How to add and remove Windows Vista features

One of the most common problems reported lately by our readers is not knowing how to add or remove certain features of Windows Vista. To answer their questions and help them customize the Windows Vista features the way they want to, we have decided to write this article. Even though the procedure is generally similar to Windows XP, in Windows Vista there is a key difference.

In Windows XP and earlier versions, to turn a feature off you had to uninstall it completely from your computer. In Windows Vista the features remain stored on your hard disk, so you can turn them back on if you want to. This can be a good thing as you don’t have to insert the Windows Vista DVD each time your want to turn on a features. Also, this is not so great because you won’t be able to save any disk space by removing the features you don’t need. It seems that, in this case, Microsoft traded ease of use for additional hard disk space.

Turning on or off Windows Vista features can be done from Programs and Features. One of the ways to find it is to search for the word programs in the Start Menu search box.

Start Menu

In the Programs and Features window, click on Turn Windows features on or off. If UAC (User Account Control) is enabled you might need to make an additional confirmation.

Programs and Features

Now you will see a list with all the available Windows Vista features. Some features are grouped together in folders, and some folders contain subfolders with additional features. To view the contents of a folder, double-click it or click on the “+” sign.

If a check box of a folder is partially checked or appears dark, then some of the items inside it are enabled and some are disabled. If a feature is checked then it is enabled already. The features that are not checked are disabled.

Programs and Features

For this tutorial, we will choose first to disable one of the Windows Ultimate Extras. As you can see in this screenshot, both the Windows DreamScene Preview and the final version are listed as installed. We will disable the Preview version as it is not needed anymore.

Programs and Features

Also, we would like to disable the Windows Vista Games. So we scroll up to the Games folder and deselect it.

Programs and Features

You can enable or disable any of the listed Windows Vista features. After you decided upon what to add or remove from Windows Vista, click on OK. Windows Vista will perform the appropriate actions.

Programs and Features

Wait until the progress bar disappears. Then, Windows Vista might ask you to restart the computer so that the required changes will be implemented in the system.

Programs and Features

Related articles:
Add/Remove Programs – nowhere to be found?
How to work with the new Windows Update

3 thoughts on “How to add and remove Windows Vista features”

  1. Install Vista on my Desktop
    Dear Ciprian,
    My Vista Home Premium came pre-installed on my Toshiba P105-6147, I have a IBM desktop, can I install Vista on the IBM as well, I am having DSL install this week through a copper cable, using a D-Link router, this for my home.
    I would use the Notebook to be mobile and wireless, and the desktop for work and storage. ?

    Another question if you may, I had a bundled software AverMedia USB Hybrid Capture Device and uninstalled it in error, can you tell me what it was for and how to re-install it ?
    Thank you
    learning mode !
    Mark R.

    • Information
      Yes,you can use Windows Vista for ur IBM Desktop provided your system is having all necessary requirements.As far as AverMedia USB Hybrid Capture Device software is concerned,it is mainly oriented with Audio/video transferring.You want to download that softawre again inorder to install that into ur machine.

  2. Windows updates
    the last new windows updates screw up my mouse scroll and pointer functions. This is with a wireless mouse or if I install a wired mouse. bottom line I do not want any more windows updates. what happens if I never install any more of them? I know its one of the updates because my computer works fine since I used system restore to the day before the updates. I am using explorer 8 vista 64 bit.
    The updates cause more problems than they solve. Who need them.

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