Vista 64 works like a dream once you do those things (such as listed by ziggie above, and maybe a bit more) to get control of your own computer back. I don't have my "good" work machine internet enabled so I can completely disregard and disable all the "for my own good and security" pains in the arse. 

Secondly, for whatever it's worth my experience (and advice) is different from Gareee (with all due respect, of course):

I say, forget and abandon the molasses slow and functionally retarded Vista search function and instead install the freeware Everything Search Engine by VoidTools,  you will be very happy that you did.