[DudeBoyz]

Can't seem to figure out how to help a dude disable Fast User Switching so he can free up memory like he did in XP.

Anyone know how?

Thanks

[Zelig]

Run > gpedit.msc

Local Computer Policy > Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > System > Logon

There, you can change "Hide entry points for fast user switching" and/or "Always use classic logon".

However, the underlying support for fast user switching can't be disabled/removed, and no memory will be saved by doing this. If only one user is logged in, no extra resources are being used anyway.

[DudeBoyz]

Windows Vista Home Premium doesn't seem to allow GPEDIT.MSC to run. Keep getting an error message.

But it sounds like it won't matter.

Why would they not allow you to turn it off in Vista at all? XP had it, and for a person who really wants to free up resources on a laptop rig, it would seem to be worth doing.

Stupid Mickeysoft.

[Zelig]

It doesn't take any extra resources if the fast user switching isn't actually used though.

edit: To be precise, it doesn't take resources in any way that will affect performance of other applications.

[DudeBoyz]

It seemed to make a diff in XP. I would have thought it would also in Vista.

The dudes laptop has massive sound stuttering issues too. What up with that? He must need a sound driver update or something.

[poliveto]

Originally Posted by Zelig

It doesn't take any extra resources if the fast user switching isn't actually used though.

edit: To be precise, it doesn't take resources in any way that will affect performance of other applications.

Actually, displaying the welcome screen with all defined users DOES use more memory. Allowing a user to utilize Fast User Switching requires a specific service to be enabled and running. Every service and application utilize system resources. Would it be enough to have an adverse affect on a PC? Depends on the speed of the unit and available resources.

Anyone who creates multiple users on a Vista Home machine will notice start up delays. All those individual images eat up more memory and slow down the boot time.

I too have been looking for a way to remove the welcome screen. Vista is suppose to be the most secure Windows OS, yet we are forced to provide a list of all your defined users to the person trying to log onto your system?... Smart MS.

I'm sure there is a registry setting that just needs to be modified. Too bad no one here has figured that out yet. Guess I'll find it myself.

[DudeBoyz]

If you do find it, please share the solution with us.

Vista is still a crazy little mystery...

Thanks

[PangingJr]

this below registry setting disables Fast User Switching feature in Vista.
Use this info at your own risk.



restart Explorer (Shell) to see the changes (or restart Windows).

to restart Explorer, run the below command lines,
[Enter] key after each command line.

TASKKILL /F /IM explorer.exe
start explorer.exe

[DudeBoyz]

But does it stop the services to free up the resources?

[PangingJr]

what is the name of Windows's Service that you want it to stop running?

[DudeBoyz]

In Windows XP, you turned off fast user switching, it didn't just hide it - it disabled it and unloaded whatever was in memory that took up resourced related to it.

Vista don't do that, sadly. At least not by default.

I don't know what the new services are, that's why I'm asking ya'all.

[PangingJr]

but that is in XP, in Vista if you want to diasble the feature you enable the Group Policy settings, or in the case that you use the Vista's edition that do not include the Group Policy setting you can enable the setting in registry directly.

[DudeBoyz]

But all that setting appears to do is HIDE the service from that particular login page. It does not actually remove it from memory, at least according to some Google Searching I have been doing.

That's the part that bugs me. I want to not just HIDE it but totally UNLOAD and DISABLE the service. I just don't know how to do that.

[PangingJr]

there are some changes in Windows Services Model for Vista, the environment in which the Services function in Vista has also changed. Vista is not XP, not like XP.

[DudeBoyz]

Originally Posted by PangingJr

there are some changes in Windows Services Model for Vista, the environment in which the Services function in Vista has also changed. Vista is not XP, not like XP.

Which is all reason enough to SCREW Vista and stick with XP, I guess.

But what do you do with new systems that have Vista pre-installed? Are you stuck with Vista, are can you legally run XP instead, given that you have a valid license?

[mkk]

I think I've been looking for the same thing, a way to turn off the flashy logon/welcome screen in favor of the faster loading classic WinNT/2000 logon. Unfortunately that classic logon routine doesn't seem to exist in Vista, so there's nothing leaner to switch to...

And when it comes to services there are new and different dependencies that makes it more difficult to turn things off without losing functionality. While it irks me that the list of running processes in Task Manager doesn't fit on my screen I've largely given up optimising Vista in any similar mannor as I did WinXP. For anything less than a high performance system I'd stick with WinXP for sure. 2GB RAM and a fast harddrive is pretty much a requirement for doing anything.

I'm pretty sure there aren't any systems sold to home users under a license which prehibits installation of another OS than Vista. It would be an easy target for lawsuits. Rented/leased systems maybe.

[DudeBoyz]

I swear - if Steve Jobs would release OS X for all hardware platforms, Vista might be in some serious trouble.

[PangingJr]

Originally Posted by DudeBoyz

Which is all reason enough to SCREW Vista and stick with XP, I guess.

But what do you do with new systems that have Vista pre-installed? Are you stuck with Vista, are can you legally run XP instead, given that you have a valid license?

well i don't have any questions that i need them to be answered about the function of Services, nor the FUS feature in Vista yet, i probably don't care to even try to guess any thing about it that much. until i think i have a problem or have more intesrests about it i guess.

as for the new questions, i don’t know the answer to that questions, DudeBoyz.
but i think you may be able to find out in the Microsoft Software License Terms for OEM version of Vista.
you should be able to access and view the license terms by typing in winver... and you probably be able to find out about it for even more info or to confirm the info you received from wherever by contacting Microsoft directly, and/or perhaps the people who sell you the copy of the software.

okay, according to the info in the ADDITIONAL LICENSE TERMS of Windows VISTA ULTIMATE's which is part of the Microsoft Software License Terms for OEM version of Vista....
DOWNGRADE to the following earlier Windows versions is okay for the existing Vista OEM on the licensed device:
· Microsoft Windows XP Professional,
· Microsoft Windows Professional x64 Edition, or
· Microsoft Windows XP Tablet PC Edition.
but however this only based on my understanding, so i may be incorrect.

[DudeBoyz]

Thanks for the informative post - much appreciated.