How-To Geek

Windows Vista

Readers like you help support How-To Geek. When you make a purchase using links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Read More.

latest

An armored knight protecting a woman from arrows with a glass shield.
In Defense of Windows Aero

I can see clearly now.

10
MacOS Tahoe liquid glass.
Apple's Liquid Glass Makes the Most Sense on macOS

A touch of glass.

3
Windows Vista Wallpaper
Windows Vista Was a Mess, but It Did One Thing Right

I dug it then. I dig it now.

25
An Action GameMaster next to an Amiga Walker in a smoke-filled scene.
What Is Vaporware, and Can You Spot It?

A dive into tech promises that were broken, and dead projects that were resurrected.

A laptop with the windows 11 settings screen and a gear next to it.
7 Of The Most Unpopular Windows Features of All Time

Windows has had several controversial and unpopular features besides Recall.

39
Windows 11 logo with a speaker icon and some old Windows logos.
Miss the Old Windows Sounds? Here’s How to Bring Them Back in Windows 11

Bring back that classic Windows XP startup sound (and others)!

A studio shot of many different old video game systems, controllers and game cartridges shot from above.
Old Games Are Tricky to Run On Modern PCs, So Try These Tips

Many games from back in the day can have some troubles running on modern hardware.

anc_top
How to See What Web Sites Your Computer Is Secretly Connecting To

Your PC makes lots of Internet connections in a day's business, and not all of them are necessarily sites you're aware connections are happening with.

How to Search for Files from a Certain Date Range in Windows Vista and 7
How to Search for Files from a Certain Date Range in Windows Vista and 7

I was browsing our forum earlier today when I noticed a question from a reader asking how to select a date range when searching for files in advanced search. This is something that was extremely easy in XP, but seems to be much less intuitive in Vista.

Using Internet Explorer 9 with Windows Vista
Using Internet Explorer 9 with Windows Vista

Are you one of the many Vista users who want to get in the Internet Explorer 9 Beta fun?  Although Microsoft mostly focused on Windows 7 specific

Put Your Pidgin Buddy List into the Windows Vista Sidebar
Put Your Pidgin Buddy List into the Windows Vista Sidebar

Have you ever wondered how to get your Instant Messenger contacts into the Vista Sidebar? Sure, you can use the previously mentioned AOL Instant Messe

Easily Re-Size Photos in Windows Vista or XP
Easily Re-Size Photos in Windows Vista or XP

Now that the presents have been opened, large dinners consumed, and relatives (good or bad) have visited it is time to take all of those digital images and get them organized.

Using Sticky Notes in Windows Vista or XP
Using Sticky Notes in Windows Vista or XP

One of the staples of any office job is the traditional yellow sticky note, too often used to stick passwords next to the monitor.

How to Deny Access to Files or Folders in Windows Vista
How to Deny Access to Files or Folders in Windows Vista

Most of us use our computers in a shared in environment with our family members, friends etc. But sometimes we may want set some permissions so that we can actually restrict access to certain folders which do not lie in our My Documents, My Pictures etc.

image
Restore the "Search..." Item to the Folder Context Menu in Windows Vista SP1

One of the unwelcome changes that Microsoft introduced in Service Pack 1 was the removal of some of the easy ways to get to the Search screen: the start menu button and folder context menu item. Thankfully we can easily add the "Search..." item back to the context menu with a simple registry tweak.

Make "Command Prompt Here" Always Display for Folders in Windows Vista
Make "Command Prompt Here" Always Display for Folders in Windows Vista

We've previously explained how you can open a command prompt by holding down the Shift key and right-clicking on a folder or the desktop... but how do you make that item show up without having to hold down the shift key?

Disable Deletion of the Recycle Bin in Windows Vista
Disable Deletion of the Recycle Bin in Windows Vista

One of the changes in Windows Vista was the easy way to remove the Recycle Bin from the desktop (simply right-click and delete)... unfortunately this sparked a new problem where unwitting users started deleting the Recycle Bin instead of Emptying it and were unable to figure out how to restore it.

Restore That Missing "Up" Button in Windows Vista Explorer
Restore That Missing "Up" Button in Windows Vista Explorer

One of the most frustrating changes in Windows Vista is the lack of the "Up" button when browsing the file system. Sure, there's been a slightly buggy add-on that you can use, but how about a really solid Up button that just works and doesn't bloat your system?

How to Regain Access to Your Administrator Account in Windows Vista using System Restore
How to Regain Access to Your Administrator Account in Windows Vista using System Restore

Probably one of the most frustrating things that can happen to you in Windows is not being able to logon to your user account because you changed the password and then forgot it or because you accidentally deleted the account. If you don't know the password for any other Administrator account, you have a big problem!

How to Patch Windows Vista to Enable Custom Themes (Visual Styles)
How to Patch Windows Vista to Enable Custom Themes (Visual Styles)

Have you ever wondered why Windows Vista allows you to choose themes, but there's no way to add custom themes without additional software? The reason is because Windows checks the themes with a cryptographic key, so you have to patch windows to allow custom-created themes to install.

See More