Windows Vista is the first windows operating system to let you use a trial version for 30 days before buying. It's a really great move for Microsoft, especially in light of how little benefit you get from upgrading to Vista in the first place. There's a soon to be well known trick that can extend the trial period up to 120 days.

If you right-click on the computer icon on the start menu, you'll see the basic system information window, and you'll also see the amount of days you have left to activate:



Looks like I only have 12 days left… or do I?

If you are not locked out of your computer

Open up an administrative mode command prompt by typing in cmd into the start menu search box, and then hit the shortcut Ctrl+Shift+Enter to launch in administrative mode.


Now run this command from the prompt:

slmgr -rearm

It will take a little while, but eventually a dialog will pop up telling you to reboot. Do so, and you'll see that the activation period has been reset to 30 days.
Note that if you want to get a full 120 days out of this tip that you need to use this command on day 29 or 30 of your trial mode. You can only use this command 3 times before Microsoft smacks you down.

If you are already locked out (Reduced Functionality Mode)

You can still reactivate Vista if you have more resets left. If you've already used up all 3, then you are out of luck, but if not, you can follow these steps to unlock your computer again.

First, Open up Internet Explorer, and type C:\ into the address bar. You'll be prompted for UAC.
Now type in C:\Windows\System32\ into the address bar, and find the cmd.exe executable. Right-click it and choose "Run as Administrator".

Now use the same method as above (slmgr -rearm).

You should see the message saying that the computer is rearmed. You'll probably want to restart the computer at this point.

Getting a Trial Copy of Windows Vista

Windows Vista is the first Microsoft operating system to let you have a trial period. One of the questions that I get asked constantly is "Where do I get a copy of Vista?". This answer is less obvious.

If you have an MSDN license, you can download it from there and run it in trial mode. Most people don't have MSDN, however.

If you know somebody that has a copy of Vista, you can borrow the CD and use it to install in trial mode. As long as you aren't trying to use their serial number, there shouldn't be a problem with this.

There are various "other" ways to get a copy of the Vista CD. If you don't know what I mean, you should ask the person that everybody knows has a huge collection of downloaded content. I suspect they can hook you up, but remember it's just a trial copy. I don't advocate piracy.

Alternatively, you could buy a copy.

Addressing the 1 Year Activation Patch

There's been a debate about a 1 year activation hack that can allow you to run Windows Vista for up to 1 year without activating. As far as I can tell, this is completely bogus, and shouldn't even be attempted. Honestly, it's best to just buy a new computer with Vista already installed.

Addressing the "TimerStop" hack

There is a hack that will allow you to run Windows Vista forever without registering. This hack is obviously illegal, unsupported by Microsoft, and likely to break with future patches to Vista. I have verified that this works with some friends. Although I have not personally used it, I do not believe it should be used, and I would advise strongly against doing so.

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Tip 1: Disable user account control

None of Vista's improved security features causes more aggravation than the User Account Control. While it's meant as a helpful safeguard for preventing you (or malware) from running a program that could cause problems on your system, its tendency to pop up too often can make it more annoying than useful. Microsoft advises that you not to disable it, but if you want to lose it -- and the pesky warning icon that will show up in the system tray when you do -- here's how.

• Click on the Start button, then click on Control Panel.
• Click on User Accounts.
• Click on User Accounts again.
• Click on "Turn User Account Control on or off".
• Click "Continue".
• Uncheck the box next to "Use User Account Control (UAC) to help protect your computer" and click OK.
• Reboot your computer.
• Return to the Control Panel, then click on Security.
• Click on Security Center.
• Click on "Change the way Security Center alerts me".
• Click "Don't notify me and don't display the icon (not recommended)".

Tip 2: Change preinstalled Vista features

Vista, like all versions of Windows, comes with a lot of preset features you may never need or want. If you don't think you'll use Remote Differential Compression, the Microsoft .NET Framework 3.0 XPS Viewer, or Windows Meeting Space -- or if you really need a simple telnet client -- it's easy to do.

• Click on the Start button, then click on Control Panel.
• Click on "Uninstall a program" under the Programs category.
• Click on "Turn Windows features on or off".
• Click on an empty checkbox to add a feature; conversely, uncheck the box to remove a feature.

Tip 3: Save searches

Always find yourself looking for the same kinds of files on your computer? Have you wished for a way to save your common searches for use again later? With Vista you can.

• Click the Start button then click Search or hit Windows key + F to open a Search box.
• Type your search term in the field provided.
• Click on the "Save Search" button.
• Name your search by typing in the "File name" field.
• Click Save.
• To use your saved search later, click on the Searches link under the search window's Favorite Links section.

Tip 4: Improve program access with quick launch

Running programs from your desktop can be a pain if you have to move all your windows to see them, and searching for them in the Start menu can be time-consuming. That's why we love the Quick Launch toolbar, which is more convenient to use in Vista than ever. Here's how it works.

• If the Quick Launch toolbar isn't currently displayed on your Start bar, right-click on the Start bar, select Toolbars, and then click on Quick Launch.
• Drag a program or shortcut icon into the Quick Launch toolbar. (Show desktop, Switch between windows, and Launch Internet Explorer Browser are defaults.) You can now click on the icon to start the program at any time.
• Windows Vista also adds keyboard shortcuts for Quick Launch programs. Press the Windows key and the number of the icon's position to activate that program. For example, if the Microsoft Office Outlook icon is the fifth icon in the Quick Launch toolbar, hit Windows key + 5 to open Outlook. If you have 10 icons, use Windows key + 0 for the 10th; if you have 11 icons or more, delete some and use your Start bar for other things.

Tip 5: Use ReadyBoost to improve system performance

Have a spare flash drive sitting around? Vista lets you use it to speed up your computer.

• Attach a flash device (such as a USB thumb drive).
• When the AutoPlay window appears, click on "Speed up my system using Windows ReadyBoost".
• Click on the "Use this device" radio box.
• Click OK.

In the never-ending quest to rid your computer of unnecessary bloat, Windows Vista has a lot less options than prior versions, but you can still get rid of some of the extra Windows components that you don't need.

Open up Control Panel and go to the Programs and Features section. Find the link for "Turn Windows features on or off" (or you could just search for it)
This dialog is quite self-explanatory… uncheck the things you don't want, and hit the OK button. Depending on the version of Vista you are running you might not see everything in the list.

Guidelines,

Just to get you started, here's a few tips on what an average user might want to enable or disable. The rules will be different for everybody, depending on your applications and needs, so don't take these as absolute.

• ActiveX Installer Service
  No
  Do you really want anything to do with ActiveX?
• Games
  Why Not
  Your productivity can only increase with Spider Solitaire on your computer.
• Indexing Service
  No
  This is the old indexing service that is no longer needed in Vista.
• Internet Information Service
  No
  Used for hosting websites on your computer.
• Microsoft .NET Framework 3.0
  No
  Used for the new .NET 3.0 components, but only really needed for programmers.
• Microsoft Message Queue (MSMQ) Server
  No
  Used by programmers as a way to reliably queue messages.
• Print Services
  No
  You only need this if you use internet printers and like to kill trees. Our rainforests are depending on you disabling this service.
• Remote Differential Compression
  Maybe
  This is likely required for utilities that use the network to download files. If it is enabled, don't mess with it.
• Removable Storage Management
  No
  The only reason you'd need this is if you are restoring from old NTBACKUP files.
• RIP Listener
  No
  You won't need this, it's a routing protocol.
• Services for NFS
  No
  This can be used to map a drive to a linux NFS server. Unlikely you'd need it since Samba works so well.
• SNMP Feature
  No
  This is used for management systems in workplace networks. You don't need it.
• Subsystem for UNIX-based Applications
  No
  This is used for compatibility with certain applications based on UNIX… you don't need it.
• Tablet PC Optional Components
  Maybe
  If you have a Tablet PC, you should enable this. If you don't, you may still want to because this includes the Snipping Tool.
• Telnet Client
  AVOID
  You should never use telnet. Ever.
• Telnet Server
  AVOID
  You should never use telnet. Ever.
• TFTP Client
  AVOID
  TFTP was used by many of the early internet worms… there's a reason it's disabled by default.
• Windows DFS Replication Service
  No
  This is only really used in work environments. Don't bother with this if you are a home user.
• Windows Fan and Scan
  No
  Why anybody still faxes anything is beyond me.
• Windows Meeting Space
  No
  If you don't use Windows Meeting Space or the "People Near Me" feature, don't bother with this.
• Windows PowerShell
  No
  PowerShell is a more advanced command line geared towards programmers and system administrators.
• Windows Process Activation Service
  Probably
  This is likely required to support some .NET applications, so I wouldn't change whatever it's currently set to.
• Windows Ultimate Extras
  Maybe
  If you like the extras, then enable them. (Ultimate Only)

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Have you ever noticed in Windows vista you can delete your favorite Recycle Bin ;)

yes seems crazy but Windows vista has a bug , Microsoft created Windows vista as most secure, powerfull Operating system software but still have few bugs like this, really strange. This may be possible that Microsoft has given Deletion of recycle bin as one of the feature !! we cant predicate there facts , God knows what Bill gates think.

So have you deleted your Recycle bin from your Desktop of your Vista ?

Here is the Simple Answer how to get it back,

1. Right click on desktop,

2. got to 'personalize', then in the left column click 'change desktop icons'.

3.Afterwards, click on the 'recycle bin empty' icon and change it with the iconthat shows the recycle bin full…and do the same for the 'recycle bin full'icon.

4.Click apply. Now when the recycle bin is full it will show empty andwhen empty it will show full.

5.Go back and change them to the normal icons as they should be and it will solve the problem.

i think this problem is not actual problem, i think its one of the feature provided by Microsoft to organize desktop icons.

1. If you’re annoyed by Internet Explorer’s incessant barking that you’ve lowered your security settings (like, if you’re a non-paranoid expert), launch “gpedit.msc” from either the Run command or Start Search field, navigate through Local Computer Policy / Computer Configuration / Administrative Templates / Windows Components / Internet Explorer. In the rightmost pane, double-click “Turn off the Security Settings Check feature” and set it to Enabled.
2. If Internet Explorer’s Information Bar also annoys you, you can turn it off (again) in the Group Policy Object Editor (gpedit.msc) through Local Computer Policy / Computer Configuration / Administrative Templates / Windows Components / Internet Explorer / Security Features. In the rightmost pane, double-click “Internet Explorer Processes” and set it to Disabled. Hallelujah!
3. I’ve just mentioned two tweaks that are buried inside the Group Policy Editor. Jim Allchin pointed out that there’s a Group Policy Settings Reference spreadsheet available. Makes for great weekend reading.
4. Read the Background on Backgrounds if you’re a performance junkie. Don’t set your wallpaper through Internet Explorer ever again! Now that Windows supports JPG wallpapers, there’s absolutely no need (or excuse) for using BMPs anymore.
5. If you insist on keeping UAC (User Account Control) turned on for yourself, you might care to make the elevation prompts a bit less visually jarring. Brandon told me about this one, even though I have UAC turned off. Launch the Local Security Policy manager (secpol.msc), and navigate through Security Settings / Local Policies / Security Options. In the rightmost pane, scroll to the bottom and double-click “User Account Control: Switch to the secure desktop when prompting for elevation.” Disable it, and you can keep UAC turned on without getting turned off by the embarrassingly craptacular Aero Basic theme.
6. Vista can send you emails! The Computer Management tool can still be accessed by right-clicking “Computer” and selecting “Manage” from the menu. However, now you can attach a task to any event. Try navigating through System Tools / Event Viewer / Windows Logs / Application. Now, go ahead and select an event - then look to the rightmost pane and click “Attach Task to This Event.” Name it whatever, describe it however, click through the next step, then in the Action step, you’ll see the “Send an e-mail” option.
7. The Windows Task Manager gives you a lot more troubleshooting information in Vista. Flip to the Processes tab, and in the View menu, click “Select Columns” and add Description, Command Line, and Image Path Name. Moreover, when you right-click a process, you can select either “Go to Service(s)” or “Open File Location.” These are all long overdue options.
8. This one’s interesting. Open up the Date and Time Control Panel applet. Flip to the “Additional Clocks” tab. There, you can configure two more clocks from different time zones. They’ll appear in the tooltip when you hover over the Taskbar clock. No additional software (or silly sidebar widgets) necessary.
9. Applicable in other versions of Windows, I’m going to throw it in here for good measure. Create a shortcut to RegSvr32.exe in your SendTo folder. To get there quickly, enter “shell:sendto” in the Run command dialog or Start Search field. Now, when you wanna register a DLL or OCX file with the system, you can select it/them and “Send To” the RegSvr32 shortcut.
10. I figured I’d round out my first set of Windows Vista tips and tricks with a tiny bit of eye candy. It doesn’t beat Picasa, but the Windows Photo Gallery is better than nothing. Once it’s indexed all your photos, click the icon next to the Search field and turn on the “Table of Contents.” That’s kinda nifty.