Features

34. Use Device Manager

Computers work poorly for a number of reasons, but one place to visit earlier than most to make a diagnosis is Device Manager. Right-click Computer (My Computer in XP) | Manage | Device Manager. This will instantly highlight any missing drivers with a yellow warning triangle. Double-click on the entry with the exclamation mark, and you'll be presented with options to search the internet for the latest device driver, or roll back to the last driver, in case you've recently installed an update that's gone horribly wonky. If all else fails, you can disable the device here.

35. Create a system health report

Generating a System Health Report in Vista is a bit like an MOT for your computer. It's simple todo and will check the OS, hardware and security settings, providing solution tips for any problems it throws up. To run a check, go to Control Panel | System and Maintenance | Performance Information and Tools | Advanced tools, and Generate a system health report. It will take about a minute for Windows to generate the report, and any major problems are highlighted at the top.

36. Get Windows downloads and add-ons double-quick

The next time you find yourself on Microsoft.com, going round in circles looking for the latest update, try heading to Google's little-known dedicated Microsoft search page. You'll find it at www.google.com /microsoft.html.

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37. Monitor system performance

Right-click on Computer then select Manage | Reliability and Performance. The screen you'll see is one of Vista's crowning glories: anin-depth analysis of how your PC's performing. You can access all manner of graphs from the Reliability and Performance snap-in, the most useful of which is the Reliability Monitor:a chart showing the past month of your PC's life, including application and hardware failures. Access it by pressing the arrow next to Reliability and Performance and clicking on Monitoring Tools.

38. Stop unnecessary services

As well as disabling Startup programs using msconfig, you can use it to disable Windows' Services: click on the Services tab to see what's running. You need to be slightly careful, though, because stopping the wrong ones can render your PC unbootable.

To avoid this, click the Servicestab and the check the Hide Microsoft Services box. PC Pro has covered thisin more depth at web ID: 68788.

39. Use the Preview Pane

If you regularly open files only to copy a cell value or piece of text, the Preview Pane should be your first port of call. This optional view in Explorer gives you a preview of the selected file and even lets you copy and edit text - all without opening the file.

It supports Office documents, PDFs, web pages and text documents, and you can enable it within Explorer by clicking Organize | Layout.

40. Go beyond Windows Update

Windows Update is great for keeping your system patched and up-to-date, but applications also contain vulnerabilities, especially complex applications such as those that make up Microsoft Office. Point Internet Explorer at www.update.microsoft.com and you'll automatically receive the latest updates, for Windows and any other Microsoft products on your system, including Office applications and back-end components such as Exchange and SQL Server.