Users of the Windows Vista operating system can download a PDF or XPS file to learn tips on how to improve the performance of their operating system.
One of the tips is using a USB stick as an additional cache for the computer and defragging a hard drive. Another tip tells the reader that they should use standby mode rather than shutting down their computer.
Desktop graphics play a factor too and Microsoft says that users should disable visual effects to increase performance.
The article at Heise Online notes that system RAM is a performance issue. Vista’s minimum requirement is between 512 MB to 1 GB. Several organizations are getting good results with 2 GB according to Microsoft’s document.
Source: Heise Online

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Best tips I can give for Vista users is go back to XP or get a Mac.