Show Run in Vista Start Menu

Although you don't need run command option in Windows Vista because the start menu search does all the work that your Run dialog box does, but still if you want to get that run command to show in the start menu as in Windows XP. Then there is just a simple option to show the Run command in Vista's start menu. Here is how

--- Right click on the Taskbar or anywhere in the blank space in start menu and click properties.

--- Then select the Start Menu tab at the top.

--- Click on the customize button. A window will popup with many options.

--- Scroll down till you see the Run Command. Check mark the box in front of it. Click OK.

--- Then click Apply and OK to exit the properties dialog box.

Alternately you can use the keyboard shortcut Windows+R to open the Run dialog box directly.

Disable Control Panel

You have a PC which is used by many people and your friends know a thing or two about windows and keep changing options using the control panel. And you get uncomfortable with those changes. You can fix this issue. What you need is a registry hack and you can disable the control panel altogether. So no more lost setting for you.

--- To disable control panel, type regedit in Run box and hit enter.

--- Now look for the key
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer

--- In the right pane create a new key by right clicking in the empty space and selecting 32 bit DWORD value.

--- Name this key as NoControlPanel. Now double click this key and enter a value of 1 in the value data field.

--- Click okay and exit the registry.

--- You can check the change in setting by going to Start menu and clicking on Control Panel. You will see this message


Now you know this was a success and your settings and programs are safe.

Improve Vista Startup Performance

Everyone wants to improve the performance of there system. With Vista you need to do everything you can to get it running faster.

One way of improving the startup performance of Vista is to disable superfetch. Disabling superfetch is a quick way to boost the performance of vista immediately.

To do this

--- Go to start menu --> Run then type services.msc

--- Then look for superfetch services and double click on it

--- Then choose the disable option in startup type and then stop the service.

--- Click Apply and OK.

Once superfetch is disabled all the tasks like boot and log on will go in a jiffy.

Disabling Superfetch also makes your system go in to sleep mode very quickly and resume from it as well.

Extend Trial Period of Windows Vista

Microsoft allows to take a trial of Windows Vista for 30 days before activation i.e. you can use vista for 30 day without any activation. This is a great move by Microsoft for the buyers. They can test the operating system any way they like for a month before making their decision of buying.

Now if you think in those 30 days you have not seen all the features of Vista and you want to have more time then there is a trick for this within windows. No need to use any third party or illegal software. This trick will increase trial period from 30 days to 120 days.

If you check your basic system information window by right clicking on My Computer and selecting properties you will see the number of days remaining for activation. This trick will be of great if used near the end of the activation period like the last day of activation. Because if you use it earlier then the remaining days from earlier will be lost.

Now to start the process..

--- Go to start menu and type cmd, then right click on cmd and click Run as administrator.

--- Now run this command slmgr -rearm

--- After some time a window will appear asking you to reboot the system. Do so and check the activation days again in the system information you will have the 30 days back.

--- You can use this command 3 times only and if you want to maximize the period to 120 days then its better to use this command on the last day of activation.


There are many illegal hacks or tricks used by some people to use Vista for unlimited days like the timestopper hacks. But be advised its illegal to use and may cause unnecessary problems for you.

If you like Vista after using it for the extended period then you should go and buy it.

Add Open in Command Prompt Option in Vista

Most of the tasks can be done directly from the GUI of windows vista but sometimes it requires a command window to do some serious work. You can got to command prompt by typing cmd in run window. But sometimes you have to go deep in directories and you need to change the default path of cmd all the time to get there.

A fast way to get to the working folder of your choice is to add the "Open command windows here" option to the context menu of explorer. Fortunately Microsoft has integrated this feature in Windows vista but you don't see this option enabled when you right click on the folders.

To get this option all you have to do is hold the shift key and right click on the folder that you want to open in command window as your working directory.

You can also make this option appear on right click only without you having to hold the shift key. To do this you have to edit a registry entry.

--- Go to registry editor by typing regedit in run window

--- Backup the registry as shown here before you do any changes.

--- Then go to this address HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\shell\cmd

--- In the right pane look for the key named Extended and delete it.

--- Close regedit.

And you have the "Open command window here" option in the context menu of windows vista.

Uptime of Windows Vista and XP

If you keep your computer running for a long time without shutdown or reboot you may want to know how time it has been since last reboot or what is the time the system is running for, this is called uptime for windows.

You can know the uptime of Windows vista as well as xp very easily.

--- To find Vista’s uptime just open Task Manager by right clicking the Taskbar and selecting Task Manager.

--- Now open the performance tab. Here you will see the uptime in the system section.


You can do this from command line also

--- Type cmd in start menu search box and hit enter

--- At the command prompt type systeminfo and press enter

This will not give the actual uptime but it will show the time when the computer booted.


To easily find the uptime in Windows XP

--- Go to Start-->Run and type CMD then click OK.

--- This will bring up the command prompt where you have to again type systeminfo

--- After a few moments the system information will be shown along with the uptime in day, hours, minutes and seconds