A+ Operating Systems Objectives

Fall, 2003

Exam NotesNeed 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 experienceNot designed to measure “cutting edge” technologies

OS’s Covered

Windows 9x (95, 98)Windows NT 4.0 (Workstation)Windows 2000Windows MeWindows 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 XP

1.2 Identify the names, locations, purposes, and contents of major system files

1.3 Demonstrate the ability to use command-line functions and utilities to manage the operating system, including the proper syntax and switches

1.4 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 timeWindows 3.1

Reliant on DOS for system accessBasically a GUI interface for using DOS programsWIN.COM file was used to start Windows3 core files

KRNL.EXE – controlled how apps use memoryUSER.EXE – user interfaces and effects on appsGDI.EXE – position of graphics on the screen

Windows 3.1 (continued)Faster drive access (FastDisk)Swap files to increase Virtual RAM

386SPART.PARWIN386.SWP

INI FilesLocated in C:\Windows directoryInitialize hardware, software, even WindowsText files that can be edited easily with Notepad

Windows 3.1 (continued)SYSTEM.INI

Similar to CONFIG.SYS in DOSAll resources initialized hereNecessary to run Windows, even with 9xNot necessary for 2000, but useful for legacy apps

WIN.INISimilar to AUTOEXEC.BAT in DOSDefines personalization of Windows (fonts, colors)Not necessary for Windows to bootNot used much with 9x or 2000

Windows 95A number of new features

PnP32 bit application supportDOS not necessaryCame out as result of Windows NT and an effort to make systems more user friendlySeen as DOS version 7.0 in MSDSupports preemptive multitasking

Windows 95 (continued)Registry

Took over use of INI filesTwo files contained entire registry

USER.DATSYSTEM.DAT

Reside in C:\Windows directoryCan access/change information through Control Panel

Windows 95 (continued)Safe Mode (F5) when bootingBuilt-in driver support (ASPI)Long filenames

255 characters instead of 8.3 conventionUnicode (65,536 chars.) replaces ASCII (255)FAT32

Partitions up to 2 terabytes in size2.1 gigabytes was the old standard

Versions (see pages 600/601)

Windows 95 (continued)Boot Menu (F8 in 95, Left <Ctrl> in 98)

NormalLoggedSafe Mode (F5 at boot)Safe Mode with Network SupportStep-by-step confirmationCommand prompt only (“WIN” to enter GUI)Safe mode command prompt onlyPrevious 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 CleanupActive Desktop

Win 9x File systemC:\WindowsC:\Windows\CommandC:\Windows\CookiesC:\Windows\Cursors C:\Windows\DesktopC:\Windows\FavoritesC:\Windows\FontsC:\Windows\HelpC:\Windows\HistoryC:\Windows\INF

C:\Windows\MediaC:\Windows\PIFC:\Windows\Spool\PrintersC:\Windows\Start Menu

\Programs\Programs\Startup

C:\Windows\SystemC:\Windows\TempC:\Windows\Temporary Internet Files

Windows NT WorkstationNetwork client competing with Novell NetwareLooks just like 95 (95 look based on NT)Uses NTFS instead of FAT or FAT32

Long filenamesRedundancy (backup of MFT is kept)Backward compatibilityRecoverability (transaction logging)SecurityAccounts

Limited PnP

Windows NT Workstation (continued)

Network groupsAdministratorsPower UsersUsersBackup OperatorsReplicatorEveryoneGuests

File/folder permissionsFull controlModifyRead & ExecuteList Folder Contents (folder)ReadWrite

Windows NT Workstation (continued)

Registry Editor

Windows 9x

REGEDIT.EXE – good search capabilities

Windows NT / 2000

REGEDT32.EXE – more powerfulREGEDIT.EXE – included legacy program for search abilities

Windows 2000 Improvements

2000 based on NT, but user-friendly like 9xNTFS 5.0 instead of FAT/FAT32/NTFS 4.0

CompressionEncryptionVolume namingDisk quotasDynamic drivesMMCDriver signing

Win 2K – Disk TypesBasic

What we’ve known up to this pointPartitionsMBR

Dynamic (done through Computer Management)Volumes instead of partitionsTypes

SpannedStripedRAID 0RAID 1RAID 5

Win 2K – Control PanelImprovement was “Administrative Tools”

Event ViewerPerformanceComputer Management

System ToolsEvent Viewer (again)System Information (like Device Manager, but no changes)Performance logs and alerts

StorageDisk management (format, partition)

Services and applicationsLocal Security Policy (WAY COOL!)

Win 2K File SystemC:\WINNT

All files, folders, and subfolders used by Windows

C:\Program FilesInstalled programs

C:\Documents and SettingsUser-specific information for each user that has logged onto that computer

Windows RegistryFive “hives”

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTHKEY_CURRENT_USERHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINEHKEY_USERSHKEY_CURRENT_CONFIGHKEY_DYN_DATA

Registry (continued)Can be accessed a number of ways

Control Panel (recommended)REGEDIT.EXE

WIN 9x, NT, 2000, MeGreat search capabilities

REGEDT32.EXEWIN NT, 2000, XPMore powerful, but not as search-friendly

Registry FilesWin 9x

USER.DAT (USER.DA0 is a backup)SYSTEM.DAT (SYSTEM.DA0 is a backup)

Win 2000Each hive stored separately in C:\WINNT\SYSTEM32\CONFIG or C:\WINNT\PROFILESCopy individual hive files to back up

Virtual MemoryUse of swap files to add to and therefore increase available RAM

WIN386.SWP in Windows 9xPAGEFILE.SYS in Windows 2000

Set automatically by Windows when you installCan change in 9x through Device Manager, Performance tabCan change in 2000 by right-clicking My Computer, then Advanced, then Performance options

Good rule: set to 3x RAM (reduce the default)

File SystemsFAT (FAT16)

Older, used in DOS, all other versionsSupported in Windows 9x, 2000, NT, Me, XP

FAT32Introduced with 9x (Revision B)Used in 9x, Me, 2000, XP

NTFS4Used in Windows NT

NTFS5.xUsed in Windows 2000

OS InterfacesWindows Explorer

Expanding folders (+ and – indicators)Sorting files on the listing by fieldDifferent viewing styles (Web view in 98)

My ComputerSimilar to Explorer, but focuses more on drives than files

OS Interfaces (continued)Control Panel

Used to change registry settingsDouble-click My Computer or Start/SettingsKnow these settings!!!!!Changes from 9x to 2000

Administrative ToolsAdd/Remove HardwareAdd/Remove ProgramsSound and Multimedia combined into oneSystem

Hardware wizardDriver signingUser profiles

OS Interfaces (continued)Other interfaces

Computer Management (2000 and up)Accessories/System Tools

Event ViewerPerformance

Command lineNetwork Neighborhood (9x)

My Network Places (2000, XP)

TaskbarStart Menu (how to change items, i.e. Startup)Device Manager

Subdomain 1.2Identify names, locations, purposes, and

contents of major system files

Windows 9xIO.SYSMSDOS.SYSAUTOEXEC.BATCOMMAND.COMCONFIG.SYSHIMEM.SYSEMM386.EXEWIN.COMSYSTEM.INIWIN.INI

USER.DATSYSTEM.DATUSER.DA0SYSTEM.DA0

Windows NT/2000BOOT.ININTLDRNTDETECT.COMNTBOOTDD.SYSTUSER.DATRegistry data files

Subdomain 1.3Use command-line functions and utilities to

manage the OS, including the proper syntax and switches

Command/CMDDIRATTRIBVERMEMSCANDISKDEFRAGEDITXCOPYCOPYFORMAT

FDISKSETVERSCANREGMD/CD/RDDEL(ETE)REN(AME)DELTREETYPEECHOSETPING

Subdomain 1.4Identify basic concepts for creating, viewing, and

managing disks, directories, and files.

DisksPartitions

ActiveDefault 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

ExtendedNon-bootable, used primarily for data storage (H: drive)

LogicalExtended partitions divided into drive letters

Disks (continued)File Systems

FAT (FAT16)FAT32NTFS4NTFS5.x

Windows 2000In Disk Management, you can convert to FAT32Command-line function CONVERT allows to convert to NTFS (one-way conversion)

Directory StructureCreating folders in WindowsNavigating structure

Finding a fileSorting filesShowing hidden filesMaximum depth

FAT16 could only support 255 entries in root directoryFAT32, NTFS is unlimited

FilesCreating filesNaming conventions (common extensions)File attributes (remember R-A-S-H)File compression

Stacker in Windows 95, attribute in 2000File encryption (2000)

File types (binary vs. text)

File / Folder Permissions in NTFS (NT, 2000)

Full ControlModifyRead & ExecuteList Folder ContentsReadWrite

Subdomain 1.5Identify major operating system utilities, their

purpose, location, and available switches.

Disk Management ToolsDEFRAG.EXEFDISK.EXEBackup/Restore Utility

Windows 9x needs 3rd party softwareWindows 2000 has its own backup utility

Program Files-Accessories-System Tools-BackupEmergency Repair Disk (NOT bootable!)Three options:

Backup everythingBackup only system-critical filesBackup system state data (useful for server)

Other Disk Management ToolsSCANDISK.EXECHKDSK.EXE

DOS-basedKnow /f parameter!!!!!

Disk CleanupFORMAT.EXE

System Management Tools

Device ManagerSystem Manager (Windows 2000)Computer ManagerMSCONFIG.EXEREGEDIT.EXEREGEDT32.EXESYSEDIT.EXESCANREG.EXECommand/CMDEvent ViewerTask Manager

File Management ToolsATTRIB.EXEEXTRACT.EXEEDIT.COMWindows Explorer

That’s it for Domain 1!!!!!