Change Drive Letters in Vista

Problem: Your drive letters spontaneously changed themselves upon restart & you want to change them back.  (Or perhaps you just want to change your drive letters)

Solution: Start button > Control Panel > Administrative Tools > Computer Management > (on the L) Disk Management > R click on the drive you want to change > Change Drive Letter and Paths

File Edit View Tools Bar

Problem: You're running Windows Vista & you want to see the hidden files/folders (or something else requiring the 'File Edit View Tools' Bar) and it's not there.

Solution: (Windows Key) + E > Alt

Bluetooth Headset Audio Delay

Problem: You're watching a video using some A2DP Bluetooth Headphones to listen to the audio & there's a lag in the audio.

Solution:

1. Download & install VLC Media Player (if you're not already using it)
2. Make sure your bluetooth headset is paired with the laptop/computer 
3. Open the video in VLC MediaPlayer
4. Use the 'J' and 'K' keys to adjust the audio ('J' to speed it up, 'K' to slow it down)
   *More likely than not, you'll be using the 'J' but not the 'K' (unless you speed it up too much).

Disable Sony Vaio Touchpad

Problem:
That dang touchpad is screwing you up by being so sensitive that when you brush it w/your thumbs while typing, it resets the cursor position to some other god-forsaken place in your Word document and screws up your paragraph.

Solution A:
C: > Program Files > Sony > Setting Utility Series > VCCPointingDevice > Uncheck the box next to "Enable"
*Create a shortcut to this program so you don't have to go through all the hassle of finding it again when you want to re-enable your touchpad.

Solution B: for when your "VCCPointingDevice.exe" is not there (like my Z-690's wasn't)
Start > Control Panel > VAIO Control Center > (on the left) Keyboard and Mouse > Pointing Device > Uncheck "Enable" > Apply
*Leave this open until you're ready to re-enable your touchpad (if you're planning to do it soon before you restart/log off/shut down). It's just easier than finding it again.
*Crate a shortcut for "VAIO Control Center" on your desktop if you plan to do this often.

Solution C: because Sony can't make up their god dang minds about where to put stuff...
Start > Control Panel > Sony Notebook Setup > Device > uncheck 'pointing device'

Changing Vista to 256 color mode

1. Find the .exe application file in your Program Files folder (or wherever you installed it)
2. R-click > Properties > Compatibility (tab) > check the box next to "Run in 256 colors" > OK
   

Tell whether your computer has the 32-bit or 64-bit version of Windows Vista

Problem: You don't know whether or your PC is running the 32 or 64-bit version of Windows Vista

Solution: Start > type in "msinfo32.exe" > Enter > look for "System Type"
If your system type is listed as....
x86-based PC = 32-bit version of Vista
x64-based PC = 64-bit version of Vista

Create a Restore Point in Vista

Start > Control Panel > System > System Protection (in L toolbar) > Create

Useful Links

Sony Vaio VGN-Z690 Drivers

View/update a list of drivers on Vista

Start > R-click 'Computer' > Manage > Device Manager (L pane) > R-click any device and select 'Update Driver Software...'