you need at least 1GB ram for vista to function properly but 2GB is optimal. You can shut down aero and other little things but then it's pretty much like xp and it's not going to be fast anyway. There is nothing else you can do about it

We(my store) get tons of laptops returns because of the same exact problem,and the problm is that with Vista it was desgined to work well with 2Gb of RAM and a dual processor chip,and most laptops come with only 1GB of memory.So to get the best performance out of your laptop I suggest that you uprade your Ram and see the difference yourself.

___________________
Mystic Mind - DJ Mixes
http://soundcloud.com/mystic-mind

Facebook page
https://www.facebook.com/DJMysticMind

http://www.tweakguides.com/TGTC.html

i never used the one for Vista, but the Windows XP guide was excellent.

___________________
Everything is beautiful. Let the music carry you. Baby I will follow you forever. Nowhere else I'd rather be when you're lying next to me. Let the music carry us together.
anti-JennyPie Alliance
SuspicionVandit: Are you God?
Paul Van Dyk 09-24-2009: No, but I can sign your sleeve under that name if you let me!

Format it with Windows XP Pro

___________________
▓▒▒▒▓▓▓▓▓▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▓▒▒▒▓▓▓▓▓▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▓
▓▒▒▒▓▓▓▓▓▒▒▒▓▒▒▒▓▒▒▒▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▒▒▒▓
▓▒▒▒▓▓▓▓▓▒▒▒▓▒▒▒▓▒▒▒▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▒▒▒▓▓▓
▓▒▒▒▓▓▓▓▓▒▒▒▓▒▒▒▓▒▒▒▓▓▓▓▓▒▒▒▓▓▓▓▓
▓▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▓▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▓▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▓▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▓

^^ I agree
I tried vista on my work laptop. It lasted about 2 hours before I got the win xp cd out. Avoid Vista like the motherfucking plague.

http://www.speedyvista.com

I recommend that and the TweakGuide companion already posted, great for services tweaking.