Cleanup the MSCONFIG startup listings 
Cleanup the MSCONFIG startup tab listings in Windows
MSCONFIG (System Configuration Utility) is a frequently used tool to manage the startup applications. This utility, however does not have an option to delete the entries. The entry which you’ve unchecked a long time back may still show up, while the application may have been uninstalled already. To remove the invalid entries in the System Configuration utility, you need to edit the registry or use a third-party utility.
Locations of the entries in MSConfig
The enabled/checked items are populated from the following registry locations:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ Software \ Microsoft \ Windows \ CurrentVersion \ Run
HKEY_CURRENT_USER \ Software \ Microsoft \ Windows \ CurrentVersion \ Run
-and-
HKEY_CURRENT_USER \ Software \ Microsoft \ Windows NT \ CurrentVersion \ Windows
Values named Run & Load
The disabled entries are present in these locations:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ Software \ Microsoft \ Shared Tools \ MSConfig \ startupreg
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ Software \ Microsoft \ Shared Tools \ MSConfig \ startupfolder
To remove the entries, start the Registry Editor (regedit.exe) and navigate to the above paths. Backup the key before deleting it.
Acronis True Image v10.0 FREE :)
If you have a Maxtor or Seagate hard drive, you can download their utility, which is actually Acronis True Image v10.0. It works with Windows XP, Vista and OSX. The only feature missing I believe is the incremental part which means you have to make a complete Image everytime.
Seagate Discwizard: Seagate HDD
Maxtor Maxblast 5: Maxtor HDD
UPDATE: I downloaded both and these are the version numbers:
Seagate DiscWizard: 10.0.0.5077
Maxtor MaxBlast: 10.0.0.5077
It is 104MB, so you will need Broadband or a lot of patience. J
How to fix aero when it is disabled
Click start then Run and type regedit and click OK.
Find these keys and reset them to 1 and 2 like below:
HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\DWM\Composition (set to 1) *right click on Composition and choose modify and set it to 1* ♣ continue reading How to fix aero when it is disabled
Stop UAC blacking your desktop
When you receive certain messages from the UAC (User Account Control) your desktop becomes ‘blacked out’, which is a feature called Secure Desktop. Some people find this annoying, especially users with less powerful machines where the ‘blacking out’ of the desktop can take a few seconds to complete, slowing them down. Although this is a helpful security feature of Windows Vista, which prevents malicious programs from sending information after the UAC has displayed a message; you may still want to remove this.
In the Business, Ultimate and Enterprise versions of Windows Vista open the Start menu and type in gpedit.msc into the search box, and press Enter.
On the left-hand menu click to expand Computer Configuration and navigate to Windows Settings > Security Settings > Local Policies > Security Options. In the policies window on the right scroll down to the User Account Control: Switch to the secure desktop when prompting for elevation policy and double-click it. Change the option to Disabled and then click OK.
To accomplish this in Windows Vista Home Basic and Home Premium editions, you will need to edit the registry. Please be warned that incorrectly editing your registry can damage your computer, so proceed with caution.
Click on the Start menu, type in Regedit.exe and press Enter. Expand HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE and locate the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System registry key. Double-click ProptOnSecureDesktop, change its value to 0 and then click OK.
Generate a system health report
Generate a system health report to quickly identify problems with your PC
If you want to make sure that your PC is working correctly, you can use the tools included with Windows Vista to give you an easy to understand overview of your computer’s ‘health’ – and any problems, such as lack of space on your hard drive or out-of-date drivers, will be helpfully highlighted.
To create a report open up the Start menu and go to Control Panel > System & Maintenance > Performance Information and Tools. Click on Advanced tools on the left-hand side of the window and select Generate a system health report.
