IT ESSENTIALS 1, VERSION 3

1. IT ESSENTIALS 1, VERSION 3 Module 5 Windows 9x Operating Systems

2. Table of Contents • Windows 9x File Structure and File Management • Windows Management with Control Panel • System Tools • Preparing a HD for the OS • Installing Windows 9x • Troubleshooting the Installation Process

3. Windows 9x File Structure and File Management system Table of Contents

4. Naming Files • Directory and file folder are interchangeable terms • Files and documents are interchangeable terms • 98 and later allow file names of 255 characters • Don’t use / \ ; : * ? “ < > in file names • File names are not case sensitive; however, be careful because of UNIX servers on the Internet • Drive letters..A to Z followed by : C is first HD or partition, D is second HD or partition if present, CD-ROM, etc. will follow.

5. Directories and Folders • How do you access Windows Explorer? • Start > Programs > Windows Explorer • Right-click start and choose Explore • Which view provides most information about file? • Detail • What does a + sign next to a folder mean? • Folder contains subfolders

6. Using Text-Editing to Create a File • Examples of text editing applications are Notepad and WordPad. • To convert the file to a different format, choose File, Save As, Save as type, select the format

7. Copy, Cut, or Create Shortcuts • Two files may have the same name as long as they are not in the same folder.

8. File Types in Windows • Extension for Word? • .doc • Extension for Internet web page? • .htm or .html • Extension for executable programs? • .exe and .com • Extension for Rich Text format? • rtf

9. Selecting, back up, search • How do you select several individual files that are not all together? • .Click on the ctrl key while clicking the file names • How do you select all files at once? • .ctrl a, edit>select all, click the first file, hold shift and click the last file • What are the different ways to find files, folders? • Start, find; or Windows key, f key for find, f key for file or folder • What is the easiest way to copy a file or folder to a floppy? • .right click, choose send to > 3 ½ Floppy (A)

10. Windows Management with Control Panel Table of Contents

11. System Properties • How do you access system properties? • Start, settings, ctrl panel, system or right click my computer and choose properties • Has several tabs across the top. Different in 98 than 2000, XP or NT. • In 98, tabs are: • General—system info, such as OS version, amount of memory • Device manager—list of hardware, system resources being used. Can update drivers. • Hardware Profile—set up different hardware configs for same OS. Don’t usually do this..may do for laptops (docked or not) • Performance—performance stats of current system, access virtual memory and file system settings.

12. Managing Printers • How do you change the default printer? • Right click on the printer and select the option • How do you access the print queue to pause or purge print jobs? • Double-click on the printer icon on the taskbar or start>settings>printers and double-click the printer

13. System Tools Table of Contents

14. Registry • Database that manages info needed by OS • Older versions of Windows used INI files. Registry stores these in secure location • What three files make up the system registry in 98? • System.dat • User.dat • Policy.dat

15. REGEDIT and SCANREG • Regedit.exe allows you to view the registry database • Scanreg.exe is used to backup or repair registry

16. MSCONFIG, Startup Menu & Safe Mode • MSCONFIG.EXE is used with 98 and ME. Controls how system is started. Allows access to config and initilization files such as config.sys, autoexec.bat, system.ini and win.ini • When OS loads, checks startup menu in config.sys. • Safe Mode—used for troubleshooting. Loads only basic user interface and generic drivers.

17. ASD.EXE • Troubleshooting utility that allows you to skip a driver when the OS fails during boot. • Used only when safe mode can’t solve the problem.

18. Preparing a HD for OS Installation Table of Contents

19. Partitioning a HD • Partitions are logical sections • Primary partitions is usually the active partition that DOS uses to boot. Extended partition uses the free HD space—normally assigned all space outside primary partition(s). • How many partitions can a HD have? • Up to 4 • Can have four primary, or 3 primary and 1 extended, or 2 primary and 1 extended, or 1 primary and 1 extended.

20. Extended Partition • Only one per HD • Can be subdivided into logical drives. How many? • 23 • Allow quick retrieval of info, multiple OS, better organization and security • Each has different drive letter

21. FDISK, Boot Sector, Partition Table • FDISK is the partitioning program of DOS, Windows 9x, UNIX and Linux. • Creates boot sector—first area on each logical disk or partition. Stores info to boot OS.

22. Formatting a HD • Formatting prepares the drive to store data. • Creates magnetic tracks. Tracks are broken into chunks of 512 bytes called sectors. • Combination of two or more sectors is a cluster or block. Size of cluster depends on HD size and version of DOS. • Cluster is minimum unit DOS uses to store a file. Even if only 1 byte long, an entire cluster is used.

23. FAT • Located in sector zero. Reference table that OS uses to find files on disk. • Original FAT was FAT16 • 95 OSR2, 98 and ME used FAT32 • Built in program such as CVT1.exe or separate utility program, such as Partition Magic, can convert from FAT16 to FAT32 without destroying data. Can’t convert back.

24. Formatting • Low-level formatting creates the tracks and sectors on a HD. Low-level formatting creates the physical format that dictates where data is stored on the disk. Normally done at the factory. • High-level formatting initializes portions of the HD and creates the file system structures on the disk, such as the MBR and the FAT.

25. Installing Windows 9x Table of Contents

26. Minimum hardware platform to install 98 • 80486DX/66 MHz with 16 MB of RAM • 255-355 MB of free HD space to install full version on FAT16 drive. 175 to 255 MB for FAT32 drive.

27. Steps in 98 Installation • Preparing to Run Windows 98 Setup • Creates SETUPLOG.TXT in root directory • Collecting Computer Information • Copying Windows 98 files and restarting computer • Setting up hardware and finalizing settings

28. Troubleshooting the Installation Process Table of Contents

29. General Troubleshooting Concepts • Start system in logical order to see the symptoms • Software or hardware? • Isolate to particular section of software or hardware • Determine solution, implement it, verify • Document for future reference

30. Troubleshooting Aids • Use Ctrl key to open Windows 98 Startup menu—choose Safe Mode. • Run Scandisk—checks and restores lost clusters. • Run Defrag—realigns position of related file cluster to speed up the disk drive. Run Scandisk before Defrag • Use Virus Scan • FDISK/MBR—rebuilds MBR on the drive

31. Device Manager • What does an exclamation point inside a yellow circle mean? • Direct hardware conflict with another device • What does a red X mean? • Device has been disabled, removed, or can’t locate driver • Other Device instead of icon? • Can’t recognize device because no drivers, device not working or need driver update.

32. Create Startup Disk • Go to control panel • Open Add/Remove programs • Click on Startup Disk tab and click Create disk. • Used for troubleshooting. Contains SCANDISK.EXE, FDISK.EXE and FORMAT.EXE.

33. End Slide Show Table of Contents