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A+ Operating Systems Objectives. Fall, 2003. Exam Notes. Need to pass both hardware and software exams to be “A+ Certified” Minimum score needed to pass is 505 (scale of 100-900) Measures competencies of technician with 500 hours of hands-on experience
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A+ Operating Systems Objectives Fall, 2003
Exam Notes • Need to pass both hardware and software exams to be “A+ Certified” • Minimum score needed to pass is 505 (scale of 100-900) • Measures competencies of technician with 500 hours of hands-on experience • Not designed to measure “cutting edge” technologies
OS’s Covered • Windows 9x (95, 98) • Windows NT 4.0 (Workstation) • Windows 2000 • Windows Me • Windows XP
Domains • OS Fundamentals 28% • Installation, Configuration, Upgrading 31% • Diagnosing and Troubleshooting 25% • Networks 16% • Total 100%
Operating System Fundamentals Domain 1
1.1 Identify the major desktop components and interfaces, and their functions. Differentiate the characteristics of Windows 9x/Me, Windows NT 4.0 Workstation, Windows 2000 Professional, and Windows XP1.2 Identify the names, locations, purposes, and contents of major system files1.3 Demonstrate the ability to use command-line functions and utilities to manage the operating system, including the proper syntax and switches1.4 Identify the basic concepts and procedures for creating, viewing, and managing disks, directories and files. This includes procedures for changing file attributes and the ramifications of those changes (for example, security issues).1.5 Identify the major operating system utilities, their purpose, location, and available switches.
Windows through time • Windows 3.1 • Reliant on DOS for system access • Basically a GUI interface for using DOS programs • WIN.COM file was used to start Windows • 3 core files • KRNL.EXE – controlled how apps use memory • USER.EXE – user interfaces and effects on apps • GDI.EXE – position of graphics on the screen
Windows 3.1 (continued) • Faster drive access (FastDisk) • Swap files to increase Virtual RAM • 386SPART.PAR • WIN386.SWP • INI Files • Located in C:\Windows directory • Initialize hardware, software, even Windows • Text files that can be edited easily with Notepad
Windows 3.1 (continued) • SYSTEM.INI • Similar to CONFIG.SYS in DOS • All resources initialized here • Necessary to run Windows, even with 9x • Not necessary for 2000, but useful for legacy apps • WIN.INI • Similar to AUTOEXEC.BAT in DOS • Defines personalization of Windows (fonts, colors) • Not necessary for Windows to boot • Not used much with 9x or 2000
Windows 95 • A number of new features • PnP • 32 bit application support • DOS not necessary • Came out as result of Windows NT and an effort to make systems more user friendly • Seen as DOS version 7.0 in MSD • Supports preemptive multitasking
Windows 95 (continued) • Registry • Took over use of INI files • Two files contained entire registry • USER.DAT • SYSTEM.DAT • Reside in C:\Windows directory • Can access/change information through Control Panel
Windows 95 (continued) • Safe Mode (F5) when booting • Built-in driver support (ASPI) • Long filenames • 255 characters instead of 8.3 convention • Unicode (65,536 chars.) replaces ASCII (255) • FAT32 • Partitions up to 2 terabytes in size • 2.1 gigabytes was the old standard • Versions (see pages 600/601)
Windows 95 (continued) • Boot Menu (F8 in 95, Left <Ctrl> in 98) • Normal • Logged • Safe Mode (F5 at boot) • Safe Mode with Network Support • Step-by-step confirmation • Command prompt only (“WIN” to enter GUI) • Safe mode command prompt only • Previous version of MS-DOS
Windows 98 Improvements • Startup disk (Win 98 supports CD drives) • System Information tool (via Device Manager) • Free (!) Updates (through a web site) • Disk Cleanup • Active Desktop
C:\Windows C:\Windows\Command C:\Windows\Cookies C:\Windows\Cursors C:\Windows\Desktop C:\Windows\Favorites C:\Windows\Fonts C:\Windows\Help C:\Windows\History C:\Windows\INF C:\Windows\Media C:\Windows\PIF C:\Windows\Spool\Printers C:\Windows\Start Menu \Programs \Programs\Startup C:\Windows\System C:\Windows\Temp C:\Windows\Temporary Internet Files Win 9x File system
Windows NT Workstation • Network client competing with Novell Netware • Looks just like 95 (95 look based on NT) • Uses NTFS instead of FAT or FAT32 • Long filenames • Redundancy (backup of MFT is kept) • Backward compatibility • Recoverability (transaction logging) • Security • Accounts • Limited PnP
Network groups Administrators Power Users Users Backup Operators Replicator Everyone Guests File/folder permissions Full control Modify Read & Execute List Folder Contents (folder) Read Write Windows NT Workstation (continued)
Windows NT Workstation (continued) • Registry Editor • Windows 9x • REGEDIT.EXE – good search capabilities • Windows NT / 2000 • REGEDT32.EXE – more powerful • REGEDIT.EXE – included legacy program for search abilities
Windows 2000 Improvements • 2000 based on NT, but user-friendly like 9x • NTFS 5.0 instead of FAT/FAT32/NTFS 4.0 • Compression • Encryption • Volume naming • Disk quotas • Dynamic drives • MMC • Driver signing
Win 2K – Disk Types • Basic • What we’ve known up to this point • Partitions • MBR • Dynamic (done through Computer Management) • Volumes instead of partitions • Types • Spanned • Striped • RAID 0 • RAID 1 • RAID 5
Win 2K – Control Panel • Improvement was “Administrative Tools” • Event Viewer • Performance • Computer Management • System Tools • Event Viewer (again) • System Information (like Device Manager, but no changes) • Performance logs and alerts • Storage • Disk management (format, partition) • Services and applications • Local Security Policy (WAY COOL!)
Win 2K File System • C:\WINNT • All files, folders, and subfolders used by Windows • C:\Program Files • Installed programs • C:\Documents and Settings • User-specific information for each user that has logged onto that computer
Windows Registry • Five “hives” • HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT • HKEY_CURRENT_USER • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE • HKEY_USERS • HKEY_CURRENT_CONFIG • HKEY_DYN_DATA
Registry (continued) • Can be accessed a number of ways • Control Panel (recommended) • REGEDIT.EXE • WIN 9x, NT, 2000, Me • Great search capabilities • REGEDT32.EXE • WIN NT, 2000, XP • More powerful, but not as search-friendly
Registry Files • Win 9x • USER.DAT (USER.DA0 is a backup) • SYSTEM.DAT (SYSTEM.DA0 is a backup) • Win 2000 • Each hive stored separately in C:\WINNT\SYSTEM32\CONFIG or C:\WINNT\PROFILES • Copy individual hive files to back up
Virtual Memory • Use of swap files to add to and therefore increase available RAM • WIN386.SWP in Windows 9x • PAGEFILE.SYS in Windows 2000 • Set automatically by Windows when you install • Can change in 9x through Device Manager, Performance tab • Can change in 2000 by right-clicking My Computer, then Advanced, then Performance options • Good rule: set to 3x RAM (reduce the default)
File Systems • FAT (FAT16) • Older, used in DOS, all other versions • Supported in Windows 9x, 2000, NT, Me, XP • FAT32 • Introduced with 9x (Revision B) • Used in 9x, Me, 2000, XP • NTFS4 • Used in Windows NT • NTFS5.x • Used in Windows 2000
OS Interfaces • Windows Explorer • Expanding folders (+ and – indicators) • Sorting files on the listing by field • Different viewing styles (Web view in 98) • My Computer • Similar to Explorer, but focuses more on drives than files
OS Interfaces (continued) • Control Panel • Used to change registry settings • Double-click My Computer or Start/Settings • Know these settings!!!!! • Changes from 9x to 2000 • Administrative Tools • Add/Remove Hardware • Add/Remove Programs • Sound and Multimedia combined into one • System • Hardware wizard • Driver signing • User profiles
OS Interfaces (continued) • Other interfaces • Computer Management (2000 and up) • Accessories/System Tools • Event Viewer • Performance • Command line • Network Neighborhood (9x) • My Network Places (2000, XP) • Taskbar • Start Menu (how to change items, i.e. Startup) • Device Manager
Windows 9x IO.SYS MSDOS.SYS AUTOEXEC.BAT COMMAND.COM CONFIG.SYS HIMEM.SYS EMM386.EXE WIN.COM SYSTEM.INI WIN.INI USER.DAT SYSTEM.DAT USER.DA0 SYSTEM.DA0 Windows NT/2000 BOOT.INI NTLDR NTDETECT.COM NTBOOTDD.SYS TUSER.DAT Registry data files Subdomain 1.2Identify names, locations, purposes, and contents of major system files
Command/CMD DIR ATTRIB VER MEM SCANDISK DEFRAG EDIT XCOPY COPY FORMAT FDISK SETVER SCANREG MD/CD/RD DEL(ETE) REN(AME) DELTREE TYPE ECHO SET PING Subdomain 1.3Use command-line functions and utilities to manage the OS, including the proper syntax and switches
Subdomain 1.4Identify basic concepts for creating, viewing, and managing disks, directories, and files. • Disks • Partitions • Active • Default bootable partition (can have only one) • Primary (stores and OS, therefore bootable) • Can have up to four per hard drive (2000) • 9x only supports one primary per drive • Extended • Non-bootable, used primarily for data storage (H: drive) • Logical • Extended partitions divided into drive letters
Disks (continued) • File Systems • FAT (FAT16) • FAT32 • NTFS4 • NTFS5.x • Windows 2000 • In Disk Management, you can convert to FAT32 • Command-line function CONVERT allows to convert to NTFS (one-way conversion)
Directory Structure • Creating folders in Windows • Navigating structure • Finding a file • Sorting files • Showing hidden files • Maximum depth • FAT16 could only support 255 entries in root directory • FAT32, NTFS is unlimited
Files • Creating files • Naming conventions (common extensions) • File attributes (remember R-A-S-H) • File compression • Stacker in Windows 95, attribute in 2000 • File encryption (2000) • File types (binary vs. text)
File / Folder Permissions in NTFS (NT, 2000) • Full Control • Modify • Read & Execute • List Folder Contents • Read • Write
Subdomain 1.5Identify major operating system utilities, their purpose, location, and available switches. • Disk Management Tools • DEFRAG.EXE • FDISK.EXE • Backup/Restore Utility • Windows 9x needs 3rd party software • Windows 2000 has its own backup utility • Program Files-Accessories-System Tools-Backup • Emergency Repair Disk (NOT bootable!) • Three options: • Backup everything • Backup only system-critical files • Backup system state data (useful for server)
Other Disk Management Tools • SCANDISK.EXE • CHKDSK.EXE • DOS-based • Know /f parameter!!!!! • Disk Cleanup • FORMAT.EXE
System Management Tools • Device Manager • System Manager (Windows 2000) • Computer Manager • MSCONFIG.EXE • REGEDIT.EXE • REGEDT32.EXE • SYSEDIT.EXE • SCANREG.EXE • Command/CMD • Event Viewer • Task Manager
File Management Tools • ATTRIB.EXE • EXTRACT.EXE • EDIT.COM • Windows Explorer