Windows Vista: Better performance

Low-priority I/O
In Windows XP, different processes can be configured to run at different priority levels, with the CPU allocating more time to high-priority tasks than to low-priority ones.

In Vista, this principle is extended to the concept of disk I/O. Now, background processes can be written to use low-priority I/O, which enables foreground applications to jump the queue and gain first access to the hard drive, again boosting responsiveness.

Many of Vista’s own services use low-priority I/O. One of these is the new disk defragmenter, which will run automatically in the background without slowing down your applications.

Unlike the Windows XP defragmenter, the Vista version is quite happy to pause and resume operation midway through the procedure. It also uses information gathered by Superfetch to help it optimise the disk layout for performance, based on your usage patterns.

Reliability
Vista’s improved diagnostics and reporting tools, combined with the added reliability afforded by features such as service hardening and digital signatures, provide a more robust operating system that’s easier to manage and troubleshoot. Other built-in tools take advantage of this.

The Reliability and Performance Monitor includes monitoring tools and system reports. Reliability Monitor itself keeps track of all system failures and software installations, and presents them on a timeline.

Vista also maintains a Reliability Index, so you can track your PC’s reliability over time and perhaps discover which particular driver or software installation may be causing you problems.

Preconfigured and user-definable diagnostic reports can be created, with an enormous level of detail to aid with technical support issues and system repair.

Where’s Dr Watson?
In previous versions of Windows, system and program crashes were analysed by a rather hopeless tool called Dr Watson. In Windows Vista, this crash analysis and reporting tool has been greatly improved and renamed ‘Problem Reports and Solutions’.

You’re probably familiar with the dialogue box that pops up when a program crashes or stops responding, asking you for permission to send an error report to Microsoft. This reporting has now been expanded to deal with more than just program crashes.

Problem Reports and Solutions uses heuristic methods to detect problematic behaviour, such as memory leaks, and reports back on them. Software developers can sign up with Microsoft to view all the reports online that are related to their software.

On the desktop, you can now keep track of problem reports and review their status. If solutions to problems have been found, they will appear in the Problem Reports and Solutions window, from which updates can installed directly by clicking on them.