Windows Vista Notes
Windows OS Installation Notes
Windows Vista Requirements
CPU
800MHz
RAM
512MB
Disk Space
15GB or 20GB
Video
Direct X9 with WDDM 1.0 or higher driver
Media
DVD or CD ROM
Windows Vista Versions
Home Basic, Home Premium, Business, Ultimate and Enterprise
OS Boot methods
CD/DVD ROM
USB
PXE
Installing Windows
Attended Installation with disk (Full Version or Clean Install)
Attended Installation (Upgrade Version)
Multi-boot Scenario
Virtualization (VMware, Virtual PC, Hypervisor)
Network Installation (push vs. pull) RIS (Remote Installation Service)
Disk Imaging (Sysprep or Norton Ghost)
Unattended Installation
Makeboot disk installation
System Folder
Windows Vista (C:\WINDOWS)
Windows Vista Setup Options
Upgrade vs. Custom (Advanced)
File Systems
FAT16 -File Allocation Table 16bit
excellent on smaller hard drives
2GB limit per partition
FAT32- File Allocation Table 32bit excellent on OS using a 32bit environment, more reliable and can support larger partitions.
NTFS - New Technology File System supports larger partition, Allows file security, protect system resources, supports compression, encryption, disk quotas and file ownership
Windows Vista supports FAT16, FAT32 and NTFS
UNIX and Linux – NFS
Pre OS installation Utilities
Backup (Normal (Full), Differential, Incremental, Copy, Daily)
Windows Easy Transfer
HCL (Hardware Compatibility List)
Upgrade Advisor
HOW TO CREATE A START UP DISK (emergency disk, repair disk, boot disk, recovery disk etc.)
What happens when your computer has a problem so severe it won’t boot? Often times, you will need an emergency or boot disk to repair and restore your computer so that it would boot up properly.
Windows Vista (System Repair Disc)
Start>Control Panel>Backup and Restore> Create a System Repair Disc>Insert Disk>Follow Directions
Partition Drives – Create and divide units of a hard drive
Partition Utilities
OS installation Disk, FDISK, Delpart, Diskpart, Disk Management or PQ Magic
Basic Disk
C is primary partition
Extended partition is the total drive space minus the primary partition
Logical partition is D-Z
Dynamic Disk
Simple Volume
Spanned Volume
Mirror Volume
Stripe Volume
Raid 5 Volume
Format – High level formatting is the command use to make drives and partition usable (Quick vs. Full Format)
Disk Management
Drive Status
Mounting
Assigning Drive letters
Adding Drives
Assigning Partitions
Installation Checklist
- OS Installation
- Drivers (MMDOC)
- Antivirus
- Antispyware
- Firewall
- IDS (Intrusion Detection System) IPS (Intrusion Prevention System)
- Utilities
- Applications
- Updates (Service Pack 2)
- Common Sense
OS Boot Files
BOOTMGR – Found in the MBR this file boots up the Windows operating system
BCD (Boot Configuration Data) - is text file that lists the available OS found and tells the BOOTMGR where to find boot partition
WINLOAD.EXE- Loads the Windows Interface
NTOSKRNL.EXE- Windows Vista Core Files
WIN.COM - Windows command file
HAL.DLL - Hardware Abstraction layer
Windows Vista Environment
(Desktop, Start Menu, Taskbar, Notification Area, and System Tray)
Windows Vista (Flip 3D, Aero, Desktop Gadgets, UAC User Account Control, Shadow Copy, Ready Boost, Compatibility Mode, Category View, File Structure, Jump List, Libraries, Security, Network Sharing Center, Home Group)
Username - A unique user logon name that is assigned by an administrator
Password - personal identifier that is used to verify the user
Log on to - Log on to Windows Locally or Domain
Windows Vista (Supports Authentication Security called Kerberos)
Security Dialog Box (Windows Vista) Ctrl + Alt + Del
Lock This Computer
Switch User
Log Off
Change a Password
Start Task Manager
Cancel
LFN- Long file name Support
Windows supports up to 255 characters
cannot use the following characters in a windows naming scheme
/ \ forward and backward slashes
? Question mark
< > Greater than and less than
: Colon
* Asterisk
" " Quotation marks
| Pipe character
PnP - The ability of a device to run without user intervention
3 things needed in order to be PnP
PnP BIOS - Any BIOS made after 1995 are typically PnP
PnP OS – Any Microsoft OS is PnP capable except (Windows 95 OSR1, Windows NT and DOS)
PnP Device - Any Device made around 1996 are typically PnP (Not PnP is called Legacy Devices
Double Click on Computer icon
Computer icon is used to manage files and folders on your computer and on any storage devices attached to your computer.
Recycle Bin - Where deleted files are stored until complete erased
Windows explorer - Windows user interface
Right Click Start>Open Windows Explorer
Start>All Programs>Accessories>Windows Explorer
Right Click Desktop>Personalize
Start>Control Panel>Personalization
Windows Vista Personalization
Windows Color and Apperance
Desktop Background
Screen Saver
Sounds
Mouse Pointers
Theme
Display Settings
Taskbar - contains the start menu and the system tray
Right Click Taskbar>Properties
Taskbar
Start Menu
Notification Areas
Toolbars
System
Right Click My Computer>Properties
Start>Control Panel>System
View basic information about your computer
(Windows Experience Index)
1 up to 7.9
Device Manager
Remote Settings
System Protection
Advanced System Settings
Computer Name
Hardware
Advanced
System Protection
Remote
Device Manager Errors: Exclamation point and question mark (problem usually drivers and configuration problem) and red x (disable) needs to enable device or connect device could also be a conflict
Description Codes in the Device Manager
Code 1 Device not configured properly
Code 3 Driver Corrupted
Code 10 Device cannot start
Code 12 Device has resource issues
Driver Signing: Ignore, warn and block
Hardware Wizard: Use for installing legacy devices
User Profiles: Computer name/user 3 types of user profiles: local, roaming and (mandatory with server only)
Pagefile.sys (Virtual Memory should be 1.5 times as big as your memory)
Start Classic menu
User
Documents
Pictures
Music
Games
Recent Items
Computer
Network
Connect To
Control Panel
Default Programs
Help and Support
All Programs
Search Address Bar
Start (Shut Down and Lock Computer icons)
Control Panel Options
Control Panel contains programs that you use to configure the Windows operating system or the computer’s hardware. Below, we list the most commonly used Control Panel programs.
Start>Control Panel or Start>Control Panel
Control Panel Windows Vista
Action Center
Administrative Tools
Windows Vista administrative tools
Computer Management, Device Manager, Users and Groups, Local Security Policy, Performance Monitor, Services, System Configuration, Task Scheduler, Component Services, Data Sources, iSCSI initiator, Performance Monitor, Print Management, Windows Memory Diagnostics, Windows Firewall and Advanced Security
Auto Play
Backup and Restore Center
Bit Locker Drive Encryption
Color Management
Date/Time
Default Programs
Desktop Gadgets
Device Manager
Device and Printers
Ease of Access Center
Folder Options
Fonts
Getting Started
Home Group
Indexing Options
Internet Options
Keyboard
Licenses
Location and other sensors
Mail
Mouse
Network & Sharing Center
Notification area icons
Parental Controls
Pen & Input Devices
Performance Information and Tools
Personalization
Phone and Modem
Power Options
Program & Features
Recovery
Region and Language
Remote App and Desktop Connections
Sound
Speech Recognition Options
Sync Center
System
Taskbar and Start Menu
Text to Speech
Troubleshooting
User Accounts
Welcome Center
Windows Card Space
Windows Defender
Windows Firewall
Windows Mobility Center
Windows Live Language Setting
Windows Sidebar
Windows Sideshow
Right Click My Computer >Manage
Computer Management
Computer Management Windows Vista
Right Click My Computer>Manage
Start>Settings>Control Panel>Administrative Tools>Computer Management
Computer Management provides a single, consolidated tool for managing common management tasks.
The interface is organized into 3 main groups
System Tools - Provides access for managing your computer
Task Scheduler – Schedules Task
Event Viewer – Utility that tracks information about your hardware and software
Shared Folders – Utility use to manage shared folders, sessions and open files)
Device Manager – Utility use to manage your devices
Local users and groups – Utility use to create local users and groups
Performance – Use to analyze performance of computer
Storage - Provides access to managing your computer disks and storage devices
Disk Management – Utility use to manage your disks
Services and Applications - Provides access to services and WMI
WMI Control - Windows Management Instrumentation Control
Services – List all the services that your computer can run
Managing windows Vista User Accounts
Built-in-accounts
Administrator - Is considered the highest in computer networking has full control rights over the network
Guest - Limited privileges
Local rights - only to the particular workstation
Domain rights - global rights anywhere within the Domain
Default Local Groups
Administrators - full permissions and privileges
Backup Operators - permission to backup and restore files
Guests- limited privileges
Power Users - less permission than an administrator
Replicator - supports directory replication
Users - end users with limited system access
Network Configuration Operators Group - have some admin rights
Remote Desktop User - Remote desktop administration
Cryptographic Operators – supports cryptography
Distribute COM users - com users
Event Log Readers – able to read event logs
IIS_IUSRS - for web servers
Performance Log Users - checks performance logs
Performance Monitor Users - checks and monitors performance
MMC - Microsoft Management Console
MMC Windows XP
A Microsoft Management Console is the console framework for management applications.
Start> Run>MMC
MMC Console Modes
Author mode - Allows use of all MMC functions
User Mode-full access - Allows users full access to windows management commands, but they cannot add or remove snap-ins
User Mode- limited access - Allows user to create new windows, but can only access areas of the console tree that were visible when the console was last saved
User Mode - limited access, single window - Allows users to access only areas of the console tree that were visible when the console was last saved, but they cannot create new windows
Maintenance
Start>All Programs>Maintenance
Backup and Restore
Create a system repair disc
Help and Support
Windows Remote Assistance
System Tools
Start>All Programs>Accessories>System Tools
Backup
Backup and Restore
Character map
Computer
Contains information about your computer
Control Panel
Contains Control Panel Settings
Disk Cleanup
a utility, which goes through the system and deletes, unneeded files to free up disk space
Disk Defragmenter
a utility use to make your drives contiguous
Internet Explorer
Web Browser
System Information
Finds information on the hardware and software installed in your PC
System Restore
Monitors your computer for changes and creates a restore points that can be used to restore
the computer to a previous configuration
Task Scheduler
Enables to run tasks automatically
Windows Easy Transfer
Use to transfer files and settings from an old computer to a new computer
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