Windows Vista Tips & Tweaks

[Widkidone]

Official Way to Install and Use Windows Vista without Activation for Free for 120 Days

By default, Windows Vista can be installed, used and run without any license, product key or the need of activation for 30 days grace period, for purpose of trial or evaluation. Although Microsoft initially stressed that users should purchase a license with valid product key before the trial period expires, or else Windows Vista will lock into Reduced Functionality Mode. However, a “rearm” method has long since been discovered to be able to extend, or reset the remaining time for activation to another fresh 30 days, for up to 3 times.

Now Microsoft has confirmed that Windows Vista can be used and run for 120 days or 4 months (3 rearms), and extending the activation grace period is not a violation of the Vista End User License Agreement (EULA). All versions of Vista include Windows Vista Ultimate allow a 30-day free period without activation, except the corporate-oriented Vista Enterprise, which supports only a three-day trial.

To extend, reset or restart the initial OOB grace period of Windows Vista to another 30 days, use the following steps:
Click on Vista Start button and key in Cmd in Start Search box.
Press on Ctrl-Shift-Enter to open Command Prompt with administrative credentials (equivalent to “Run as Administrator”).
In the Command Prompt, type the following command and press Enter when done: slmgr -rearm or you can use sysprep /generalize
Reboot the computer.
Rearm again when the remaining activation grace period timer counts down to 0 days.
Rearm option resets the computer’s activation timer and reinitializes some activation parameters.

[weasel]

nice find widkidone i myself went back to xp 64 vista runs okay but i'm gonna wait a few more months t'ill i make the final switch to vista.

[Widkidone]

Windows Vista Shortcut Overlay Remover, aka FxVisor, allows you to either way to remove the shortcut overlay arrow or to even customize it in Windows Vista, so we have written the Vista Shortcut Overlay Remover utility to enable you to do just that.

About Version 1.3: Based on 450 beta testers feedback we have confirmed with a 100% postivie margin that the black box issue has been fixed. We have decided to release version 1.3 for Windows Vista 32bit, and will release 64bit version shortly.

Download

[Widkidone]

This FREE page lists the latest Windows Vista drivers and provides direct links to the files for downloads. We're offering this as a free service to the community, to help you all get through this challenging period of Vista-transitioning.

Vista Drivers

[weasel]

thx widkidone very good find and very usefull

[Tefra]

nice find reputation added

[Widkidone]

Earlier this week, Microsoft published a list of 800 applications that should run properly on its new Windows Vista operating system. On its Web site, Microsoft says the number of applications certified for use with Windows Vista is constantly growing and that its list "will be update weekly."

Virtually all of Microsoft's own offerings are on the list. Also included are a host of business and security applications from vendors ranging from Intuit to Trend Micro. Desktop applications from Google made it in, but some of the world's biggest software companies, including Adobe Systems, IBM, and Symantec didn’t make the cut. Tech industry analyst Rob Enderle of the Enderle Group blames the fact that IBM and Adobe are becoming increasingly competitive with Microsoft in the desktop applications market. Also absent from the list is any software from Apple. Enderle thinks Apple has purposely chosen not to make some of its more popular applications, such as iTunes, Vista-compatible.

Applications that Microsoft has approved for Vista

[Widkidone]

To put the brand you like do the following:

1) Get a Bitmap Image file 128 x 128 pixels of your preference. (May work with other sizes, not sure)

2) Change the filename to Brand.bmp. (You can change the name, but need to remember what you use)

3) Copy the Bitmap to "C:\Windows\System32\oobe"

4) Make a registry file with this info:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\Curr entVersion\OEMInformation]
"Logo"="c:\\windows\\system32\\oobe\\Brand.bmp "
"Manufacturer"="My Brand"

5) Substitute "My Brand" with what you like and remember to use the same name you used to create the bitmap image in the logo line.

6) Execute the registry file by double click.

7) Right-Click over "Computer" and select properties to see your work.

Source

Thanks B26354!

[Widkidone]

Here is a guide for Windows Vista UAC.

[Widkidone]

Here is another guide that I have found regarding Windows Vista.

TweakHound