Consider the following scenario. You have configured offline file folders on a computer that is running Windows Vista. At the same time that offline files are synchronized, the Windows Vista-based computer switches to suspend mode. Later, you try to synchronize offline files.

In this scenario, the operation to synchronize offline files appears to succeed. For example, the file metadata, such as file size, timestamp, and other metadata is identical. However, the files on the server are corrupted, and the file contents are randomly different.

There are many ways to copy and move files from one location to another. I tend to first open two windows, one being the source, the other the destination, and then drag the file from one to the other. Cut/Copy and Paste is another common means of getting your files were you want them to go. Another option is available in Vista, as I found at the Error Forum, but it doesn’t show up by default. Here’s how you can add Copy to Folder… and Move to Folder… options to your right-click menu. Keep reading →

You use the Back up files option in the Backup and Restore Center in Windows Vista. However, files are not backed up that are encrypted by using the Encrypting File System (EFS).

Note: The Back up computer option in Windows Vista correctly backs up and restores EFS-encrypted files.

You experience issues when you try to find files on a computer that is running Windows Vista. For example, when you search for files by using a search term, you cannot find the files that you expect to find. The items do not appear in the search results. You experience this symptom even though the files exist on the computer.

Consider the following scenario:

• On a Windows Vista-based computer, you copy files to or from another computer on a network.
• This other computer is a Microsoft Windows XP-based computer or a Microsoft Windows Server 2003-based computer.
• These files are each 100 megabytes (MB) or larger.
• You use Windows Explorer to copy the files. For example, you use a drag-and-drop operation in Windows Explorer to copy the files.

In this scenario, the file transfer operation may be slightly slower than expected. This problem occurs only in certain hardware configurations. This problem does not occur when you copy files to or from another Windows Vista-based computer.

After you upgrade an earlier version of Windows to Windows Vista, some files appear to be missing. For example, the files in the My Music folder may appear to be missing.

So you’ve downloaded a zip file and now you need to open it. Maybe you need to send some files to a friend via e-mail, but they need to be in a zip file to make the trip. Don’t worry about installing any software, Vista can handle zip files in a snap. There are many ways to do it as well. I saw a post at Maximumpcguides and thought why not do an illustrated guide to how I use Vista to zip and unzip. Keep reading →

When you work in IT, you’re usually not just just dealing with data files. I need to work with application files, system files, profile files, etc. every day. By default, Vista, like XP before it, hides many of those files. One of the first things I do when I setup a machine that I’ll be working on is ‘unhide’ all of the files (and the extensions on the filenames). Keep reading →

The new search tool in Vista is far superior to the version found in the previous versions of Windows. It’s on par with Google’s Desktop Search in making it easy to find your documents, as well as applications. Being able to find your files so easily makes how you organize your files less important, which is nearly life saving for some of the users I know. But is this really a good thing? Keep reading →