1. Computer Troubleshooting Basics

2. Illegal Operations Memory conflicts (bad memory?) Dirty CD or corrupt files on a floppy Highly fragmented hard drive Corrupt files (Windows or another program) Virus or spyware New hardware (possible driver issue or setting conflict)

3. Slow Computer Check free space on your hard drive Run scandisk (possibly corrupt files) Too many processes (possibly spyware) running in the background Computer overheating (check fans) Recently installed hardware, software or updates?

4. Program Not Responding Bugged software Conflicts between hardware or software Lack of system resources (memory, hard disk space, too many active programs)

5. Computer Lock Up? No mouse control? Do you have keyboard control? – You can check by pushing the caps lock or num lock keys on your keyboard and seeing if the corresponding lights respond. Have keyboard control, push CTRL-ALT-DELETE at the same time to access the task manager. End the program that is “not responding” in the task manager. Save anything you are working on and reboot the computer. No keyboard control? Hold the power button in for a few seconds.

6. Use The Tools Available Check Disk or Scandisk Disk Cleanup Defragment Drive System Restore (Windows ME & XP)

7. Backup Keep the files you want to backup in a central location. I suggest My Documents. You can easily backup the My Documents folder using Windows Backup tool. Be aware that if you want to backup your entire system you’ll need a large capacity storage device.

8. Common Spyware/Adware Symptoms Computer suddenly slow. Unknown icons in your windows system tray (the lower right corner) Modem lights blinking when you aren’t doing anything online. Pop up windows when you don’t have any programs running.

9. Help!? Sources for help: Internet, computer enthusiasts, your software/computer vendor tech support, maybe a local computer repair company. Have as much information as you can ready when you find you need to call for technical support. – Details about your computer. – Description of your problem.

10. “DOS is dead, (long live the command line)“ Source for most of this material: – http://commandwindows.com

11. DOS is Dead There is a common misconception that the command prompt in Windows XP is the same as DOS Even Microsoft itself isn't always careful about the distinction There are some superficial resemblances However, all remnants of DOS are totally gone from the Windows XP kernel (there is a DOS emulator to run legacy apps)

12. File System Hierarchy C:

13. Absolute Path to here? C:\windows\system32\drivers

14. C: Relative Path from Windows to Drivers? System32\drivers

15. C: Relative path from system to drivers?../system32/drivers

16. Internal Commands assoc dir move set break echo path setlocal call endlocal pause shift cd exit popd start cls for prompt time color ftype pushd title copy goto rd type date if rem verify del md ren volume

17. Common Usage Command [arguments] Command [switches] [path to file or folder] Command [switches] [path] [path]

18. Common Usage Examples: dir dir /w dir /w c:\windows dir /w /p..

19. Common Usage Examples: copy mydoc.doc c:\files move c:\docs\* c:\backups rename *.txt *.doc

20. Symbols used with commands SymbolFunctionExample > Sends output to a named file. If file does not exist, it creates one. Overwrites existing file command > somefile >> Appends output to contents of a named file or creates a file if none exists command >> somefile < Uses contents of a named file as input to a command command < somefile ¦ Sends ("pipes") the output of command1 to the input of command2 command1 ¦ command2 & Used to combine two commands. Executes command1 and then command2 command1 & command2 && A conditional combination. Executes command2 if command1 completes successfully command1 && command2 ¦¦ Command2 executes only if command1 does not complete successfully. command1 ¦¦ command2 @ Used in batch files at the beginning of a line to turn off the display of commands @echo off

21. Extended Usage Examples: dir c:\windows > windowsDirectoryList.txt dir | more echo. | date Del *.* < y.txt

22. Environmental Variables %username% %systemroot% SET command My Computer.Properties- >Advanced.Environmental Variables

23. Exercises What’s the absolute path of Temp? What’s the relative path from Temp to \ ? What’s the relative path from Pagemaker to Drivers? C:C:

24. Exercises On a floppy, create this directory structure using the command line. Create a.txt file in the pagemaker directory Copy and rename that file to the elements directory using only one command Write a batch script that will display the contents of A:\, and write those contents (the listing) to a file called C:\acontents.txt, and then attempt to format the floppy C:

25. Other resources http://www.microsoft.com/resources/docume ntation/windows/xp/all/proddocs/en- us/batch.mspx?mfr=true http://www.microsoft.com/resources/docume ntation/windows/xp/all/proddocs/en- us/batch.mspx?mfr=true