Maintaining

1. Maintaining And Troubleshooting Windows

2. Activation • We are NOT going to activate in this class. • Let me repeat: Do NOT activate on the lab computers.

4. Before you Install • Identify hardware requirements • Verify hardware and software compatibility • Clean install or upgrade? • Backup data and prepare for restore • Installation method • How do you want to partition drive and what file system to use • Computer’s network role • Plan for post-installation tasks (restore, drivers, applications, data, …)

5. Definitions • Optimization: Jobs you do to make Windows better • Maintenance: Jobs you do from time to time to keep Windows running well • Troubleshooting: What you can do when you can’t get to the Desktop

6. Patches, Updates and Service Packs • Every week (Patch Tuesday) Microsoft has code fixes for assorted problems • Turn on Automatic Updates is the message here – even on a dialup connection • Express button is the “critical” updates • Custom button can include optional updates

7. Update Options • Automatic – Just do it when connected to Internet; download and install • Download Updates – Downloads in the background then asks you to update • Notify me – Check and then tell me about available updates • Turn off – Don’t look and don’t ask

8. Update in Vista/7 • Control Panel applet; also in All Programs • Important: Critical security or stability issues; can be installed automatically • Recommended: Added feature or enhancement not critical; can be auto • Optional: Device drivers, language packs; must install manually

11. Disk Cleanup • Mike says to run regularly • Removes things that should be removed; does not free up a lot of space • Start | All Programs | Accessories | System Tools • Right-click drive | Properties

12. Registry Maintenance • Third-party registry cleaning tools; use at your own risk • Mike likes Ccleaner by Piriform • Make sure you get a cleaner that works with your version of Windows

13. Error Checking • New name for CHKDSK. • My Computer | Properties | Tools | Check Now • Will scan for bad sectors, lost clusters and orphan clusters • Good idea about once a month

14. Defragmentation • Michael likes this; I seldom do it • Valuable if a LOT of files are being created and/or moved around • Use the Analyze button to see if you really need to run Defrag • Vista/7 systems are defragged automatically by scheduled task

16. Scheduling Maintenance • Backups, defrag and check disk (Error checking) • Scheduled Tasks in XP • Task Scheduler in Vista/7 • 7: schedule a task in Defrag, will show in Task Scheduler

17. Scheduling Backups • XP: Backup Utility; run the Backup or Restore wizard • Vista/7: Backup and Restore Center; Backup and Restore applet • Backup frequency is your call; somewhere between daily, weekly or monthly

18. Scheduling Defrag • I am not a fan of this program • Have to find defrag.exe in Windows/System32 for Task Scheduler • Need a user name and password, same as Backup • Michael suggests running it every night! • Vista/7 run this on automatic schedule (once a week)

19. Scheduling Error Checking • AKA Check disk and chkdsk • Does not run automatically unless you set it • Use both switches: /f to repair (fix) sectors and /r to recover data on known bad sectors • CompTIA favors run monthly

20. System Configuration • Msconfig • Startup processes central point here • General, Boot, Services, Startup and Tools

21. System Information • Msinfo32.exe • Cute report, might be handy, not editable

22. Disk Cleanup • This is a good idea to run about once a month • Start | All Programs | Accessories | System Tools or open My Computer and right-click drive to Properties

25. Registry Cleaning • The theory is that removed programs do not clean out Registry entries made at installation and that these can be found and deleted • I am not a big fan of this idea as it is too easy to break the Registry

26. Optimization Better, stronger, faster

27. Installing Software • Typically new software is on a CD; will automatically start install program • You need to be logged in as Administrator to add/remove software – Run as Admin Setup.exe • Starting at Add Software does not guarantee an entry there • Accept the software license; type in the key/code • Best to accept defaults for program location(s), type of installation, etc. • Vista/7 does not have Add New Programs in Programs and Features

28. Deleting Software • Some applications include an Uninstall option – look for that first • Go to Add/Remove Programs • Go to web site and download remover program (still won’t remove all of Norton!) • Manual delete is total last resort – really try hard not to go here

29. Windows Components • Part of Add or Remove Programs • Generally will need install CD/DVD for XP; not for Vista/7 • Add or delete with check boxes

32. Driver Updates • Sometimes Microsoft updates one, or more of their driver files; have to choose Custom Update to see these as Express Update does not show or act on them • Know your hardware and on rainy Saturdays check vendor’s web site for updates • Don’t update unless you have the problem (i.e. don’t fix what is not broken)

33. Driver Signing • Started off as a good idea – to weed out buggy drivers • Has turned into a revenue stream for Microsoft • Default signing option is: Warn • Can be set to Ignore, Warn or Block

34. Device Manager • A little deeper in the OS, but still there • XP adds Driver Rollback as option for (video) device drivers • Should automatically detect new devices on startup – if not, reinstall device

35. Performance Options • Sounds really good, but ….click away and not much change occurs • The thought is that something will change when you allocate more processing time to applications or background tasks … or visual effects • Start | My Computer | Properties Advanced | Performance

37. Task Manager • If your computer is slow, when it was not before, this is a place to look • In theory, you can see what is eating up processor time and try stopping the process(es) • Google search on Process name to get more information • CTRL-Shift-ESC is alternate way to start it

39. Performance • Start | Run | PERFMON.MSC • Control Panel | Administrative Tools | Performance • Object is a system component with a set of characteristics • A counter tracks specific information about an object • This is from the server family and is generally beyond us techs

41. Backup (NTBackup) • It’s better than nothing • Will back up System State information (the Registry and boot files) • Here is where you create Automated System Recovery disk (ASR) • Will not backup to CD-R media, but will to external disk drive or network location • Not available in XP home

42. ASR • Automated System Recovery • Not bootable • Floppy disk and backup media (tape) • Start with XP install CD, then choose (1st) Repair option

43. Tape Backup • When was the last time you saw a tape drive???? • I think Microsoft is so focused on stability that they minimize backup • Digital Linear Tape (DLT); not used much • It’s time to buy Norton Ghost and external hard disk drive!

44. Types of Backups • Full or Normal backup; backs up everything • Copy backup; same as full, no change to archive bit • Incremental; only changed files, sets archive bit • Differential; only changed files, no change to archive bit

46. Vista/7 Backup • Cannot go to tape • Back up computer backs up to system image • Will not back up content stored on non-NTFS volumes • 7: Let Windows choose; will back up entire hard disk • Uses the .wim extension • Took about a half-hour for my backup

48. System Restore • Enables creating a restore point – a copy of computer’s configuration at a specific point in time • Start | All Programs | Accessories | System Tools | system restore • Vista/7 creates lots of restore points • Restores settings and programs – does not touch data • Turn it off and you loose all restore points

49. Recovery Console • Shell out to DOS-like prompt • Forces the BOOT.INI screen on each startup if installed • Supposed to fix boot file problems and whacked device driver files

50. Registry Recovery • Start Recovery Console from XP CD then follow the instructions to delete corrupted Registry and replace with copy • This will take you back to first Registry (2004 in my case)