What are your favorite hidden features of Windows Vista?
Hold shift while right clicking on any folder -- you'll get an expanded context menu. In there you'll be able to choose "Open command window here."
Quick launch shortcut
Windows Key+1
Windows Key+2
Windows Key+3
...
for 1st, 2nd, 3rd, etc. item on your quick launch bar.
The addition of symlinks. I know, these have been around in *nix for a long time, but it's nice to finally get them on windows.
This way, we can change actual locations of folders/files in various apps even if they don't support it natively.
For example, if you use Steam, you might be frustrated that all of your games must be on the same drive. If you are low on space, you make symlinks to another drive for some of your game folders.
There is a guide on using them here [1].
[1] http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/windows-vista/using-symlinks-in-windows-vista/the snipping tool [1]
[1] http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Windows/en-US/help/1337cdba-52a2-4704-ad4d-2d7bace605b41033.mspxBuilt in Partition Manager!
Since its location was asked for in the comments:
More info here [1].
[1] http://www.vistarewired.com/2007/02/16/how-to-resize-a-partition-in-windows-vistaHold shift, right click on a file- You get an extra Copy as Path
menu item.
In Windows Explorer, Alt+Up arrow to navigate "up" on folder.
Nicer than the up button in pre-Vista (though I do still miss that button)
If you want to rename multiple files with the same name at one time, highlight all the files you want to rename, then press F2 and give the new name. The duplicates will be automatically appended with 1,2,3, etc. This is useful e.g. for vacation pictures where you want to name a series of pictures by location or date.
I like the hidden ultra admin account that UAC is disabled in. It is like root of root.
To get it, open the cmd prompt with admin privileges and type "net user administrator /active:yes".
The account is not password protected, so I would not do that if you don't want all users using that account.
To disable, type "net user administrator /active:no".
Run as admin
. - hyperslug
Outbound firewall
I never liked this little black Command Prompt window. Then I discovered that you can make it look a lot nicer and more readable. I made a little video about how to do that: http://www.vimeo.com/3247151
Super fast renaming of files in Explorer. Rename one file and press Tab to finish renaming the earlier file (no need to press Enter) and move the rename field automatically to the next file and so on. Shift+Tab to move upwards in the same way. Works in Windows 7 too.
Well, not really Vista (this works on XP as well):
Press Ctrl+Shift+Esc to start the Task Manager
If you will hold Ctrl+Shift while activating a program via the Start Menu it will automatically ask you for the elevation. (It is an alternative to right-clicking and selecting "Run as administrator".)
Vista Features Heh try windows superfetch for example, it loads programs faster to start with but slows your machine down if its on for hours.
UAC wouldn't be bad if it wasn't so damn annoying.
i do like the 1 big app for setting all file defauls programs in addition to the ability to right click and pick a default
The Preview Pane [1]
Here's how to make the preview pane compatible with more file-types [2].
[1] http://www.mydigitallife.info/2006/12/21/enable-previews-in-windows-vista-folders-with-preview-pane/One that I use a lot on my tablet computer: altgr+direction arrow to reorient the screen. Yes, in an ideal world the screen orientation would change by itself immediately and correctly - but since clearly that's not where I live, this keyboard shortcut is the next best thing.
Vista Shadow Copies. More info on my blog. http://rdblank.blogspot.com/2008/07/vista-shadow-copies.html
Really scary hidden feature:
NTFS allows viruses to hide from you in alternate streams [1]
EDIT: to the nay-sayers and down-voters: this is a hidden "feature" of vista, and it's hidden quite well.
[1] http://superuser.com/questions/11822/Pinball. And all the games.