Install Windows XP instead of Vista in Toshiba laptops

Most laptops run much faster if powered with Windows XP instead of the heavily bloated Vista operating system.

Maya in laptops with x3100 (mobile intel 965)

I've tried Maya 2009 in a Vista laptop equipped with a X3100 (965) graphics card. It works fine and fast. You only need to change the color depth from 32 to 16bit, thats all.

Recently, I downloaded the newly updated intel display driver for the 965, version 7.15.10.1576 , thinking that it may be better in performance. But I was surprised after installing it, to find that Maya failed to even start!

So I uninstalled the new version and installed back version 7.15.10.1472 , which I think is the best driver suitable for Maya so far. Just make sure you set the computer color to 16bit.

Deep Freeze alternative: Returnil

I started using Deep Freeze about 6 years ago. Its a very useful program. You can use it instead of all virus protection programs that usually slow down your system and require constant updates. But DF has some glitches. Sometime, its tray icon mysteriously disappear. That is a BIG problem, because you will not be able to restart in thawed mode, and you will not be able to uninstall DF either. You will probably then have to reformat your system drive, This happened to me a couple of times, and it was really frustrating. Then I discovered a nice alternative: Returnil..

Maya graphic editor problem in Vista laptops

Installing Maya 2009 on my Toshiba Satellite laptop, I faced a problem whenever I try to start the animation graphic editor, I get a black blank window. I tried everything but failed, until I stumbled accross a post that said the problem can be solved simply if you change your display color depth from 32bit to 16bit. Once I did that, the problem was gone!

To do that, right-click somewhere empty in your desktop, and select: Personalize > Display Settings.