CompTIA A+ 1102 Windows (Set 2)

Windows Task Manager

provides real-time system statistics

Starting the Windows Task Manager (list)

- ctrl-alt-del, then select task manager

- right click the task bar and select Task Manager

- ctrl-shift-esc

Services Tab (ask Manager)

- non interactive applications

- background processes

- right click a service to start, stop, or restart it

Startup Tab (Task Manager)

manage which programs start with a Windows login

Processes Tab (Task Manager)

- view all running processes

- including those from other accounts

Performance Tab (Task Manager)

- view CPU, memory, disk, bluetooth, and network performance

- historical and real-time

Users Tab (Task Manager)

- view user connections and activity

- includes options to disconnect a user and to manage user accounts

Microsoft Management Console (acronym)

MMC

Microsoft Management Console

- build your own management consoles

- add snap-ins to customize

- mmc.exe

Event Viewer (MMC)

- provides centralized event consolidation

- application, security, setup, and system event information

- different levels for each event:

- information, warning, error, critical, successful audit, failure audit

- "eventvwr.msc"

Disk Management (MMC)

- manage disk operations

- individual computers or file servers

- "diskmgmt.msc"

Task Scheduler (MMC)

- schedule an application or a script

- includes predefined schedules

- includes organizational tools such as folders

- "taskschd.msc"

Device Manager (MMC)

- manages devices and their drivers

- "devmgmt.msc"

Certificate Manager (MMC)

- view and manage user and trusted certificates

- "certmgr.msc"

Local Users and Groups (MMC)

- manage users and groups

- "lusrmgr.msc"

Performance Monitor (MMC)

- provides OS metrics

- set alerts and automated actions

- store statistics

- provides built in performance reports

- "perfmon.msc"

System Information

-provides a system overview

- "msinfo32.exe"

sections:

- hardware resources

- components

- software environment

Resource Monitor

- detailed, real-time view of performance

- "resmon.exe"

categories:

- overview

- CPU

- memory

- disk

- network

System Configuration

- manage boot processes, startup, services, etc.

- "msconfig.exe"

Disk Cleanup

- find unused or unneeded files

- "cleanmgr.exe"

Disk Defragmentation

- moves file fragments so that they are contiguous

- improves read and write times

- not necessary for SSDs

- graphical version of this tool is available in Drive Properties

- or use "defrag [volume]" in command line

Windows Registry Editor

- master database

- used by almost everything in Windows

- "regedit.exe"

Internet Options (Control Panel)

- customize how the built-in browser will operate inside of Windows

tabs:

- general

- security

- change access based on site location

- privacy

- customize cookies, pop-up blocker, location, and InPrivate browsing settings

- content

- manage digital certificates and auto-complete settings

- connections

- manage VPN and proxy settings

- programs

- modify the default browser, plugins, etc.

- advanced

- contains detailed configuration options as well as a reset button

Devices and Printers (Control Panel)

- shows everything on the network

- easier management than device manager

Programs and Features (Control Panel)

- modify or remove installed applications

- turn Windows features on or off

Network and Sharing Center (Control Panel)

- add, modify, or remove network adapters

- advanced settings and streaming options available, here

System (Control Panel)

- shows computer information, including the version and edition of Windows

- modify system properties and system preferences

- configure remote desktop

Mail (Control Panel)

- the mail applet icon does not appear unless a mail client is installed on the system

- provides access to local mail configuration

- account information

- data files

Indexing Options (Control Panel)

- speed up the search process

- control what information might be searched

File Explorer Options (Control Panel)

tabs:

- general

- view

- customize how files and folders are seen

- provides options to view hidden files and to hide extensions

- search

- modify what is shown when you perform a search

Power Options (Control Panel)

- configure how Windows uses power

- options to choose what closing the lid on a laptop does

- options for USB selective suspend

- used to disable individual USB devices

- enable or disable fast startup

modes:

- hibernate

- open documents and applications are saved to the disk

- used by Fast Startup

- sleep (standby)

- open files and applications are stored in memory

- save power and startup quickly

- switches to hibernate if power is low

How does Windows set the time, by default?

automatically, with five minutes of tolerance

Privacy (Settings)

enable or disable shared application activity, shared language, and speech recognition

System (Settings)

- modify many Windows features:

- display

- night light, scaling, resolution

- audio settings

- notifications

Network and Internet (Settings)

view internet status and modify IP address settings

Accounts (Settings)

- manage and configure login account information

- MS accounts are considered local accounts

- includes email configuration

- manage sign-in options

Application and Driver Operating System Compatibility

- both are specific to the OS version

- 64-bit operating systems can run 64-bit and 32-bit applications

- 32-bit apps are stored in "\Program Files (x86)"

- 64-bit apps are stored in "Program Files"

- 32-bit operating systems cannot run 64-bit applications

Application Resource Requirments

- check with each application for it's specific requirements

- to run an application, your resources must exceed the operating systems required resources and exceed the application's required resources

Application Graphics Resource Requirments

- may require only integrated graphics, or a dedicated graphics card

integrated graphics:

- combined CPU and GPU chip

- uses system memory for graphics

dedicated graphics card:

- uses it's own vRAM

External Hardware Tokens

- manages application usage

- the application will only work if this hardware device is present

- commonly a USB device

- often used with high-end software

ISO Files

- a sector by sector copy of the data on an optical disk

- uses the ISO 9660 file system, collapsed into a single file

- must be mounted in the OS

- appears as a separate drive

Application Installation Impacts and Considerations (list)

- impact to device

- impact to network

- access to internal services

- rights and permissions to file shares

- impact to operation

- impact to business

- critical processes are sensitive to downtime and outages

Hardware Compatibility Check

- runs when you perform a Windows upgrade

- run manually from the Windows setup screen

- called the Windows 10 Upgrade Checker or the PC Health Checker for Windows 11

How long does Windows provide OS support?

18 to 36 months after release