Maintaining and Troubleshooting Windows

1. Maintaining and Troubleshooting Windows Chapter 17

2. Overview • In this chapter, you will learn how to • Maintain Windows • Optimize Windows • Troubleshoot Windows

3. Essentials CompTIA A+Essentials Maintaining Windows

4. Maintaining Windows Maintaining Windows means keeping Windows running well Patching the OS Clearing out old files Pruning the Registry Running hard drive utilities, such as Error-checking and Disk Defragmenter Implementing security against malware Scheduling maintenance so it happens regularly

5. Patches, Updates, and Service Packs • Windows updated regularly • Flaws, bugs, program errors found and corrected • People still didn’tupdate theircomputers! • Windows Update • Enables automatic updating of systemsover Internet • Express for high-priority updates

6. Accessing Windows Update Access Windows Update in two ways Start | All Programs | Windows Update Or in Internet Explorer, Tools | Windows Update

7. Automatic Updates • Automatic (recommended) • Updates downloaded and installed automatically • Download Updates for Me • Updates downloaded, but not installed automatically • Notify Me • User notified when updates are available • Turn Off Automatic Updates • No automatic updates

8. Managing and Uninstalling Highest of the high-priority updates: Service Packs Collection of updates Often add new features Windows XP SP2 considered a different version of the OS Security Center (in Control Panel) Process of installing and updating Windows is called patch management Uninstall service packs Add/Remove Programs Spuninst.exe

9. Disk Maintenance • When troubleshooting OS, remember basic disk tools • Error-checking • Disk Defragmenter • Disk Cleanup • Helps clean out junk files

10. Registry Maintenance and Malicious Software • Registry maintenance • Registry can get bloated • Older tool from Microsoft named RegClean • Not updated for 2000/XP/Vista • Can use third-party tool such as CCleaner by Piriform • Security • Spyware/antivirus/firewall • Integral part of computing today • Covered in more depth in Chapter 26

11. Scheduling Maintenance Use the Task Scheduler/Scheduled Tasks Windows 2000/XP have version 1.0 Windows Vista/7 have version 2.0 Find in the System Tools section of the Start menu Key to making it work: know the name of the executable for the program you’re scheduling

12. Scheduling Maintenance (continued) Task Scheduler in Vista/7 more advanced Triggers are actions that start a program Actions define both the program and how the program runs Conditions are extra criteria for running the program Is the system idle? Is the system connected to the Internet

13. Scheduling Maintenance (continued) Typical tasks to schedule Disk defragmentation (especially with Windows 2000/XP) %systemroot%\system32\defrag.exe Error-checking %systemroot%\system32\chkdsk.exe Use the /F and /R switches

14. Scheduling Maintenance (continued) This screen shows a typical task scheduled in Windows XP

15. Lab – What’s Scheduled? Many tasks run automatically in Vista Start | All Programs | Accessories | System Tools | Task Scheduler Drill down on menu on left Task Scheduler Library Microsoft Windows Can make changes in scheduling here Click Defrag to see the current settings

16. Controlling Start-up Programs System Configuration Utility Use to edit and troubleshoot Programs that load at start-up Automatic processes Services Start | Run or Start Search | msconfig

17. Lab – MSCONFIG Start | Start Search Type msconfig and press ENTER Select the Startup tab Deselect anythingunnecessary Reboot Can always undoin Safe Mode if youdeselect somethingnecessary

18. Optimizing Windows

19. Optimizing Windows Optimizing Windows means to make it better Five general areas for improvement Installing and removing software Installing and removing devices Adjusting Performance Options to fine-tune experience for specific computer Resource tracking to discover and remove bottlenecks Preparing for problems to minimize any downtime

20. What’s Installed? Start with the System Information tool Referred to on exams as MSINFO32 Shows installed software and resources

21. Installing or Removing Software • Installing software • Most programs are distributed on optical discs that make use of the Autorun feature • Or you could use the Add or Remove Programs applet in Control Panel (2000/XP) • Use Run as Administrator . . . in Windows Vista when UAC balks at an installation • Removing software • Use the uninstall option that is part of the program • Add or Remove Programs (2000/XP) • Programs and Features (Vista)

22. Add or Remove Programs Uninstall option Control Panel

23. Windows Components/Features • Miscellaneous Windows components can be installed or uninstalled • Access from Add or Remove Programs in Windows 2000/XP

24. Windows Components/Features (continued) • Miscellaneous Windows components can be installed or uninstalled • Access from Programs and Features in Windows Vista/7

25. Installing/Optimizing a Device • Pretty much the same in all versions of Windows • Driver Updates • Can use Windows Update • In Windows 2000/XP, must use Custom option in Windows Update to see updates • Or check manufacturer’s Web site

26. Installing/Optimizing a Device (continued) • Driver Updates in Vista • Can use Windows Update

27. Driver Signing • Process of testing and verifying drivers • Windows Hardware Quality Lab • Tests drivers • Issues digital signatures • Signed drivers • “Designed for Windows 2000” • “Designed for Windows XP” • “Designed for Windows Vista”

28. Unsigned Drivers • Many manufacturers issue drivers that have not been tested and signed by Microsoft • When detected during a hardware install, you’ll get the message shown

29. Device Manager • Can roll back faulty driver • If you accidentally install a faulty driver, you can roll back to the driver that was installed originally

30. Adding a New Device • Windows usually automatically detects new devices • If not, use the Add Hardware Wizard • From Control Panel • From Hardware tab of System Properties

31. Lab – Install a Modem (1) About 99 percent of the time, Windows will detect new hardware installed within the system unit There are times when the user will want to install legacy devices (really old devices) In cases like this, Windows trusts that it is there and you installed it correctly For this lab, we will install a Phantom Modem

32. Lab – Install a Modem (2) Start | Control Panel | Add Hardware | Add Hardware Wizard, next Windows will scan your computer for new hardware In XP, select Yes, I have connected | Next | Scroll to Add a new hardware device | Next Install hardware manually | Modem | Next | Don’t detect | Next | Standard 56000bps | Next | COM 2 | Next | Finish Find it in Device Manager

33. Lab – Install a Modem (3) While in the Device Manager, right-click the newly installed Modem, then select Disable What symbol is displayed when a device has been disabled? There is no modem attached to the computer, so we need to delete the device Right-click the device, then click Uninstall

34. Performance Options Visual effects in Windows affect performance You can enhance the performance of a minimum-spec. computer by disabling some or all of the fancier effects System applet | Advanced tab or Advanced System Settings | Advanced tab Right-click My Computer/Computer and select Properties | Advanced tab or Advanced System Settings Click the Options (Windows 2000) or Settings (Windows XP/Vista) button in the Performance section Opens the Performance Options dialog box

35. Select Adjust for best performance to remove some features and improve performance Select Custom to suit specific needs Performance Options (continued)

36. Rarely adjust Advanced features Processor scheduling Programs Background services Memory usage Programs System cache Virtual memory Change location of paging file Change size of paging file Performance Options, Other Tabs

37. Performance Options, Other Tabs (continued) Data Execution Prevention (DEP) Monitors memory Stops hostile takeovers by viruses and other malware Does not stop viruses, just makes them less effective Can monitor all running programs, but resource intensive Only XP SP2 and later

38. Resource Tracking • Track resources to find and relieve bottlenecks • Core Resources • CPU • Memory • Disk • NIC • Resource tracking tools • Task Manager (all) • Performance Console (2000/XP) • Sidebar Gadgets (Vista) • Performance and Reliability Monitor (Vista)

39. Task Manager • Task Manager enables real-time tracking • Applications • Processes • Performance • Can force programs and processes to stop • To start • Press CTRL-SHIFT-ESC • or CTRL-ALT-DEL

40. Performance Console (2000/XP) One of the Administrative Tools Double-click the Performance shortcut to run

41. Performance Console (2000/XP) (continued) • Performance console contains two utilities • System Monitor snap-in • Track resource use and network throughput • Collect and view real-time data about memory, disk, processor, network, and other activity in graph, histogram, or report form • Performance Logs and Alerts snap-in • Collect performance data from local or remote computers • Configure logs to record performance data and set system alerts to notify you when a value is above or below a defined threshold

42. Performance Console Add counter Value bar Legend • Press CTRL-H to highlight one set of data

43. Objects and Counters • An object is a system resource • A counter tracks specific information about the object • Performance consoleincludes System Monitor • Shows real-time data onobjects • Click the + to addcounters for new objects

44. Performance Logs and Alerts • Performance Logs and Alerts enables you to create a baseline or log • Record of anything that happens on your computer • Right-click Counter Logs and select New Log Settings • Give it a name and then make your choices

45. Windows Vista Sidebar Sidebar enables you to load various gadgets Some provide nice diagnostic tools CPU utilization meter RAM usage Network speed and connectivity Start | All Programs | Accessories | Windows Sidebar to add them Or click the + button on the sidebar

46. Reliability and Performance Monitor (Windows Vista/7) Contains complete Performance Monitor Adds more tools Resource Overview Reliability Monitor Data Collector Sets Reports Start PerformanceInformation andTools in Administrative Tools Opens with Resource Overview

47. Reliability and Performance Monitor (continued) Resource Overview Advanced Task Manager for quick glance at what’s in use Performance Monitor Works the same as the Performance Monitor in XP Reliability Monitor Describes stability and reports crash dates Data Collector Sets Tracks all sorts of things Both user defined and presets Use Reports to view the results

48. Windows Broken? It is only a matter of time before something goes wrong with Windows There are things the client and the technician can do to head off problems or minimize potential damage and downtime

49. Preparing for Problems • Tools to prepare for problems in Windows 2000 and Windows XP • Backup Utility (Both) • Emergency Repair Disk (Windows 2000) • Automated System Recovery (Windows XP) • Backup Wizard (Both) • Tools to prepare for problems in Windows Vista • Backup and Restore Center • Other tools • System Restore (XP/Vista) • Recovery Console (2000/XP) • System Recovery Options (Vista)

50. Backup • Backup program enables you to back up and restore data and system files • Backup or Restore Wizard offers a nice set of features • Deselect the Always start in wizard mode check box for more options • Always verify your backup • Would be bad to count on a bad or incomplete backup!