Most people doesn't know much about Blu Ray Disc's. Mostly their knowledge is closed in few facts: that one single disc stores 25 GB or 50 GB if it's a double layer, which is about 5 or 10 times the capacity of DVD and gives the highest quality video, looks like DVD disc. And what do you know about Blu Ray?
If your answer is 'not much' don't worry. We can change that easily and harmless. Just read this article and know most interesting and most important facts about this amazing disc!
Intro.
'Blu Ray' name comes from the colour of the laser that reads and writes this type of disc - blu laser. Because the wavelength of this laser is shorter than the red one, which is used to DVD format, more data can be stored at the Blu Ray DISC. Consumer got to know this kind of disc in 2006 but it was known earlier as a format od programs released in the TV. In short time Blu Ray won a war with HD DVD format.
Compatibility.
As it was said, at first Blu Ray appeared to the world as a format of TV programs, films. Those specifications were defined in 2003. Blu-ray Disc ROM format specification was defined in 2004. As a result, people can play home-recorded discs on all of their Blu-ray Disc equipment; there are no playback compatibility issues as with rewritable DVD formats. The Video Distribution format was widely expanded to offer content producers a full range of additional features.
Audio.
The Blu Disc ROM format for movie distribution supports various advanced audio codecs. Each person can choose the most suitable format for a particular application. The high capacity and data rate of Blu-ray Disc allow for extreme high quality audio in up to 8 channels, it's accompanies High Definition video. Final audio specification details are still being determined.
Graphic.
There are two graphic planes available. First is, assigned to video-related, frame accurate graphics, mostly subtitles. The second one is assigned to interactive graphical elements, such as buttons or menus. For both planes, various wipes, fades and scroll effects are available, for example to present a menu. As it comes to button graphics they can be in three states - normal, active, selects, they support 256 color full resolution graphics and animation. Buttons can be called and removed during video playback.
Internet connection.
User of Blu Ray Disc may connect to the disc publisher's web site to unlock certain content on the disc or dynamically display certain info, like for example theater playing schedules for a movie, on the screen. The disc's program may be extended with JPEG pictures or audio fragments downloaded from the Internet. Such information may be copied and given to a friends thanks to blu ray duplication.
Conclusion.
The Blu-ray Disc format for Movie Distribution offers two flexible profiles for the creation of titles. It was designed to allow for the streamlined development of Blu-ray Disc (HD) and DVD-Video (SD) titles at the same time, if needed. Basic menus and navigation can be identical.
Blu Ray is a revolution in technological market. Not even most sophisticated solutions in DVD as custom dvdr, mini dvd, custom made packaging or dvd design won't defeat this disc.
Are you satisfied of your current knowledge about blu ray?
Read more about Blu Ray, Cd duplication and dvd design
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Matthew_Sorrow
Friday, July 4, 2008
Artificial Intelligence - Closer Than You Think
We're still not able to produce a program or a robot that can think or act human. But we may be closer than most realize. Here's an overview of our latest progress.
Cognitive robotics. Researchers in this discipline seek to build software that can perform complex, intuitive cognitive tasks the way humans and animals do. While nobody has built software capable of doing this in the real world, researchers have created programs that can do it in a lab.
Computational intelligence. Computationally intelligent machines recognize patterns and make predictions. Chess programs are examples of computational intelligence.
Data mining. Data mining programs sort through large amounts of data, analyze it, and pick out relevant information. Data mining programs are used in financial analysis firms, business, law enforcement, and even search engines.
Artificial brains. There are several projects in the works to build an artificial brain. One example, Project Blue Brain, seeks to create a computer simulation of the human brain down to the molecular level.
Robotics. The brain is only one part of building an artificial being. Some robots have been built that can produce a variety of facial expressions. In addition, commercial "pet" robots have been developed that simulate personality and emotions.
We're still not able to build robots that can pass for human. But progress in robotics and in artificial intelligence is making steady gains, and companies, governments, and even individuals use aspects of it every day. It's not unreasonable to project that artificial intelligence will continue to develop and improve until we can make a reasonable simulation of the human brain. Within a few more decades or even the next century, the science fiction stories that seem unlikely today may become everyday realities.
Chris Smith is sales director for on365, the Leicestershire based IT and server room solutions company for more information on server rooms visit http://www.on365.co.uk/Server-Room-Solutions.aspx
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Chirs_Smith
Cognitive robotics. Researchers in this discipline seek to build software that can perform complex, intuitive cognitive tasks the way humans and animals do. While nobody has built software capable of doing this in the real world, researchers have created programs that can do it in a lab.
Computational intelligence. Computationally intelligent machines recognize patterns and make predictions. Chess programs are examples of computational intelligence.
Data mining. Data mining programs sort through large amounts of data, analyze it, and pick out relevant information. Data mining programs are used in financial analysis firms, business, law enforcement, and even search engines.
Artificial brains. There are several projects in the works to build an artificial brain. One example, Project Blue Brain, seeks to create a computer simulation of the human brain down to the molecular level.
Robotics. The brain is only one part of building an artificial being. Some robots have been built that can produce a variety of facial expressions. In addition, commercial "pet" robots have been developed that simulate personality and emotions.
We're still not able to build robots that can pass for human. But progress in robotics and in artificial intelligence is making steady gains, and companies, governments, and even individuals use aspects of it every day. It's not unreasonable to project that artificial intelligence will continue to develop and improve until we can make a reasonable simulation of the human brain. Within a few more decades or even the next century, the science fiction stories that seem unlikely today may become everyday realities.
Chris Smith is sales director for on365, the Leicestershire based IT and server room solutions company for more information on server rooms visit http://www.on365.co.uk/Server-Room-Solutions.aspx
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Chirs_Smith
Tips For Buying a 4GB USB Hard Drive
A 4GB USB hard drive often finds itself far from the discussion when it comes to removable hard drives. Removable hard drives are incredibly useful for anyone who owns a computer, but many people have skewed views as to what is possible with them. While it is always a good idea to back up your entire computer on a large capacity drive, some people simply do not want or need to, or they do these tasks less frequently than others. Some people do not feel the need to back up all of their files on a super frequent basis, while others feel that they do not want the size and bulk or a large external hard drive.
Other people simply want the portability and convenience of being able to move large files from one computer to the next with no issues whatsoever. Either way, a 4GB USB hard drive can be a great asset to anyone moving and backing up files. There are a ton of these hard drives on the market, however, and these tips for buying one can help you to make sure you find the best one for your needs.
Quite a Few Companies Manufacture USB Drives
The computer industry has given way to thousands of companies who are manufacturing just about everything you need for your computing purposes. That creates a problem, since the choices for a 4GB USB hard drive are, quite frankly, too hard to keep track of. By researching the companies online, you can weed out the companies that will not give you the quality or the device's aesthetic appeal you are looking for.
Research a few Different 4GB Hard Drives
Once you have found the companies that you would like to narrow it down to, you should research that specific product. The best companies can have horrible products, and you need to make sure that your 4GB USB hard drive will not be one of those outliers in a great company's product portfolio. Look at the product photos on the company's website and read the product's description to learn as much as you can.
Visit the Big Box Stores
While it is possible to purchase a 4GB USB hard drive online, it is also possible to pick them up in stores. In order to find all of the hard drives on your short list, you should research the different stores in your area, and online, so you can gain as much knowledge as possible. This will give you the perfect range for the final purchase.
What do the Prices Look Like for a 4GB USB Hard Drive?
At the end of the day, there could be multiple 4GB USB hard drives that meet all of your needs. When you have narrowed it down, you should use the multiple stores that you have researched to find the best price for what you want. Price comparison is simple, and will give you the nicest price possible. Generally, prices range from as little as $30 to as much as $150. By spending some time researching, you increase your chances of buying what you want, at the best price possible.
When you do the research, it is fairly easy to find a 4GB USB hard drive that satisfies all of your needs. These hard drives are pretty versatile, and it is important to make sure that your money is going to a product that offers exactly what you want.
Jim Hedgecoth is a veteran freelance writer excelling in subjects related to computer storage hardware technology which includes devices such as Blu-Ray Burners, Portable Harddrives, and External Hard Drives. Jim is a frequent contributor to I/O Magic Corporation, a leading Internet retailer providing customers with high quality data storage solutions.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jim_Hedgecoth
Other people simply want the portability and convenience of being able to move large files from one computer to the next with no issues whatsoever. Either way, a 4GB USB hard drive can be a great asset to anyone moving and backing up files. There are a ton of these hard drives on the market, however, and these tips for buying one can help you to make sure you find the best one for your needs.
Quite a Few Companies Manufacture USB Drives
The computer industry has given way to thousands of companies who are manufacturing just about everything you need for your computing purposes. That creates a problem, since the choices for a 4GB USB hard drive are, quite frankly, too hard to keep track of. By researching the companies online, you can weed out the companies that will not give you the quality or the device's aesthetic appeal you are looking for.
Research a few Different 4GB Hard Drives
Once you have found the companies that you would like to narrow it down to, you should research that specific product. The best companies can have horrible products, and you need to make sure that your 4GB USB hard drive will not be one of those outliers in a great company's product portfolio. Look at the product photos on the company's website and read the product's description to learn as much as you can.
Visit the Big Box Stores
While it is possible to purchase a 4GB USB hard drive online, it is also possible to pick them up in stores. In order to find all of the hard drives on your short list, you should research the different stores in your area, and online, so you can gain as much knowledge as possible. This will give you the perfect range for the final purchase.
What do the Prices Look Like for a 4GB USB Hard Drive?
At the end of the day, there could be multiple 4GB USB hard drives that meet all of your needs. When you have narrowed it down, you should use the multiple stores that you have researched to find the best price for what you want. Price comparison is simple, and will give you the nicest price possible. Generally, prices range from as little as $30 to as much as $150. By spending some time researching, you increase your chances of buying what you want, at the best price possible.
When you do the research, it is fairly easy to find a 4GB USB hard drive that satisfies all of your needs. These hard drives are pretty versatile, and it is important to make sure that your money is going to a product that offers exactly what you want.
Jim Hedgecoth is a veteran freelance writer excelling in subjects related to computer storage hardware technology which includes devices such as Blu-Ray Burners, Portable Harddrives, and External Hard Drives. Jim is a frequent contributor to I/O Magic Corporation, a leading Internet retailer providing customers with high quality data storage solutions.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jim_Hedgecoth
The Dell XPS M1530 Laptop is a Top Seller What's It's Pros and Cons Though?
The Dell XPS M1530 laptop is indeed a top seller at the moment and with good reason. The specifications of this laptop are quite something but is it really deserving of the top spot? What are the pros and cons of such a laptop as the M1530?
I don't know about you but when I need to hear information regarding an item I'm interested in buying, I want unbiased information full of facts both good and bad.
Let me first just reel off some of the main specifications - 2.2Ghz, Intel Core 2 Duo T8300 Dual Core Mobile Processor, 4G Memory, 320GB Drive, 9 cell Battery. If you're new to the laptop world, 320GB is the storage capacity where you will store all your information and applications. 320GB is a huge amount of storage. As an example, on just 1GB you could store about 300 songs.
Being a laptop, you might be out and about with it once in a while, well the battery will last an easy 4 hours for you on full charge. I had one laptop just a year ago which lasted only 1 single hour!
The Vista operating system is really fast while the laptop itself boots up in no time so you can get to use the 1 inch thin beauty with a 15.4 inch panel straight away, no putting the kettle on while you wait.
Some previous laptops were unable to run all applications but with the XPS M1530, no problem. And if watching DVD's is your thing, then you will have stunning graphics and display using a 1440x900 resolution which is higher than the normal 1280x800 for a 15.4-inch panel. Just one thing which I believe needs to be pointed out is that the resolution being 1440x900 does cause a slight glare on the screen when in use outside. This may not be a factor for you but I mention it for your information.
You won't need to buy a webcam for this laptop by the way, it's already built in and ready for use immediately. So, in a nutshell you can see the Dell XPS M1530 is stunningly superb and if you ask around, or do your own research you will find that the feedback is pretty much the same. If there are any cons I would say that the slightly high price may put some off, as might the glare on the screen when in use outdoors so please bear those factors in mind.
If you do purchase the Dell XPS M1530, it's highly unlikely you will have any regrets at all.
John Milligan.
http://www.computer-games-store.co.uk
If you go to the above website and scroll down to the bottom to the Amazon Store, choose Laptops & Notebooks from the catagories, key in the Dell M1530 and then click on new and used available. There you will find the little gem.
An excellent resource for all those consoles and games you've ever wanted, including the Nintendo Wii, Wii Fit, ps3, xbox 360 and Ipod Nano 8GB and lots more. No searching all over the web for different bargains. There's loads of choice here with all the top sellers and best prices. You certainly will not be disappointed.
So, if you're hungry for that bargain console, game or accessory, then go to the website, have a good browse and enjoy your shopping experience.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_Milligan
I don't know about you but when I need to hear information regarding an item I'm interested in buying, I want unbiased information full of facts both good and bad.
Let me first just reel off some of the main specifications - 2.2Ghz, Intel Core 2 Duo T8300 Dual Core Mobile Processor, 4G Memory, 320GB Drive, 9 cell Battery. If you're new to the laptop world, 320GB is the storage capacity where you will store all your information and applications. 320GB is a huge amount of storage. As an example, on just 1GB you could store about 300 songs.
Being a laptop, you might be out and about with it once in a while, well the battery will last an easy 4 hours for you on full charge. I had one laptop just a year ago which lasted only 1 single hour!
The Vista operating system is really fast while the laptop itself boots up in no time so you can get to use the 1 inch thin beauty with a 15.4 inch panel straight away, no putting the kettle on while you wait.
Some previous laptops were unable to run all applications but with the XPS M1530, no problem. And if watching DVD's is your thing, then you will have stunning graphics and display using a 1440x900 resolution which is higher than the normal 1280x800 for a 15.4-inch panel. Just one thing which I believe needs to be pointed out is that the resolution being 1440x900 does cause a slight glare on the screen when in use outside. This may not be a factor for you but I mention it for your information.
You won't need to buy a webcam for this laptop by the way, it's already built in and ready for use immediately. So, in a nutshell you can see the Dell XPS M1530 is stunningly superb and if you ask around, or do your own research you will find that the feedback is pretty much the same. If there are any cons I would say that the slightly high price may put some off, as might the glare on the screen when in use outdoors so please bear those factors in mind.
If you do purchase the Dell XPS M1530, it's highly unlikely you will have any regrets at all.
John Milligan.
http://www.computer-games-store.co.uk
If you go to the above website and scroll down to the bottom to the Amazon Store, choose Laptops & Notebooks from the catagories, key in the Dell M1530 and then click on new and used available. There you will find the little gem.
An excellent resource for all those consoles and games you've ever wanted, including the Nintendo Wii, Wii Fit, ps3, xbox 360 and Ipod Nano 8GB and lots more. No searching all over the web for different bargains. There's loads of choice here with all the top sellers and best prices. You certainly will not be disappointed.
So, if you're hungry for that bargain console, game or accessory, then go to the website, have a good browse and enjoy your shopping experience.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_Milligan
Speeding Up Windows Vista Part1
Speeding Up Vista Boot Time
Windows Vista has a lot of great new features and visual enhancements that make it the most feature-rich and pretty version of Windows to date. However, with all the new features and effects, it has a much higher system overhead. If you don't always have the fastest hardware, this quick guide will help you get the most out of your system by reducing the heavy workload put on it during the boot process.
Working with the BIOS
Every PC has a BIOS (basic input/output system), which is what takes control of your computer the moment that you turn it on. The screen that you first see when you turn on your computer is called the power on self-test, better known as the POST screen. BIOS on each and every PC may be made by different companies or accessed by a different method. The most common way to access the setup screen is to press F2 or the Delete key when you see the POST screen.
Caution: While you are making changes in the system BIOS, make sure you don't change any other settings. If you accidentally change a value and don't know what to change it back to, just exit the BIOS setup screen and choose Do Not Save Changes.
Changing the boot order of your drives
Most computers are set up so that when you first turn on your PC, it checks to see whether you want to boot from drives other than your hard drive. The BIOS automatically checks to see if you have a bootable CD in your drive. If you have a floppy drive, it checks to see whether you have a bootable disk in the floppy drive, too. Then, after it has checked all possible locations for a boot disk, the system defaults to your hard drive set in the BIOS and starts booting Windows.
To change the boot order, you have to enter the system BIOS setup screen.
1. Press F2, Delete, or the correct key for your specific system on the POST screen (or the screen that displays the computer manufacturer's logo) to enter the BIOS setup screen.
2. Look for where it says Boot, and enter the submenu.
3. Navigate to where it states 'first device' and cycle through the list to where it states 'Hard Disk Drive'. If your setup screen does not specifically state 'first device' but rather just a list of all the devices, simply select the hard disk and move it to the top of the list.
4. After you have made the changes, exit the system BIOS by pressing the Escape key, and make sure that you select to save your changes upon exit. After you reboot, the new settings will be in effect.
Using the Quick Boot feature of the BIOS
To turn on the Quick Boot feature, do the following:
1. Enter the system BIOS again by pressing F2 or the correct system setup Enter key on the POST screen for your system.
2. After you are in the BIOS setup, locate the text 'Quick Boot'. Navigate with the arrow keys until the option is highlighted.
3. Use the keys to cycle through the options and Enable the Quick Boot.
4. After you have made the change to the setting, exit the system BIOS by pressing the Escape key. Ensuring you save the changes.
Modifying the Operating System Boot
You can use several different tricks to shave a few more seconds off the boot time. For example, you can reduce Timeout values and slim down the system to get rid of all the extra features and services that you do not use or need. Check out the following ways to do this.
Windows Boot Manager
Likely Page Break
If you have more than one operating system installed on your computer, you'll have to deal with the Windows Boot Manager installed by Vista. By default, the Windows Boot Manager gives you 30 seconds to select an operating system before it reverts to the default operating system. If you use one operating system the majority of the time, you will definitely save a second or two if you set that one as the default and lower the Timeout value to 1 or 2 seconds.
Lowering OS Timeout values
Again, if you have multiple operating systems installed on your computer and the Windows Boot Manager is installed, the default selection timeout is often way too high. It is much better to set a lower timeout so that if you do not make a selection, it quickly reverts to the default OS, making your boot time much faster.
1. Click the Start button, type msconfig in the Search box, and press Enter.
2. When the System Configuration utility loads, click the Boot tab.
3. Locate the Timeout box and replace 30 with a much lower value. I suggest a setting between 2 and 5.
4. After the value has been updated, click OK to exit.
Even though this is a simple tip, it really helps a lot if you have multiple operating systems installed.
Setting the default Operating System
Setting the default operating system is a little more difficult because you need to use the Boot Configuration Editor
1. Click the Start button and navigate through All Programs and Accessories.
2. Locate the Command Prompt shortcut and right-click.
3. Select Run as administrator from the context menu.
4. When the command prompt has loaded, use the bcdedit.exe command. First, you need to get the ID of the operating system that you want to set as the default. To do this, type bcdedit /enum all in the command prompt window. Scroll through the list of different entries and look for the one with the description matching 'Microsoft Windows'for Windows Vista.
5. After you have found the correct entry, note its identifier.
6. While still at the command prompt, run bcdedit /default. Eg bcdedit /default {b2721d73-1db4-4c62-bf78-c548a880142d}.
The default operating system on the Window Boot Manager is now set.
Disabling the boot screen
Vista has a new boot screen that looks much better than the previous ones. Disabling it can cut down on your boot time. In tweaking, every second counts . And when you apply all the performance hacks listed, you will see a definite performance increase. The process for disabling the system boot screen is similar to the process for modifying the default operating system timeout.
Start up the System Configuration tool:
1. Click the Start menu, type msconfig in the Search box, and press Enter.
2. When the System Configuration tool appears, click the Boot tab.
3. Locate the No GUI Boot check box and check it.
4. Click OK to close the System Configuration tool.
5. A small window will pop up and ask you if you would like to reboot your computer now or reboot later.
6. After your computer has restarted, the System Configuration Tool is going to load automatically, notifying you of the change. Check the box that says Don't show this message or start System Configuration when Windows starts and click OK.
Disabling unnecessary hardware devices
One of the most time-consuming portions of the boot is loading all the drivers for your system. Every driver for each installed hardware device must be loaded and then initialized by the operating system while the system boots. Although Vista is more intelligent than previous versions, loading those devices and initializing them takes time. In previous versions, the system would load one hardware device driver at a time in a series. The problem with loading the hardware this way was that it slowed down the boot dramatically if one hardware device was taking a long time to initialize.
Using Device Manager to disable hardware
Getting rid of extra hardware with Device Manager is an easy way to speed up your boot. Follow these steps to disable your extra hardware devices:
Likely Page Break
1. Click the Start menu, type devmgmt.msc in the Search box, and press Enter.
2. After the Device Manager loads, you can browse through your devices that are connected and currently running or disabled by browsing though the device type sections. To disable a device, right-click the device name, and then select Disable.
3. To re-enable a device, right-click the device name and select Disable. This removes the check mark from the menu and re-enables the device.
Multimedia devices:
Take a look at the 'Sound, video, and game controllers' section in Device Manager. You will find a lot of device drivers that are loaded during your boot. Some are used by all users, but you will find a few that you do not use
Network adapters:
Especially on notebook computers, there is often more than one network device. Disabling the network devices that you do not use will definitely save you some booting time.
Biometrics:
Some of the latest computer hardware includes biometric sensor equipment such as a fingerprint scanner. If you don't use these security features, you can save time by disabling these devices.
Modems:
Not really necessary in most setups. If you don't have a network or broadband you will need this.
TPM security chips:
These chips are typically used as a secure place to store an encryption key that would be used for something such as hard drive encryption. If you are not using any of these advanced security features of Windows Vista, disable these devices.
PCMCIA cards:
If you are a laptop user, consider disabling your PCMCIA card controller located under 'PCMCIA adapters.' The slot is a special expansion that is rarely used today on laptops. Most laptops now have built-in network adapters, and some even have built-in wireless adapters. If you do not use your PCMCIA adapter, it is yet another device you can safely disable.
FireWire:
If you have 1394 connections, or FireWire, you might consider disabling them.
Removing extra fonts for speed
Vista has more than 200 different fonts and variations that it loads for use when the system boots up. Of these 200 odd fonts, only a handful are used on a regular basis. Every single font that Windows loads increases the amount of time the operating system takes to boot. You can go about removing the unneeded fonts from your font directory in a number of ways. The best way is to move the unused fonts to a separate folder on your system so that in the event that you ever want to use one of those extra fonts again, you just have to copy it back to the Fonts folder. When you remove fonts from your computer, you will no longer be able to use them in any software application, including Photoshop, Word, and Excel.
Before you start removing fonts, take at look at list below. Be careful not to remove any fonts which the system normally depends.
Segoe
The variations of this font can be found in elements of the interface.
Verdana
Often used on web pages and applications.
Arial
Another common web page font, and used in applications.
Trebuchet
Common application font and used in some web pages back in XP days. Some older applications may still require it.
Tahoma
Windows font that you may want to hold on to for application and web page compatibility.
Times New Roman
The default font for web pages and word processing applications such as Microsoft Word.
MS Sans Serif
Default font for Visual Studio applications that is now required for a lot of legacy and newer applications.
So there are a few methods of speeding up the boot time of Windows Vista. The list isn't exhaustive and I hope to add another list in the coming weeks.
http://www.huxleytech.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jamie_Kavanagh
Windows Vista has a lot of great new features and visual enhancements that make it the most feature-rich and pretty version of Windows to date. However, with all the new features and effects, it has a much higher system overhead. If you don't always have the fastest hardware, this quick guide will help you get the most out of your system by reducing the heavy workload put on it during the boot process.
Working with the BIOS
Every PC has a BIOS (basic input/output system), which is what takes control of your computer the moment that you turn it on. The screen that you first see when you turn on your computer is called the power on self-test, better known as the POST screen. BIOS on each and every PC may be made by different companies or accessed by a different method. The most common way to access the setup screen is to press F2 or the Delete key when you see the POST screen.
Caution: While you are making changes in the system BIOS, make sure you don't change any other settings. If you accidentally change a value and don't know what to change it back to, just exit the BIOS setup screen and choose Do Not Save Changes.
Changing the boot order of your drives
Most computers are set up so that when you first turn on your PC, it checks to see whether you want to boot from drives other than your hard drive. The BIOS automatically checks to see if you have a bootable CD in your drive. If you have a floppy drive, it checks to see whether you have a bootable disk in the floppy drive, too. Then, after it has checked all possible locations for a boot disk, the system defaults to your hard drive set in the BIOS and starts booting Windows.
To change the boot order, you have to enter the system BIOS setup screen.
1. Press F2, Delete, or the correct key for your specific system on the POST screen (or the screen that displays the computer manufacturer's logo) to enter the BIOS setup screen.
2. Look for where it says Boot, and enter the submenu.
3. Navigate to where it states 'first device' and cycle through the list to where it states 'Hard Disk Drive'. If your setup screen does not specifically state 'first device' but rather just a list of all the devices, simply select the hard disk and move it to the top of the list.
4. After you have made the changes, exit the system BIOS by pressing the Escape key, and make sure that you select to save your changes upon exit. After you reboot, the new settings will be in effect.
Using the Quick Boot feature of the BIOS
To turn on the Quick Boot feature, do the following:
1. Enter the system BIOS again by pressing F2 or the correct system setup Enter key on the POST screen for your system.
2. After you are in the BIOS setup, locate the text 'Quick Boot'. Navigate with the arrow keys until the option is highlighted.
3. Use the keys to cycle through the options and Enable the Quick Boot.
4. After you have made the change to the setting, exit the system BIOS by pressing the Escape key. Ensuring you save the changes.
Modifying the Operating System Boot
You can use several different tricks to shave a few more seconds off the boot time. For example, you can reduce Timeout values and slim down the system to get rid of all the extra features and services that you do not use or need. Check out the following ways to do this.
Windows Boot Manager
Likely Page Break
If you have more than one operating system installed on your computer, you'll have to deal with the Windows Boot Manager installed by Vista. By default, the Windows Boot Manager gives you 30 seconds to select an operating system before it reverts to the default operating system. If you use one operating system the majority of the time, you will definitely save a second or two if you set that one as the default and lower the Timeout value to 1 or 2 seconds.
Lowering OS Timeout values
Again, if you have multiple operating systems installed on your computer and the Windows Boot Manager is installed, the default selection timeout is often way too high. It is much better to set a lower timeout so that if you do not make a selection, it quickly reverts to the default OS, making your boot time much faster.
1. Click the Start button, type msconfig in the Search box, and press Enter.
2. When the System Configuration utility loads, click the Boot tab.
3. Locate the Timeout box and replace 30 with a much lower value. I suggest a setting between 2 and 5.
4. After the value has been updated, click OK to exit.
Even though this is a simple tip, it really helps a lot if you have multiple operating systems installed.
Setting the default Operating System
Setting the default operating system is a little more difficult because you need to use the Boot Configuration Editor
1. Click the Start button and navigate through All Programs and Accessories.
2. Locate the Command Prompt shortcut and right-click.
3. Select Run as administrator from the context menu.
4. When the command prompt has loaded, use the bcdedit.exe command. First, you need to get the ID of the operating system that you want to set as the default. To do this, type bcdedit /enum all in the command prompt window. Scroll through the list of different entries and look for the one with the description matching 'Microsoft Windows'for Windows Vista.
5. After you have found the correct entry, note its identifier.
6. While still at the command prompt, run bcdedit /default. Eg bcdedit /default {b2721d73-1db4-4c62-bf78-c548a880142d}.
The default operating system on the Window Boot Manager is now set.
Disabling the boot screen
Vista has a new boot screen that looks much better than the previous ones. Disabling it can cut down on your boot time. In tweaking, every second counts . And when you apply all the performance hacks listed, you will see a definite performance increase. The process for disabling the system boot screen is similar to the process for modifying the default operating system timeout.
Start up the System Configuration tool:
1. Click the Start menu, type msconfig in the Search box, and press Enter.
2. When the System Configuration tool appears, click the Boot tab.
3. Locate the No GUI Boot check box and check it.
4. Click OK to close the System Configuration tool.
5. A small window will pop up and ask you if you would like to reboot your computer now or reboot later.
6. After your computer has restarted, the System Configuration Tool is going to load automatically, notifying you of the change. Check the box that says Don't show this message or start System Configuration when Windows starts and click OK.
Disabling unnecessary hardware devices
One of the most time-consuming portions of the boot is loading all the drivers for your system. Every driver for each installed hardware device must be loaded and then initialized by the operating system while the system boots. Although Vista is more intelligent than previous versions, loading those devices and initializing them takes time. In previous versions, the system would load one hardware device driver at a time in a series. The problem with loading the hardware this way was that it slowed down the boot dramatically if one hardware device was taking a long time to initialize.
Using Device Manager to disable hardware
Getting rid of extra hardware with Device Manager is an easy way to speed up your boot. Follow these steps to disable your extra hardware devices:
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1. Click the Start menu, type devmgmt.msc in the Search box, and press Enter.
2. After the Device Manager loads, you can browse through your devices that are connected and currently running or disabled by browsing though the device type sections. To disable a device, right-click the device name, and then select Disable.
3. To re-enable a device, right-click the device name and select Disable. This removes the check mark from the menu and re-enables the device.
Multimedia devices:
Take a look at the 'Sound, video, and game controllers' section in Device Manager. You will find a lot of device drivers that are loaded during your boot. Some are used by all users, but you will find a few that you do not use
Network adapters:
Especially on notebook computers, there is often more than one network device. Disabling the network devices that you do not use will definitely save you some booting time.
Biometrics:
Some of the latest computer hardware includes biometric sensor equipment such as a fingerprint scanner. If you don't use these security features, you can save time by disabling these devices.
Modems:
Not really necessary in most setups. If you don't have a network or broadband you will need this.
TPM security chips:
These chips are typically used as a secure place to store an encryption key that would be used for something such as hard drive encryption. If you are not using any of these advanced security features of Windows Vista, disable these devices.
PCMCIA cards:
If you are a laptop user, consider disabling your PCMCIA card controller located under 'PCMCIA adapters.' The slot is a special expansion that is rarely used today on laptops. Most laptops now have built-in network adapters, and some even have built-in wireless adapters. If you do not use your PCMCIA adapter, it is yet another device you can safely disable.
FireWire:
If you have 1394 connections, or FireWire, you might consider disabling them.
Removing extra fonts for speed
Vista has more than 200 different fonts and variations that it loads for use when the system boots up. Of these 200 odd fonts, only a handful are used on a regular basis. Every single font that Windows loads increases the amount of time the operating system takes to boot. You can go about removing the unneeded fonts from your font directory in a number of ways. The best way is to move the unused fonts to a separate folder on your system so that in the event that you ever want to use one of those extra fonts again, you just have to copy it back to the Fonts folder. When you remove fonts from your computer, you will no longer be able to use them in any software application, including Photoshop, Word, and Excel.
Before you start removing fonts, take at look at list below. Be careful not to remove any fonts which the system normally depends.
Segoe
The variations of this font can be found in elements of the interface.
Verdana
Often used on web pages and applications.
Arial
Another common web page font, and used in applications.
Trebuchet
Common application font and used in some web pages back in XP days. Some older applications may still require it.
Tahoma
Windows font that you may want to hold on to for application and web page compatibility.
Times New Roman
The default font for web pages and word processing applications such as Microsoft Word.
MS Sans Serif
Default font for Visual Studio applications that is now required for a lot of legacy and newer applications.
So there are a few methods of speeding up the boot time of Windows Vista. The list isn't exhaustive and I hope to add another list in the coming weeks.
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