1.4 Given a scenario, use appropriate operating system features and tools.
1. MSCONFIG, short for "Microsoft System Configuration Utility" is designed to help you troubleshoot problems with your computer, MSCONFIG can also be used to ensure that your computer boots faster. Every time you boot your computer a lot of "hidden" programs load in the background. Some of these hidden programs are essential, but most aren't. Turning off some of these hidden programs (or services) can significantly increase your computer's performance and reliability.
2. The Device Manager provides the status of the devices installed in the system. The Device Manager lists all the hardware devices installed on your system. You can also update any existing drivers, as well as change the hardware settings. You use Add/ Remove Hardware to install new hardware. Accessibility options is primarily used to configure the keyboard, display, and mouse options on a computer to accommodate the users who are physically handicapped. The Add/ Remove Programs is used to install / uninstall 3rd party software. This is also used for installing / uninstalling Windows 2000 optional components. To connect a USB device,
The computer supports USB.
The USB should be enabled in the BIOS,
If both the above conditions are met, USB Controller is listed in the Device Manager. If it’s not listed in the Device Manager, you can suspect that the USB was not enabled in the BIOS.
3. USB devices are hot pluggable. There is no need to reboot the computer. If the drive files for the USB device is available already with the operating system, the system will automatically load the drivers for the device. Otherwise, the driver files need to be provided separately.
4. You can access Computer Management screen through:
MyComputer on Desk Top -> Right Click -> Manage
Start -> Programs -> Administrative Tools -> Computer Management
One of the frequently used resource in "Computer Management" screen is System Tools. System tools contain the following:
Event Viewer
System Information
Performance logs
Device Manager
Shared folders
Local Users and Groups
These are very useful tools to a system administrator.
5. You can access Task Manager by pressing <Alt> <Ctrl> <Del>. The applications tab lists all the applications that are currently running on the computer. The current status of the application is also displayed as either “Running” or “not responding” or “stopped”.
6. You can enable memory dump to a file when your system is about to crash due to Stop Error (such as Blue Screen)The following types of memory dumps are available with Windows XP/2000:
Complete memory dump
Kernel memory dump
Small memory dump (64 KB)
7. You can start the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard by clicking Start on the computer running Windows XP, pointing to All Programs, Accessories, System Tools, and then clicking Files and Settings Transfer Wizard.
8. The System Preparation (Sysprep) tool prepares an installation of Windows® for duplication, auditing, and customer delivery. Duplication, also called imaging, enables you to capture a customized Windows image that you can reuse throughout an organization. Audit mode enables you to add additional device drivers or applications to a Windows installation. After you install the additional drivers and applications, you can test the integrity of the Windows installation. Sysprep also enables you to prepare an image to be delivered to a customer. When the customer boots Windows, Windows Welcome starts.
9. Windows Performance Monitor is a Microsoft Management Console (MMC) snap-in that combines the functionality of previous stand-alone tools including Performance Logs and Alerts, Server Performance Advisor, and System Monitor. It provides a graphical interface for customizing Data Collector Sets and Event Trace Sessions. Windows Performance Monitor enables you to track the performance impact of applications and services, and to generate alerts or take action when user-defined thresholds for optimum performance are exceeded.
10. Always Notify option in User Account Control, which is the selection at the top of the slider and is identical to the default mode in Windows Vista. It will show the user any changes to the computer either by a program or the user themselves. Although the default mode would notify for programs that wanted to change the computer settings, it would not notify if the users accidentally changed something.
11. Sync Center allows you to check the results of your recent sync activity if you’ve set up your computer to sync files with a network server (often called offline files). When you sync with a network server, you can access files by keeping synced copies of those files on your computer, even when the network server is unavailable. Sync Center can tell you if the files synced successfully or if there are any sync errors or warnings. To launch sync center, just open your control panel, then click sync center.
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