Chapter Three Using the System Utilities

Objectives Understand and use the Control Panel applets Understand and use the Control Panel applets Use the Scheduled Tasks to automate tasks Use the Scheduled Tasks to automate tasks Install and configure new hardware Install and configure new hardware Create hardware profiles for changing system configurations Create hardware profiles for changing system configurations Describe the versatility of the Microsoft Management Console Describe the versatility of the Microsoft Management Console Create your own custom MMC consoles Create your own custom MMC consoles

Control Panel Overview Control Panel Control Panel Collection of tools and utilities within Windows, where most system- and hardware-level installation and configuration take place Collection of tools and utilities within Windows, where most system- and hardware-level installation and configuration take place Applets Applets Tool or utility found in the Control Panel that typically has a single, focused purpose or function Tool or utility found in the Control Panel that typically has a single, focused purpose or function

Control Panel Overview Figure 3-1: The Control Panel in Category view

Control Panel Overview Figure 3-2: The Appearance and Themes category Wizard

Control Panel Overview Table 3-1: Category Wizards from the Control Panel

Control Panel Overview The Control Panel hosts the applets and utilities used to install and configure devices and software (particularly services ) The Control Panel hosts the applets and utilities used to install and configure devices and software (particularly services ) Figure 3-3: The Control Panel applet icons in Classic View

Accessibility Options This applet is where special interface features can be enabled and tuned for the visual-, audio-, and movement-impaired user This applet is where special interface features can be enabled and tuned for the visual-, audio-, and movement-impaired user Keyboard tab Keyboard tab Sound tab Sound tab Display tab Display tab Mouse tab Mouse tab General tab General tab

Add Hardware Plug and Play (PnP) Plug and Play (PnP) Technology that allows an operating system to inspect and identify a device, install the correct driver, and enable the device, all without user interaction Technology that allows an operating system to inspect and identify a device, install the correct driver, and enable the device, all without user interaction Driver Driver Software element used by an operating system to control a device Software element used by an operating system to control a device The Add Hardware applet is used to add a new hardware device or troubleshoot a device that is not functioning properly The Add Hardware applet is used to add a new hardware device or troubleshoot a device that is not functioning properly

Add or Remove Program This applet is actually three tools in one: This applet is actually three tools in one: Change or Remove Programs (see Figure 3-4) Change or Remove Programs (see Figure 3-4) Add New Programs (see Figure 3-5) Add New Programs (see Figure 3-5) Add/Remove Windows Components Wizard (see Figure 3-6) Add/Remove Windows Components Wizard (see Figure 3-6)

Add or Remove Program Figure 3-4: The Add or Remove Program applet’s Change or Remove Programs

Add or Remove Program Figure 3-5: The Add or Remove Program applet’s Add New Programs

Add or Remove Program Figure 3-6: The Add or Remove Program applet’s Add/Remove Windows Components

Administrative Tools Date and Time Administrative Tools Administrative Tools This applet is actually a folder pointing to the same place as the Administrative Tools item in the Start menu This applet is actually a folder pointing to the same place as the Administrative Tools item in the Start menu Date and Time Date and Time This applet is used to set the calendar date, clock time, and time zone for the system This applet is used to set the calendar date, clock time, and time zone for the system

Display Folder Options Display Display This applet is used to choose from a wide range of interface changes and preference settings This applet is used to choose from a wide range of interface changes and preference settings Folder Options Folder Options The four tabs of this applet are used to set the functional and visual parameters of the folders on the system The four tabs of this applet are used to set the functional and visual parameters of the folders on the system

Fonts This applet lists all fonts currently used by the Windows XP system This applet lists all fonts currently used by the Windows XP system Figure 3-7: A font sample display window

Game Controllers Internet Options Game Controllers Game Controllers This applet is used to install and configure the operation of joysticks and other specialized gaming controls This applet is used to install and configure the operation of joysticks and other specialized gaming controls Internet Options Internet Options This applet is used to define settings for Internet Explorer and general Internet access This applet is used to define settings for Internet Explorer and general Internet access

Keyboard and Mouse Network Connections Keyboard and Mouse Keyboard and Mouse This applet is used to modify keyboard functions This applet is used to modify keyboard functions Network Connections Network Connections This applet is used to manage all network connections of a Windows XP system This applet is used to manage all network connections of a Windows XP system

Phone and Modem Options Power Options Phone and Modem Options Phone and Modem Options This applet is used to define dialing locations, install and configure modems, and configure RAS and TAPI related drivers and devices This applet is used to define dialing locations, install and configure modems, and configure RAS and TAPI related drivers and devices Power Options Power Options This applet is used to set the system’s power-saving features This applet is used to set the system’s power-saving features

Power Options Figure 3-8: The Power Options applet, Power Schemes tab

Printers and Faxes Regional and Language Options Printers and Faxes Printers and Faxes This applet is used to install, share, and configure many types of output devices This applet is used to install, share, and configure many types of output devices Regional and Language Options Regional and Language Options This applet is used to: This applet is used to: Set location-specific uses or requirement Set location-specific uses or requirement Configure the default input language to use for text entry Configure the default input language to use for text entry

Regional and Language Options Figure 3-9: The Regional and Language Options applet, Regional Options tab

Scanners and Cameras Scheduled Tasks Scanners and Cameras Scanners and Cameras This applet is used to install drivers and configure digital cameras and optical scanners This applet is used to install drivers and configure digital cameras and optical scanners Scheduled Tasks Scheduled Tasks This applet is used to automate task launching This applet is used to automate task launching

Sounds and Audio Devices Speech Sounds and Audio Devices Sounds and Audio Devices This applet is used to customize the sound scheme, set master volumes, configure speakers, set audio device preferences, and configure This applet is used to customize the sound scheme, set master volumes, configure speakers, set audio device preferences, and configure Speech Speech This applet configures the text-to-speech functions for applications written to Microsoft’s Speech API This applet configures the text-to-speech functions for applications written to Microsoft’s Speech API

System The System applet is used to configure or control many system-level and core operational functions of Windows XP The System applet is used to configure or control many system-level and core operational functions of Windows XP Hardware profiles Hardware profiles A collection of custom device settings used on computers with changing physical components A collection of custom device settings used on computers with changing physical components Virtual memory Virtual memory The combination of physical RAM and pagefile space used by the operating system to enlarge usable memory for processes The combination of physical RAM and pagefile space used by the operating system to enlarge usable memory for processes

System Figure 3-10: The System applet, Computer Name Tab

System Driver Signing Driver Signing Used to identify drivers that have passed the Microsoft Windows Hardware Quality Labs evaluation and tests Used to identify drivers that have passed the Microsoft Windows Hardware Quality Labs evaluation and tests Device Manager Device Manager Once a device is installed, you can verify it is working through the Device Manager Once a device is installed, you can verify it is working through the Device Manager

System Figure 3-11: The Device Manager

System Figure 3-12: A device’s Properties dialog box, General tab

System Figure 3-13: A device’s Properties dialog box, Driver tab

System Figure 3-14: A device’s Properties dialog box, General tab

System The four main areas of hardware resource conflict are: The four main areas of hardware resource conflict are: IRQ IRQ I/O port I/O port DMA DMA Memory Memory

System Hardware profile Hardware profile Similar to a user profile Similar to a user profile Collection of custom device settings used on computers with changing physical components Collection of custom device settings used on computers with changing physical components Most often used on portable computers for which hardware configurations change often Most often used on portable computers for which hardware configurations change often

System The Startup and Recovery Options dialog box allows you to define system startup parameters and specify how STOP errors are handled The Startup and Recovery Options dialog box allows you to define system startup parameters and specify how STOP errors are handled Figure 3-15: the Startup and Recovery dialog box

System Environmental Variables Environmental Variables The top pane of the tab controls settings for system- wide environment variables The top pane of the tab controls settings for system- wide environment variables The bottom pane controls local user environment variables The bottom pane controls local user environment variables Error Reporting Error Reporting Provides Windows XP the ability to report errors regarding the OS and installed applications Provides Windows XP the ability to report errors regarding the OS and installed applications

Taskbar and Start Menu User Accounts Taskbar and Start Menu Taskbar and Start Menu This applet is the same properties dialog box accessed by right-clicking over the Start button and selecting the Properties command from the pop-up menu This applet is the same properties dialog box accessed by right-clicking over the Start button and selecting the Properties command from the pop-up menu User Accounts User Accounts This applet is used to create and manage local user accounts, passwords, and.NET passports, the Local Users and Groups tool, and to specify whether Ctrl+Alt+Delete is required to log on This applet is used to create and manage local user accounts, passwords, and.NET passports, the Local Users and Groups tool, and to specify whether Ctrl+Alt+Delete is required to log on

Microsoft Management Console Overview MMC MMC A graphical interface shell A graphical interface shell Provides a structured environment for consoles, snap-ins, and extensions that offer controls over services and objects Provides a structured environment for consoles, snap-ins, and extensions that offer controls over services and objects Does not provide any management capabilities itself Does not provide any management capabilities itself

The MMC Console Figure 3-16: The parts of the Microsoft Management Console

Snap-Ins The components added into a console that actually perform the actions on services or objects The components added into a console that actually perform the actions on services or objects There are two types of snap-ins: There are two types of snap-ins: Stand-alone snap-ins Stand-alone snap-ins Extension snap-ins Extension snap-ins

Snap-Ins Once you’ve added and configured a console’s snap-ins, you can save the console to an.msc file in one of four formats: Once you’ve added and configured a console’s snap-ins, you can save the console to an.msc file in one of four formats: Author Mode Author Mode User Mode formats User Mode formats Full Access Full Access Delegated Access, Multiple Windows Delegated Access, Multiple Windows Delegated Access, Single Window Delegated Access, Single Window

Using the MMC Windows XP is equipped with several preconfigured consoles designed to offer administrative control over your system Windows XP is equipped with several preconfigured consoles designed to offer administrative control over your system These tools are found mainly in Administrative Tools, a folder within the Control Panel These tools are found mainly in Administrative Tools, a folder within the Control Panel You can utilize all of the snap-ins used to create the Administrative Tools to create your own custom consoles You can utilize all of the snap-ins used to create the Administrative Tools to create your own custom consoles

Administrative Tools Collection of system configuration utilities that Microsoft deemed powerful and dangerous enough to separate from the Control Panel applets Collection of system configuration utilities that Microsoft deemed powerful and dangerous enough to separate from the Control Panel applets You must have administrative privileges to use the seven Administrative Tools on Windows XP Professional You must have administrative privileges to use the seven Administrative Tools on Windows XP Professional

Administrative Tools Component Services Component Services Data Sources (ODBC) Data Sources (ODBC) Event Viewer Event Viewer Local Security Policy Local Security Policy Performance Performance Services Services Computer Management Computer Management

Computer Management Divided into three sections: Divided into three sections: System tools System tools Storage Storage Services and Applications Services and Applications Figure 3-17: Computer Management, with Device Manager selected

Computer Management System Tools section contains five tools: System Tools section contains five tools: Event Viewer Event Viewer Shared Folders Shared Folders Local Users and Groups Local Users and Groups Performance Logs and Alerts Performance Logs and Alerts Device Manager Device Manager

Computer Management Storage section has three tools for storage device administration Storage section has three tools for storage device administration Removable Storage Removable Storage Disk Defragmenter Disk Defragmenter Disk Management Disk Management

Computer Management Service and Applications section contains management controls for various installed and active services and applications, including the following controls: Service and Applications section contains management controls for various installed and active services and applications, including the following controls: Indexing Service Indexing Service WMI Control WMI Control Services Services

PCMCIA or PC Cards PCMCIA PCMCIA Personal Computer Memory Card International Association Personal Computer Memory Card International Association PC Cards PC Cards Modern name of PCMCIA technology Modern name of PCMCIA technology Credit card-sized devices typically used to expand the functionality of notebook or portable computers Credit card-sized devices typically used to expand the functionality of notebook or portable computers

Chapter Summary Be familiar with the various applets and tools found in the Control Panel and Administrative Tools Be familiar with the various applets and tools found in the Control Panel and Administrative Tools Be familiar with the MMC and the Administrative Tools Be familiar with the MMC and the Administrative Tools Be familiar with the process of installing hardware, using hardware profiles, and dealing with PC Cards Be familiar with the process of installing hardware, using hardware profiles, and dealing with PC Cards