A+ Operating Systems Objectives Fall, 2003. Exam Notes Need to pass both hardware and software exams...
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Transcript of A+ Operating Systems Objectives Fall, 2003. Exam Notes Need to pass both hardware and software exams...
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!!!!!