Vista 

Q&A: Advice for a clean start on a brand-new computer: 
 

I'm doing a similar transition myself but for me it's from Win98 to Vista. It's a big jump and I haven't worked it all out yet but I will try and relay to you some of what I have run into. By the way I bought ME but never got around to installing it.  
 

Vista needs the hard drive to function smoothly just as in previous version of Windows. So in many ways not much has changed. You still need to run Defrag, ScanDisk (CHKDSK for Vista), and Disk Cleanup. So when do you do these tasks? Disk cleanup should be done daily if you use IE7, but maybe only twice a week if you use a more secure browser such as FireFox. I defrag every 6 months minium but on my gamer PC I defrag about once a week or once a game crash. Vista calls for a weekly defrag as its default setting. Basically, if you cut and paste large files and delete large files a lot when using your computer defrag more often. CHKDSK is more of an event call for function. Here is what I mean. If the computer is shut down abnormally run the CHKDSK. If a program closes incorrectly run the CHKDSK. To do a quick check on your hard drive health run the CHKDSK. This covers the very basic maintenance that helps keep software and hardware running. To get to the menu were you can do these tasks, =>Start button=>Computer then right click on the hard drive icon, select properties, looking at the top you will see menu tabs,=>Tools tab. This gets you Defrag and ScanDisk function, General tab gets you cleanup function. Watch out, the terms for defrag and ScanDisk are deferent. User Account Control will be popping up asking "are sure you want to do this" as you make your way through the steps to perform these tasks. UAC is annoying but it's part of the Vista experience and so I feel one should work with it but it can be turned off. Save turning off the UAC for when you feel you don't need it anymore.  
 

Under the Tools tab, the run defrag now button will open a window which lets you pick run now or run on a schedule time automatically. If you hit run now you will see a spinning ring(it was an hour glass in Win98) and that is about it. If you look at your Hard drive's activity light it will be flashing quickly. It could take minutes or hours to complete the defrag process. Vista does not provide the screen of defrag dots like in Win98, so now there is little to watch.   ( Continued on Pg 5 )

with its fans at a steady speed. When I made my first full system backup the computers fans were very loud due to the heat build up caused by the DVD burner and hard drive working hard at the same time. Because I was not familiar with the fan speed change, noise level change, it scared me until I realized what was happening was correct and a good thing.                                           

Having space enough in you computer area for expansion and servicing are good things too. As you add devices more space is needed just to locate them in a safe usable manner. Here is an example, your new printer only has a 2 foot USB cable. That does not mean it's a okay to set the printer on the same surface as your new computer. The printer head movements will cause vibrations that can increase ware on delicate devices in your new computer. In this case it would be wise to locate the printer else where by getting a longer USB cable and perhaps mounting an adjustable shelf system to a near by wall and placing the printer there (if you already use a wireless LAN, then look into a wireless printer). Just as you need enough room around the printer for installing new ink cartridges, you will also need enough room around the computer case to be able to open it. To do this you need to know how your new computer's case opens. Check the manual for this info. If you can't find it in the manual, try looking for instructions on the case. While you are at it, look for warranty tamper stickers a long the case removal points. If you find one of these stickers then you should not open the case without first checking your warranty rights. For now, you just want to have enough space a service person or yourself can open the case without much trouble.  
 

The last time I tried to find my warranty and service numbers I spent more time looking for the paperwork than making the service call. I strongly recommend that you file the computer's paperwork using a filing cabinet or at least one of those big accordion folders that has compartments that are alphabetized. This will organize the paperwork and as long as you don't loose the folder or file cabinet you have everything in one place. One note you should write and put in this filing system is a list of the numbers found on the computer case. The list should have the serial number, Vista program key, exact model number, and the date code if there is one. I write this info inside the cover of the user manual and also on what I refer to as a "Call Sheet". The Call Sheet comes in handy when calling tech support. Tech support will almost always ask for some of this info. I usually write the tech support number on the call sheet as well. File the Call Sheet under "C", the manual under "M" and the warranty under "W". Well you get the idea. With the filing system in place you can store notes on your software installations. For example when you installed your anti-virus, did you use custom install or typical, did you need an update or patch, did it take more then one re-boot before the software was fully functional, was there a licence key number and were there any error codes. Organize the note taking even further by giving your notes dates and time stamps and get your terminology as correct as possible and then be consistent with it                                                                 Page -6 -                                                                                                                            

through out your notes. This will really help when things go wrong. Tip, I also store the software CDs in the folder with my install notes for that software. 

Another thing that helps when things go wrong, the boxes that the computer came in. These boxes are designed to protect the computer while in shipment and can come in handy on moving day or if you have to ship it back to the manufacturer. If you are like me and find it hard to re-pack things in their shipping boxes try taking pictures when you first un-box a new piece of equipment. Well you get the idea. One piece of hardware that helps with computer longevity is the UPS. That is an un-interruptible power supply, also known as a battery backup. This device plugs into the wall outlet and your new computer plugs into it. The device cleans up the noise in the power lines so your new computer is not damaged by power surges and brown outs. I use a device from APC for protection from power surges and brown outs and it also shields my Internet connection. 
 

Vista ships with some software protection programs such as a firewall and malware remover (Windows Defender). I still feel safer with a more complete main stream anti-virus package and have used Symantec but now am using McAfee. When I made the change from Symantec to McAfee, Windows Defender stepped in during the swap out but did not cause a crash. The install went well and so far I have had no problems.  
 

You may need to re-schedule some of these defense programs. As an example, Windows Defender by default scans your computer at 2 AM every 24 hours. If your computer is not turned on at that time you need to re-schedule Defender to run when the computer is on. For now, I run these programs while I'm present because I want to see them in action. I will continue to look for tools to block bad sites and read reviews for leads to better protection products and methods for working security in Vista. I have already installed FireFox as my second browser because I felt so uncomfortable with IE7. I have used IE7 but have found the Add-ons (plug-ins) strange because I'm use to IE6 having things already there. To stay with the Vista experience, I forced myself to hang with IE7. Under the Tools menu in IE7 there is a button "Manage Add-ons", go there to deal with Add-ons so things like Flash animation will work. 
 

Disaster, damage control, and repair or replace are topics of interest In Vista. Only some versions of Vista support full system backup unfortunately the version you and I have isn't one of them, Home Premium. Understanding what tools Vista provides for recovery will help you plan for recovery before things go wrong with your Vista computer. Home Premium dose support backup of YOUR files but not system files. This means you can copy YOUR files and save those copies to another medium such as an external hard drive, DVD, or even another internal drive. Sometimes your files become corrupted or lost or if a component in your

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 computer fails such as the hard drive, motherboard, or power supply, you could use these backup copies of your files by putting them on a replacement computer or your repaired computer and get back to it. Although a lot of details are missing from this process it's still a disaster recovery plan (a whole post subject all by itself http://reviews.cnet.com/4002-7600_7-6651881.html ). 
 

System file repairs are covered by restore points. In Vista the restore point system goes under the title System Protection. System Protection is a way to return your computer's system files back to a point in time where they were not damaged/corrupted/changed by the installation of a software program or driver installation. Vista's System Protection uses restore points which use shadow copies and stored registry settings to put the system back the way it was. If the computer won't boot, I mean it so corrupted it won't start, the System Protection can't be used. Both the backup and System Protection in Vista are limited which means you may have to fall back to the manufacturer supplied restore system. Sometimes this is an OEM OS disk and driver disk or they can be combined into a recovery disk set, and sometimes it's just a few CDs or DVDs you burned yourself using software supplied by the computer manufacturer. That covers the minimum for a recovery plan but I recommend that you take additional steps and supply your own restore system. This entails buying your own backup device/system that is Vista compatible.  
 

Try test driving the warranty by reading it with the intent of doing it. See what it will cost to ship your new computer to the repair center. It may cost more to ship it than to have it fixed locally. You may find that some components have a longer warranty than the computer. To find out you will need to call tech support so think of this call as a test drive of tech support. Many of the warranties I have read also indicate that only the software the computer came with is warrantied. So if it turns out it was software you put in that caused the problem it's not a warranty repair. Any part you have added by opening the case may void the entire warranty. This is the main reason I recommend living with the out of the box computer till the warranty period is over. Try leaving Vista in its default state as long as you can stand it. If you feel too lost Vista does have a classic mode. I also recommend that you hang on to your old ME computer till you feel comfortable with Vista. 
 

Staying informed is one way to keep finding better ways to get around in Vista. You will need to understand some of the terminology and get a feel for the lingo. Here is an example, Microsoft lingo "restore point", for me it would be "go back after repair point" and if I Geeked it that would become GBARP. IMHO these lingoes can be hard to work around, but most of the time you can plug them into a search and come up with the meaning. Use search to find clues to work-arounds and problem fixes. Reading forum posts that are working on the same or similar problem can clue you in on lingo and terminology. Don't forget about the  
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"Dummies Books" and the PC magazines that are good sources of info and terminology definitions. 
 

My approach is to plan for problems. This may seem to be a negative approach but it's more like being prepared by reducing the surprises and knowing what to. I call it damage control. As more comfort is gained with the new computer and operating system, the tendency will be to scale back the approach. That is okay. If problems seem to be coming out of the wood work, then just scale the approach back up. Just do what fits. View yourself as your own client. Is it time well spent? What is it going to cost? Can I go on without this software or device? Is repair or replace the issue? It's your call. I leave you with some of the links I have found helpful. 
 

Links for General Info and Cnet online Vista Courses.

http://windows-vista-basics.classes.cnet.com/ 
 

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How to Take Ownership of a File or Folder 
 

In Windows XP, the user who creates something on the computer (like a file or folder) on an NTFS partition becomes its owner. However, an Administrator can take ownership of these things. This is a way that an administrator can access files even if he/she hasn't been given permission, because once you become the owner, you can change the access permissions. 
 

Here's how you take ownership:

1. In Windows Explorer, navigate to the file or folder you want to own

2. Right click it and select Properties

3. Click the Security tab

4. Click the Advanced button

5. Click the Owner tab

6. Note the current owner of the object. Under Change owner to, select the administrative account you want to take ownership and click OK.

If you want to also take ownership of subfolder and files within the folder(s), check the box that says "Replace owner on subcontainers and objects".