A+ Certification Guide

Chapter 14Using and Managing

Windows

Chapter 14Objectives

Windows Versions and Editions Windows Features

– Aero, gadgets, Shadow Copy, and System restore Command-Line Functions

– Use the command line, especially the Windows command prompt. Administrative Features

– Use Computer Management, Services. Disk Management Run-Line Utilities

– DXDiag, MSinfo32, and Regedit Control Panel Client-Side Virtualization

Windows: How Did You Get Here? 1969—First openly available operating system: UNIX. 1973—CP/M. Forerunner to DOS; later became part of Novell. 1975/76—X window. First graphical interface: UNIX. 1980—QDOS becomes PC DOS for IBM PC. 1982—Commodore: First PC to multitask. 1988—Apple Macintosh GUI. 1985—Microsoft Windows 1.0 (not successful). 1990—Windows 3.0: First successful Microsoft GUI OS. 1993—Windows 3.11: First Microsoft Network OS. 1994—Windows 4.0: First to use NTFS. 1995—Windows 95: Added Plug ‘n’ Play. 1998—Windows 98: Added Internet connection sharing. 2000—Windows ME: First OS to try to forget. 2001—Windows 2000. 2002- Windows XP. 2006 – Windows Vista. 2009 – Windows 7.

Differences in Windows VersionsMinimum Hardware/System Requirements

Microsoft recommends much more than these minimum requirements to install and run common applications.

Windows Version

Component 7 Vista XPProcessor 1GHz 800MHz 233MHz

RAM1GB (32-bit)2GB (64-bit)

512MB 64MB

Free disk space 20GB 15GB (20GB

partition)1.5GB (2GB partition)

Video/Graphics device

DirectX 9 graphics using WDDM v1.0 or higher driver

DirectX 9 graphics using WDDM v1.0 or higher driver; 128MB of RAM

Super VGA (800[ts]600) or higher resolution

Other DVD-ROM drive DVD-ROM or CD-ROM drive

CD-ROM or DVD-ROM

Windows XP Editions

Windows XP Home Windows XP Professional

– Support for Domain controller-based networking– File and folder permissions– Remote management

Windows XP Media Center Edition– Optimized for TV viewing and recording

Windows XP 64-Bit Professional

Windows Vista EditionsAll Editions Are Both 32 and 64 Bit

Windows Vista Home Basic– Basic features of Windows Vista along with desktop window manager,

Windows Movie Maker, Windows Photo Gallery, parental controls Windows Vista Home Premium

– Windows Aero, glass effects, scheduled file backups, Windows Movie Maker HD, Windows Media Center, DVD authoring.

Windows Vista Business– Corporate and enterprise features (domain networking, file and folder

permissions, remote features, and centralized management, scheduled image and file backups, shadow copy, fax and scan, and offline files)

– Omits Parental Controls, Windows Media Center, Windows Movie Maker, and DVD Maker. Games are hidden, but can be enabled.

Windows Vista Ultimate– Combines all added features of Home Premium and Business editions, adds

BitLocker full disk encryption for system drive, UNIX-based application subsystem, multiple language support, downloadable Vista Ultimate Extras.

Windows Vista Enterprise– Vista Business edition with bitlocker encryption, UNIXapplication subsystem,

multiple language support.

Windows 7 Editions Windows 7 Starter

– All base features of Windows 7 (gadgets, DirectX 11, Windows Media Player 12, Action Center, Windows Update, image and file backups, others). Widely used on netbooks. 32-bit only.

Windows 7 Home Premium– Adds ability to create a HomeGroup, Internet TV, Windows Media Center,

multimonitor support, Aero, Windows Mobility Center, more. 32-bit and 64-bit. Windows 7 Professional

– Home Premium plus support for domain networking, file and folder permissions, remote features, and centralized management, network scheduled backup, shadow copy, group policy, offline folders, and so on and Windows XP Mode (virtualized version of Windows XP). 32-bit and 64-bit.

Windows 7 Ultimate– Includes all features of Professional, adds BitLocker nd BitLocker-to-go disk

encryption for all drives, UNIX-based application subsystem, multiple language support, support for bootable VHD images, 32-bit and 64-bit.

Windows 7 Enterprise– Based on Windows 7 Ultimate, enterprise and domain networking (diskless

PCs, multiple virtual machines, DirectAccess, AppLocker). Sold only through volume licensing .

Windows Vista/7 Features Windows Aero (not in XP) Windows sidebar/gadgets User Account Control Bit Locker Full Disk Encryption Shadow Copy System Restore ReadyBoost Event Viewer Security Center

– Windows Defender– Windows Firewall

Compatibility Mode/Windows XP Mode– Category Versus Classis View in Control Panel

Windows Easy Transfer

Vista and XP ApplicationsCompatibility

– When upgrading to XP/Vista/7, some applications, even when reinstalled, may not run properly. Options:

• Use the Compatibility Wizard to enable older apps to run:– 7 : Control Pane l Programs Run Programs made for

Previous Versions of Windows– Vista: Control Panel Programs Programs and Features;

click link to Use an Older Program– XP: Programs A ccessories Program Compatibility Wizard

• Download upgrade patches.• Buy/upgrade to new version of product.

Program Compatibility Wizard

Windows Administrative Tools Component Services

– Used by developers and administrators to configure and administer Component Object Model (COM) components

Computer Management– Manages local and remote computers, including viewing system events,

managing services, configuring hard disk storage, and others. Data Sources (ODBC)

– Moves data between different types of databases using Open Database Connectivity (ODBC)

Event Viewer– Displays the contents of system logs for errors, program start and stop, and

other significant event iSCSI Initiator

– Configures devices on storage networks that use Internet Small Computer System Interface (iSCSI) connections

Local Security Policy– Views and edits Group Policy security settings

Windows Administrative Tools Performance Monitor

– Stats and Graphs on CPU, memory, hard disk, and network performance Print Management

– Manages and administers network printers and print servers Services

– Manages background services (print spooler, search, others) System Configuration

– Starts MSConfig, which helps troubleshoot problems with Windows Task Scheduler

– Schedules programs and tasks Windows Firewall with Advanced Security

– Creates rules and other advanced firewall settings for local and remote computers on the network

Windows Memory Diagnostic– Tests computer RAM to verify proper functioning before the Windows desktop

appears Windows PowerShell Modules

– A command line scripting language

Windows File Structure/Paths Windows XP

– User folders stored in path: C:\Documents and Settings\UserName\– Folders include My Documents, Desktop, Cookies, Start Menu, User Data,

and hidden folders.– Folders for user-generated files such as My Music, My Pictures, My Videos,

and so on are stored as subfolders of My Documents.

Windows Vista File Structure and Paths– User folders stored in path: C:\Users\UserName\.– Folders such as Documents, Downloads, Favorites, Music, Pictures, Videos,

and so on are stored as subfolders of ..\UserName\.

Windows 7 File Structure and Paths– User folders and libraries stored in path: C:\Users\UserName\.– Libraries (My Documents, My Music, My Pictures, and My Videos) as well as

folders such as Desktop, Download, Favorites, Saved Games and so on are stored as subfolders of ..\UserName\.

Windows Command-Line Tools Taskkill Shutdown Tasklist Make Directory Remove Directory Change Directory (MD, RD, CD) Delete a file (DEL) Format Copy Xcopy Robocopy Diskpart Help

Windows Command-Line Tools Defrag: Clean up hard drive to get rid of discontiguous files.

– From command line, use Defrag.– From Drive Properties sheet Tools tab Disk

Defragmenter. NTBackup: To back up folders and files.

– Execute from Run line. CHKDSK.exe: To check the hard disk for physical errors.

– Run from the command line.– Drive Properties sheet Disk Cleanup.

Format: Will prepare a drive to accept data. “Erases” existing data:

– Use extra caution when using this tool.– Use “format” from command line.– Right-click My Computer Manage Disk Management

Console.

Internal Versus External Commands

Internal: When the command line is employed, a series of commands are automatically loaded and available.

– Examples: MD, CD, RD, DEL, COPY, ERASE, DIR.– See Table 14-2 for a full list.

External: Must be specifically loaded from the hard drive using the following:

– Command line– Start menu– Desktop icons– Examples include Defrag and NTBackup

Windows File Systems

File systems describe the organization of data on a drive

– How large files can be– How efficiently data can be stored– How secure the data will be – Access from more than one operating system

Supported Windows File Systems– FAT32 (File Allocation Table 32 bit)– exFAT (FAT64) for 64-bit OS– NTFS (New Technology File System)

• This is the preferred and default option.

NTFS Features Access control—Different levels of access control by group, or user can be

configured for both folders and individual files. Built-in compression—Files, folders, or an entire drive can be compressed. A practical limit for partition sizes of 2TB. Individual recycle bins for each user. Support for the Encrypting File System (EFS)—EFS enables data to be

stored in an encrypted form. No password; no access to files! Support for mounting a drive:

– Enables you to access a removable-media drive's contents—For example, as if its contents are stored on your hard disk.

– The hard disk's drive letter is used to access data on both the hard disk and the removable media drive.

Disk quota support—The administrator of a system can enforce rules about how much disk space each user is allowed to use for storage.

Hot-swapping—Removable-media drives that have been formatted with NTFS can be connected or removed while the operating system is running.

Indexing—Locate information quickly when the Search tool is used.

Run-Line UtilitiesFrom Start button, select rUn/Search box.

SERVICES.MSC– Views Windows Services

MMC– Microsoft Management Console

Notepad– Opens Notepad text editor

Explorer– Starts Windows Explorer

MSInfo32– Windows System Information

DXDiag– Starts DirectX Diagnostic

MSConfig– Starts System Configuration utility

Regedit– Launches Registry Editor

CMD– Opens Command Prompt

Folder ManagementTwo methods tomanage folders (directories): Command Line:

– MD = Make Directory.– CD = Change Directory.– RD = Remove Directory.

Windows Explorer/My Computer:– GUI—Point and click management– Right-click in drive/directory space to

• Create new folder (make directory).• Rename a folder. • Delete (remove) a folder/file.

– Easier navigation using back/forward, up/down pointers in menu bar/navigation bar.

Folder Options

Folder Options Access:Access Windows Explorer.Menu bar is hidden by default.

•To show it temporarily, press Alt+T (which in this case brings up the Tools menu).

•To show it permanently, click the Organize button, then Layout, and then Menu Bar.

File Management Similar to folder management:

– Right-click to• Create, rename, and delete files.• New files can be specifically linked to programs installed on

the system:– Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Windows Media Player

– Left-click to• Open the file (execute it).

System file types:– Binary

• Example: .exe and .com– Text

• Example: .bat– .exe, .com., and .bat are examples of file extensions.

File and Folder Attributes Files can have certain attributes or properties assigned to them.

Attributes include– Archive: Indicates whether the file has been archived (that is, backed

up). If the archive bit is off, the file does not need to be backed up. If the archive bit is changed, the bit is turned on to indicate that the backup program should include it in the next backup.

– Read-only: File cannot be deleted or changed.– System: Cautionary bit to warn against accidental deletion.– Hidden: Causes the file to not appear in the list of files.– Compression: Reduces storage space used by file.– Encryption: Invokes the EFS on the file to restrict access.

Attributes can be changed/modified by– Command line use of attrib command.– In GUI, Windows Explorer, right-click a file to access File Properties.

Check/Uncheck the attributes as wanted.

Windows Components:Virtual Memory

Use of hard drive space to substitute for RAM.– Data is sent to hard drive while waiting to be processed by the

CPU.

Is only accessed when there are insufficient RAM addresses available to store data in use.

Causes a performance decrease.– Hard drive is much…much slower than RAM.

Use performance monitor to see if RAM is insufficient.• Perfmon.exe.• Pages consistently near 100% indicate a need for

more RAM. Solution is to add more RAM.

XP Power Option DefaultsPower Scheme

Display Off

Hard Disk Off

Standby CPU on AC

CPU on Battery

Home/Office Desk 20 minutes Never Never High Varies with

load

Portable/Laptop 15 minutes 30

minutes20 minutes

Varies with load

Varies with load

Presentation Never Never Never Low Low to lower

Always on 20 minutes Never Never High High

Minimal Power Management 15 minutes Never Never Varies

with loadVaries with load

Max 15 minutes Never 20 minutes

Varies with load

Low to lower

Windows Vista/7 Power Options

Balanced– Default plan

Power saver– Reduces CPU performance and screen brightness more than

with Balanced plan for longest battery life High performance (under Show Additional Options)

– Fastest CPU performance, brightest screen, shortest battery life

Virtualization Options Host/Guest Virtualization

– PC or workstation runs a standard operating system and a virtualization machine manager (VMM) that runs inside the operating system.

– Each virtual machine (VM) is a guest operating system.– Examples

• Virtual Box: Microsoft• Workstation: VMWare

Hypervisor– VMM that runs directly on the hardware, not inside a host OS– Faster than Host/Guest model– Also known as VDI or Virtual Desktop Interface– Examples:

• Hyper-V: Microsoft• ESX/ESXi: VMWare• Xen Server: Citrix

Reflection Amber has just called to tell you that her system is "slow." She

restarted it, thinking that would fix it. It worked for a small time, but now it is slow again.

– By "slow," she says that the mouse clicks take many seconds to respond, and the Microsoft Word program seems stuck.

– Which tool can you use to verify this user's observation and perhaps tell you what is happening?

What Have You Learned?

– What are some things to check if the system seems to be slowing down?

– What is the difference between an internal command and an external one?

– Name two hardware requirements that are different for XP vwersus Vista.

– Where would you go to shut down a process/program application that is not responding?

– Name two of the files needed to successfully boot• XP• Vista

Chapter 14Summary Windows Versions and Editions Windows Features

– Aero, gadgets, Shadow Copy, and System restore Command-Line Functions

– Use the command line, especially the Windows command prompt. Administrative Features

– Use Computer Management, and Services Disk Management Run-Line Utilities

– DXDiag, MSinfo32, and Regedit Control Panel Client-Side VirtualizationNext Lesson: Chapter 15