Make your OS better the easy way
Some people complain that Windows Vista is so loaded with features it hogs their PC's resources. Even worse not all such features work as they should. Here's how to banish the Windows Vista's biggest blunders, because good ideas seldom survive bad execution.
System restore
Here's a great idea: Give Windows a built-in, automated backup application. Restoring a system backup should fix such problems as corrupted boot files, virus infections, Trojan horse installations, and Windows' own natural, gradual deterioration - all without adversely affecting your data.
But you can't permanently save a System Restore backup (called a restore point) to external media. Thus, while System Restore can usually return Windows to, say, last Wednesday's state, it's generally useless for bringing everything back to the perfect condition your PC was in last year. What's more, restoring your system depends on having multiple restore points, such that one corrupt backup makes subsequent ones useless.
The best solution would be a system-backup program that leaves your data alone while backing up everything else to a removable disk - preferably a bootable one. I've yet to find such a program.
Genie Backup Manager comes closer than anything else I've found. Genie's Disaster Recovery option insists on backing up everything on the drive, but you can restore the system while keeping the data unchanged by deselecting your data folders when you restore a Disaster Recovery backup. You can try this $50 general-purpose backup program before you buy it.
Every other reliable system-backup program I know of is image-based, meaning that it restores the entire drive - your data as well as the system. That's fine if you're recovering from a hard-drive crash, but if you want to restore last month's Windows installation while keeping today's documents, you'll need to fully restore one backup and then selectively restore another.
On the other hand, some image-backup programs are free. If you have Vista Business or Ultimate, you already have one. To access it, select Start, All Programs, Accessories, Backup Status and Configuration, Complete PC Backup. Another free option worth considering is DriveImage XML, which works best if you get it as part of the Ultimate Boot CD for Windows - which is also free. Just remember to back up your data separately.
Which brings us to the next topic...
NEXT PAGE: Data Backup
See also:
Visit PC Advisor's Windows Vista News Spotlight
Visit PC Advisor's dedicated Microsoft News Spotlight for the latest news on the software giant
Comments
Chris said: I tired the Firewall suggestion and as a result was unable to view your original page any further or for that matter access Firefox at all Buy undoing ie return to the firewall default setting this was resolved
dalda said: get another vista feature to turn monitor off instantly amp do not wait for power management settings to do the job on vista monitoroffcom
geggy said: Thanks for this it is quite helpful except I cant see a cure for MY problem Im running Vista pre-loaded on a laptop and cant stand the way that the cursor thinks Im double clicking just because I let it hover on a link for a couple of seconds Is there a way around THIS please Oh and to be honest this is about the only quibble I have with Vista at least so far
Eggbert said: Ok Poit the no one here is moaning about Vista well except Kalis as far as I can see Some are moaning about PC Advisors Advice more than anything
Kalis said: Best way i found to cure Vistas flaws was to foramt and install Xp Pro No more tears hence