even data encoded with EFS (Encrypting File System) can be secured in the new version of the image program from Windows.
New recovery tool: The SRT (Startup Repair Tool) can even restore system files. Till now, users had to completely reinstall the system.
Quick unblocking: Earlier, pause time after hitting [Ctrl]+[Alt]+[Del] used to average 10 seconds.
Remote maintenance tools: The security involved in remote access has been improved—the programs can now be equipped with a digital signature.
BitLocker I: Along with the system partition, the encryption program can encode other partitions and drives as well.
BitLocker II: The data can also be encrypted through Multi Factor Authentication simultaneously with TPM module (PIN) and a USB stick for increased security.
New activation: The KMS (Key Management Service) available in the ‘Enterprise’ version now operates in virtual environments as well.
Safe password: Users have to compulsorily input a password hint as reminders while installing Vista, or else Windows will not start.
Old group policy: On installing SP1, Windows deletes GPMC (Group Policy Management Console) and activates the simpler version, GPedit.
New file system: The new file system exFAT has been introduced in Vista with SP1. Created especially for storage media, it offers support for files up to 32 GB.
Better network behavior: In case of peer-to-peer connections, the users can also find out if they are behind a symmetrical firewall.
Faster Windows releases: Network shares can be recognizable faster with SP1, especially when it concerns a pure SP1 environment.
Quick ZIP folder: Packed archives such as ZIP files can be stored and extracted faster with Vista Service Pack 1.
Speedy pictures: The photo display is more powerful with SP1. The supplemented feature is particularly noticeable in large images.
Improved Internet Explorer: Vista is faster in loading and rendering loads of websites which use intensive JavaScript programming language.
New SuperFetch: The Cache function loads the frequently used files in the main memory. This happens much faster, particularly while booting.
Intelligent network logic: Vista identifies which network connections are useful, for example, when LAN and WLAN are activated simultaneously.
Upgraded remote access: The RDP (Remote Desktop Protocol) has a new compression algorithm and thus requires less bandwidth.
Configurable defragmentation: Users and administrators can determine the drives they want to defragment.
Deleting functions for offline folders: Vista with Service Pack 1 can delete files from offline folders, even if they are not connected.
64 Bit emulator: 64 Bit versions of Vista-SP1 can be installed and used on a 32-Bit system too.
Complete display of main memory: Windows displays the entire main memory on systems, even those which have several OS running.
Better connection of displays: In case of external displays, the display and integration with Vista now work more conveniently.
More drivers: With SP1, Microsoft also delivers a whole series of new drivers for components from third party providers like printers or WLAN-N adapters.
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Source : IC CHIP
The Windows Vista Flip 3D Activator is a tiny utility that makes Flip 3D more useful by enabling you to control it with your mouse. Using this utility you can set "hot zones" in your screen corners. Just move the cursor to a corner of the screen you choose, and Flip 3D is activated. You can use the mouse again to scroll through your open windows and select one, completely eliminating the use of the keyboard.
Features
1. Option to auto start with windows
2. Choose any corner of your screen to activate Flip 3D
3. Hide the notification area icon to forget it's running
4. Uses only about 600k of RAM
5. Uses almost zero CPU time
_______________________________________________
Download Now : Click here
4GB (4 gigabytes) has been a buzzword recently, mainly due to well publicize limit of maximum memory or RAM module supported and usable by 32-bit (x86) version of Windows Vista is 4 GB, especially in view of cheaper RAM stick price, enable user to purchase more memories to install onto their system. However, there is another limitation, or inconvenient for user using computer with more than 4 GB of memory, that is no hibernation feature support.
Microsoft confirms that user cannot put a computer that is running Windows XP, Windows Server 2003, Windows Vista, or Windows Server 2008 with more than 4 GB (gigabytes) of RAM (random access memory) installed into hibernation mode. This is not a bug but by design, as Microsoft disable hibernation support on PC with more than 4GB physical memory inserted because benchmark by Microsoft shows that performance is poor on a computer that has more than 4 GB of memory and that has support for hibernation, which requires sufficient disk space to contain the contents of the computer’s memory.
As such, user cannot find the Hibernate tab in the Power Options Properties dialog box, which is unavailable. Worse still, the issue affects both 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Windows XP, Windows Server 2003, Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008, although the x64 editions of Windows can support more than 4 GB of memory.
There is no resolution or solution to the hibernation turned off and not working issue. The only workaround is to reduce and decrease the RAM to 4 GB or less on the affected computer, which is unlikely to be done by most people.
And if you so love the hibernation feature that you remove some pieces of RAM module for it to fit Microsoft’s ‘requirement’ of 4GB internal memory or less, the Hibernation tab in Power Options may still not appearing. This issue occurs because Windows ‘remembers’ that it has more than 4 GB of memory as PCI memory resources are mapped in the middle of 4 GB physical memory address spaces, and the rest of the RAM is mapped to more than 4 GB of physical memory address space. If the value of the highest physical memory address is larger than 4 GB, Windows determines that the computer has more than 4 GB of memory.
To fix the Hibernation tab still not available or disabled after reducing memory amount to 4GB or less, add the /MAXMEM=4096 switch to placed at the end of the ARC path that is specified in the [operating systems] section of the Boot.ini file to reduce the highest physical memory to 4 GB for Windows XP, Server 2003 and Server 2008. For Windows Vista, enable hibernation by running “powercfg /h on” (without quotes) in an elevated command prompt.
Lazy to type “CMD” or pressing any keyboard keys just to elevate the opened command prompt window with full administrator credentials and privileges mode? The following registry hack for Windows Vista will allow you to open an elevated command window by simply right click on Computer (formerly known as My Computer in Windows XP) icon at Start Menu or Desktop, and select Run Command Prompt as Administrator from the contextual menu.
To add and place a new menu item to right click context menu for Computer so that whenever you right click on the icon, a contextual menu item of Run Command Prompt as Administrator will be shown, and then you can straight away click on the entry to immediately open the elevated command prompt, copy and paste the following code to a text editor such as Notepad, and save it to a file with filename with .reg extension. Double click on the file or right click on registry file and then choose “Merge”.
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D}\shell\runas]
@=”Run Command Prompt as Administrator”
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D}\shell\runas\command]
@=”cmd.exe”
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