Support for Windows Vista

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Installing

Install, reinstall, or uninstall Windows Vista
Steps to install, reinstall, uninstall or upgrade to Windows Vista.

Troubleshooting Windows Vista installation problems
Solutions to common problems with installating Windows Vista.

Frequently asked questions about installing Windows Vista
Answers to common questions about installing Windows Vista.

Restore a computer to a previous Windows installation after you install Windows Vista
Steps to manually restore a previous Windows installation on the computer to replace the current Windows Vista installation.

Error message when you install Windows Vista: "Your product key cannot be validated. Review your product key and make sure that you have entered it correctly."
Resolve the error that may occur if your product key was entered incorrectly or if Windows Vista Service Pack 1 is not installed.

Activating

Microsoft Product Activation solution center
Visit the Product Activation solution center for key resources and top solutions.

How to activate Windows Vista
Steps to activate your copy of Windows Vista.

Error message when you try to activate Windows Vista: "An error has occurred"
Multiple step-by-step methods to help resolve the error "An error has occurred" when you try to activate Windows Vista.

Troubleshoot "Your activation period has expired" error message
Steps to activate or re-activate your copy of Windows Vista.

Reduced Functionality Mode and Product Activation in Windows Vista
Understand what happens to Windows Vista when you are in out-of-grace or non-genuine reduced functionality mode.

Service packs

Download Vista Service Pack 2
Download the latest Windows Vista service pack.

Free support for Windows Vista service pack issues
Support is available to help you download and install service packs.

Service Pack 2 for Windows Vista and for Windows Server 2008
Learn what updates are included in Service Pack 2 (SP2).

A Vista service pack is not available from Windows Update
Diagnose why Windows Vista or Windows Server 2008 service packs are not being offered to you through Windows Update.

Get help when a device driver is not installed, or a hardware device doesn’t work after you install a Vista service pack
Follow steps to determine whether Device Manager can find the device and to install or reinstall the device driver as necessary.

Windows Update

Microsoft Update solution center
Visit the Microsoft Update solution center for key resources and top solutions.

Understanding Windows automatic updating
Answers to common questions about updating Windows automatically.

How to troubleshoot common Windows Update, Microsoft Update, and Windows Server Update Services installation issues
Automatically diagnose and fix common problems with Windows Update, including resetting the Windows Update components.

Error message when you search for updates in Windows Vista: "Windows could not search for new updates (Code 80072F8F)"
Automatically detect and fix the issue where you receive a "Windows could not search for new updates (Code 80072F8F)" error message.

You may become unable to install updates from Windows Update, due to inconsistencies in file data or registry data
By installing the System Update Readiness Tool, you can resolve these inconsistencies and you will be able to install updates from Windows Update.

Troubleshoot problems with installing updates
Solutions to common problems with Windows Updates.

Windows Update automatically installs updates when you connect to the Internet
Windows Update automatically downloads and installs updates when you connect to the Internet for the first time.

Error message when you start a Windows 7 or Windows Vista-based computer after you change the SATA mode of the boot drive: "STOP 0x0000007B INACCESSABLE_BOOT_DEVICE"
Automatically detect and fix the issue where you receive a "STOP 0x0000007B INACCESSABLE_BOOT_DEVICE" error message.

Optimizing performance

Fix Windows Search when it crashes or is not showing results
Automatically repair Windows Search problems, when search is not started, doesn’t work as expected or when search shows no results.

Fix Windows system performance problems on slow Windows computers
Automatically diagnose and fix causes of poor system performance.

Optimize Windows Vista for better performance
Tips to help you optimize Windows Vista for faster performance.

Use power plans to reduce the amount of power your computer uses, maximize performance, or balance the two
Frequently asked questions about power plans.

Maintenance

Fix broken desktop shortcuts and common system maintenance tasks
Automatically detect and fix common maintenance problems such as broken desktop shortcuts, unused icons, disk volume errors, and incorrect system time display.

Fix power consumption problems and extend the laptop battery life
Automatically detect system settings that can affect power usage, such as timeout and sleep settings, display settings, and screensavers, and restore them to their default settings.

Disable and re-enable hibernation on a computer that is running Windows Vista
Automatically disable or enable hibernation.

Activate the hibernation feature after you use the Disk Cleanup Tool
Automatically fix a problem that can occur when the Disk Cleanup Tool disables the hibernation file.

Icons are missing from Control Panel, or you cannot start Control Panel, the Welcome Center, or games in Windows Vista
To resolve this problem, obtain the latest service pack for Windows Vista.

Files and folders

Troubleshoot "access denied" when opening files or folders
Solutions to some common problems with accessing files or folders.

Solution Center for Access Denied Error Messages
Visit the Access Denied Error Message solution center for information which will help you troubleshoot scenarios in which you receive an "access denied" error message.

Change the properties for a file
File properties are details about a file, such as author names, tags, or the date when a file was last modified.

Show or hide file name extensions
A file name extension is a set of characters added to the end of a file name that determine which program should open it.

You receive an error message when you try to save a file to a hard disk drive or to a flash device in Windows Vista
Troubleshoot when saving a file to a hard disk or to a flash device.

System repair and recovery

Frequently asked questions about backing up and restoring files
Answers to some common questions about backing up and restoring files.

Frequently asked questions about System Restore
Answers to some common questions about System Restore.

Frequently asked questions about Startup repair
Answers to some common questions about Startup Repair.

When you start the computer, no operating system is found. Additionally, you may receive an error message that resembles the following: "No Operating System (OS) Found"
Troubleshoot when no operating system is found, even though the computer has been operating correctly for some time.

Use the BitLocker Repair Tool to help recover data from an encrypted volume in Windows Vista
You can use this tool to help access encrypted data if the hard disk has been severely damaged.

Use System Restore to log on to Windows Vista when you lose access to an account
If you cannot log on to Windows 7 or Windows Vista, you can use the Windows Vista System Restore feature, or the Windows 7 System Restore feature.

Security basics

Virus and Security solution center
Visit the Virus and Security solution center for free tools that can help detect and remove viruses, plus build up defenses to help secure your PC against viruses and other security threats.

Get Microsoft Security Essentials for free and protect your PC
Help protect your home and small business PCs from malicious software such as spyware, viruses, Trojans, and rootkits with Microsoft Security Essentials, the high-quality antivirus software that is free for genuine Windows customers to download directly from Microsoft.

Microsoft Safety & Security Center
View information for Computer Security, Digital Privacy, and Online Safety.

Make sure you have strong passwords for all accounts on your computer
Tips for creating strong passwords and passphrases.

Use anti-malware software to help protect your computer
Windows comes with Windows Defender, which can help protect your computer against malicious and unwanted software, such as spyware and adware.

Block spam and other unwanted e-mail in Windows Mail
Use features in Windows Mail helps you manage your Inbox to keep it free of unwanted e‑mail messages.

User accounts

Understanding and using User Account Controls
Learn about the User Account Control (UAC) feature in Windows that can help prevent unauthorized changes to your computer.

Frequently asked questions about user accounts
Answers to some common questions about user accounts.

Windows Media Player

Support for Windows Media Player technical problems
Visit the Windows Media Player solution center for key resources and top solutions.

Windows Media help and support
Get the information you need about Windows Media Player and other Windows Media technologies.

Getting started with Windows Media Player
Learn how to use Windows Media Player to play digital media files, organize your digital media collection, burn CDs of your favorite music, and much more.

Picture and video

Windows Aero Glass visual effects are not working or displayed
Automatically diagnose and repair problems when the visual Aero Glass effects, themes, and transparencies are not working or are disabled in Windows Vista on your computer.

Your CD drive or DVD drive is missing or is not recognized by Windows or other programs
Automatically diagnose and repair problems with your CD or DVD drive when trying to read or burn media.

Convert your old photos to digital pictures
Learn how to use a scanner to archive your memories digitally.

Troubleshoot importing video problems
Solutions to some common problems with importing video from a digital video (DV) camera.

Working with digital pictures
Learn how the tools in Windows can help you view, organize, edit, share, and print your digital pictures.

Get help with monitor and video card problems
Solutions to some common display problems.

Movie and sound

Your CD/DVD drive cannot read or write media in Windows Vista
Automatically diagnose and repair problems with your CD or DVD drive when trying to read or burn media.

Diagnose and fix sound or audio issues
Follow a tutorial to help you identify and fix common sound problems in Windows, including no sound coming from your speakers or headphones.

Tips for fixing common sound problems
Solutions for getting proper sound from your computer.

The Safely Remove Hardware feature and the Windows Explorer "Eject" command do not work correctly with an Apple iPod that is connected to a Windows Vista-based computer
To resolve this problem, obtain the latest service pack for Windows Vista.

Networking

Troubleshoot home networking issues
Troubleshooting common problems and error message for home networks.

Troubleshoot problems finding wireless networks
Common reasons that Windows may not detect a network that you think is in range of your computer.

Frequently asked questions about modems
Answers to some common questions about modems.

Troubleshoot network connectivity problems in Internet Explorer
Diagnose and repair common network connectivity problems in Internet Explorer.

A red "X" appears in the icon for a mapped network drive in Windows Vista, even though you can successfully access the drive
Troubleshoot the issue when you receive a red "X" icon in nework drive.

Email

Get information on Windows Live Mail and Windows Hotmail
Visit the Windows Live Essentials solution center for information on email.

Outlook Express has been replaced by Windows Mail
Outlook Express has been replaced by Windows Mail, and Windows Mail has been upgraded to Windows Live Mail.

Working with Windows Mail
Windows Mail has the tools you need to exchange e‑mail with colleagues and friends, or join newsgroups to trade ideas and information.

Get help with stuck messages in your outbox when using Windows Mail
Follow steps to resolve the problem with messages that are stick in your outbox.

Hardware and drivers

Windows Vista Compatibility Center
Find out if your software or hardware is compatible or if you just need a software upgrade or a new driver.

Troubleshoot problems with hardware installed in or attached to a computer
Common problems with drivers, and ways to solve them.

Problems with installing a device driver by using its installation program
Resolve common problems by running the driver installation program in compatibility mode.

Get help when a device driver is not working correctly and if you open Device Manager yousee an exclamation point next to the name of the hardware device
Determine whether Device Manager can find the device and to install or reinstall the device driver as necessary.

Printing

Diagnose and fix printing problems and errors in Windows Vista
Tutorial designed to help you identify and fix common printer problems in Windows, including print errors, print spooler errors, and other issues that could prevent you from printing.

Troubleshoot scanning problems
Solutions to common problems with scanning documents or pictures, and with using Windows Fax and Scan or Windows Photo Gallery to scan and manage documents.

Get help with printing
View a demo on the basics of printing a document in Windows.

Learn more about Windows Vista support lifecycle

Support Lifecycle policy page
Visit the Microsoft Support Lifecycle policy page to view Microsoft’s guidelines for product support from availability to end of product lifecycle.

Windows Vista support lifecycle policies
View the support lifecycle policy information for the Windows Vista family of products.

View support lifecycle information

Windows lifecycle fact sheet
View important lifecycle dates and information for the Windows products.

Support is ending for some versions of Windows
Learn how to check what version and service pack you are running.