Microsoft Windows Vista User Manual

v
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Table of Contents
Acknowledgments. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . xiii
Introduction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . xv
Who Is This Book For?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . xv
How Is This Book Organized? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . xvi
Conventions Used in This Book . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . xvii
Support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . xvii
Part I
Getting to Know Windows Vista
1 Introducing Windows Vista . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3
Introducing the Windows Vista Versions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Overview of the Windows Vista Versions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Upgrading the Windows Vista Versions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Getting Started with Windows Vista . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Working with the Welcome Center. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Getting Basic System Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Activating Windows Vista and Changing Product Keys . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Using Windows Vista in Workgroups and Domains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Understanding Log On, User Switching, Locking, and Log Off
in Windows Vista . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Understanding Windows Vista User Accounts and Windows Security
Permissions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Turning Off and Shutting Down Computers Running Windows Vista. . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Turning Off Computers: What’s Changed. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Using the Power Button: What’s Changed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Shutting Down and Restarting Computers: What’s Changed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Part II
Essential Features in Windows Vista
2 Working with Windows Vista. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Getting Around in the Windows Vista Taskbar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Working with the Quick Launch Toolbar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Using Taskbar Thumbnails, Windows Flip, and Windows Flip 3D. . . . . . . . . . . 18
Working with the Notification Area . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
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Microsoft Windows Vista Specifications

General

Release Date	January 30, 2007
Editions	Starter, Home Basic, Home Premium, Business, Enterprise, Ultimate
Kernel Type	Hybrid
Default File System	NTFS
Minimum RAM Requirement	512 MB
Minimum Processor Requirement	800 MHz
Operating System Family	Microsoft Windows
License	Proprietary commercial software
Preceded By	Windows XP
Succeeded By	Windows 7
Update Method	Windows Update
Developer	Microsoft
Platform	IA-32, x86-64
Default User Interface	Windows Aero
Source Model	Closed source
Architecture	x86, x64
Supported Languages	Multiple languages
Minimum Graphics Requirement	DirectX 9 capable GPU
Official Website	https://www.microsoft.com