by David Hakala

Q: I have an Acer Aspire M1100 desktop less than a year old. I read … that it is possible to run Windows XP along with Vista. I have an XP Disc that I bought for a Dell laptop I used to have last year. It would be nice to have both XP and Vista, and be able to switch back and forth. I don’t want to mess up my desktop completely, but if it is possible and worth it, how hard would it be to do? — Gary P.

There are two ways to “switch back and forth” between Vista and XP, Gary. Neither will do any damage, and both are pretty easy to implement.
Click to continue reading…

{ 2 comments }

Can I and Should I Delete or Remove Vista’s Recovery Partition?

in data storage and recovery
Vista

Vista’s recovery partition is critical in case of installation crashes. However, to save space, you can move its capabilities off your hard drive to offline storage.

Read the full article

Docx Extension

in file extensions

A file with the .docx extension is a Microsoft Word 2007 document made under Windows XP or Vista.

Read the full article

I Want a New Computer with Windows XP, not Vista

in Vista
Thumbnail image for I Want a New Computer with Windows XP, not Vista

If you’d like a new PC but would rather run Windows XP and not Vista, it’s still possible to find new computers with XP installed instead of Vista, or the option to “downgrade” to XP. Also, recent reports suggest that retailers may have longer than Microsoft originally said to convert to selling Vista-only PCs.

Read the full article

Why Is My Windows Taskbar Cluttered with Small Program Icons?

in Vista
Thumbnail image for Why Is My Windows Taskbar Cluttered with Small Program Icons?

Icons in the Windows Taskbar can provide convenient access to often-used programs. But in some cases these icons are just, at best, cluttering up your taskbar, and at worst, slowing down your computer. Fortunately, you can choose which program icons are displayed on the taskbar.

Read the full article

How to Use Speech-to-Text Software

in applications
Thumbnail image for How to Use Speech-to-Text Software

While third-party speech recognition software will do the best job of recognizing your voice and transcribing your words to text. But Microsoft Vista’s built-in speech-to-text is serviceable, especially if you follow a few steps.

Read the full article

How to Disable Outlook 2007 Synchronizing Folders

in computer performance
Thumbnail image for How to Disable Outlook 2007 Synchronizing Folders

The resource-hogging synchronizing folders feature in Outlook 2007 can’t be stopped without opting for a different email client. However, you can adjust various settings to minimize the impact on your computer’s performance.

Read the full article

Getting a “Restore” CD From a Vendor and Using Vista’s “Preserve My Data” Feature

in data storage and recovery
Thumbnail image for Getting a “Restore” CD From a Vendor and Using Vista’s “Preserve My Data” Feature

Due to their licensing agreements with Microsoft, vendors of computers with Windows Vista preinstalled cannot provide buyers with a Restore CD. However, the built-in Restore program is able to reinstall Vista—albeit while wiping all existing data and applications from the hard drive.

Read the full article

Preserving Your Vista Desktop

in applications

If installing a new application on Vista results in some unwanted changes to your computer desktop, consider first using a utility to capture the placement of the icons for future reference.

Read the full article

Notes on Vista Compatibility – and Incompatibility

in Vista

More programs are compatible with Vista than ever before. And when something doesn’t work with Microsoft’s newest operating system, there may be a work-around. Microsoft offers a compatibility list showing users which applications work with Vista.

Read the full article