glad to see someone posted this.... this will be by far the best thing to do for your comp. As an IT professional... vista is also a problem.. vista is a POS!!! ... but as posted by Bristol, google "optimizing computer for recording" most of what he described you can find in those links (and they will give you step by step instructions for doing so. I don't know if anyone else posted this yet, but, be sure that the computer you are using... you are using SOLELY for recording. If you are using wireless.. turn it off while recording, that helps tremendously i've found. How old is this computer you have?? Has anything been done to it aside from adding more crap to it over the period of time you've had it?? Also look up how to disable Vista Aero settings... It dumbs down the 'look' of the OS... but it definately helps out....
