Windows Vista A New Vista User With Questions

[FONT= "Arial"][SIZE= "2"]It took me a while to switch from Windows 98 to XP because of all the initial problems but now after a couple of years with it I like it. Now I have put together another computer to look at the Vista. Since I do not need a lot of all that fancy stuff I got the Home Basic version which is somewhat like XP. Since I am the only user on my computer the first thing I did was disable the User Account Control. I got tired of the dang thing always asking me if I am sure that I want to do what I want to do. Now I have 2 questions, an easy one and a hard one.

First off whenever I start my computer or start my Live Messenger I get a set up box for "Speech Recognition ". Since I do not have a microphone or any need to talk to my computer I would like to know if there is any way I can disable or actually remove the Speech Recognition process. (That was the easy one, I think)

Now when I used XP I liked the ability to go into the Documents and Settings folder and customize the Start Menu. I like a start menu that is made up of folders only like a filing cabinet with each folder containing similar programs such as "Security" "Messengers" "Utilities" "Applications" etc. First off let me say that I am on my Vista computer as the only user and an administrator. Now on the C: drive in Vista there is a documents and settings folder but when I try to access it I get the "Access Denied" Message. I looked on and found that the information that was contained in the "Documents and Settings" folder of the XP was actually in the "Users" folder in the Vista. So I went there and found my folder and the All Users folders and sure enough I found the Start Menu folder. When I try to look in it I get the same "Access Denied ". I emailed Microsoft and was told to find the Start Menu I needed to use the search function and I did and I found it. However when I did and I opened it, which I could, there was only about half of the entries I found on my actual Start Menu. OK The hard question. I want to be able to look into any folder on my computer including System Folders, Hidden Folders and everything. I have looked at folder options and set everything to view all and removed and checks to hide things and I am at my wits end. Does anyone know how to be able to look at everything on my computer. I realize that Microsoft only has my security in mind but I am the only one who looks at this computer and I do not need Big Brother looking over my shoulder and tell me that I can't do that.

I am getting the impression that they should have named this operating system Windows for Dummies.

Can anyone help, please.

Thanks[/SIZE][/FONT]

 

For the Speech Recognition question, go to Control Panel>Speech Recognition Options. Then in the left-hand pane, click on Advanced Speech Options. In that window, uncheck "Run speech recognition at startup," click OK.

"Documents and Settings" in Vista isn't actually a folder, it's a "junction." Information on what a junction is on this page (the part relevant to Vista is about halfway down the page).

 

New Vista User With Questions

OK I went in and looked the box for run at start up wasn't checked so I checked it and hit apply then unchecked it and clicked apply again. Let's hope that fixes it.

 

[FONT= "Arial"][SIZE= "2"]OK I guess my hard question was too hard but waiting patiently has paid off. I finally got a response from Microsoft and what they told me I will share in case anyone else wants to organize their Start Menu.

First off the Start Menu is no longer located in the simple and descriptive Start Menu folder. It is in 2 separate folders. The Public Start Menu folder and the Private Start Menu folder.

The Public Start Menu folder:

C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\

The Private Start Menu folder;

C:\User\<User Name>\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\

It seems the developers of Windows Vista had a lot of time on their hands or else they definitely did not believe in simplicity.

I hope that information will help someone.[/SIZE][/FONT]