• There are many utilities with which you can completely customize your Windows Vista experiencecomputer image by michele goglio from Fotolia.com
  
  One of the key advantages Windows operating systems have over competing systems is the inherent ability to tweak and customize the look, feel and performance of the computer to the user's liking. Whether you want get rid of the tiny shortcut arrow on folders and files or manage your backups, there are a number of utilities designed to allow you to customize your computer just the way you like it.
  
  

Ultimate Windows Tweaker

• Tweak UI was the original Windows customization tool. It was first released by Microsoft to coincide with their Windows 95 release. The program continued to be retooled for each subsequent operating system until the release of Windows Vista, when it discontinued. However, the original developer, Raymond Chen, continued to work on the program and release it independently under the name Ultimate Windows Tweaker.
  
  Tweak UI for Windows Vista allows you to adjust dozens of settings, including adding or removing items from the start menu, launching folders as independent processes, changing the login method back to the traditional Ctrl+Alt+Del and many, many more.
  
  

Mz Vista Force

• Mz Vista Force is, perhaps, the ultimate Vista tweaking software. It allows you to change settings that can improve system performance and how the operating systems look. You can also optimize your Internet connection for faster browsing and clean up duplicate and "junk" files from your hard drive.
  
  

TweakUAC

• While Microsoft's User Account Control settings are designed to keep users from installing unwanted software and viruses, users generally find it to be more annoying than helpful. Microsoft does allow you to disable the setting within Windows, but the operating system will still nag you about turning it back on. TweakUAC allows you to control UAC by turning it on and off or putting it into a quiet mode, which keeps administrators from being bothered by UAC prompts, but keeps the settings in place for limited users.
  
  

TweakVI Basic

• Tweak VI Basic is another customization tool that gives users hundreds of potential tweaks, ensuring that Vista works just the way you want it to work. Within TweakVI, you can change the way the start menu works, skin Internet Explorer's toolbars, change the type of animation Windows uses when minimizing and maximizing programs and folder and much more.
  
  

Windows Sidebar Styler

• The Windows Vista sidebar is a pretty useful feature, as it can contain information about the weather, your latest emails, information from your RSS readers and much more. Despite its usefulness, many users choose not to use it because it has a plain and boring look. Windows Sidebar Styler allows you to download custom themes and gadgets that will make your sidebar look just the way you need it to look.
  
  

CCleaner

• CCleaner will index your entire hard drive and look for duplicate files and unneeded registry entries. If you are running low on hard drive space or your computer has been a bit sluggish lately, CCleaner will free up some valuable space and remove any unneeded registry files that just slow down processing times. Keep in mind that the program cannot repair broken or damaged files and registry entries, it can only delete them. Use CCleaner with caution, as it can be over zealous and delete important files; be sure to review each file before confirming its deletion.
  
  

AVG Free

• AVG is, arguably, the best free antivirus available for Windows. The lightweight program runs smoothly in the background and will guard your machine from potential virus infestations. Grisoft, the company behind AVG, continues to update the free version of their antivirus to provide users with a safe and enjoyable computing experience.
  
  

Switcher

• With Windows Vista, Microsoft released their 3D-flip switching feature (accessible by pressing Windows+tab on your keyboard), and in the process lessened the gap between the Windows switching program and Mac's Expose switching feature. If you are a fan of OS X's Expose, in which the operating system will tile all open windows on the screen and allow you to choose the appropriate program, download Switcher to bring that functionality to Windows Vista.
  
  

Paint.NET

• Who doesn't love playing around in Microsoft Paint? There comes a point, though, when you have to graduate to a more sophisticated picturing program. Paint.NET is an unofficial upgrade to Microsoft Paint that has been developed and maintained by the original Paint programmers. The program has the look and feel of the much loved and respected Microsoft Paint, but offers more advanced features, such as layers, "undo" functionality and much more.
  
  

Belarc Advisor

• The Belarc Advisor program is your one-stop shop to learn everything there is to know about your Vista machine. It will index your drive and tell you information about your operating system, updates installed, programs installed and it will advise you on suggested hardware upgrades and software updates needed to keep your computer running smoothly.