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Guy's Top 10 Free Tools

1) FreePing
2) Network Monitor
3) Xobni
4) PuTTY (UNIX)
5) IP SLA Monitor
6) BgInfo
7) Net-SNMP
8) Engineer's Toolset
9) Exchange Monitor
10) WinDiff

Ten XP Features Lost or Deprecated in Vista

Ten XP features that are lost, or deprecated in Vista
(Actually I now have over 30 items!)

I call them XP features that are lost in Vista.  However, Microsoft refer to many of these XP items as 'deprecated' in Vista.  The term deprecated carries with it the nuance that the old feature has been superseded by a newer feature.  For example, there is an element of truth that the job of the old XP 'Run Command' has been incorporated in Vista's  Start Search.

Ten XP Features which can legitimately be called 'deprecated' in Vista

1. Run Box / Command - Solution either use Start Search, or Windows Key +r.

2. Documents and Settings - C:\users.

3. Standby - Gone replaced by a better 'Sleep'.  Also hibernate.

4. Properties, replaced by Personalize.  For example, in Vista if you right-click the Desktop you see 'Personalize' and not properties.

5. Log Off Confirmation.  Vista no longer asks for confirmation when you select 'Log Off', or even 'Shutdown' if you configure it.  The assumption is that we all know what we are doing and therefore don't need another dialog box.

6. Explorer Menu (File....Edit....Tools)  - Just press the Alt key.

7. Vista does not remember Explorer setting - View Menu ---> Apply to all folders.

8. Add or Remove Programs - Control Panel --> Programs
   'Turn Windows features on or off'.

9. Ctrl Windows Key +f does not launch the regular Search, but Active Directory's  'Find'.

10. Boot.ini replaced by bcdedit. (Boot Configuration Data)

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Ten XP Items that truly seem lost, replaced, or no longer available in Vista

1. Hardware Profiles.  System Icon no longer has a Hardware Profiles button.

2. Windows Key +u = shutdown.  Plain does not work anymore.

3. Drag and drop to the Taskbar*.  Try this: open Word or Notepad then minimize.  Next open IE, Excel (or virtually any app).  Crucial point, try and drag text from IE or Excel, then drop it into the Word document, which is minimized in the taskbar.  All you get in Vista is the no entry sign.  Repeat the above in XP and this type of Drag and Drop works.

4. Vista can no longer install on FAT.  The file system for install has to be NTFS, however, Vista can create FAT partitions once you have installed it.

5. Options for 'Open With'.  Try SendTo instead.  Add items with Shell:sendto.

6. Backup in Windows Vista does not allow you the flexibility of choosing which files to backup. In addition there is no 'Exclude' setting.  Your options are Backup files on entire computer, or Backup Computer (Complete backup to restore in the event of hardware failure).

7. Lost network capabilities, while numerous are generally trivial and apply to little used features, no support for these protocols: Gopher, IPX or BAP (Bandwidth Allocation).

8. DOS full screen - Get emulation program if you must run a DOS toy.
   No support for 16-bit programs.  No NTVDM.

9. Vista does not support: Game Ports, EISA buses, game ports or MPU-401 (MIDI Processing Unit)

10. Windows Vista does not include SerialKeys.  This means that alternative input devices, such as augmentative communication devices will not work.  If you need SerialKeys, Microsoft recommend: AAC Keys and SKEYS from Eyegaze.

*Drag and drop example kindly sent in by V.W. Downing

 ♦

10+ More XP features no longer available in Vista. 
I leave you to decide if they are 'Lost' or 'Deprecated'.

1. My Documents - (Plain: 'Documents').

2. The Explorer toolbar does not have an up arrow, however you can still use the Alt key + Up Arrow.

3. Acrobat 7?  --> Upgrade to Acrobat 8.

4. Help files for old programs. - Download WinHlp32.exe from Microsoft's site.

5. Vista requires motherboard support for ACPI.  Therefore old motherboards which support only Advanced Power Management will not work with Vista.

6. Cannot get Num Lock to always be 'On' when you start.  Maybe user error, maybe only some laptops.

7. You cannot edit file types capabilities, e.g. change icons or change secondary actions.

8. No Easter Eggs, none in XP either.

9. Registry Tweaks: SourcePath, MenuShowDelay.

10. No services for Macintosh.

11. Cannot create a new Vista Toolbar - Tricky, but here is the answer.

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Windows Vista Training

Train Signal have an excellent Windows Vista Training Course.  As an MCT trainer, I am a huge advocate of Train Signal’s products.  What impresses is me is that they demonstrate everything that they teach and they stay away from traditional 'lecture-style' training.  If you are looking for a complete DETAILED coverage of Windows Vista, then I highly recommend that you give this course a try.  I have reviewed their 18 hours of videos myself, and I guarantee that you will not be disappointed!

Watch a Vista Training Video Demo.

Configuring Windows Vista Topics:

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