1. Chapter 6 Windows Configuration and Management
PC Support & Repair
Chapter 6
Windows Configuration and Management
Unit 9 System Management in TestOut

2. Objectives
After completing this chapter, you will meet these objectives:
Perform routine system management tasks with common Microsoft Windows tools.
Configure virtualization on a computer
Use common preventive maintenance techniques for Microsoft Windows operating systems
Explain how to troubleshoot Microsoft Windows operating systems

3. Windows 8 & 10 Hardware Requirements
1 GHz 32-bit or 64-bit processor
1 GB of RAM (32-bit) or 2GB of RAM (64-bit)
DirectX 9 supportive graphic card
Hard Disk space: 16GB (32-bit) or 20GB (64- bit)
Windows 7 and Vista have a default theme called Aero. Aero has translucent window borders, numerous animations, and icons that are thumbnail images of the contents of a file.

4. Windows Features Shake Peek Snap
Minimize all windows by clicking & holding the title bar of a window and shaking it with the mouse
Repeat the action to maximize all of the windows
Peek
View the desktop using the Show desktop button on the right of the taskbar
Click the button to minimize all windows
Snap
Resize a window by dragging it to one of the edges of the screen

5. Desktop Properties Right-click desktop, Personalize
Change themes, background, change desktop icons, etc.

6. Start Button
Right-click on Start Button
Many shortcuts there

7. Task Manager
Ctrl + Alt + Del, right-click on Start, right-click on Taskbar
View running applications, performance, activity
Can end tasks to programs not responding
Tabs
Processes
Performance
Startup
Users
Services

8. Task Manager- Processes
Shows running processes and how much resources are being used; you can end tasks here
If an application is not responding, a website is taking a long time to load, or your system fan starts getting loud, you can quickly use Task Manager to troubleshoot the problem. In the Processes tab, the first thing you want to look at is the percentage of the total resource use for the processor, memory, hard drive and network. You can click the column names to sort the list and bring to the top the ones using the most resources. If you see any of these resources running high (90 percent or higher), you might have found the problem.
Typically, when you're not actively using applications and your computer isn't working on anything specific, such as maintenance, your total CPU usage should be less than 30 percent. Applications that are running, even if you're not using them, and processes use part of your computer's memory, and that usage will increase as you use or launch more applications. Memory usually won't be an issue unless you run out of it, in which case your computer will start using virtual memory, and that can cause your PC to slow down. Generally speaking, depending on your system configuration, your total memory usage should be below 60 percent. If you're not copying files or rendering videos, disk usage should be below 5 percent.
While stopping a process using the Task Manager will most likely stabilize your computer, ending a process can completely close an application or crash your computer, and you could lose any unsaved data. It's always recommended to save your data before killing a process, if possible.
If you're not sure about how the process you're trying to terminate affects your PC, you can right-click it, and select the Search online option. This action opens your web browser and displays a search result with more information about the process. Windows 10 is also smart enough to let you know if you're about to end an essential system process that can crash your computer.

9. Task Manager- Performance
The performance tab gives you more detailed information about where system resources are being used. Graphs.

10. Task Manager- Startup
The startup tab in the Task Manager shows you everything that has an auto-startup process when Windows 10 boots up. For example, I disabled OneDrive & Dropbox from automatically starting up. This can help boost your boot time and make the startup process that much smoother. When I need it, I can open the program.

11. Task Manager- Services
A service is a program that runs in the background that programs call on to perform a task. Example, the spooler is a service for sending print jobs to the printer. If a service is not working, you can stop and restart it.

12. Control Panel: User Accounts
Admin account created when Windows installs
Create a user account after
Manage password, picture, name, type, UAC setting
User Account Control Settings
Gives warning when change is about to be made
Default is: Notify me only when programs try to make changes to my computer

13. Activity
Lab Task Manager
Lab Create User Accounts

14. Display Settings
When using an LCD screen, set the resolution to native resolution. Native resolution sets the video output to the same number of pixels that the monitor has. If you do not use native resolution, the monitor does not produce the best picture.
Screen resolution - Specifies the number of pixels. A higher number of pixels provides better resolution.
Orientation - Determines whether the display appears in Landscape, Portrait, flipped Landscape, or flipped Portrait orientations.
Refresh rate - Sets how often the image in the screen is redrawn. The refresh rate is in Hertz (Hz). The higher the refresh rate, the more steady the screen image.
Display colors - Specifies the number of colors visible on the screen at one time. The more bits, the greater the number of colors. The 8-bit color palette contains 256 colors. The 16-bit color (High Color) palette contains 65,536 colors. The 24-bit color (True Color) palette contains 16 million colors. The 32-bit color palette contains 24-bit color and 8 bits for other data such as transparency.

15. Action Center
The Windows Action Center in Windows 8 and 7 is a centralized location to view alerts that help keep Windows running smoothly.
Important messages are highlighted in red. These issues should be addressed quickly, such as Windows Firewall is turned off or set up incorrectly.
Yellow items indicate recommended tasks that may require actions from you, such as setting up a backup.
Change Action Center Settings- Turn messaging for security and maintenance programs on or off.

16. Windows Firewall
A firewall implements a security policy by selectively permitting and denying data traffic to a computer.
Allow an app or feature through Windows Firewall - Determine which programs can communicate through the Windows Firewall
Change notification settings - Manage notifications from the Windows Firewall.
Turn Windows Firewall on or off - Turn the Windows Firewall on or off.
Restore defaults - Restore the Windows Firewall to the default settings.
Advanced settings - Adjust advanced security settings.

17. Power Options
Use Power Options to maximize performance or conserve energy by configuring a power plan.
You can choose from the following options:
Require a password on wakeup
Choose what the power buttons do
Choose what closing the lid does (for laptops only)
Create a power plan
Choose when to turn off the display
Change when the computer sleeps
Selecting Choose what the power buttons do, or Choose what closing the lid does, configures how a computer acts when power or sleep buttons are pressed, or the lid is closed (like Sleep, Hibernate, Do Nothing, Shut Down).
STUDENTS SHOULD KNOW THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SLEEP & HIBERNATE.

18. System Other than viewing the CPU & RAM, you can:
Change the PC name or connect to a domain, like gcit.gcecnj.org
Activate Windows
Go to Device Manager
Remote Desktop & Assistance settings
Advanced system setting, like setting virtual memory (next slide)

19. Increasing Performance
Virtual Memory
PC doesn’t have enough RAM to run an app
VM placed in paging file on HD
Data stored here until enough RAM is available
Slower than accessing real RAM
BEST SOLUTION: Get more RAM!
Click on System >> Advanced System Settings >> Advanced Tab
ReadyBoost
Using a Flash drive as hard drive cache
Simulates RAM using HD space.
Moving the data from RAM to HD (and in reverse) is known as paging or swapping.
When RAM fills up, whatever application is open and hasn’t been in use for the longest time will be swapped to the paging file.
Optimal setting is same size of RAM. Very little RAM= 2x; Moderate amount of RAM= 1.5x; Large amount of RAM generally don’t need it.
ReadyBoost: right-click on flash drive >> Properties >>ReadyBoost tab
After ReadyBoost has been activated for the device, determine how much space on the device will be reserved as cache. A minimum of 256 MB must be selected, with a maximum of 4GB for FAT32 file systems and 32GB for NTFS file systems.

20. Device Manager Contains all installed devices
Double-click on device or right-click > Properties
Update a driver - Change the currently installed driver.
Roll back a driver - Change the currently installed driver to the previously installed driver.
Uninstall a driver - Remove a driver.
Disable a device - Disable a device.

21. Activity Lab 6.1.2.12- Manage Virtual Memory
Lab Device Manager

22. HomeGroup- Create & Join
Allows computers to share printers, media files, document libraries
Created automatically (set to HOME)
Join existing one or Create one
Create: select which files/devices to share & set permissions and get a password to share
If the PC belongs to a domain (like GCIT), it cannot share its own resources or create a new HomeGroup

23. Join a HomeGroup & Share
Join, enter password
Share another folder outside of what you set to share already (If you need to allow editing permissions, do this the same way)
Find other computers in File Explorer
Problems? Make sure firewall is off and Network Discovery is on within Advanced Sharing Settings in Network & Sharing Center

24. Join Workgroup or Domain
Workgroup is default
Domain
Connects to server with Active Directory
Go to System or type Join a Domain
Enter domain name
gcit.gcecnj.org
If your computer belongs to a domain, the computer can join a homegroup to access shared resources on the network, but the computer cannot share its resources or create a new homegroup.

25. Network & Sharing Center
Network and Sharing Center shows how your computer connects to a network. Internet connectivity, if present, will also be displayed here. The bottom part of the window displays and allows the configuration of shared network resources.

26. Review- 4Q
When using virtual memory, where is the data stored until there is enough RAM?
Paging file on hard drive
In Device Manager, your DVD drive is not working after installing a new driver. What would you select to go back to the old one?
Roll back driver
To get the best resolution for your monitor, you should use its…
Native resolution
How much RAM is needed to install Windows bit?
2GB

27. Review- 3Q
Where can you see important messages about the computer’s security and maintenance?
Action Center
You close your laptop lid and it goes into a low power state. What you were doing is kept in RAM. What power setting is this?
Sleep
What feature can allow or deny traffic into or out of a computer?
Firewall

28. Administrative Tools
6.1.3

29. Computer Management
Manage permissions, users, configure components, etc.
Right-click on Start Button and click Computer Management
The Computer Management console provides access to a number of utilities:
Task Scheduler
Event Viewer
Shared Folders
Local Users and Groups
Performance
Device Manager
Disk Management

30. Event Viewer Logs history of app, security, and system events
Great for troubleshooting

31. Services Manage services (running in the background) Startup types:
Automatic
Manual
Disabled
Stopped
A service is a type of application that runs in the background to achieve a specific goal, or to wait for a request.
Services without a description are most likely malware.
Manual service will start when you or a program starts it.
Can’t start a disabled service until you enable it.
You can use the following settings, or states, to control a service:
Automatic - The service starts when the computer is started. This prioritizes the most important services.
Automatic (delayed) - The service starts after services that are set to Automatic have started. The Automatic (delayed) setting is available only in Windows 7 and Vista.
Manual - The service must be started manually by the user or by a service or program that needs it.
Disabled - The service cannot be started until it is enabled.
EXAMPLE: The computer that continued to print a document. Had to stop the print spooler service.

32. Activity Lab 6.1.3.7- Monitor and Manage System Resources
Lab Hard Drive Maintenance
Just do up to the services part of the first lab.

33. Review- 2Q
What keeps a log of literally everything that goes on in your PC?
Event Viewer
Things that automatically run in the background can be stopped or started where?
Services

34. System Configuration (MSCONFIG)- OLD
Identifies problems with startup
IN WINDOWS 10, THIS IS NOW IN TASK MANAGER.

35. System Information
Displays detailed info about devices, drivers, configuration in one spot
Search for System Information or type msinfo32.exe

36. Activity
Find information using Administrative Tools on lab computers

37. Command Line Commands

38. System Utilities DXDIAG REGEDIT
Details for all DirectX components & drivers installed in a computer
REGEDIT
Opens the Registry Editor

39. Activity Lab 6.1.5.4- Common Window CLI Commands
Lab System Utilities
2nd Lab- only do management console

40. Review- 3Q
In DOS, what would you type if you wanted to create a new directory (folder) as shown?
c:\windows> ____ stuff
c:\windows\stuff> md
After you created that directory, which command would get you in that directory?
C:\windows> cd stuff
In Windows 10, where can you find programs that startup and disable them?
Task Manager

41. Client-Side Virtualization
6.2

42. Virtualization A virtual computer within a computer (guest)
Physical computer is the host
Runs a separate OS from host machine
Uses host machine’s resources
Software in VM is sandboxed from rest of machine
Can’t mess up other systems
Used to test a new OS
Used to run software that works on a different OS
One physical device cuts costs for business
Can also be used to test viruses so they don’t affect the real network.

43. Virtualization
Show only 1st minute.

44. Hypervisor Software that manages a virtual machine Type 1 Hypervisor
Allocates resources to each virtual machine
Type 1 Hypervisor
Hypervisor installed on PC BEFORE OS
Communicates directly with hardware resources
Type 2 Hypervisor
Hypervisor installed on PC AFTER OS
Extra hop to talk to resources
Windows Hyper-V (Win 10/8) & Virtual PC (Win 7)
AKA Virtual Machine Manager (VMM)
The number of virtual machines running depends on RAM, CPU, etc.
Hyper-V must be enabled in Windows first, under “”turn windows features on/off.”

45. Video

46. Virtualization Notes
Like physical computers, virtual machines are susceptible to threats and malicious attacks. Users should install security software, run a Firewall, and update the operating system and programs.
To connect to the Internet, a virtual machine uses a virtual network adapter. The virtual network adapter acts like a real adapter in a physical computer, except that it connects through the physical adapter on the host to establish a connection to the Internet.

47. Review- 3Q
What creates, runs and allows resources to be managed when using virtual machines?
Hypervisor
Your hypervisor is installed on a server BEFORE the OS. Which type is this?
Type I
Virtual PC & Hyper-V are included in Windows. Which type is this?
Type II

48. Preventive maintenance for operating systems
6.3

49. Scheduling Tasks Windows Task Scheduler Common Tasks
You can schedule preventive maintenance applications to run at an assigned time
Common Tasks
Disk cleanup
Backup
Disk defragmenter
Restore point
Starting other applications
Control Panel > Administrative Tools > Task Scheduler
This can be done in CMD prompt using the AT command.

50. Windows Task Scheduler

51. Restore Points
You just installed a printer driver and now your system keeps crashing…
Restore to a time when all was working fine
Create a restore point before making changes to a system
Updating OS, install/upgrade hardware, installing an application, installing a driver
System restore does not back up personal data files, nor does it recover personal files that have been corrupted or deleted.
Control Panel> Recovery > Configure System Restore

52. Create a Restore Point
Windows 10 automatically creates a restore point before you make any changes to the system settings or install or uninstall a program. Windows 10 also allows you to manually create the restore points whenever you like.

53. Backups New backup tool in Windows
Go to Backup, add a drive, and it will backup your files when you connect that drive
Set how often to back them up
Choose or exclude folders
Restore from Drive
Restore Previous Version of files within Explorer
By default, File History will be set to back up back up important folders in your user account’s home folder. This includes the Desktop, Documents, Downloads, Music, Pictures, Videos folders. It also includes the Roaming folder where many programs store application data, your OneDrive folder, and other folders.

54. Backup & File History

55. Activity Lab 6.3.1.5- Task Scheduler Lab 6.3.1.7- System Restore
TestOut Practice Questions (14Q)
TestOut Practice Questions (5Q)
TestOut Manage Users & Groups LAB
TestOut Practice Questions (11Q)
TestOut Manage Applications LAB

56. Review- 3Q
What can you use to run specific preventive maintenance tasks at specific days/times?
Windows Task Scheduler
Your PC is messed up. What can you use to go back to a specific day it was working fine?
Restore point/ System Restore
If you wanted to test the affects of a virus on a computer, what would you do to test it safely?
Test it within a virtual environment

57. Basic troubleshooting for operating systems
6.4

58. Troubleshooting Steps
Identify the Problem
Establish a theory of probable cause
Test the theory
Plan of action & implement solution
Verify functionality & implement preventive measures
document

59. Activity
Within your row, discuss the PROBLEM, PROBABLE CAUSES & POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS

60. Activities TestOut 9.9.4- Configure Windows Update LAB
TestOut Back Up the Computer LAB
TestOut Configure File History LAB
TestOut Create a Restore Point LAB
TestOut Restore Data from File History LAB
TestOut Configure Virtual Memory LAB

61. Chapter 6 Windows Configuration and Management
PC Support & Repair
Chapter 6
Windows Configuration and Management