78. Reveal Vista's hidden context menu power tools

The right-click context menu in Vista has a few hidden surprises if you press and hold the SHIFT key while you bring it up.

When used on a file, the SHIFT key adds the options to pin the file in question to the start menu, add it to the Quicklaunch bar or save its name and directory location as a text path for pasting into documents.

When used on a folder, the copy as text path option is added, along with the handy ability to pop-up a command prompt window in the folder in question.

79. Be the super user

If you're nervous of the consequences of disabling UAC, but want to avoid all the nagging prompts and keyboard shortcuts that leaving it enabled can entail, there's a better way. You can convince the operating system that you are actually the one true admin with a simple command.

To enable full administrative privileges with a normal Vista user account:

Open an administrative command prompt (see Tip #20 for instructions).

Type 'net user administrator activate:yes' and hit Enter.

80. Fix the start menu power button

One of the annoyances that new Vista users often run into when they first use the OS is that the big friendly default power button on the start menu does not actually power down the system. Now who's idea was this? Instead, you get a system in deep sleep and an owner who wants to leave but now has to wait until his system wakes up before he can shut it down properly.

Fortunately, a fix is easily at hand to revert the power button to its more obvious and useful function.

To make the start menu power button work properly:

Open 'start\control panel.'

Click 'classic view' in the left-hand pane

Open 'power options.'

Under your currently selected power plan, click 'change plan settings.'

Click 'change advanced power settings.'

Scroll down to 'power buttons and lids' and expand the entry. Expand 'start menu power button.'

Change the 'setting' dropdown box to 'shutdown.' Click OK.

You will find that your power button now acts as a power button.

81. Enable verbose shutdown messages (Vista business and Ultimate only)

This is not really a performance tip per se, but it will let you see what is going on when you shutdown Windows Vista, which could help you boost your shutdown speed. With this tip enabled, Vista will inform you of what is going on behind the scenes on the shutdown screen with text messages.

To enable verbose shutdown messages:

Open the 'start' menu and type 'gpedit.msc' in the search bar. Hit Enter.

In the group policy window, navigate to 'computer configuration\administrative template\system' then scroll down in the right-hand pane until you reach the 'verbose vs. normal status messages' option. Double click it and set the option to 'enable'. Hit ok.