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

Jerky video playback

Problem:
When you're playing a video w/a large resolution (or any video at all) on your computer, the playback jerks/freezes then unfreezes, pixelates a lot after resuming, etc

Solution:
Increase the video frame rate

Solution 2:
Bad news- your (laptop) monitor cannot keep up with the video being played, so the solution is to get an external monitor, hook it up and play it while viewing the monitor.

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...'