Vista newbie

MrsE_2

Just got Vista:rolleyes:

Every time I try to open something the screen darkens & a warning box jumps in front asking me if I really want to do this, can I get rid of that warning box?

Also set it up with one user, myself the adminstrator.
But when I go into my doc & try & open my music or my pictures or my videos it comes up (another warning box) saying its not accessible & access is denied, also the little icons have shortcut style icons/arrows on them.

I do have a folder in my docs that is called backup - this is my external hard drive, as it has all the stuff the PC fixer managed to retrieve off my old broken PC.

Also I need to change the format on the exteral hard drive to a NTSE file, instead of a FAT file. I followed the instructions & got into command prompt, all is fine until it asks for the size of the drive. The size is 74.5 GB with 67.4 GB free, how do I enter this? I've tried 74.5 & I've tried 74.5GB & 74.5 GB, it doesn't seem to like any of it.

Would be really grateful for help with these problems, thank you.

Arlen

The 1st problem can be solved by going into the control panel and looking for User Account Control. See here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User_Account_Control for information.

amcluesent

>also the little icons have shortcut style icons/arrows on them. <

So that means they are 'shortcuts' to file held elsewhere, presumably these files have security set such that you can't open them with your login.

Most home users would create an account for themselves but make it a member of the group Administrators. Running a machine with User privileges is a right pain (and yes, I know in theory it makes it harder for viruses to get started)

>I need to change the format<

Why? If it's not broken...

MrsE_2

Arlen wrote: »

The 1st problem can be solved by going into the control panel and looking for User Account Control. See here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User_Account_Control for information.

Looked on that.
Is it saying that its an important safety feature that I shouldn't turn off?

MrsE_2

amcluesent wrote: »

>also the little icons have shortcut style icons/arrows on them. <

So that means they are 'shortcuts' to file held elsewhere, presumably these files have security set such that you can't open them with your login.

I didn't put these shortcuts there & my login is the only account.

Most home users would create an account for themselves but make it a member of the group Administrators. Running a machine with User privileges is a right pain (and yes, I know in theory it makes it harder for viruses to get started)

:confused: Don't really understand what you mean, but as its only me that uses it, I figured I only need the one account. Means I don't have to log in either, just switch it on & it loads straight up.

>I need to change the format<

Why? If it's not broken...

Sorry should have explained, I have Windows onecare & it does an automatic backup to the harddrive. But as the J/exteral drive is a FAT file, its not compatable, it needs to be a NSTE file.

MrsE_2

ALSO I had trouble getting onto AOL & one of their tech help people made me change a setting which displayed things normally hidden.

I have these little icons all over the place with little blue cogs on them, are they normally hidden?
How can I rehide them?

totalsolutions

Hi MrsE The warnings are for your protection get used to them. I think they learn after a while and pop up less, all part of the Vista experience.

Administrator There are non, in Vista all users are normal users, unless you elevate yourself, temporarily

totalsolutions

Re: NTFS you can do this in the management consul. Right click my computer there is a new word there called Manage. Sorry but running XP and doing this from memory (fading) and over two yrs ago when I when through all this. Hope that helps (I thought you were getting back to me with your pc problems) Iam reinstalling Vista as I write

MrsE_2

totalsolutions wrote: »

Re: NTFS you can do this in the management consul. Right click my computer there is a new word there called Manage. Sorry but running XP and doing this from memory (fading) and over two yrs ago when I when through all this. Hope that helps (I thought you were getting back to me with your pc problems) Iam reinstalling Vista as I write

I totally lost that PC, could get it switched on let alone get on internet.

Took it to the local PC repair man, he said it was the motherboard & he said usually when you replace that you find the processser (I think he said processer) has gone as well. He said price up a replacement, I looked in Tesco & got this for £350, its better specs than my old one was & less than half the price.

He said better to buy this for £350 than to repair the other one.

totalsolutions

Bill Gates mis-pronounces his "processer" too, did you know in the early days.

Well might have fixed your poorly pc up for free. Scan the hard drive with Spinrite, tidy up the psu and wiring / connectors, retreat with heat compound and reinstall XP.

asininity

Those popups were the first thing I turned off, they're not that important and after a while they get very very annoying, "yes I want to install that program I wouldn't have tried to if I didn't want to!"

The popups are for really stupid people who click on the exe file in random emails.