Windows Experience Index

The Experience Index is designed to help you judge what your expeinece is going to be like when using Windows Vista on a specific computer. You can see how the hardware stacks up against Windows Vista. This way you can identify where a little upgrade here or there could improve your computer's performance.

You get to the Windows Experience Index by holding down the Windows key and pressing the Pause/Break key.

The Windows Experience Index measures five major things that will affect you computers performance.

1. RAM random access memory
2. CPU central processing unit
3. Hard disk
4. General graphics performance
   
5. 3D graphics capability

Note: That there is not rating for the software or programs that you are using on that specific computer. For that you will have to consult the softwares recommended requirements.

Vista Welcome Center - Lower Section

The second section of Vista's Welcome is a little hard to tell you about. It changes depending upon the manufacture of your computer. I have Compaq, DELL and Acer each have their own set of tools in this section.

What is found in this is found links to

1. Setup security setting to encrypt files and even the whole hard drive.
2. Easy access to the vendors website. This will entice you to buy extra services, or upgrade your version of Vista.
3. Then there is a backup program. I can never emphasis how important it is to back up files or the whole hard drive.
   

NOTE: On a personal side not I recommend that you check you Carbonite as a back up solution. It is remote. It is secure. It has a 15 day free trail period. This would be a great solution especially if you are on the road with your laptop.

Welcome Center - System Information

The Welcome Center in Windows Vista is loaded with information and resources. After it opens you can see a the top some basic information about your computer.

• At the very top of the Welcome Center is an icon (that you can change) and the name of the person that is currently logged in to the computer.
  
• Next to the computer monitor icon you have named the version of Windows Vista that is on your computer.
  
• Below that is the type and the rated speed of your computers processor.
  
• Then below that is the amount of RAM or Memory that is in the computer.
  
• At the bottom of this list is the name of the computer. This name is either given by default or a name you gave the computer when it was first turned on.
• If you want more information then you can left click on a link on the right side of the Welcome Center that reads, more information.
  

Windows Help and How-to

I was looking at Windows Welcome Center. At the bottom of the top section was a link that read, "see other 13". I left clicked on the link. There opened up a lot more icons. Now I can just left click to reach a lot more tools.

I left clicked on the red, blue and green, box icon. That took me to a new level of Windows tutorials. In just a few clicks there were some links to short tutorial videos.

Now I have found some quick easy access tutorials that can help computer users with their learning curve Vista. These are some of the best quick tutorials I have ever seen. Especially from Microsoft.

I have listed the main topics covered in the Windows Help and How-to section below.

• Learn about computers
• Desktop fundamentals
• Programs files and folders
• Internet, email, and networking
• Pictures and games
• Help and support
  

Welcome Center

In Windows Vista there is a new interface to help you navigate around your computer. It is call the Welcome Center. If you have new computer it will automatically open every time you turn on your computer. That is unless you uncheck the little box at the lower left corner of the Welcome Center window.

If for some reason the welcome center does not open after the computer finishes starting, you can get to it through the Start button. Left click on the Start button. Go up to then to Control Panel, then System Maintenance there left click on Welcome Center.

The top section of icons have to do with getting start using Windows Vista. These are programs like Computer Details, Personalizing Windows, and File Transfer. All the stuff you may need to get started using Vista.

The next section is stuff that Microsoft wants you to buy or use from them. Realize if you click on any of these icon you are more than likely have to spend money.

Depending on who made your computer, there will be a third section. This will be offers, and trailware. This is programs, and services offered by different companies. Norton Antivirus usually puts a trail version of its software here, in hopes that you would buy it.

Always keep in mind that the Welcome Center is there to help in getting familiar on the different features of Vista and how to use them.