BLOG: A Corrupted Windows Installation

As a PC support technician for a small organization, it’s your job to support the PC’s, the small network, and the users. One of your coworkers, Jason, comes to you in a panic. His Windows XP system won’t boot, and he has lots of important data files on several locations on the drive. He has no idea in which folder some of the files are located. Besides the applications data he’s currently working on, he’s especially concerned about losing e-mail addresses, e-mail, and his Internet Explorer Favorites links.

After trying everything you know about recovering Windows XP, you conclude that the OS is corrupted beyond repair. Based on what you have learned in this chapter, list the steps you would take to reinstall Windows XP and recover all the data that Jason needs.

In answering this I am assuming that this is a Windows domain (a group of networked computers that share a centralized database) in which case Jason’s information is really stored on a server, which also is backed up by back up domain controllers (BDC’s) therefore his data is NOT lost. The domain controller stores and controls the following: 1) User accounts, 2) Group Accounts and 3) Computer Accounts.

With this assumption, all the PC technician would have to do is reinstall the OS system and network it back to the server. Once he signs in using his user name and password; his files, applications, email, are right where they were including his desktop settings! A good technician will also confirm that all network settings including the printer, internet, and scanners also on the network are tested before returning the computer back to Jason. In the meantime Jason could log on to another computer on the system and continue to work using his personal log in. This would eliminate any down time.

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BLOG: Becoming a PC Support Technician

1. A history professor calls you into his office and tells you he thinks the memory on his computer needs upgrading. He wants you to tell him how much RAM is currently installed. What do you do?

The fastest is Win+Break feature if using Windows Vista.

If you are using XP you need to open the System Properties window and right click on My Computer and select Properties and go to the General Tab this will show you the RAM that is currently installed. Another short cut is Go into the Control Panel from Start and go into System.


2. A PE instructor discovers the history professor has Windows XP on his desktop. She thinks she has a version of Windows 9x/Me on her desktop and wants you to tell her exactly which OS she has installed. What do you do?

Follow the instructions for the 1st Question above. The OS system being used is included in the General tab as well.

3. The Office Administrator for Career Education is working from home today. She calls you to say she must connect to the internet but her dial up connection is not working. Walk her through the steps to verify that Windows XP is recognizing her modem correctly. What are these steps?

This will be in your Device Manager. I prefer to use the Run option from Start button and type in Devmgmt.msc. However, you can get there by Start, right click on My Computer and select Properties on the submenu. Click on the Hardware tab and locate her modem. If her modem is listed, click on it and it will tell you if it is working properly. If it is then check her network connection. If her network connection is not listed, add one for this modem.

The question asked the steps to verify that Windows XP is recognizing her modem correctly, but my very first steps would be to make sure connections are all in place, i.e., its plugged in to the wall and the computer.

4. A student in a computer lab is trying to answer a question in the lab about Windows XP automatic Updates. She needs to know if the system is set to receive Windows updates automatically. What steps do you give her to find the answer?

There are two ways, my first choice would be to go to Start and then Programs and select Windows Update this will give her the status on when she will receive updates.

The second way is to go to the System Properties (same steps as Question #1) and choose Automatic Updates. This will also give you the information and choices.

5. A student in the Media Center complains that his monitor is flickering. you suspect the resolution is set too low under Windows XP. List the steps to find out the current resolution on your Windows XP system. What is the highest resolution possible for your monitor?

This will be in the Control Panel to get there you go to Start click Control Panel and then Display. You will choose the tab settings and check the resolution. You adjust by using the slider bar. My computer's highest resolution is 1280x800 Pixels.

6. A student in a computer lab asks you how much space is free on her drive C using Windows XP. What steps do you use?

I would go to Start and then My Computer, Right click on the C drive and go to Properties in the submenu this will display the free space available on the C Drive.

7. Your boss asks you to go down the hall to the Windows XP computer in the break room and find out the path and the name of the device driver for the optical drive (CD drive or DVD Drive ) that is installed. What steps do you use? What is the path and the name of the optical drive device driver on your Windows XP System?

The easiest way I found to retrieve this information is in the System Information. To get to the system information you go to Start, click run and type Msinfo32.exe and press ok. Then you click Components and pull up the CD-ROM. This will give you the information requested.

The path and the name of the optical device driver on my Windows System is:

Name PIONEER DVDRW DR-KD08HB ATA Device

Driver c:\windows\system32\drivers\cdrom.sys (6.0.6001.18000, 78.00 KB (79,872 bytes), 1/20/2008 5:46 PM)

Please note that you can also get this information through your Device Properties (instructions on Question #3) and choose the Device and then choose Driver Details and there you go.

Name PIONEER DVDRW DR -KD08HB ATA Device

C:\windows\system32\drivers\cdrom.sys

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BLOG: What is an Operating System?

What is an operating system?

The OS (Operating System) provides the direction that users and the applications require to dictate and use the hardware. In layman's terms, it controls the computer and tells it how to operate. The book refers to the OS system as the middleman between applications and hardware, between user(s) and hardware and/or the user(s) and applications. A computer simply cannot run without an OS system. It would be like trying to run our body without a brain.

What four things do all operating systems have in common?

All OS systems share the four main functions:

1. Providing user interface which is basically performing housekeeping functions requested by the user - copying files, changing time and date formatting, etc.
2. Managing Files on the hard drives, DVD drives, CD drives, floppy drives. This also includes creating, storing, retrieving and moving of files (documents).
3. Managing Applications to include installing and un-installing applications (software) and running applications and managing the connection to the hardware on behalf of the applications being ran.
4. Managing hardware to include managing the BIOS, memory (the temporary place to store data), diagnosing problems with the software and hardware, and the interfacing between both the hardware and software (interpretation of the needs of the hardware and software so that they can effectively work together.)

Trace the evolution of the Windows operating system in your own words.

Disk Operating System (DOS) was the first of the OS systems for IBM and IBM compatible computers (non Apple systems). This was the required base for all hardware and software before Bill Gates developed Windows.

In the 1990's the early versions of Windows, which includes Windows 3.1 and 3.11 (Windows 3.x) DOS was the OS system, providing the user a very user-friendly environment between DOS, applications and the user. Windows 3.x was no more than a middle man.

When Windows 95, Windows 98 and Windows ME (Windows 9x/ME) came out these versions were supported by the underlying DOS system. At this point Windows and the DOS Core worked in partnership with each other. I like to refer to this partnership as the bone that needed the muscle. This partnership provided a bridging of two worlds. These operating systems allowed the OS to be backward-compatible with the older software and hardware at the same time the ability to take full advantage of newer technology. As newer versions of Window's were released the requirements of the processor, RAM and free hard drive space increased.

The introduction of Windows New Technology (Windows NT) came in two versions, one was Windows NT for Workstations and the other was Windows NT Server (to control a network). This was where the Windows version corrected the problems that Windows 9x/ME was having with stability by completely rewriting the OS Core, eliminating the DOS Core.

Windows 2000 came out and corrected the issues that Windows NT introduced. Windows 2000 was designed for all users at the private and corporate level. There are many versions of Windows 2000; Windows 2000 Professional, Windows 2000 Server, Advanced Server, and Datacenter Server. Windows 2000 produced a stable environment over its predecessors. It introduced Plug and Play, Recovery Console, Active Directory, better network support, and features that targeted notebook computers.

Windows XP is the upgrade to Windows 2000. Windows XP came in many versions including Windows XP Home Editions, Windows XP Professional, Windows XP Media Center Edition, Windows XP Tablet PC Edition, and Windows XP Professional x64 Edition. Windows' goal here was to integrate Windows 9x/Me and 2000 and provide added support for multimedia and the advancing networking technologies. Windows XP gave the user a new and different look from its previous editions and more versatility and advanced security features.

Windows also introduced, for businesses that operate on servers, the Windows Server 2003. This OS system is used for companies that operate on servers and require different uses than the personal computer.

Windows Vista was introduced to business users in November of 2006, and released to the public in January 2007. Vista is the next generation of Windows. Its benefits are that it has incorporated a new graphical interface, revamped engine and introduced a new interface between the OS and the applications. Microsoft’s goal with the Vista system is to really incorporate multimedia with speed and user friendly control functions. Vista currently has on the market Vista Home Basic, Home Premium, Business, and Ultimate.

Also new to the market for businesses that have servers is Windows Server 2008. This has a new feature of lowering the power consumption of the servers, minimize environmental byproducts, and increase server efficiency. I am sure this will be a huge hit!

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BLOG: Book Introduction

After reviewing the CompTIA A+ Essentials 2006 Examination Objectives section and the Introduction of your text are you more or less confused about what you'll be learning?

Honestly, I am a bit over-whelmed as to all the objectives and the terminology associated with the course. I know I am just going to have to take it one step at a time to attempt to understand it all. I don't think I am confused, as I have never learned this material previously be to confused by it. Over-whelmed is what I am!

Did you find anything to be particularly interesting or noteworthy?

I find the Introduction to be true on the screen shots and how much they will help me navigate through this course. I, as the introduction states, have reviewed the text in the book and it appears to be clear and balanced. My concern is that it states a companion book, A+ Guide to Hardware, as a resource for many of the references in the Objectives as well as in the Introduction section. Will this be hampering my learning ability, or will everything I need to learn be covered in the main textbook?

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