The Playground

I installed Microsoft's new Vista operating system recently and although the new look is great, it's hard trying to find where things are installed and where some things have gone. Here's a couple of great tips from PC World's Scott Dunn:

If you use the default Start menu in Windows Vista (as opposed to the Classic Start menu), the Run command doesn't appear in it. To change that, right-click the Start button and choose Properties. With the Start Menu tab active, click the CustomizeButton in the upper right. Scroll through the list of options and check Run command. Click OK twice. The command will now appear in the lower-right corner of the Start menu.

...and again from Scott Dunn:

The screen capture utility built into Vista didn't make it into all versions of the OS. Here's how to turn it on if you have it and how to upgrade if you don't.

If you have Vista Basic, you have the wrong edition all the way around. Vista Basic is essentially Windows XP with a pretty face, and not even the attractive Aero interface that comes with other Vista editions. Also missing are Vista's Shadow Copies feature, its scheduled backups, and the Snipping Tool.

Sorting out all the differences between the other Vista editions isn't easy, though some sites do offer to help you compare features. The comparison charts on Paul Thurrott's SuperSite for Windows is a good one. But Vista itself has a feature that can help: Open Control Panel and launch Windows Anytime Upgrade. At the bottom of the window, click Compare versions for details that match your flavor of Vista against those that you can upgrade to.

If you have a version of Vista other than Home Basic, you already have the Snipping Tool screen capture utility: Choose Start, All Programs, Accessories, Snipping Tool. If you don't see it there, it may not be activated. Go to Control Panel and open Program and Features (you may have to click Programs first). In the task pane on the left, click Turn Windows features on or off. If necessary, click Continue when prompted by User Account Control. Scroll through the list of features, check the box next to Tablet PC Optional Components, and click OK. Turning on these features gives you not only the Snipping Tool, but also the Tablet PC Input Panel, Windows Journal, and other stylus-related features.