Windows Vista™ Tip Sheet

Windows Vista is designed for businesses of all sizes and across all industries.  Windows Vista will make a difference in any business setting.  Windows Vista also helps PC users to be more effective in their work by offering improved connectivity with advanced integration across technologies, networks, and systems, as well as providing them with quick access to better organized information.

Tips & Tricks

Folder Navigation

1.    Getting around your PC - Folders look visually different, but with more choices navigation is even easier. Using the Navigation pane you can visually see the folder hierarchy and quickly find your destination. 

2.    Address bar - The arrows on the Address Bar open a fly-out to specific folders on your PC or network.

3.    Classic Menus – If need you can return to the classic views just hit the ALT key.  However, stay with the Windows Vista default configuration for better productivity.

Running you Applications

1.    Find them, and then run them – You might use the Start menu Search box to type an application’s name, and then press enter to run it, no need to go looking.

2.    MS-DOS command prompts – Type ‘command’ in the Start menu Search box, press Enter and you can return to command land. You can also use the Start menu Search box in place of the Run dialog box.

Finding Your Files

1.    Simple Search – Use the Start menu Search box to type part of a file’s name and see a list of the matching files. Use a similar Search box at the top right of every folder window to search down through subfolders.

2.    Advanced Search – From the Start menu, choose Search, type what you need to find and Windows Vista will show you all the files matching your criteria.

3.    Advanced Search Filters – Use + to add filters using keywords, author, title or just about any of the information available in properties.

4.    Saved Search – A few clicks of the mouse and you can save a search to revisit later.

Control Panel

1.    Search the Control Panel – Consistent with the other tools and folders, the Control Panel provides a Search box to quickly find available tools.

2.    Classic View – Return to your glory days with just a click and you will find the familiar Control Panel View, however the updated Windows Vista Control Panel is so much more useful you may never need that Classic View.

3.    Offline Files – Away from the network?  You can take files with you and make sure you have the information you need.

4.    Sync Center – Make sure you have the latest version of those offline files with the Sync Center; you can even make sure the files are up-to-date automatically and on a schedule.

5.    Mobility Center – Windows Vista does a better job of collecting resources that are appropriate for certain tasks; the mobility center is just one example. Here you will manage the resources appropriate for laptops, such as battery status, wireless network, external monitor, and presentation settings.

Internet Explorer® 7

1.    IE Appearance – IE allows you to zoom in or out on web-pages – use Ctrl+(+) and Ctrl+(-),  You can even generate a print preview that scales the page to your paper size.

2.    Classic Menus – To stick with tradition, the ALT key or the Tools menu provides easy access to those familiar classic menus of IE.

3.    Web Search – Use the search engine you prefer through one familiar search box, and change search providers on the fly from a handy drop-down menu.

4.    Tabbed Browsing – How often do you open a number of web pages with a similar theme?  Well you can group these together under the same Internet Explorer window with tabbed browsing. A simple ctrl-click will open a link in your current window to a new tab.

5.    Quick Tabs – Once you have the tab group, Quick Tabs allows you to view all your tabbed pages as thumbnails, allowing you to quickly pick the page you want.

6.    Favorites (Groups) – Favorites are even easier, and you can even save those same tab groups you created for later use.  Simply use the star to access saved pages or tab groups, or + to add the page or tab group to favorites.

Changes to Discover

1.    Windows® Shared View – Windows Shared View  is easier to connect with others, share information and collaborate on projects.

2.    Windows Defender – To ease the worry about viruses and other malicious software, Windows Defender increases the security level for your PC.

3.    Windows Sidebar – You will see a new generation of applications, more accurately called gadgets. These gadgets can be used on the desktop or with the Windows Sidebar, a desktop location or corral to access them.

4.    Turn off and start up more quickly. When you click the power button on the Start menu, Windows saves your work and programs just as they are, and then puts the computer to sleep. When you use Sleep, your computer typically wakes up in one or two seconds.

 

© 2006 Microsoft Corporation.  All rights reserved.  Microsoft, Explorer, Windows and Windows Vista are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United State and/or other countries.