Vista Compatible Firewalls

Free

• Windows Firewall (Windows Vista Firewall is part of Windows operating system and includes both inbound and outbound protection) (32 and 64 Bit)

Free and Full Feature Pay Versions

• Avira Premium Security Suite (32 and 64 Bit)
  
• BitDefender family (32 and 64 Bit)
• Comodo (32 and 64 Bit) Not Recommended (Warning: Includes Ask Toolbar disguised as Surfsafe Toolbar!)
  
• EQSecure (32 Bit)
• Jetico Personal Firewall (32 and 64 Bit)
• Online Armor (32 Bit)
  
• PC Tools family (32 Bit)
  
• Privacyware solutions (32 and 64 Bit)
  
• ProSecurity (32 Bit)
• System Safety Monitor (32 Bit)
• Webroot Desktop Firewall (32 Bit) (Requires Registration)
• Zone Alarm (32 Bit) (Warning: Ask Toolbar Pre-checked for installation on Free Version, identified as ZoneAlarm Spy Blocker)
  

Pay Versions

• AhnLan family (32 and 64 Bit)
• Avanquest System Suite (32 Bit)
  
• BullGuard family (32 and 64 Bit)
• CA Family (32 and 64 Bit)
• DefenseWall HIPS (32 Bit)
  
• ESET Smart Security (32 and 64 Bit)
• F-Secure Internet Security (32 Bit)
• FortKnox Personal Firewall (32 Bit)
  
• G DATA AntiVirusKit InternetSecurity (32 Bit)
• iolo Personal Firewall (32 Bit)
  
• Kaspersky family (32 and 64 Bit)
• Lavasoft Personal Firewall (Note: Based on Outpost Firewall Pro engine) (32 and 64 Bit)
  
• Look 'n' Stop (32 Bit and 64 Bit)
  
• McAfee family (32 Bit)
• NetLimiter (32 and 64 Bit)
• NetOp Process Control (32 Bit)
  
• Norman family (32 and 64 Bit)
  
• Norton family (32 and 64 Bit)
• Outpost Firewall Pro (32 and 64 Bit)
  
• Panda family (32 and 64 Bit)
• PCSecurityShield – (Note: Based on Comodo Firewall Pro engine) (32 and 64 Bit)
• Quick Heal family (32 and 64 Bit)
• Rising family (32 Bit)
• Safe'n'Sec (32 Bit)
• Sophos family (32 and 64 Bit)
  
• Steganos Internet Security (32 and 64 Bit)
  
• Trend Micro (32 and 64 Bit)
• TZ Personal Firewall (32 Bit)
  
• Windows Live OneCare (32 Bit)

Compiled from data provided by Matousec

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Features and Tutorials

64-Bit Support

• Correct Disk Cleanup shortcut for Windows Vista 64-bit (Kristan M. Kenney)
• Solution for Updating the BIOS on Windows Vista x64 Machines (Robert McLaws)
• Steve Gibson's Securable
• Switch to Windows Vista 64-bit painlessly (HOW-TO)

Backup and Recovery Center

• Backup and Restore in Windows Vista (James M. Fisher, MVP)
• Using Windows Vista System Restore (The How-To Geek)
  
• Windows Complete Backup and Restore (Microsoft)
• Windows Vista System Restore Guide (Bleeping Computer)
  

Fixing Windows Vista (Five-Part Series by Ed Bott)

• Part 1: one machine at a time
• Part 2: Taming UAC
• Part 3: Top Troubleshooting Tools
• Part 4: Get smart about services
• Part 5: Faster, smarter search
  

General Information + Tips & Tricks

• Change the permissions and take ownership of your files and folders (Vista4Beginners)
  
• ITsVISTA Tips
• Manage Windows Vista Application Compatibility (How to) Information Week
  
• Shrink and Extend NTFS Volumes in Windows Vista (How to)
• 10 top tweaks for Windows Vista (1-5, Ed Bott)
• 10 top tweaks for Windows Vista (6-10, Ed Bott)
  
• Uninstall a Program in Windows Vista (How to)
• Vista Run Commands
• Vista's Keyboard Shortcuts
  
• Windows Vista Feature Guide
• Windows Vista Help Demos (Microsoft)
  
• Windows Vista TCP/IP Properties (SimpleHelp)
  
• Windows Vista Tutorials, Tips and Classes (c|net Learning Hub)

Search

• Customize the Start Menu Search Box (Vista4Beginners)
• Demo: Instant Search in Windows Vista (Windows Experience Blog)
• Explorers (Microsoft)
• Instant Search (Microsoft)
• Instant Search Tutorials (Vista4Beginners)
  
  1. Understanding Instant Search
  2. How to Improve Instant Search
  3. How to Customize the Start Menu Search Box
• Operators to Help You to Create More Defined Searches (Advanced Search) (MSDN Blog)
• Understanding Instant Search (Vista4Beginners)
  
• Using Search Folders (Advanced Search) (MSDN Blog)
  
• Windows Desktop Search: Advanced Query Reference for 3.x (Microsoft)
  

Setup and Installation

• Creating A Bootable WinPE 2.0 USB Key
• Dual-Boot Vista and XP
  
• Install Windows Vista from a high speed USB 2.0 Flash Drive (How to) (Kristan M. Kenney, Canucky.net)
• Windows Vista no longer starts after you install an earlier version of the Windows operating system in a dual-boot configuration (KB 933179)
• Windows Vista RTM FAQ and Quick Start Guide - March 2007 Edition (Andre Da Costa)
  
• Windows Vista Upgrade FAQ (Adrian Kingsley-Hughes)

Windows Easy Transfer

• Use "USMT and Easy File Transfer" to migrate your system to Windows Vista if profiles are outside the system drive
• Using Windows Easy Transfer to transfer your data to a new computer

Windows Flip and Windows Flip 3D

• What's Flip 3D?
• Windows Vista Feature Focus: Windows Flip and Flip 3D (Paul Thurrott)

Windows ShadowCopy

• Demo: Previous Versions of Files in Windows Vista (Windows Experience Blog)
  
• Shadow Copy
  

Windows System Assessment Tool (WinSAT)

• How does Performance Rating in Windows Vista Work? (TechNet)
• WinSAT Reference (MSDN)
• WinSAT: Vista's Built-in Benchmark (ExremeTech)
  

Windows Vista Defrag Tool

• Know when to defragment your drive
  

Windows Vista Snipping Tool

• Windows Vista Snipping Tool (How to use the)

Windows Vista Speech Recognition

• Vista's Speech Recognition (ExtremeTech)
• Vista Speech Saver 1.0.1.1 (Greg Duncan)
• Windows Help and How To Set Up Speech Recognition (Microsoft)

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Vista Security Features

BitLocker Drive Encryption

• A Real-world Windows Vista BitLocker Tip
• BitLocker Drive Encryption
• BitLocker Drive Encryption Frequently Asked Questions (Microsoft TechNet)
  
• BitLocker Drive Preparation Tool
• Keys to Protecting Data with BitLocker Drive Encryption (TechNet Article)
  
• Why won't Bitlocker read my USB token on boot? How to use Bitlocker without a Trusted Platform Module(TPM)

Data Exception Prevention (DEP) (32 Bit)

• How DEP Can Protect Your PC (Scott Dunn, Windows Secrets)
  

Encrypting File System Enhancements

• Encrypting File Systems

Internet Explorer Protected Mode

• Internet Explorer Protected Mode

Parental Controls

• Family Safe Computing & Microsoft (MSDN Blog)
• How to configure Parental Controls in Windows Vista (3.5MB) (Vista4Beginners Video)
• How to view the Activity Reports (1.5MB) (Vista4Beginners Video)
  
• Internet Explorer Parental controls
• Parental Controls for Windows Vista (MSDN)
• Parent's Guide to Microsoft's Windows Vista (The Road to Know Where)
• Setting up Windows Vista Parental Controls (Bleeping Computer Tutorial)
• Use Windows Vista to help enforce limits on your children's computer use (Microsoft "Security Tips & Talk")
  

PatchGuard (Kernel Patch Protection)

• An Introduction to PatchGuard Protection

User Account Control (UAC)

• Confusion about Vista Features: What UAC Really Is (Jesper's Blog)
• How to use User Account Control (UAC) in Windows Vista (Microsoft KB 922708
  
• Inside Windows Vista User Account Control (TechNet Article)
  
• Manage User Accounts (Vista4Begnners)
  
• UAC Prompt Triggers (Ed Bott)
• Understanding User Account Control in Windows Vista (Microsoft)
• Understanding Windows Vista's User Account Control (William R. Stanek, Paul Marquardt)
• User Account Control (Microsoft)
• User Account Control (Paul Thurrott)
• Windows Vista User Account Control Step by Step Guide (TechNet)

Windows Defender

• Getting Started with Windows Defender
• Windows Defender (Home)
• Windows Defender (Microsoft Feature Review)
  
• Windows Defender Review (Paul Thurrott)

Windows Firewall

• Exploring the Windows Vista Firewall (TechNet Article)
• Getting Started with Windows Firewall with Advanced Security (Microsoft TechNet)
  
• How to allow a program through the Windows Vista Firewall (Simple Help)
• Windows Firewall (Microsoft)
• Windows Firewall (Vista4Beginners Tutorial)
  
• Getting Started with Windows Firewall with Advanced Security (Windows Vista TechCenter)
• Windows Firewall with Advanced Security—Diagnostics and Troubleshooting (Windows Vista TechCenter)
• Windows Vista Firewall and IPSec Enhancements (Steve Riley’s TechEd Europe Presentation)
• The New Windows Firewall in Windows Vista and Windows Server "Longhorn" (The Cable Guy)
• Windows Vista Firewall Virtual Lab

Windows Security Center

• Security Center
• Understanding Windows Update and Extras in Windows Vista
• Windows Vista Update List
  

Security-Related Topics

• How to see hidden files in Windows Vista
• Solving "Windows is not genuine" error
• Using a Hosts File
• Notes On Vista Forensics, Part One
• Security Enhancements in Windows Vista™ (Microsoft Whitepaper)
• Security Best Practice Guidance for Consumers (Microsoft)
• Windows Vista Security Groups
• Windows Vista Security Guide (Microsoft)

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Windows Mail & Calendar

Windows Calendar

• Internet Calendars for Windows Vista Calendar (Microsoft)
• The complete guide to the Windows Calendar (3-part tutorial) (Vista4Beginners)
  
• Windows Calendar (Microsoft)
• Windows Calendar Publishing (Microsoft)

Windows Live Hotmail

• Email Support Space
• Windows Live Support (Submit Support Incident)

Windows Live Mail

• Making Your Windows Live Contacts work with Windows Contacts (Windows Vista Blog)
  
• Managing Your Contacts (Microsoft)
• Outlook Connector
• Windows Live Hotmail Mobile
• Windows Live Hotmail Desktop (Outlook Express Replacement)
• Windows Live Mail (Blog)
• Windows Live Mail (client) Support Team Space
• Windows Live Support (Submit Support Incident)
  

Windows Mail

• Migrate from Outlook Express to Windows Mail (Vista4Beginners)
• Windows Contacts (Vista4Beginners)
• Windows Mail (Features & Tutorial) (Vista4Beginners)
• Windows Mail keyboard shortcuts (Vista4Beginners)
• Windows Mail (SimpleHelp)
  

Windows Mail Custom Dictionary

• Custom Dictionary Editor for Windows Mail (Winhelponline)
  
• How to add the UK English Spell Check Option in Windows Live Mail (Winhelponline)
• Remove misspelled words from the custom dictionary in Windows Mail (Winhelponline)

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Blogs and Communities

• ActiveWin Windows Vista Infocenter
  
• Dell's Windows Vista Center
  
• Ed Bott's Windows Expertise
• Extended64.com
• ITsVISTA
  
• PROnetworks
• The Elder Geek on Windows Vista
  
• The Road to Know Where
• Vista4Beginners
• VistaRewired
• Windows Connected
  
• Windows-Now
  
• Windows Talk
  
• Windows Vista Forums
  
• Windows Vista Magazine
  

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Office 2007 and More

General

• 2007 Microsoft Office Security Guide
  
• An Office User Interface Blog
• Classic Menu for Office 2007 (Addintools)
• LiveSide - everything Windows Live
• Microsoft Office 2003 to 2007 Guides:
  
  • Word 2007
  • Excel 2007
  • PowerPoint 2007
    
• Microsoft Office Accounting Express 2007
• Microsoft Office Recent Documents Gadget for Windows Sidebar
• Microsoft Office Word Team Blog
  
• Office 2007 Downloads
• Office UI Bible (MS MVP Patrick Schmid)

Microsoft Office Outlook

• Calendar
• Adding Holidays to Your Outlook Calendar
• The Daily Task List
• Publishing a calendar using Office Online
• Sharing a calendar via email

• To-Do Bar

• Introducing the To-Do Bar...
• Make the To-Do Bar work for you!
• Removing items from the To-Do Bar
  

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Windows Vista Customizations

Desktop Wallpaper

• Desktop Wallpaper
• Microsoft Exchange Team Wallpaper
  
• Hamad Darwish | World of Photography: Windows Vista Desktop Wallpaper Pack
  
• NZ Bliss Desktop Wallpapers
• Silverlight Desktop Wallpapers (Microsoft Silverlight Team)
• Silverlight Dusk DreamScene (Microsoft Silverlight Team)
• Windows DreamScene Content Pack - via Windows Update
• DreamScene FAQ's
  

General Customizations

• Customizing Vista's Taskbar and Start Menu
• Five Ways to Bend Windows Vista to Your Will
• Just Joe
  
• MSBeta.org
• Vista Ultimate
• Win Customize

Screensavers

• Registry hacks for the Windows Vista screensavers (Long Zheng: Ribbons, Bubbles, Mystify Screensavers)
• Windows Vista Aurora Screensaver Settings (Kristan M. Kenney)
  

Sidebar Gadgets

• Inside Microsoft: Sidebar Category
• Sidebar Gadgets (Donavon West, LiveGadgets)
  
• NZ Sidebar Gadgets
• Outlook 2007 Gadgets for Windows Sidebar
• Useful Windows Vista Sidebar gadgets (Rick Broida, Lifehacker)
• Windows Sidebar - the complete guide
• Windows Vista Sidebar Gallery

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Internet Explorer 7

IE7 Community

• IE Addons
  
• IE Blog
  
• IE-Vista
  

IE7 Tips & Tricks

• Can't Save Favorites in Vista's IE7 (WindowsNow)
• Customizable Search Box (IEBlog)
• Enhance IE (Add-ons, Tweaks, Troubleshooting by Eric Lawrence)
  
• IE7 Keyboard Shortcuts (reproduced from ITP Technology)
• IE7 Printng (IEBlog)
  
• IE7 in Windows Vista: Configuring Your View Source Editor (IEBlog)
• Internet Explorer 7.0 Options (SimpleHelp)
• Internet Explorer Pop-Up Blocker Settings (Jeff Davis, Reproduced at Security Garden)
• Missing Favicon in IE7? (Jeff Davis, Reproduced at Security Garden)
• Protected Mode for IE7 in Windows Vista - Is it On or Off? (IEBlog)
• Quick Tabs (IEBlog)
  
• Understanding and Working in Protected Mode Internet Explorer (MSDN)
  

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Reviews and Collections

• ActiveWin Vista Review
• Basic Windows Vista Tutorials (About.com)
  
• Black Viper: Windows Vista Service Configurations Introduction
• Download Free Windows Vista Software from Microsoft
• Five Ways to Bend Windows Vista to Your Will
• Hands On Vista (Ed Bott)
• Hidden Vista tricks that can make you more productive
• JB's Windows Vista Support FAQ, tips, tricks, and downloads
• Paul Turrott's SuperSite for Vista
  
• Steve Sinchak's Windows Vista Usability Tips Articles
• Vista News Archive (Subscribe)
  
• Vista Power Users Guide (PDF)
• VistaRewired
• Windows Vista Training Resources
  
• Windows Vista Tweak Guide
  
• Windows Vista User Guide
  

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Windows ReadyBoost

• Boost Windows Vista system performance with ReadyBoost (ZDNet)
• Is your flash drive fast enough for Vista’s ReadyBoost? (Ed Bott)
• Optimizing ReadyBoost (HostsNews)
• ReadyBoost: Better Windows Vista Performance In A Flash (InformationWeek)
• Ready Boost Compatible Devices (IeXBeta)
• ReadyBoost Compatibility List (Grant Gibson)
• ReadyBoost Q&A (Tom Archer, MDSN)
• ReadyBoost - Using Your USB Key to Speed Up Windows Vista (Tom Archer, MSDN)
• Turn ReadyBoost on or off for a storage device (Microsoft Windows Help and How-To)
• USB Flash Memory for Windows Vista ReadyBoost (Extreme Tech)
• Using memory in your storage device to speed up your computer (Microsoft Windows Help and How-To)
• Using Windows ReadyBoost to Increase Performance in Vista (Bleeping Computer)
  
• Windows ReadyBoost (Jim Allchin, WindowsVista Blog)
• Windows ReadyBoost (Microsoft)
• Windows Vista and a UMPC: ReadyBoost 101 (jkOnTheRun)
• Windows Vista ReadyBoost Test Round-Up (ActiveWin)
  
• Windows Vista's SuperFetch and ReadyBoost Analyzed (Tom's Hardware Guide)

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Drivers, Hardware and Software

Drivers

• Driver compatibility for Windows Vista (White Paper) (Microsoft)
• DriverMax (backup drivers)
• Getting started with hardware, drivers and devices for Windows Vista (Microsoft)
• Free Vista Drivers (RadarSync)
  
• Improvements in Device Driver Management in Windows Vista (Microsoft Word Document)
• Microsoft Windows Mobile Device Center Driver for Windows Vista (64-bit) Hardware
• Repairing or updating a Windows Vista driver (Microsoft)
• (The) Vista Master Driver List (Ed Bott)
  

Hardware

• Cumulative update rollup for USB core components in Windows Vista (KB 94160)
  
• Hardware Compatibility List (IeXBeta)
• Microsoft hardware support for Windows Vista (Microsoft)
• More Windows Vista help for hardware, devices, and drivers (Microsoft)
• Reliability update for the USB stack in Windows Vista, Knowledge Base Article 925528
• Windows Vista Hardware Assessment (Microsoft)
• Windows Vista Hardware Compatibility List (Microsoft)
• Windows Hardware, Device and Drivers Help (How to) (Microsoft)

Software

• Microsoft Knowledge Base Article 933305: "Applications that have earned the "Certified for Windows Vista" logo or the "Works with Windows Vista" logo"
  
  • Hardware and software vendor contact information, A-K:
    Knowledge Base Article 65416
  • Hardware and software vendor contact information, L-P:
    Knowledge Base Article 60781
  • Hardware and software vendor contact information, Q-Z:
    Knowledge Base Article 60782
• Software Compatibility List
• Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor
  

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Virtual PC 2007

• Microsoft Virtual PC 2007 Home
• Virtual PC 2007 Download (32 Bit and 64 Bit)
  
• Virtual PC Guy's Weblog
• Using Microsoft Virtual PC 2007 for Application Compatibility (white paper)

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Microsoft Vista Blogs and Websites

Microsoft Blogs

• Microsoft Blog Directory (Todd Bishop, SeatlePI)
• Microsoft Office Blogs (Erika Ehrli)
• Windows Vista Blog
• Windows Vista Community Blogs
• Windows Vista Security
  
• Windows Ultimate
• The Windows Experience
  

Microsoft Websites

• Internet Explorer 7
  
• Microsoft Security Central
  
• MSDN
  
• Office 2007
• Support Knowledge Base (KB) (article search page)
  
• TechNet
  
• Windows Defender
  
• Windows Genuine
  
• Windows Live OneCare
• Windows Server Glossary
  
• Windows Vista Home
  
• Windows Vista Solution Center
  
• Windows Vista TechCenter
  
  

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