The Microsoft Management Console

The MMC is a powerful Windows Vista administration and troubleshooting tool available to users with sufficient security privileges. The MMC enables you to administer PC hardware settings, specific areas of Windows, and network components .

The MMC also has snap-ins (small applications) available from Microsoft and third-party application providers. Here is a sampling of MMC snap-ins available by default in the Microsoft Windows Vista Business, Enterprise, and Ultimate editions:

• ActiveX Control

• Authorization Manager

• Certificates

• Components

• Computer Management

• Device Manager

• Disk Management

• Event Viewer

• Link to Web Address

• Local Users and Groups

• Shared Folders

• Task Scheduler

• Windows Firewall and Advanced Security on Local Computer

The Event Viewer

The Event Viewer is your window into errors that sometimes plague Windows Vista. Moreover, with the inevitable application compatibility issues with Windows Vista that may erupt in the weeks and months after the product launch, being able to track system events is going to be key to troubleshooting.

The Event Viewer is available from the Windows Vista Control Panel. The user interface is split into three columns . The far-left column enables access to custom views, Windows Logs, Applications and Services Logs, and subscriptions. The middle column has more of a dashboard look and feel to it with a summary of administrative events by Event Type, Event ID, Source, Log, and Time (Last Hour, 24 Hours, 7 Days, and Total). The far-right column is reserved for actions, including Open Log File and Create Custom Views.

Performance Logs and Alerts

In the and months after the launch of Windows Vista, real people are going to have to get Windows Vista performing under real-life conditions in corporate office and home offices, unlike the pundits and journalists who have been tinkering with the operating system during its beta and release candidates within controlled environments on the latest hardware.

The MMC includes performance logs and alerts that can help you home in on application performance issues that you may encounter with Vista.

Device Manager

Device Manager lets you determine which devices are running on your PC. You can also use Device Manager to update driver software for your devices, check whether hardware is functioning properly, and modify your hardware settings.

Click Start Control Panel System and Maintenance Device Manager to open Device Manager.

Note  

Access to Device Manager requires you to have administrator privileges to your PC.