Test Windows Vista - part 2

User accounts

Besides the different software already present, Microsoft has also strongly increased the security in Windows Vista by entirely reconsidering its operations, particularly in the use of user accounts.

To remind you, until now under Windows XP, we generally used two types of accounts, the "restricted user" account that restricted us from even installing a simple program on the computer like CD writing software, and the "administrator" account that gave full access to the system. Honestly, the restricted user account had restrictions that were too large and was therefore never used by private users, preferring instead to use the default administrator account. This was actually a big mistake! By doing this, in the case of an intrusion, the person or spy software that gained access to your computer now has access to your session and therefore the whole computer. Microsoft got the message and decided to follow the examples of their competitors, Linux and Mac OS.

"Standard" user account

The "restricted account" offered by Vista gives a lot more rights to a standard home user. This account will allow you to install software and carry out various adjustments, but will not allow access to the heart of the system (not used by the majority of users). The administrator account will not be offered by default, and should no longer be used, except to perform specific system actions that require special rights.

Note: If you try and change something that requires administrative rights, a window will open allowing you to enter the appropriate password for the account. Simple and efficient, this trick provides a normal user an account without too many restrictions, but also the option of running an administrators session!

"Run Elevated" Function (Old "Runas")

Henceforth, if somebody is able to intrude on your system, they will no longer have access to the entire system with the potential for major damage greatly reduced.

Other security put into place by Microsoft, all automatic system modifications will pop up a box asking if you wish to perform this operation. This trick will get rid of someone (software for example) modifying your system settings without your authorization. Practical!

Confirmation request

We can also cite the Tighter Control tool that allows administrators to block the installation of applications or peripherals from a distance, USB keys for example.

In the same line, another tool will make it possible for network administrators to authorize or prohibit the installation of removable storage units.

As for stability, Microsoft has changed for the better the function of some of their drivers. For example, printer drivers that regularly provoke system failures under Windows XP should not have the same problem with Vista. If a driver is no good, the system will warn you that the state is not stable with the installation of the driver.

In the same way, Glitch-Free makes it possible to improve the reliability of the system by giving privileges to resources. For example, the video card can be given preference to the detriment of other resources avoiding any skipping effects if you are watching a video.

At the performance level one can look at SuperFetch, which makes it possible to automatically load into memory the most often used programs in order to allow faster access. Moreover, it now makes it possible to access external storage units and to use them as cache, which will improve even more the general performance of the system.

Finally, let us also note that Microsoft has completely reconsidered the architecture of its system, since this is after all the central system used for all its versions, completely independent of locally used files (English, French). This means that there its no longer necessary to state your location for automatic updates as these will be applicable on any version of Vista when they are released and will only very few will be language specific! This should greatly simplify the distribution of updates and especially reduce the time taken for languages other then English’s updates to be put online. A very good thing indeed!

Im going to stop descriptions of the new features now but know that the list is quite exhaustive!