21 Jul, 2008
Although many new computers will come with Windows Vista already installed, many users will want to upgrade their old PC with the latest operating system.
The recommended minimum requirements for Windows Vista Home Premium / Business / Ultimate are:
- 1 GHz 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64) processor
- 1 GB of system memory
- 40 GB hard drive with at least 15 GB of available space
- Support for DirectX 9 graphics with:
- WDDM Driver
- 128 MB of graphics memory
- Pixel Shader 2.0 in hardware
- 32 bits per pixel
- DVD-ROM drive
- Audio Output
- Internet access
However you can run the Windows Vista Upgrade Adviser to scan your PC to see if it meets the minimum requirements above and check individual hardware components. If any compatibility problems are noticed you will then be notified of them in advance.
21 Jul, 2008
Changing the background image in Windows Vista is easier than ever before. To get started, right click on the desktop and click Personalize:
Then, select Change Background from the Personalization window:
You can now browse the default background pictures that come with Windows Vista, or alternatively click Browse to select one from your own collection. As you select each one, the desktop will change to provide a live preview. Once you are done, click OK:
21 Jul, 2008
Windows Vista includes a very useful “Disk Cleanup Tool” which does exactly as the name suggests, and allows you to remove a wide variety of temporary and cached files that you no longer need. Most applications will automatically remove the temporary files once you have closed the software down, but in some cases (such as crashes or bad programming), trails can be left behind. Removing these files will create extra diskspace and keep your system in good condition.
To begin, load the Run box by pressing WINDOWS KEY + R, then type “cleanmgr” and click OK:
Now, select the drive you wish to clean up. Normally the “C:” is your primary drive where temporary files will be located. Click OK once you have done this:
It may take a few moments while the cleanup software scans your drive for files that are safe to remove.
You can then select all of the temporary file types you wish to remove. It is not normally worth removing Image Thumbnail files as these will just be recreated next time you view a photo directory. Once you have selected the file types you want to remove, click OK:
You will be prompted to confirm you are sure about the deletion. If you are sure, click Delete Files:
The Disk Cleanup Tool will then remove the selected files and close, successfully reclaiming some diskspace:
