Maintaining and Troubleshooting Windows 2000 and XP

1. Maintaining and Troubleshooting Windows 2000 and XP Chapter 14

2. Overview • In this chapter, you will learn to • Maintain Windows 2000/XP • Optimize Windows 2000/XP • Troubleshoot Windows 2000/XP

3. Essentials CompTIA A+Essentials Maintaining Windows

4. Patches, Updates, Service Packs • Windows updated regularly • Flaws, bugs, program errors found and corrected • Windows Update • Allows automatic updating of systemsover Internet

5. 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

6. User Accounts and Groups • User account needed to log on to system • Only account after install is Administrator • Groups used to assign rights and permissions to groups of users • Two groups created by default • Administrators • Guests (disabled by default)

7. Users and Passwords (2000) • Force user logon • Users must enter a user name and password • Administrator account • Not recommended forregular use • Additional account createdfor regular use

8. Create New Users (2000) • Access Users and Passwords applet from Control Panel • Creates user name and password • Can add users to groups • Standard Users—Power Users group

9. Managing Users in XP • Users and Passwords applet in Control Panel • Similar to Users and Passwords in 2000

10. Managing Users in XP • Two possible logon screens • User name and Password boxes • Welcome screen

11. Managing Users in XP • Account types • Computer administrator (member of administrators group) • Limited account (member of local users group) • Accounts can be changed

12. Fast User Switching • Allows users to switch between sessions • One user doesn’t need to log off while another user logs on • Both sessions active (though only one visible at a time)

13. Password Security • Never give out passwords over the phone • Use strong passwords • At least 6 to 8 characters • Include letters (both cases), numbers, symbols • Change passwords at regular intervals • Don’t write down passwords • Password reset disk can be used in XP

14. Resetting Forgotten Passwords in Windows XP • Windows XP allows the currently logged-on user to create a password reset disk • Use if the password is forgotten • Can access any encrypted files after resetting password • If an administrator resets your password, you’d lose access to encrypted files • User Accounts: in Control Panel, select your user account, choose Prevent a Forgotten Password under Related Tasks and follow the wizard

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

16. Maintenance • Registry maintenance • Registry can get bloated • Older tool from Microsoft named RegClean • Not updated for 2000/XP • Can use third-party tool such as EasyCleaner by ToniArts • Security • Spyware/anti-virus/firewall • Integral part of computing today • Covered in more depth in Chapter 23

17. Optimizing Windows

18. Installing or Removing Software • Installing software • Most programs are distributed on CD-ROMs that make use of the Autorun feature • Or you could use the Add/Remove Programs icon in Control Panel • Removing software • Use the uninstall option that is part of the program • Or go to Control Panel’s Add/Remove Software applet

19. Add/Remove Programs Uninstall option Control Panel

20. Windows Components • Miscellaneous components can be installed or uninstalled • Access from Add/Remove Programs

21. Installing/Optimizing a Device • Same in 2000 and XP • Driver Updates • Can use Windows Updates • Must use Custom option • Or check manufacturer Web site

22. 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”

23. Unsigned Drivers • Many manufacturers issue drivers that have not been tested & signed by MS • When detected during a hardware install, you’ll get the message shown • Can choose Driver Signing Options

24. Device Manager • Can roll back faulty driver • Original driver installed • Driver updated (with faulty driver) • Driver can be rolled back to original

25. 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

26. Performance Options • Performance Options are under the Advanced tab of My Computer Properties

27. Resource Tracking • Core Resources • CPU • Memory • Disk • NIC • Resource tracking tools • Task Manager • Performance Console

28. Task Manager • To start Task Manager, • Press Ctrl-Shift-Esc or Ctrl-Alt-Del

29. Performance Console • Performance Monitor 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

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

31. Objects and Counters • An object is a system resource • A counter tracks specific information about the object • Performance console includes System Monitor • Shows real-time data on objects • Click the + to add counters for new objects

32. Performance Logs and Alerts • Performance Logs and Alerts allows 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

33. Preparing for Problems • Tools to prepare for problems • System Restore • Backup and Restore Wizard • Automated System Recovery • Emergency Repair Disk • Recovery Console

34. System Restore • System Restore enables you to create a restore point • A copy of your computer’s configuration at a specific point in time • Does not include data, only system configuration • To create a restore point • Start | All Programs| Accessories| System Tools| System Restore • A new restore point is automatically created whenever you install new software

35. System Restore

36. Backup and Restore Wizard • Backup program enables you to back up and restore data and system files • Backup System State Data backs up the Registry and other key system data

37. Backup and Restore Wizard • Another option • Windows 2000: Emergency Repair Disk (ERD) • Stores a copy of the Registry in \WINNT\REPAIR • Windows XP: Automated System Recovery (ASR) • Creates a backup of your system containing the system partition and disks containing the operating system

38. Recovery Console • Recovery Console offers a command-line interface to help resolve issues such as faulty drivers • Access Recovery Console • Run Setup, select Repair and then Recovery Console (lets you run it from the CD) • Or install to your hard drive and run \i386\winnt32 /cmdcons from your Setup CD

39. Troubleshooting Windows

40. Failure to Boot • Common errors • No Boot device Present • NTLDR Bad or Missing • Invalid Boot.ini • Your response • Attempt to repair • Attempt to restore • Rebuild

41. Attempt to Repair • The Recovery Console is a text-mode command interpreter • Separate from the Windows command prompt • Allows you to gain access to the hard disk • Limited access to NTFS and FAT volumes • Requires an Administrator password • Start and stop services, repair the master boot record and boot sector, format volumes

42. Recovery Console Commands

43. Attempt to Restore • For Windows 2000 • Use ERD • ERD is available only if ERD disk was created • For XP use ASR • ASR Recovery is available only if ASR backup was created • Consider ASR a last resort • Restores to ASR backup point

44. Rebuild • Try to back up or recover data first • Recover CDs or recovery partitions restore system to factory state • All data is lost

45. Failure to Load GUI • Device driver problems • Windows Stop Error • Blue Screen of Death (BSoD) • Remove the device and reboot • Registry • BSOD with “Registry File Failure” • “Windows could not start” • Restore the Registry (Last Known Good) and reboot

46. Advanced Startup Options • Press F8 after POST to launch Advanced Startup Options • Safe Modes • Enable Boot Logging • Enable VGA Mode • Last Known Good Configuration • Directory Services Restore Mode (Server only) • Debugging Mode • Boot Normally (to abort advanced boot options)

47. Advanced Startup Options • Safe Mode • Basic files and drivers are loaded with no network • Can access Device Manager and restore points in Safe Mode • Often works in response to BSoD • Safe Mode with Networking • Networking capabilities added • Safe Mode with Command Prompt • Command prompt only

48. Advanced Startup Options • Enable Boot Logging • ntbtlog.txt is located in the windir folder (C:\winnt) • Enable VGA Mode • Load driver in standard VGA mode • Allows correction of settings (refresh/resolution) • Directory Services Restore Mode • Domain controllers only • Debugging Mode • Rarely used

49. Advanced Startup Options • Use Last Known Good • If you install a new device driver, and Microsoft Windows 2000 restarts but the system stops responding • If you accidentally disable a critical device driver • Don’t use Last Known Good • When the problem isn’t related to Windows 2000 configuration changes • After you log on • When startup failures relate to hardware failures or missing or corrupted files

50. Troubleshooting Tools in the GUI • Once in the GUI, can use any tools we’ve discussed or will discuss • Event Viewer • Device Manager • More