Check Your Vista's Statistics

here are two new tools to test how your Vista system is performing.
a) Windows System Assessment Tool
b) Reliability Monitor

a) Windows System Assessment Tool

Find out about your computer's ability to run Vista features, especially Aero Graphics.
Windows Experience Index
Level 1 at least one sub-system needs upgrading.
Level 2 very basic system.
Level 3 systems runs Aero well, suitable for Word-processing and email.
Level 4 systems will play HD video.
Level 5 systems delivers any Windows Vista scenario, especially good for gaming.
Level 6 is impossible! 5.9 is the highest rating!
To discover your Vista machine's WinSat rating
Launch the Control Panel, System and Maintenance --> Performance Information and Tools. 

There is a command line version of the Windows System Assessment Tool called WinSat.  It tests the same components as the GUI version namely, Processor, Memory, Graphics and Disk.

b) Reliability Monitor

Check how well your machine has been running.  Look back over the last week or ten days and see which factors have affected your Reliability Index.  My best score was 9.81.  Between 5 and 6 is my more usual score.
Vista Start button, click Start Search, type perfmon.  When the Reliability and Performance Monitor finishes initializing, select, Reliability Monitor.

Environment Variable:  To Troubleshoot 'Phantom' Devices

Problem: You cannot see the device you wish to configure in the Device Manager.  Here are examples of where this could be a problem, troubleshooting a USB device, a docking station, or possibly a non plug and play device.  Even clicking on the View menu and selecting Show hidden devices makes not difference, the devices don't appear.
Solution: Open the System Properties, Advanced (Tab) and click on Environmental Variables.  What you want is a New.. System Variable.
Set Variable name = DevMgr_Show_NonPresent_Devices
Set Variable value = 1
Note 1:  Use the plural NonPresent_DeviceS.
Note 2:  Add to the System variables, and not the User variable section.

I have twice used this DevMgr_Show_NonPresent_Devices technique to fix printers that did not install properly.