If you were one of the early adopters, you may wonder why you upgraded to Vista. Well, we often wondered why we bothered. We've spent the last year upgrading all our commercial software, across various systems connected to the network. Reason for the upgrades? Vista compatibility. Surely an operating is merely a platform to run your software, not the other way around? Anyway, given the choice, we'd prefer to use Vista over XP, partly due to the improved security and enhanced visuals.

Windows Vista Service Pack 1 is the first official service pack from Microsoft. It's been discussed since summer 2007, so seems like we've waited months for arrival. Once installed, nothing appears to have changed...much. However, it does ship with a few new features, support for latest standards and security updates. So, definitely worth the upgrade if you're a Vista user.

Windows Vista Service Pack 1 link.

I wonder if it is worth a poll to see how many people are better or worse off after installing Vista? I was one of those early adopters, but didn't realise I'd have to fork out hundreds of pounds to upgrade my commercial software, simply so it could be 'Vista compatible'. Worse than that, over Xmas my Vista-based laptop decided that it would become non-genuine for no obvious reason. I didn't even get the opportunity to re-enter the activation code or call Microsoft. Eventually, after trying a repair, it decided it would boot so far, tell me it was non-genuine, then reboot. Loop. Grr! I couldn't check my email, admin servers or write blog entries, until I was back in the office.

Guess what? I'm now using Leopard on my MacBook and I can do all my work and, if really must use Windows on the road, I've got Windows XP running on VMware Fusion for Mac. Absolutely no issues so far.

Microsoft Vista SP1 RC Refresh has recently been made available and, if you're having issues with Vista, it might be worth installing. We're not sticking it up for download on vnunet.com, yet, as it's not quite ready for prime-time. It's still a release candidate.

Microsoft Vista SP1 RC Refresh link.

Whilst we wait for Windows XP Service Pack 3 and are able to download the first release candidate of Vista Service Pack 1, there are many organisations who are happy with the stability of their operating system installation and/or have software installed that may be incompatible with the forthcoming service pack. For this reason, they'd be keen to implement a system that prevents the service pack from being automatically installed on a workstation.

Microsoft Windows Service Pack Blocker Tool Kit is a free and official tool designed to stop a service pack from automatically installing on your computer or a workstation on your network.

Service Pack Blocker Tool Kit download link.

Looking back, Vista has been available for 18 months if you take in to account the original public beta release back in Summer 2006. However, it hasn't been as popular as Microsoft anticipated. Why not? The problem is that the majority of software has to be upgraded, which means that corporates will need multi-workstation licenses, which results in huge expense. Also, Vista isn't particularly fast compared to XP, which means that if you have an old PC, you might see a performance hit.

So, Microsoft have been busy working on the first Service Pack and the release candidate has been made available as a public download. Although officially it won't be available until early 2008, you can get the benefits of a new release - including some new features - right now.

Windows Vista SP1 RC download link.

The snag with any operating system is that it is designed in a manner so it will install on as many PCs as possible. For this reason, the drivers supplied are as safe and as tested as possible, and the operating system has only been optimised so far. Install the latest Windows Vista on your computer and the operating system hasn't been tweak, optimised and manipulated so it takes advantage of your PC and the peripherals attached. One starting point would be to grab the latest hardware drivers so that you have the latest drivers for your kit. The other option is to download a tweaking and optimisation tool.

TweakVista 1.01 is a tool that will analyse the software on running and installed on your computer and will see if they can be optimised so the system runs more efficiently. It will also benchmark your PC, check the startup applications and perform other optimisations. It's commercial and you might want to look at the free TweakVI for an alternative option.

We've noticed there is a demand for Linux and people wanting to test Linux on their system, but are somewhat put off by having to install on their PC or even booting in to a Live CD, in case it causes damage to their existing Windows installation. In won't, but the fear makes them avoid going through the process. There's an alternative. You could try a virtual operating system.

VMware Player 2.0.2 is a completely free and lightweight tool for hosting virtual operating systems. However, VMware Player will enable you to host existing virtual operating systems that have been created and provided by other users. For instance, if you ever wanted to test Ubuntu 7.10 on your system, you could simply grab the VMware version of this OS and use it on VMware Player, on top of Windows.

If you had to justify the upgrade to Vista, how would you sell it to the average person who is happy with Windows XP? I've been using Vista for nearly a year and, from a production perspective, it's still a little unstable running particular 'Vista compatible' applications. Visually it's better than previous operating systems and from a security perspective, more secure. However, an operating system is merely a tool to enable you to run applications to perform your job or enjoy your computer. For this reason, some people are still holding on to XP, at least until Vista SP1 is released.

VistaMizer 1.2.1 is a free customisation pack that will enable you to turn XP in to Vista, at least from a visual theme perspective. You can give it a bit of a visual overhaul, before you finally upgrade to Vista. This is based around an installer that will update many elements of XP and not just the basic theme.

Like most of us, it probably took you time to be convinced to upgrade to Windows XP. Now XP has been around or years, we’re all used to XP, our system staff can fix issues quickly and our software is all configured and supports the operating system. On a personal note, Vista can be unstable with even basic applications, such as Firefox. It’s crashed writing this blog entry, for example. Worse, upgrade to Vista and you might find that the majority of your tried-and-tested software either needs upgrading (think multi-licensing here) or may not yet be completely Vista compatible.

EasyBCD 1.7 is a tool that will enable you to create a multi-boot version of Vista so that you can choose to boot in to Vista, XP or another operating system, such as Linux. This means you can try Vista and your software, but also use XP if you want to ensure complete compatibility.

Have you considered running another operating system on your computer? You don't need to ditch Windows in order to test the latest version (Vista) or a Linux-based operating system. The alternative is to install the use of a virtual manager and then host an operating system on top of your existing OS. For instance, a virtual environment will enable you to test Vista without needing to upgrade from XP. If you have mission-critical business software, you could test this within the virtual environment, before you run with a company-wide installation.

VMware Player 2.0.1 is the latest version of the virtual operating system management tool. It's just a playback environment, so you can't create your own virtual environment, you'll need to get someone to do this for you. However, you can download various pre-configured virtual environments from the VMware website, to get you started.

Install Vista on your computer and your initial desire will be to install your other software and get on with using your new operating system. What you don't realise is that the operating system you've just installed is a vanilla-installation and ships with drivers that were included on the original Vista installation CD, along with few operating system optimisations. The very first thing you should do is to install something such as RadarSync 2007 and check for new drivers, then install a tweaking tool and make optimisations.

VistaTweaker 0.3 is a Vista-specific tweaking and optimisation tool that is designed to make the most from your Vista operating system. You can hide items, enhance the installation and much more. There are few, if any, Internet-based optimisations. Take a look at another tweaking tool, TweakVI Basic, for further tweaking options.

When you install Windows Vista or XP, you're installing vanilla operating system that has been designed to work across a range of different hardware configurations. It's not particularly optimised for your specific machine. You might not even realise that there are a number options within your operating system that are hidden as default. You can access these hidden options by using a tweaking or optimisation tool.

Ashampoo WinOptimizer 4.4 is a tweaking and optimisation tool that will enable you to get the most from your operating system, based on the software and hardware installed on your computer. It goes further though and includes a Registry tweaking tool and a disc defragmentation utility, so you can speed up your PC.

One of the most frustrating parts of installing Windows on your PC is that it takes an absolute age to get the operating system on to your computer. You also need to insert information during installation, so you can't just leave it to install and you go off and do something far more interesting.

vLite 1.0 RC is a Vista installer customisation tool that will enable you to remove or add files to your original installation CD. For instance, you can remove elements which you think are unnecessary for your system and then add security and other modules that you think are relevant. For instance, an essential security patch.

When you install Windows XP or Vista, you're supplied with the same interface, desktop backgrounds and colour schemes that millions of other users have installed. Indeed, look at your fellow work colleagues, and they'll have hardly changed anything at all. Perhaps the desktop background, but that's about it. There's little individualisation. However, just about every aspect of the Windows interface can be altered, changed and improved.

WindowBlinds 5.51 is a customisation tool that's been around for ages. It enables you to have complete control over your Windows interface. You can create your own skin or download from one of the hundreds of pre-designed skins, from the Internet. You can then add your own further changes if you want to customise further. WindowBlinds 5.51 is now Windows Vista compatible.

As we all use the same operating system, some of us do not want to conform to uniformity. We want to tweak our OS so it appears different from other computers and it reflects our personality. Windows Vista already enables you to change your desktop background, the colour of your Explorer user-interface and more. However, most aspects of Windows Vista are customisable, whether that's altering the Start Menu or changing the logon screen.

StartDock LogonStudio 1.0 is a free tool that you can use to create your own custom Windows Vista logon screen. It's easy to do and only involved importing one of your favourite images. Of course, you can also import a logon screen from one of the many created by other users, too.

You might not want to lose your favourite Windows-based applictions, but may be sick of using Windows itself. You might thinks it's time to try another operating system, but don't really have the time to spend migrating your data to a new word processor, email client and web browser. It's easier to stick with what you know, primarily for workflow reasons.

Wine 0.9.38 is a toolkit that will enable you to run a small number of Windows applications on another Unix-based operating system. Only a particular number of key Windows applications will work under Wine, but this does list a small number of older games, as well as productivity software.

There are loads of visual themes for Windows XP, although it takes a lot of time to customise the operating system to your requirements. Windows Vista ships with a host of new technologies, as well as a brand new user-interface. You can take these interface elements and add them to your existing Windows XP, giving it the look and feel of Vista.

VistaMizer 1.1.6 is an installer packed with all the visual elements you need to turn your existing Windows XP in to a Vista-based theme. Bear in mind that this is an automated installer and will overwrite many of your existing settings, themes and visual operating system elements as this is a lot more than just an updated theme. Note that Windows Vista ships with a number of technology enhancements and VistaMizer 1.1.6 does not ship with these new technologies, such as Aero.

Every copy of Windows contains a number of tools and functions that are not easily accessible by the end user. Tools such as an optimisation or tweaking tool will enable access to these functions, but you need to know what you're doing to use the tool. Windows Vista is no different, the same optimisation, tweaking and other functions are built in to this operating system.

TweakVIBasic 1.0.1060 is a free tool that will offer you basic optimisation and tweaking for Windows Vista. For instance, Windows Vista will enable you to create a RAM based drive and, if you have a lot of system memory, a RAM drive will enable you to access contents immediately and without delay. You can also use TweakVIBasic to improve your Internet connection through Vista and much more.

Most of us are wary of software we've downloaded from the Internet, might need to test software to make sure it's compatible with our system or are unsure about Vista and want to preview the operating system before we commit to installin g it as our default OS.

VMware Player 2 is a free virtualisation tool that will enable you to load an existing virtual operating system. You could choose to host another copy of Windows XP (on top of your existing Windows XP), for testing software, Windows Vista or a Linux-based operating system. With VMware Player 2, you can't create your own virtual operating system, but there are plenty to download from the Internet. The latest version enables you to host 32 and 64-bit operating systems, utilise USB 2.0 devices, share multi-core CPU resources between host and virtual operating system(s), and more.

What would you regard as the two operating systems of choice? Windows and Mac OS? Would you include Linux in that question or are you a die-hard Windows user and the choice is simply between Windows XP and Windows Vista? Linux has developed in to more of a mainstream operating system in recent years, with companies such as Mandriva and Canoical using the Linux framework and adding an easy-to-use front end. With major applications such as Firefox, Thunderbird and OpenOffice available for the Linux platform, there's no reason why you couldn't turn to free software to drive your home or business computer.

In the last week, two new big Linux releases have been made available. First up is the huge Mandriva 2007.1 'Spring Edition' DVD-based distro. Next is the popular Ubuntu 7.04, desktop distribution. This fits on a single bootable CD.

From time to time, it's actually easier to re-install Windows than attempt to fix the Registry, delete all the temp file contents that accrue on your system, defragment your hard drive and fix issues involving spyware that might have got on to your computer. However, re-installing Windows XP from your original install CD is a painful process. It may not have SP1, never mind SP2. It definitely won't have the latest drivers or security updates and it won't have been pre-configured with your personal information.

nLite 1.3.0.4 is the latest version of the must-have Windows XP install-CD customisation tool. It enables you to take your original boot/install CD and add the latest drivers, security updates and other tools such as the latest Windows Media Player. You can then customise the information so it already includes the activation code, your location, network settings and more. Essentially, it enables you to get Windows XP back on your system, as quickly as possible. If you own Windows Vista, take a look at vLite 0.95.

One of the most frustrating aspects of Windows, is the installation. Not only does it take absolutely ages, but it includes OEM and basic drivers, none of the security updates you've installed over the last few months and, if you're one of the early adopters of Windows, your original install CD won't include Service Packs and other features. If you're a Vista user and you're one of the first to receive Vista, you'll find yourself in this situation within a year.

vLite 0.95 will enable you to design and create a customised Vista install CD. You can add any updates, security as security patches and new Vista based drivers, when they are released in the future. You can customise the install CD to make the process more seamless. If you want to create a customised Vista CD that will install more quickly and include your own drivers, you'll need vLite 0.95.

System hardware generally lasts longer than the intended life-span of a PC. However, problems can occur, particularly with your hard drive, which is in use every day, writing files to and from the drive. We're all pretty bad at making regular backups of our important data and could easily find that one day our system may not start at all. If this is the case, the first thing we'll want to do is analyse our system and determine the problem. If the problem can't be resolved, we'll want to salvage data from our system.

Ultimate Boot CD 4 is a self-contained set of tools that enable you to create a bootable system analysis and repair toolkit that will attempt to find the problem with your system and, if it can't be resolved, at least enable you to extract your old data and files. You can also run Ultimate Boot CD 4 from a USB stick and perform numerous system enhancement tools such as partitioning or cloning an existing drive.

We worry about spyware, but we're keen to install and test the latest software. It's a bit of a catch-22, as installing the latest software can open your system to malicious software embedded within the release. The ideal solution would be to install and test new software within a virtual environment, before you install it on your work machine.

VMware Workstation 6 beta is a brand new preview release of the virtual operating system software that will enable you to install another Windows or Linux-based operating system on top of your existing OS. For instance, if you want to test Windows Vista, you could install this on top of Windows XP. If you wanted to test Ubuntu Linux, you could install this in a virtual environment, on top of Windows XP. The options are endless. Download VMware Workstation 6 and remember to register for a serial code.

Although it's not available to the general public, tools for tweaking and enhancing Windows Vista are being released. Windows XP was shipped to OEM PC manufacturers with a customisable install CD, so OEM manufacturers can add their own logo, localisation and configure the CD so that it installs with the minimum of fuss for the end-user.

vLite 0.8 is a beta version of a tool designed to enable you to configure your own Windows Vista installation disc. Not only can you cut out the features you do not want to be installed on your system, you can add any security released, addons and other modules that you want to slipstream in to you installation. This is useful if you regularly re-install Windows on your computer and you want an install CD that enables you to do this as quickly as possible. Download and try vLite 0.8.

Many of us believe that a full system crash and/or data loss only happens to other people. It's this ignorance that will lead to our own data loss, at a later date. If you're one of those people who stores all their important documents and files on the same drive as your Windows installation, if that goes down it makes accessing your important files, more difficult.

Bart's Pre-Installed Environment 3.1.10a (Bart's PE) is a self-contained bootable CD that you can use if your system will not boot or you can't access your files. If you create a bootable CD, you can boot in to this CD and then access your files and even setup a network so you can access your computer from another machine. You could then move across your work documents, wipe your system drive and re-install your operating system.

When Microsoft supply Windows XP to PC manufacturers, it's designed to be highly customisable. For instance, it can be supplied pre-configured for a particular system, territory and even include the serial code so the end-user barely has to do a thing. Ideal for re-installing your system as quickly as possible.

However, we can use the same customisation techniques for our copy of Windows XP. For instance, you can manually insert the latest service pack, drivers for your hardware (particularly serial-ATA drivers) and enter your serial code and other components. How do you do this? Through software such as nLite which is designed for this purpose.

If you have a copy of Windows XP and want to make your own customised boot CD, download nLite immediately as it's a superb tool.

As stated previously, a Release Candidate is pretty much 'feature complete', which means that subsequent releases build on the features of the previous version and fix show-stopping bugs before it is declared gold and is ready to go to press. Although Microsoft Office 2007 is rumoured to have reached gold release (so the beta test download offer will expire soon - download from here), Microsoft have released what's thought to be the final test release of Vista, Release Candidate 2.

There are few major changes between RC1 and RC2 and visual screengrabs show almost no major visual changes, apart from a few interface tweaks. What you've see in RC2 will almost certainly be what you see in the final release, which is supposed to be in January 2007.

Download Release Candidate 2 now before the offer is taken offline, soon!

It seems like reality that Windows Vista may be released on time (early 2007), with the release of Release Candidate 1 to their Customer Preview Program (CPP) users. These are users who registered with Microsoft back in June, when beta 2 was made publicly available. You'll most likely find that RC1 is made available to the public shortly or, if you can find a CPP member, they might help you obtain your serial code.

The best news is that Windows Vista is usable, with many of the bugs found in beta 2 squashed and some impressive speed improvements. That's not all, Microsoft state that ¨we’ve made some UI adjustments, added more device drivers, and enhanced performance. We’re not done yet, however - quality will continue to improve¨. All good news.

For more information about the Microsoft Windows Vista RC1, visit the Personal Computer World homepage, for a brief overview. If you're an existing Microsoft CPP user, head to the download page and grab the ISO along with your serial code. As always, let us have your feedback on the Release Candidate.

Apple today released an update for Boot Camp, its popular dual booting software that allows users to boot Windows XP on any Intel based Mac. However, the updates remain a bit of mystery, with Apple releasing no additional notes with the new beta release. If personal experience is anything to go by; hopefully this version will fix a few of the glitches experienced with the original release.

Download it here. 

Microsoft released the Beta 2 version of its highly anticipated Windows Vista today, allowing the general public to test the most feature packed version of its OS yet. However, Microsoft does warn that the release is far from stable and should not be relied upon as a main machine for personal use. Users will also be disappointed by the weighty requirements needed to run the silky Aero interface, and the need for a high speed internet connection. Nevertheless, this release at least gives us some idea of what Vista will be capable of when Microsoft finally get round to the final release.

Info, PC requirements, and download here.

Following the successful conclusion of the $13,000 competition to get Windows XP to co-exist on Macs, Apple released its own official version today for public beta testing. Codenamed “Boot Camp”, it promises to provide seamless switching between the two operating systems without the need to move any of your Mac data. Indeed, the program will go as far as downloading and burning a CD of all the relevant drivers for Windows, saving you the hassle of a long trawl around the internet. Exciting stuff.

More info and download here.