Managing Everything

Windows Vista provides a powerful administrative tool called the Computer Management Console, which gives you access to almost everything on your computer system. You can use this tool to explore your computer and learn about the various adjustments you can make, andarmed with a little knowledgeyou can then use the tool to maintain and improve your system.

Use the Console

Log on as an Administrator, click the Start button, type man in the Search box, and click Computer Management to display the Computer Management Console.

Click an item to see a subtopic or category, and then click an item to see the details.

Use the items in the main pane to gather information or adjust settings. Close the console when you've finished.

Computer Management Console Items

Item	What it does
Task Scheduler	Manages computer tasks that are run automatically.
Event Viewer	Displays system log and other event logs.
Shared Folders	Monitors which items are shared on the network and by whom.
Reliability And Performance	Provides technical data about the running of the computer.
Device Manager	Provides access to manage all hardware devices on the system.
Storage	Provides information and management of all storage devices.
Services And Applications	Provides management of all services available on your computer.

Tip

To access many of these tools without using the Computer Management Console, and to access some additional tools, click the Start button, type admin in the Search box, and click the Administrative Tools folder.