© 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved Understanding Windows Chapter 12.

© 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved

Understanding WindowsChapter 12


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


Functions of the Operating System

Historical/Conceptual


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


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


Operating System Traits

• Different OSs require different applications

Operating System Application

Mac OS X Microsoft Office 2004

Windows XP Microsoft Office 2006

Linux OpenOffice


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


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 shoePick an application


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


Essentials

CompTIA A+Essentials


• 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


Today’s Operating Systems

Overview

• Microsoft Windows

• Apple Macintosh

• UNIX

• Linux


Microsoft Windows

• Corporate Users

• Windows NT 3.1• Windows NT 4.0• Windows 2000• Windows XP Pro

• Home Users

• Windows 9x• Windows 95• Windows 98

• Windows Me • XP Home• XP Media

• Recently released—Windows Vista– Versions for corporate and home users


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


Windows NT 4.0, 2000 Pro, XP


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


Windows Server Products

• Windows NT 4.0 Server

• Windows 2000 Server

• Windows 2003 Server


Apple Macintosh

• Used GUI long before Windows• Proprietary computers • Current OS is OS X• Macs now run

on Intel CPUs• Uses BSD

variant of UNIX


UNIX

• Oldest, most powerful OS

• Many current OSs have concepts developed from UNIX

• Open source—allows variants of OS


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)


Linux

• Distributions

– Fedora Core

– Debian

– Slackware

– Ubuntu

– SuSE


Installing and Upgrading Windows


Preparing for Installation or Upgrade

1. Identify hardware requirements2. Verify hardware and software compatibility3. Decide: Clean install or upgrade? 4. Back up data5. Select an install method6. Identify partition and file systems to use7. Determine computer’s network role8. Decide on language and locale settings9. Plan for post-installation tasks


Identify Hardware Requirements

Core Resources• CPU• RAM• Free hard disk space

Miscellaneous• Video adapter• Display• Storage devices


Verify Compatibility

• Hardware and software• Use Windows Marketplace (formally

known as Hardware Compatibility List)


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


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)


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


Select an Installation Method

• Two basic choices

– CD-ROM (A+ focus)

• Boot from CD and startinstallation

– Over the network (Network+ focus)


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


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


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


Post-Installation Tasks

• Similar as required for clean install

– Identify installation problems

– Install patches, service packs, and updates

– Upgrade drivers

– Restore user data


Windows 2000 Professional

• Hardware Requirements

Component Minimum RecommendedCPU Pentium 133 MHZ Pentium II 350 MHZMemory 64 MB 128 MBHard Disk 2 GB with 650 MB

free6.4 GB with 2 GB free

Network None Modern NICDisplay VGA resolution SVGA resolution Optical Not required unless

installing from CDNot required unless installing from CD


Install Upgrade XP Pro

• Upgrade paths

Windows 98

Windows XP Pro

Windows Me

Windows NT 4.0SP5 or later

Windows 2000 Pro(including SPs)

Windows XP Home


XP Professional

• Hardware Requirements

Component Minimum RecommendedCPU Intel or AMD 233

MHZIntel or AMD 300 MHZ

Memory 64 MB 256 MBHard Disk 1.5 GB available

hard drive space4 GB available hard drive space

Network None Modern NIC

Display DirectX version 8800 X 600 resolution

DirectX version 8800 X 600 resolution

Optical Any CD or DVD drive

Any CD or DVD drive


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


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


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


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


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)



• Graphical mode

• Enter product key– Good idea to write this on the CD



• Configure computer name and administrator password

• Network settings


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


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


Troubleshooting Installation Problems


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


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


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


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