Understanding Windows

1. Understanding Windows Chapter 12

2. Overview • In this chapter, you will learn to • Identify and explain the basic functions and features of an operating system • Install and upgrade Windows 2000 and Windows XP • Troubleshoot installation problems

3. Historical/Conceptual Functions of the Operating System

4. Functions of an Operating System • Communicate with hardware • Provide a user interface • Provide a structure for access to applications • Enable users to manipulate programs and data

5. Operating System Traits • An OS works only with a particular type of processor • An OS begins running as soon as the PC finishes its POST • Application programs cannot run on a PC without an OS • Programs use APIs (application programming interfaces) • Flexible—allows use of new software and hardware

6. Operating System Traits • Different OSs require different applications

7. Communicating with Hardware • BIOS includes code that tells the computer how to talk to basic hardware • The OS works with BIOS to talk to these devices • When BIOS does not know how to talk to a piece of hardware, the OS talks directly to the device • Most OSs use device drivers provided by the manufacturer (Bring Your Own BIOS) to interpret the language necessary to talk to a new device • When there’s a problem, the OS should provide error handling or at least error notification

8. Creating a User Interface • A user interface needs to • Show what applications are available • Provide an easy way to access applications • Provide a way to label and save the data • Disappear and allow the application to take over the screen • Pick a shoe • Pick an application

9. Organizing Programs and Data • The OS needs to be able to organize and manipulate programs and data • Provides name (or label) for each program and each piece of data • Provides naming system for drives • Allows users to store data and programs in organized fashion • Allows users to manipulate data and programs

10. CompTIA A+Essentials Essentials

11. Command-line interface Character-based or text-based Covered in Chapter 14 Graphical user interface (GUI) Uses icons and pictures User interacts with OS by pointing and clicking with mouse Operating System Interfaces

12. Today’s Operating Systems Overview • Microsoft Windows • Apple Macintosh • UNIX • Linux

13. Microsoft Windows • Corporate Users • Home Users • Windows NT 3.1 • Windows NT 4.0 • Windows 2000 • Windows XP Pro • Windows 9x • Windows 95 • Windows 98 • Windows Me • XP Home • XP Media • Recently released—Windows Vista • Versions for corporate and home users

14. General Windows Features • File systems • Corporate used NTFS • Home used FAT and FAT32 • Today both supported, but NTFS used for security • Plug and Play • Appeared with Windows 95 • Migrated to corporate side with Windows 2000

15. Windows NT 4.0, 2000 Pro, XP

16. Windows XP • Ended the Windows 9x product line • Windows XP Home • Basic features for home users • Windows XP Professional • Advanced features include security for corporate users • Windows XP Media Edition • Advanced features for home users include ability to watch TV and movies

17. Windows Server Products • Windows NT 4.0 Server • Windows 2000 Server • Windows 2003 Server

18. Apple Macintosh • Used GUI long before Windows • Proprietary computers • Current OS is OS X • Macs now run on Intel CPUs • Uses BSDvariant of UNIX

19. UNIX • Oldest, most powerful OS • Many current OSs have concepts developed from UNIX • Open source—allows variants of OS

20. Linux • UNIX-like OS written by Linus Torvalds • Runs on Intel/AMD processors • Free OS • Source code also freely available • Uses the GNU general public license (GPL) • Linux and applications bundled as Linux distributions (distros)

21. Linux • Distributions • Fedora Core • Debian • Slackware • Ubuntu • SuSE

22. Installing and Upgrading Windows

23. Preparing for Installation or Upgrade • Identify hardware requirements • Verify hardware and software compatibility • Decide: Clean install or upgrade? • Back up data • Select an install method • Identify partition and file systems to use • Determine computer’s network role • Decide on language and locale settings • Plan for post-installation tasks

24. Identify Hardware Requirements Core Resources • CPU • RAM • Free hard disk space Miscellaneous • Video adapter • Display • Storage devices

25. Verify Compatibility • Hardware and software • Use Windows Marketplace (formally known as Hardware Compatibility List)

26. Clean Install or Upgrade • Clean install • Usually done on empty hard disk • All applications must be installed • Upgrade • New OS installs on top of the old one • Many previous settings and capabilities retained • Applications don’t need to be reinstalled • Multiboot • Doing a clean install side by side with another OS • Enables you to boot to more than one OS

27. Other Installation Methods • When deploying many computers, automated methods used • Image—complete copy of OS and applications • Norton Ghost • PowerQuest’s Drive Image • Acronis’s True Image • Remote Installation Services (RIS)

28. Back Up Data • If data saved to central server, this step can be skipped • If data exists on local drive, it needs to be backed up • Back up to network server, DVD, USB, hard drive, etc. • Will need to restore data from this location after upgrade or reinstall

29. Select an Installation Method • Two basic choices • CD-ROM (A+ focus) • Boot from CD and startinstallation • Over the network (Network+ focus)

30. Determine Partition & File System • Partition • Create when drive first created (or use third-party tools to repartition) • If multiboot, use one partition for each OS • File system • Use NTFS whenever possible—security features are valuable • If older OSs need FAT or FAT32, use FAT or FAT32 for their partition

31. Miscellaneous • Network role • Standalone, workgroup, or domain • Environment determines choice • Language and locale settings • Languages and displays can be configured for different countries • Post-installation tasks • Install service packs, hotfixes, etc. • Install updated drivers • Install applications

32. Install or Upgrade • Text mode • End user license agreement (EULA) • Partition hard disk • Files copied to hard disk • Graphical mode • Enter product key • Remaining installation completes • Upgrade disks are typically cheaper • Require OS to be already installed or separate disk used to verify upgrade disk can be used

33. Post-Installation Tasks • Similar as required for clean install • Identify installation problems • Install patches, service packs, and updates • Upgrade drivers • Restore user data

34. Windows 2000 Professional • Hardware Requirements

35. Install Upgrade XP Pro • Upgrade paths Windows 98 Windows Me Windows XP Pro Windows NT 4.0SP5 or later Windows 2000 Pro(including SPs) Windows XP Home

36. XP Professional • Hardware Requirements

37. XP Pro Compatibility • Upgrade Advisor • First process that runs from setup.exe • Provides list of devices and software known to have issues with XP • Can be run by itself • From Microsoft’s Web site • Or winnt32 /checkupgradeonly • On the installation CD or can be downloaded for free

38. XP Installation • Bootable CD-ROM boots into setup • May need to set boot order in BIOS • Registration—optional • Activation • Mandatory within 30 days • Anti-piracy mechanism • System disabled after 30 days if not activated • Via Internet or phone

39. 2000 and XP Upgrade Issues • Can upgrade to 2000 Pro from 95 and 98 but not Me • Some 9x applications won’t run on 2000 and XP • Third-party disk compression applications not supported on 2000/XP • Third-party power management applications can cause problems with 2000/XP installation

40. Pre-Upgrade Steps • Check compatibility • Back up data and configuration files • Perform “spring cleaning” • Perform disk scan and defrag • Uncompress all • Perform virus scan and disable or remove virus-checking software • Disable CMOS virus checking • Be prepared to do clean install

41. 2000/XP Clean Install • Steps same for both • Start by booting to CD-ROM • Text mode • Can partition drive in this mode • Choose file system (usually NTFS)

42. 2000/XP Clean Install • Graphical mode • Enter product key • Good idea to write this on the CD

43. 2000/XP Clean Install • Configure computer name and administrator password • Network settings

44. Automating the Install • Scripted installation • Setup Manager creates answer files • Available on CD or can be downloaded • Creates answer files for multiple OSs • Fully automated or partially automated

45. Automating the Install • Disk cloning problem • Unique security identifier (SID) is not unique if cloned • Solution • GhostWalker or NewSID can be used to create new SID • Sysprep sanitizes many unique settings on a computer such as SID

46. Troubleshooting Installation Problems

47. Text Mode Errors • No boot device • Either startup disk is bad, or CMOS not set to boot off CD-ROM first • Windows Setup requires X amount of available drive space • Check formatting and/or space of C: drive • Not ready error on optical drive • Check the CD-ROM drive and disc • BSOD • Probably due to hardware incompatibility • Check KB 165863

48. Graphical Mode Errors • Hardware detection errors • Could be hardware incompatibility • If non-critical hardware, find and install correct drivers • Can’t read CAB files • Check the CD-ROM for scratches • Try copying i386 files onto hard drive • Replace the CD-ROM

49. Lockups During Install • Smart recovery, repair install • Unplug system and restart • Will automatically start where it left off • Optical drive, hard drive • Try another disc or another CD-ROM drive • Log files—track progress of install • Setuplog.txt • Setupapi.log