UNIT 4
DEVICE
MANAGER
Device Manager is used to manage
hardware devices and their drivers
in Windows, allowing you to update,
disable, or uninstall drivers.
TASK
SCHEDULER
Task Scheduler automates tasks
based on a schedule. It allows
users to schedule any program,
script, or task to run at specified
times or in response to certain
events.
Certificate Manager
A Windows tool used to manage digital certificates, which verify the identity of users and devices.
Event Viewer
Event Viewer logs system events, such as security alerts, system errors, and
application issues, helping troubleshoot problems.
Group Policy
Editor
A Windows tool used to manage
security and configuration
settings across multiple
computers in a network.
Registry
Editor
•regedit allows direct editing of the
Windows system registry, a database
where system configuration and
settings are stored.
•A registry key is a folder-like structure
in the Windows Registry that contains
configuration settings and options for
the operating system, applications,
drivers, and hardware. The registry is a
hierarchical database, and each key
can store values or other subkeys.
Task Manager
Task Manager is a system utility
in Windows that provides
information about running
applications, processes, and
system performance
Navigation
Commands
• List directory contents
• dir
• Change directory
• cd xxxx
• cd ..
• cd \
• Drive navigation
• C:
• D:
File Management Commands
• Move and copy files
• copy
• Creating a directory
• md
• Removing a directory
• rd
Disk Management
Commands
• Manage partitions and file
systems
• diskpart
• Write a new file system to a
drive
• format
• Scan disk to check and repair
disk errors on file system
• chkdsk
System
Management
Commands
• Shut down and restart the
computer
• shutdown
• Scan for damaged or missing
system files
• sfc
• Report Windows version and
build
• winver
Operating System Types:
•Business Client: For productivity and networking (e.g., Windows
10 Pro, macOS).
•Network OS (NOS): Manages network resources (e.g., Windows
Server, Linux).
•Home Client: Simplified for personal use (e.g., Windows 10
Windows Home).
•Mobile OS: For smartphones/tablets (e.g., Android, iOS).
and Microsoft Windows:
•Windows 10/11: Available in Home, Pro, and Enterprise for
macOS different users.
•Windows Server: Server versions like 2016, 2019 for network
services.
Apple macOS:
•Apple-Only: Licensed for Mac devices.
•Upgrades: Regular updates, backward compatibility with recent
hardware.
Google Chrome OS
• A lightweight OS focused on web-based applications,
providing a secure and reliable environment.
UNIX
UNIX, • A powerful, multiuser operating system developed in the
1970s, forming the basis for many modern operating
systems like Linux and macOS
Linux, Linux
• Open-source: Free to use, modify, and distribute.
and
• UNIX-like: Based on UNIX principles but independent.
• Highly customizable: Users can choose from a variety of
desktop environments, tools, and configurations.
Chrome • Multiple distributions: Popular ones include Ubuntu,
Fedora, CentOS, and Arch Linux, tailored for different use
cases.
OS • Secure and stable: Known for strong security features and
reliability, especially in server environments.
• Widely used: Runs on desktops, servers, cloud
infrastructure, and embedded systems.
• Strong community support: Extensive documentation and
forums available for troubleshooting and learning.
iOS and
Android
• Cell phone/tablet OS
• Optimized for touch interface
• Apps installed from a vendor-
managed store
• Apple iOS and iPadOS
• Only licensed for installation on
Apple iPhones and iPads
• Android
• Google’s stock Android
• Vendor distributions (One UI, Fire OS,
OxygenOS, …)
• Device compatibility for version
updates
Windows File System Types
NTFS File System
• Concept: NTFS (New Technology File System) is the primary file
system used by Windows, developed by Microsoft, designed for
better security, support for larger drives, and features like file
permissions, disk quotas, journaling for data reliability and
encryption.
• Strengths: Robust security, support for large volumes (up to 256
TB), and features like file compression and encryption.
• Example: When installing Windows on a modern system, NTFS is
the default file system for the boot volume because it supports
advanced features such as encryption (BitLocker) and large
volumes.
Windows File System Types
FAT32 (File Allocation Table) File System
• Concept: Widely compatible file system, used for USB drives, but
limited to 4GB file size and 2TB volumes.
• Strengths: Compatible with Windows, macOS, Linux, and most
devices.
• Limitations: It has a file size limit of 4 GB and a volume size
limit of 2 TB, making it unsuitable for modern high-capacity
storage.
• Example: If you format a USB drive as FAT32, it will work on both
a Windows laptop and a PlayStation 4, but you won’t be able to
transfer a 5 GB movie file due to the 4 GB file size limit.
Windows File System Types
exFAT (Extended File Allocation Table)File System
• Concept: exFAT is a file system optimized for flash drives. It
supports large files without the limitations of FAT32 and is
compatible with both Windows and macOS.
• Strengths: Supports larger files (Upto 16 EB (16,777,216 TB))
and is more efficient for larger drives.
• Limitations: Lacks advanced features like journaling and
permissions.
• Example: You can use a 64 GB SD card formatted as exFAT to
transfer large video files between a Windows PC and a macOS
computer without worrying about file size limits.
Windows File System Types
etx4 (Fourth Extended File System) File System
• Concept: ext4 (Fourth Extended File System) is the default file
system for Linux distributions, offering better performance,
reliability, and features like journaling.
• Strengths: Supports volumes up to 1 EB and file sizes up to 16
TB, robust journaling for reliability.
• Limitations: Limited cross-platform compatibility (not natively
supported on Windows or macOS).
• Example: When setting up a server running Ubuntu Linux, ext4
is typically chosen for the server’s hard drive to ensure reliability
and high performance for storing large databases.
Windows File System Types
APFS (Apple File System) File System
• Concept: APFS (Apple File System) is the default file system for
macOS and iOS, optimized for flash and SSD storage.
• Strengths: Fast, efficient with modern features like snapshots,
cloning, and strong encryption.
• Limitations: Not supported by older macOS versions or
Windows (without third-party tools).
• Example: If you have a MacBook with an SSD, it will use APFS to
enable features like fast file copying and Time Machine backups
while providing strong encryption for sensitive data.
Windows Versions
• 32-bit VS 64-bit
• 32-bit: Can handle up to 4 GB of RAM, less efficient for
modern apps.
• 64-bit: Can handle over 4 GB of RAM, faster and more
efficient for multitasking and modern software.
• Desktop styles
• Changes between feature updates and versions (Windows 10
to Windows 11)
Managing for home use
• Shared use by family members
• Use for gaming and home entertainment
• Simple shared access to media files and
connectivity with smart home devices
Windows
Licensing and upgrade rights
Home
• Original equipment manufacturer (OEM)
versus retail
Edition
Resource limits
• 1 CPU socket and 64 core limit and 128 GB
RAM limit (assuming 64-bit)
Work and Education Features
• Pro, Enterprise, and Education editions
• OEM, retail, and volume licensing
• Domain access versus workgroup
• Additional features
• Group Policy Editor (gpedit.msc)
• Lock down desktop styles/personalization and apply uniform
policies
• BitLocker
• Remote Desktop server
Windows Pro and Enterprise
Editions
• Windows Pro
• Basic work client edition
• OEM, retail, and volume licensing
• 2 TB RAM, 2 CPU socket, and 128 CPU core
limit
• Windows Pro for Workstations
• Same feature set as Pro, but same resource
limits as Enterprise
• Windows Enterprise
• Maximum feature set
• Volume licensing only
• 6 TB RAM, 4 CPU socket, and 256 CPU core
limit
Windows Upgrade Paths and Feature
Updates
• In-place upgrades
• Launch new version installer from current OS
• Preserves apps (if compatible), settings, and data files
• Upgrade paths
• Windows 7 to Windows 10
• Windows 10 to Windows 11
• Edition changes
• Feature updates versus quality updates
Installation and Upgrade
Considerations
• Attended installations
• Unattended installations
• Clean install versus in-place upgrade
• Upgrade considerations
• Hardware compatibility
• Application and driver support/backward compatibility
• Backup files and user preferences
• Obtain third-party drivers
• Feature updates
Boot Methods
• Boot device priority
• Optical media
• USB/external
• Solid-state/flash drives
• Network
• Preboot eXecution
Environment (PXE)
• Dynamic Host Configuration
Protocol (DHCP) server
• Remote installation server
• Internet-based
• Internal hard drive (partition)
Disk
Configuration
• Partitioning style
• Master boot record (MBR)
• Primary versus extended
partitions
• Active partition
• Globally unique identifier
(GUID) partition table (GPT)
• Drive format
• File system choices
Install and Configure
Applications
System Requirements for
Applications
• Central Processing Unit, system memory, and storage requirements
• 32-bit versus 64-bit dependent application requirements
• Speed/cores
• Features (hardware-assisted virtualization, Trusted Platform Module,
…)
• RAM requirements
• Disk free space requirements
• Dedicated graphics card requirements
• Integrated CPU or chipset adapter versus dedicated add-in card
• Video RAM requirements
• External hardware token requirements
OS Requirements for Applications
• Application to OS compatibility
• Windows/macOS version
• Linux distribution
• 32-bit versus 64-bit OS
Distribution
Methods
• Installers for desktop applications
• Windows EXE and MSI installers
• macOS DMG and PGK installers
• Linux APT (DEB) and YUM (RPM)
package managers and formats
• Physical media versus
downloadable
• Source/integrity validation
• ISO mountable
Other Considerations
• Shadow IT and impact to business
• Licensing/compliance
• User training and education
• Increased support requirements
• Impact to operation
• Deployment and support tools
• Impact to device and network
• Resource consumption/use of background services
• Risks from faulty applications
• Bandwidth usage
Boot Process
• Firmware-controlled
• Power on self test (POST)
• Boot device priority
• Boot manager
• Boot Configuration Database (BCD)
• Legacy BIOS/MBR versus EFI/GPT
• Windows load
• Kernel and drivers
• Services and winlogon
Boot Recovery Tools (Slide 1 of 2)
• Advanced boot options
• F8 from BIOS boot
• SHIFT-click Restart from power
icon with UEFI boot
• Safe Mode
Screenshot courtesy of Microsoft
Boot Recovery Tools (Slide 2 of 2)
• Windows Recovery
Environment (WinRE)
• Creating recovery partition or
startup disk
• Startup repair
• Options for reinstalling
• WinRE command prompt
Screenshot courtesy of Microsoft
System Restore
• Configuring system protection
• Using System Restore
Screenshot courtesy of Microsoft
Update and Driver Roll Back
• Roll back Windows updates
• Roll back driver version
Screenshot courtesy of Microsoft
System Repair, Reinstall, and Reimage
• Recovery image
• Creating a system image
• System image recovery option
• Reinstalling Windows
• Reset this PC
• Keep my files versus Remove
everything
Screenshot courtesy of Microsoft
Troubleshoot Boot Issues
• Failure to boot/invalid boot disk
• Check physical connections and boot device priority
• No OS found
• Use Startup repair or WinRE command prompt
• Graphical interface fails to load/black screen
• Check boot options (msconfig)
• Check for disk activity/completion of Windows updates
• Run sfc to verify system files
Troubleshoot Profile Issues
• Slow profile load
• Pre-/post login
• Verbose status messaging
• Rebuild Windows profiles
Troubleshoot System Fault Issues
• Common symptoms
• Frequent shutdowns/system
instability
• Blue screen of death (BSOD)
• Troubleshooting steps
• System restore or update/driver
rollback
• Hardware diagnostics, Windows
memory diagnostics and sfc
• Research error
• USB issues
• Power and selective suspend
Screenshot courtesy of Microsoft faults
• USB controller resource
warnings
Troubleshoot Application and Service
Fault Issues
• Applications crashing
• Recover files and unsaved data
• Research event logs
• Uninstall/reinstall/update applications
• Services not starting
• Restart services
• Check dependencies and permissions
• Time drift
• Failure of authentication, backup, and other date/time sensitive
services
• Synchronize to consistent time source
UNIT 5
