Optimize Vista and Windows 7 with Ultimate Windows Tweaker

If you've been around the Windows block, you almost certainly know about TweakUI, one of Microsoft's most beloved Power Toys for Windows XP. There's no modern equivalent, but The Windows Club is filling the void with the Ultimate Windows Tweaker, a free utility with dozens of ways to optimize Windows Vista and Windows 7.

The Ultimate Windows Tweaker dedicates separate pages to personalization, security, performance, networking, Internet Explorer, and more. The utility feels comprehensive; it's a one-stop shop for tweaking every imaginable Windows setting, both those that Windows exposes and some that it does not.

You can turn on legacy menu bars in folder windows, control how many items appear in jump lists, and fine-tune User Account Control's behavior.

I'm a little disappointed that Tweaker doesn't (yet?) let you modify the logon screen background image, but it's a small quibble. If you want to fiddle with all the little knobs and dials in Windows, give this app a shot. [via Lifehacker]