ITE 1 Chapter 5

Chapter 5 is a Large Chapter It has a great deal of useful information about operating systems. You will find this VERY helpful when dealing with computer problems Chapter 5 is a Large Chapter It has a great deal of useful information about operating systems. You will find this VERY helpful when dealing with computer problems

The Boot Process When the computer starts up the BIOS has a setting that tells the computer where to find the boot device(s). It also has the order the computer is to check them in. You can set the order. When the computer starts up the BIOS has a setting that tells the computer where to find the boot device(s). It also has the order the computer is to check them in. You can set the order.

The Boot Process When Windows starts it finds the boot device information in a file called boot.ini.ini files are used by Windows to hold all kinds of setting information. These files live in a place called the Registry. When Windows starts it finds the boot device information in a file called boot.ini.ini files are used by Windows to hold all kinds of setting information. These files live in a place called the Registry.

The Boot Process In Windows if you get a message during boot up that “NTLDR is missing” the OS Kernel has been corrupted or erased. The machine will not boot until the file is fixed or replaced. You do this by launching the “Recovery Console” from the installation disk under “Repair XP”. In Windows if you get a message during boot up that “NTLDR is missing” the OS Kernel has been corrupted or erased. The machine will not boot until the file is fixed or replaced. You do this by launching the “Recovery Console” from the installation disk under “Repair XP”.

The Boot Process In Windows 95 and 98 a utility that checked the hard drive for errors was called Chkdsk. It ran if the machine did not shut down properly. The utility is still part of the OS and you can run it anytime you have concerns about the hard drive. In Windows 95 and 98 a utility that checked the hard drive for errors was called Chkdsk. It ran if the machine did not shut down properly. The utility is still part of the OS and you can run it anytime you have concerns about the hard drive.

File Formats Windows mainly uses 2 currently. They are FAT32 and NTFS You can convert a drive from FAT 32 to NTFS by running a convert utility. NTFS has more security features than FAT32. Other OS’s can read Windows formats or they may have their own. Windows mainly uses 2 currently. They are FAT32 and NTFS You can convert a drive from FAT 32 to NTFS by running a convert utility. NTFS has more security features than FAT32. Other OS’s can read Windows formats or they may have their own.

Installing Windows Drive partitioning is done at the beginning of the installation process. Windows XP can support up to 4 partitions per hard drive. Drive partitioning is done at the beginning of the installation process. Windows XP can support up to 4 partitions per hard drive.

Installing Windows If Windows XP Pro fails to autostart the installation process you can do so by launching a file called winnt32.

Installing Windows The process of installing takes over an hour. A shortcut if you are doing several identical machines is to create an image of the first machine and copy it to the others. This is called several names including cloning, ghosting and imaging. The process of installing takes over an hour. A shortcut if you are doing several identical machines is to create an image of the first machine and copy it to the others. This is called several names including cloning, ghosting and imaging.

Upgrades/Updates In Windows if you cannot boot properly after upgrading you can roll back the drivers by: Hitting F8 during the boot process Choosing “boot to last known good configuration”. You can also boot into “Safe Mode” to run without most device drivers to fix a problem manually. In Windows if you cannot boot properly after upgrading you can roll back the drivers by: Hitting F8 during the boot process Choosing “boot to last known good configuration”. You can also boot into “Safe Mode” to run without most device drivers to fix a problem manually.

Upgrades/Updates In Windows installing new hardware has been made simpler through technology called “Plug ‘N Play”. (PnP)

Upgrades/Updates Windows can be set to automatically update itself by activating “Automatic Updates” in the control panel.

Upgrades/Updates New hardware is assured compatibility with Windows because developers follow a set of guidelines called API.

Upgrades/Updates In Windows you can confirm that hardware is working properly and has the proper driver by checking Device Manager.

Upgrades/Updates Restore Points can be created in Windows to get you back to a place before software was installed. These points should be created before installing new device drivers or OS updates. MAC just added this feature. Restore Points can be created in Windows to get you back to a place before software was installed. These points should be created before installing new device drivers or OS updates. MAC just added this feature.

Upgrades/Updates New hardware can be checked for compatibility on Microsoft’s Compatibility List

Other OS’s Other OS’s have the same basic functions as Windows. They include: DOS Mac Linux Others Other OS’s have the same basic functions as Windows. They include: DOS Mac Linux Others

Other OS’s DOS DOS (Disk Operating System) did most everything Windows does through a command-line interface. DOS still exists within Windows It is useful for many functions Automating tasks DOS DOS (Disk Operating System) did most everything Windows does through a command-line interface. DOS still exists within Windows It is useful for many functions Automating tasks

Other OS’s DOS Some commands: Dir - Generates a list of all files and folders in the current directory. CD/ Changes current directory MD Makes a directory Copy filename.xxx c:/directory/filename.xxx DOS Some commands: Dir - Generates a list of all files and folders in the current directory. CD/ Changes current directory MD Makes a directory Copy filename.xxx c:/directory/filename.xxx

Other OS’s DOS All of the OS’s allow you to set file attributes. These include things like “Read Only” and Archival. Archival means that the file will be backed up. Backing up data is the best way to protect it. DOS All of the OS’s allow you to set file attributes. These include things like “Read Only” and Archival. Archival means that the file will be backed up. Backing up data is the best way to protect it.

Network OS’s Servers (Or other computers) in Windows can be found in “My Network Places”. Servers usually run a different version of the system software. Servers (Or other computers) in Windows can be found in “My Network Places”. Servers usually run a different version of the system software.