Howto Activate Vista Aero Interface on Windows Vista Basic Edition

Normally Windows Vista Basic does n't come with Windows vista Aero interface or no activated via Windows vista basic edition. I no sure why Microsoft doesn't active Aero interface at Windows Vista Home Basic but here a trick i found at windowvistatweaks.com to active the Aero interface in the windows vista basic edition.

The activate Aero interfaces at windows vista basic edition is easy. All you need is editing two registry keys and restart your computer afterwards. The activate aero interfaces step like below:-

1. Click the Start button, type regedit into the Search box, then press Enter to launch the Registry Editor (regedit.exe).
2. Navigate to both registry keys under ” Hkey_Current_User \ Software \ Microsoft \ Windows \ DWM \ “
3. Change the values of the entry Composition to 1 and the value of CompositionPolicy to 0
4. Restart your computer

After restart your computer, Aero interfaces can been activated by right-clicking your desktop and selecting personalize from the menu.

Here is the difference compare normally Windows vista normal interfaces and Windows Visa Aero Interfaces. Vista Aero on the left and Vista basic on the right
[Source :www.techmixer.com]

How to activate and deactivate the Windows Vista Aero Theme

How to activate and deactivate the Windows Vista Aero ThemeIf you ask Microsoft, the whole Aero thing "the look and the features" is a key benefit of Vista. Indeed, those glassy surfaces and see-through window edges are, in large part, where Vista got its name and its breathless marketing slogan ("Bring clarity to your world").

But there's certain to be someone, somewhere, who doesn't care for the new lookand Microsoft rarely takes a step forward without offering a step back to those who want it. You can not only change Vista's color scheme, you can also completely turn off the Aero look and features, if you so desire.

Tip: Aero Glass uses up some of your PC's horsepower, 24 hours a day. Changing your scheme from Aero to Basic (or simply turning off transparency) can give your computer a speed boost, because it no longer has to compute and draw fuzzy images of whatever is behind your window title bars.

Microsoft figures that's not something you'll want to do often, so the controls are a bit buried. But here they are, just in case you're a believer in opaque window edges:

1. Right-click a blank spot on the desktop. From the shortcut menu, choose Personalize. The Personalization control panel opens.
2. Click the first link, "Window Color and Appearance." If you've been using the Aero design, you now arrive at the dialog box where you can choose a different accent color for your windows, or adjust (or turn off) the degree of window-edge transparency, which will make your PC slightly faster.
3. Click "Open classic appearance properties..." at the bottom of the window. The Appearance Settings dialog box opens.
4. In the Color Scheme list, click the Windows design look you prefer: Windows Vista Aero, Windows Vista Basic, Windows Standard, or Windows Classic. With each click, you see a sample at the top of the dialog box.
5. Once you find a design you like, click OK.

The screen flickers, thunder rolls somewhere, and your screen changes.

[Source http://www.e-articles.info/e/a/subcat/Windows-Vista/]

Restore, Enable and Display the Missing Internet Explorer (IE or IE7) Icon on Windows Vista Desktop

Windows Vista does not place Internet Explorer (currently Internet Explorer 7 or IE7) icon or shortcut on desktop. Even if initially there is IE desktop icon, once you delete or hide the IE icon, it’s pretty hard to get back the full applet IE7 desktop icon even though during the deletion, the warning message prompts you to restore it later from Personalization in Control Panel, as IE7 or IE is not contained in Desktop Icon Settings Creating shortcut to IE7 won’t be nice as it’s shortcut icon, not an actual IE7 desktop icon which allows you easy access to Internet Properties and other related Internet functions (see image below).


IE7 desktop icon and desktop shortcut side by side.

To re-enable, restore, show and display the Internet Explorer 7 (IE or IE7) Vista desktop icon, here the step on how to do it:
1. Start registry editor by clicking on Start button, then select “Run”. Type in “regedit” in the Open text box and hit “OK” or press “Enter”.
2. Navigate to the following registry key:
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\
Explorer\HideDesktopIcons\NewStartPanel]If you’re using classic theme or scheme, browse to the following registry location instead:

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\
Explorer\HideDesktopIcons\ClassicStartMenu]

If the above key doesn’t exist, create a new key.
3. Edit or create a DWORD (32-bit) value named {871C5380-42A0-1069-A2EA-08002B30309D} and set it with value of 0 (dword:00000000).
4. Refresh Windows Vista desktop by pressing F5 or right click on desktop and click “Refresh”.


You will see the IE or IE7 icon has been put back on Vista desktop.

For easier way, here is the registration (.reg) file that you can download and then double click to execute the file to merge the required registry key and value into the Vista registry. Refresh desktop after applying the registry hack.

Download vistaie_icon.reg or vistaie_icon_classic.reg (for classic Vista desktop theme only).

Alternatively, copy and paste the below code to a text file and save it as a file name with .reg extension. Then double click on the file to merge the data to the registry. After refreshing desktop, IE7 desktop icon will be back on view.

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\
Explorer\HideDesktopIcons\NewStartPanel]
{871C5380-42A0-1069-A2EA-08002B30309D}"=dword:00000000

Or for classic Windows desktop:


[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\
Explorer\HideDesktopIcons\ClassicStartMenu]
{871C5380-42A0-1069-A2EA-08002B30309D}"=dword:00000000
[Source http://www.mydigitallife.info/]

Microsoft to offer Vista downloads

Downloading applications has become the standard route for many high end computer users, and up until this point, Microsoft has not offered users a chance to download operating systems or Office applications online. Before now, Microsoft has seen this route of software distribution to be unsecured, and not very easy for users. That's all about to change with Vista, as the operating system, and the Office productivity suite of software will be available as downloads on January 30th for PC users. Microsoft has said that it is only expecting about 15% of customers to choose to download the applications, seeing these users as high end techies. Pricing for upgrades to Vista are set at $260US, with an additional $50 for each additional household computer.

Though it's nice to know that Vista will be available online, I think I will stick to the CD version. It's always nice to have a clean backup on CD in case anything happens. How many DLSers are planning on grabbing a copy of Vista when it comes out? Will you download it, or buy a disc?

[Source http://www.downloadsquad.com/]

How To Bypass Windows Vista Activation Crack with Future Date Installation

This method is not a new trick or hack to crack or bypass Windows Vista activation requirement which has been made harder to crack by Microsoft. The steps to install Windows Vista in future date has previously been published. However the method is again made famous by the release of pirated Windows Vista retail DVD in Thailand. The illegal copies of Windows Vista Ultimate is sold only for $5.00 or less in high scale shopping mall in Bangkok, compared with official retail price at $400, with the DVD contains fully functional RTM final release, virus-free version of Windows Vista which is same as Vista downloaded from P2P network, and can be used to install Vista Basic, Vista Premium, Vista Business or Vista Ultimate.


According to the Windows Vista pirated DVD, Windows Vista activation can be bypassed and cracked by installing Windows Vista in future date as detailed in the guide below. There is no product key needed.

1. Purchase your Windows Vista DVD or download MSDN release version of Windows Vista.
2. If you download Windows Vista RTM Build 6000 ISO, burn it to DVD.
3. Disconnect or disable Internet connection or simply unplug the cable.
4. Set the date to year 2099 in the BIOS (or whatever the maximum year the the BIOS capable to set). Check your computer manual on how to access BIOS and change date, normally pressing F2, F10 or Esc will do.
5. Boot from Windows Vista DVD.
6. When install Windows Vista, do not enter any product key or serial number. Simply leave the field blank and click Next.
7. When prompted for confirmation, click ‘No’.
8. Once Windows Vista finishes installing, set back the date to the current time in the Windows Vista desktop.
   

The simple hack for the pirated DVD of Windows Vista ends here. However, there are a more comprehensive method to crack Windows Vista activation that immediately follows the tutorial steps above (skip the above time changing step).

1. When Vista installation is finished, boot up Windows Vista and go to the Windows where you’ll required to enter desired account name and password, followed by computer name. Do not enter anything yet, instead press Shift + F10 key together to launch Command Prompt.
2. In the launched Command Prompt, type “taskmgr” (without the quotes) to launch Task Manager.
3. In the Task Manager window, go to Processes tab, and locate the program called “msoobe.exe”. Select the process and click on “End Process” button to terminate the program.
4. The Account Creation screen should disappear and the Welcome Screen should appear. Log with a user called “Other User” and then click the arrow button in the right corner, and then click on “Restart” to restart the system.
5. Upon initial stage of system bootup after restarting, press F8 Key to go to Safe Mode.
6. In the Safe Mode, go to Start -> Run, and type “control userpasswords2″ (without quotes), and the user accounts setting should appear.
7. Go to Advanced tab, and in Advanced User Management section click on Advanced.
8. There will be two folders named Users & Groups. Double click on Users folder then right click on the icon named Administrator, and then unchecked the setting that says “Account Is Disabled”.
9. Click on OK twice to exit. And don’t restart the computer.
10. In the clock and time shown in the Notification Area (System Tray), right click on the Clock and select Adjust Date and Time.
11. Go to Internet Time tab, and choose Change Settings, then uncheck (untick) Synchronize with an Internet Time Server option.
12. Click OK to exit.
13. Restart the computer and boot up to BIOS.
14. Reset the computer date and year to current year.
15. Boot up the computer to Windows Vista, you should be able to log on as Administrator.
16. Go to Start -> Run, and type “winver”, then press Enter or click OK.
17. A window will display and mentioned that the product is licensed to: Windows User.
18. Beside, in My Computer properties, the computer name will have a randomized name too.
19. In Windows Explorer, go to Folder Options, and select Show Hidden Files and Folders settings.
20. Browse to C:\Windows\system32\oobe folder.
21. Locate and Run msoobe.exe by double clicking on it.
22. Input the desired account name, computer name, date and the time zone.
23. Windows Vista will then analyze the computer’s performance. Wait for the performance check to complete.
24. Once performance check is complete, go to Start -> Run, and type “control userpasswords2″.
25. User Accounts window will be launched. Go to Advance, and in Advanced User Management section click on Advanced, and then double click on Users folder.
26. Right click on Administrator and then select Properties, and check the Account is Disabled option.
27. Restart the computer
28. Connect to Internet.
29. Verify the computer name and winver display. You’ll have 30 days activation grace period which expires only at year 2099 (or whatever year you set)
    

Whichever bypass or crack method you choose, it’s unclear how long the activation will last, as the main pillar of Software Protection Platform (SPP) on Windows Vista, Windows Genuine Advantage (WGA) hasn’t come into picture and play its part when Vista users check for software updates.

Disclaimer: This article is for educational and informational purpose only.
[Source http://www.mydigitallife.info/]