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Scott Jernigan
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Now that you know the basic principles of computing and troubleshooting, it’s time to apply some of that knowledge to specific parts of the PC.
We’ll start with a discussion of how operating systems work. What do they do? How do they do it? Then we’ll take an in-depth look at Microsoft Windows. I’ll show you some of the important features, like the Taskbar and file system. Plus I’ll introduce you to the tools you’ll use to troubleshoot operating systems, networking, and hardware. These include the Control Panel and Task Manager. Finally, I’ll discuss some need-to-know information on user accounts and making backups of important files.
The next two lessons in this course will use the information you learn here. When troubleshooting a sound problem in Lesson 4, for example, you’ll know to dive into the Control Panel as one of the first steps. It’s important that you understand the basic concepts of this lesson before moving on to the next ones.
Let’s begin!
The operating system (OS) program code controls the computer, enabling the hardware and the application software to work together. The operating system enables you to tell the computer what to do, and enables the computer to show you the results of its efforts.
Every operating system performs the same five functions:
Let's look at these functions in a bit more detail.
An OS creates a user interface. A user interface is the collection of on-screen prompts and objects that enable you to interact with the computer. With the user interface, you can do simple activities (like running applications) and complicated ones (like using a network card to access the Internet).
The Windows user interface
An OS manages system hardware. The operating system manages all the hardware that's in and attached to a computer. Depending on the type of hardware, the OS uses one of two types of programming:
To control the most basic hardware—the hard drive, keyboard, and video adapter (the interface between the OS and the computer's display)—a computer uses a set of tiny programs referred to as the basic input/output system (BIOS) or the system BIOS.
Windows uses BIOS to control the most basic hardware of the PC, such as RAM, keyboard, hard drives, and so on
An operating system controls complex or unusual pieces of computer hardware by using small, special-purpose programs called device drivers, supplied by the hardware manufacturer. A device driver acts like a translator that enables the OS to understand and direct the new hardware device. The device manufacturer must create a driver for each operating system it chooses to support. Usually, the disk containing these drivers comes with the device.
The awesome drawing tablet pictured below, for example, enables you to use a stylus to create illustrations like the ones you see in this course. But it doesn't work properly without installing manufacturer-supplied drivers.
The drawing tablet the illustrator used to create the illustrations in this course
An OS organizes and maintains files. When you bring a PC home from the store, the hard drive may already have dozens of programs installed. Over time, you'll install more application programs and store more data, such as:
Every OS enables you to organize your programs and data. It does this using files, file types, and folders.
A file is a collection of bytes given a name so that the OS can retrieve it for you later. Here's an example: Hector starts a letter to George Lucas, urging him to produce Episodes 7 through 9 of the Star Wars series. But he has to run an errand before he finishes. Thanks to the OS, he can save the letter as a file in his Documents folder.
Files in Windows
Hector could just call the document "letter," but a more descriptive name would make the file easier to find later. So he named it "Letter to GL." His word processing program saved the letter and added the extension ".docx" to the filename, creating a file named "Letter to GL.docx" in Hector's Documents folder. Most operating systems use a file extension—a group of characters that follows a filename—to mark different types of files.
Files with their file extensions shown
Like the paper folders in a file cabinet, computer folders are virtual file containers on your hard drive or other mass storage device. Hector could create a folder on his C: drive called "My Letters," for example, and store his letter in it. The folder's name indicates that this is a letter, so Hector could give the file a very descriptive name, such as "George Lucas 04-11-2011.docx."
A descriptively labeled file in a folder in Windows
An OS acts as a bridge between applications and hardware. Before you can use a computer or install applications, the computer must have an OS installed. The operating system enables applications to use hardware. Computer techs call this program support. An OS by itself can't do all the fancy things you need from application software, and application software can't run on a computer without an OS. The OS manages things for you and your applications, while an application—such as a game or a spreadsheet program—enables you to do specific tasks.
An OS provides security. Modern operating systems secure system and data files by enabling you to set:
User rights determine what a person can do to the computer, such as log in, change a password, and so on. Permissions manage what a user can do with specific files and folders, such as modify or delete. I'll talk more about rights and permissions later in this lesson, when I get to user accounts.
Windows asking for a password
Nearly all desktop and laptop computers run Microsoft Windows of some flavor, so understanding Windows is the key to most computer troubleshooting.
Microsoft introduced Windows XP in 2001, and that OS dominated computers for homes and offices for almost eight years. Windows Vista came out in 2007 and became a popular choice, although many people continued to use XP. Windows 7 quickly followed, fixing many of the early issues users had with Vista, including hardware incompatibility. Microsoft has released many versions of all editions of Windows.
Windows 7 loading screen
Note
See the FAQs section for a discussion of the many variations of Windows within each product line. Microsoft released at least eight different variations of Windows Vista, for example, each offering different capabilities to users.
Although you can buy a Windows computer off the shelf, many big-name dealers and smaller computer stores will custom-build a Windows system to your specifications.
Windows can connect to other computer systems and share data in a variety of formats. You can quickly get on the Internet with Windows as well, because every Internet service provider (ISP) supports the OS.
Most new Windows PCs come with free support for a set period, after which you must pay to have problems resolved. Many large computer retailers and small computer stores offer repair and upgrade services for a fee. You can also find free support from online sources such as vendor and user group sites, or via the "friend-of-a-friend" support network—friends, neighbors, and co-workers who might know more than you.
Now that you've learned about the basics of operating systems, continue with Chapter 3 to dive into the important features of Windows, like the Desktop and Windows Explorer.
Knowing about some of the most visible and commonly used features of Windows will help you to become a master troubleshooter. Let's look at the Windows interface in detail: the Desktop, the Start menu, Windows Explorer, and Computer. Each area offers different tools used for troubleshooting. Good techs know which tool to use for a specific problem and where to find that tool quickly.
Microsoft gives you multiple ways to accomplish tasks in Windows. Want to make sure a DVD will play in the new optical drive you just replaced? You could use Computer, Documents, or even the command line. What's going to get you there most efficiently?
This chapter helps sort out all the tools and provides a common language for us to talk about these tools.
Microsoft envisioned the Windows Desktop as the computer equivalent of a real-life desktop. It lives underneath whatever you do in Windows and provides the tools for opening and using files and programs. You can configure the Desktop background (called wallpaper) as a solid color, a single image, or even a slowly changing series of images.
The Windows Desktop with several open applications
Most versions of Windows have many icons on the Desktop, each pointing to folders, files or documents, programs, or Web pages.
The Taskbar sits by default at the bottom of the Desktop and displays four important features:
Let me give you a brief explanation of each and then go into some detail on the Start button.
The Start button enables you to access all the programs and files on the computer. You can find it all the way to the left of the Taskbar. The button says "Start" in Windows XP, but it displays only the Windows logo in Windows Vista and Windows 7.
Just to the right of the Start button is the Quick Launch area. Quick Launch enables you to open programs with a single mouse click.
Close-up of the Quick Launch area; the Start button is the first icon on the left
Quick Launch in Windows XP and Windows Vista was a distinct toolbar that you could enable or disable by right-clicking on the Taskbar and going to Toolbars. Microsoft incorporated the capability to pin an application directly to the Taskbar in Windows 7, so technically it's not the "Quick Launch toolbar" in that OS.
I call that spot to the right of the Start button the Quick Launch area because you can single-click any application there to run it. Sometimes, function trumps Microsoft's naming schemes.
The Taskbar shows programs currently running. The far right end of the Taskbar houses the System Tray, which displays icons for various system activities, plus a clock.
Close-up of the System Tray on the Taskbar
You can use the Taskbar to access programs in several ways. A single-click on a Quick Launch icon starts a program, for example, or you can click on a System Tray icon to access a program or device. The Taskbar also enables you to switch between running programs using the open window buttons. Just click on an open window button to switch.
As you know from previous chapters, the Start menu contains lists of programs you can launch and folders you can open. The top left displays the pinned list, which means the programs or documents you can find easily and launch or open with a single click.
The Start menu with sections labeled
Use the pinned list to customize a computer for yourself or your client. Dragging a frequently used application to the pinned list speeds up the computing process by reducing the number of clicks. Your users will thank you!
Microsoft shipped Windows XP and Vista with a program or two pinned to the Start menu. Windows 7 doesn't have anything there by default. Once you pin a program to the pinned list in Windows 7, though, you'll see the divider that's in the image above.
You can remove a program or shortcut from this list by right-clicking on it and selecting Unpin from Start menu. You can add a program or shortcut from the All Programs menu to the pinned list by right-clicking it and selecting Pin to Start menu. You can also drag and drop a shortcut from somewhere else on your computer (like on your Desktop) to the Start menu.
You'll find the most frequently used programs list, or MFU list, below the pinned list. Windows tracks which programs you use and updates this list so that it usually displays the programs you've launched most recently.
To the right of the pinned list and MFU list on the Start menu, you'll find links to special folders like Documents, system areas including the Control Panel, Computer and Network, and some useful tools, including Help and Support. A right-pointing arrow next to an item means that the item offers a submenu of choices.
To access any of your applications, including those not on the pinned or MFU lists, click Start > All Programs. You can launch a program by selecting it from the list. Windows highlights newly installed programs so you can find them more easily.
To search for anything on your computer, use the Start Search bar at the bottom of the Start menu. As you type in a query, Windows will immediately begin to return search results within the Start menu itself.
To customize a Start menu, right-click on the Start button, select Properties, and then click the Customize button on the Taskbar and Start Menu Properties dialog box. Choose the options you want, and then click OK.
Windows handles file and folder management through the Windows Explorer utility program. Windows Explorer has many faces, however, and most of them don't say "Explorer" in Windows. So here's the scoop.
Let's look at Documents first, and then we'll go to the classic Explorer interface. This section wraps up with a look at Computer.
Microsoft introduced My Documents and other "My" folders in Windows 2000 to give users a clear place to store their documents. Users of old versions of Windows tended to store things all over their hard drives and, as a result, had trouble finding files they wanted. Microsoft dropped the "My" in Windows Vista, but the folders still exist and serve the same purpose.
The view of Windows Explorer you see if you select Documents from the Start menu
If you follow the path of least resistance and use the Microsoft folder structure, you'll save music files in Music, pictures in Pictures, and so on.
When you go to Start > Documents, you open Windows Explorer focused on that folder. A toolbar runs along the top, with options like Organize, Open, Share with, New Folder, and Burn. The options change depending on what you have selected.
You can perform common tasks on the folders and files in the Documents folder, such as rename, move, copy, and delete, by clicking on the folder or file and then clicking Organize. You can also perform any of these functions by right-clicking a folder or file and selecting the appropriate option from the context menu.
Windows 7 uses libraries to group similar files for you to access. It doesn't matter in which folder the hard drive stores the files; you can use the library to see them. If you have documents spread out over three or four locations, for example, you can add those locations to your Documents library and have a single point of access to the documents.
Windows 7 libraries
The Navigation pane—open on the left side of a Windows Explorer window—is extremely useful for working with files and folders because it gives you a graphical, hierarchical view of the window's contents. Notice that only folders and drives appear in the Navigation pane, while folders and files appear in the Contents pane (on the right).
Windows Explorer Navigation pane, with the Pictures folder selected on the left and the contents of that folder on the right
The view that Microsoft calls simply Computer offers a face of Windows Explorer that focuses on drives rather than folders. Each type of storage device has its own distinctive icon. The window displays the local hard drives, optical media drives, and any external storage devices (such as a USB flash drive or an external hard drive), each identified by a separate letter.
You can also access several oft-used folders through the Navigation pane. The folder options change depending on your version of Windows. Windows 7 shows Libraries, as in the figure above, for example, whereas Windows XP displays My Documents, among others.
Computer view showing drives and devices
Caution!
The context menu you get when you right-click on a hard drive or optical media drive provides a couple of options that you don't get with the context menu on files and folders. Don't use the format option, because it can wipe the contents of a hard drive! (Unless, of course, you want a blank drive.)
Now you know a little bit more about the main features of Windows. And we have a common language for describing where to go in Windows to access tools. This knowledge will come in handy for the rest of the course!
Chapter 4 will teach you about the utilities included in Windows that you can use to help solve your PC dilemmas.
Microsoft gives you many tools for dealing with recalcitrant programs and customizing Windows. These tools include the Task Manager and the programs within the Control Panel. Also, you can configure user accounts to permit a user to access files and accomplish tasks . . . and to stop users from doing things that would trouble the computer. Let's take a look.
Sometimes, things don't go as planned, or things go much slower than planned. Whenever Windows gets a little wonky, slows down, or locks up, go to the Task Manager first.
The Task Manager enables you to view and shut down different tasks running on the machine. The tasks include applications, processes, and services.
Task Manager with the Applications tab selected
To open Task Manager, press CTRL + ALT + DELETE and select Task Manager from the Windows Security screen. Or jump straight into the utility by pressing CTRL + SHIFT + ESC. Select a Task Manager tab to perform a desired action.
The Applications tab shows a list of open applications. The programs you can see running in the Taskbar show up here and usually have the same name. If you have multiple documents open, each will appear here, listing the application they're using. In the screenshot above, for example, you can see several Microsoft Office documents open, running in Excel and Word. To close a single file, use the Applications tab.
The Processes tab also shows running programs—but it names them by their executable file name, such as WINWORD.EXE for Microsoft Word. Plus, the tab will show memory and CPU usage. If you have a nonresponsive program, use the Processes tab to force every instance of that program to shut down.
The Services tab shows all the little helper programs that run in the background . . . helping. The Spooler service, for example, enables a computer to print files. If you have a stuck print job, forcing the Spooler service to stop or start from this tab might unstick that job.
The Performance tab displays information about how much RAM the computer is using. The Networking tab displays data and graphs for your network connections. The Users tab lists the users logged onto the computer.
A computer you work on might have two, three, or five tabs on Task Manager, depending on the version of Windows and various setup features. Microsoft didn't add the Services tab until Windows 7, for example.
The Control Panel has several categories for configuring the operating system. To open the Control Panel, go to Start > Control Panel in Windows Vista and Windows 7.
Control Panel in Windows 7
We'll look at many of the topics below in later lessons.
The default Category view in Windows 7 offers eight areas to make adjustments:
The System and Security category enables you to adjust settings for the Windows Firewall, Windows Update, Power Options, backups, and other administrative tools. I'll discuss the importance of making backups in Lesson 5.
The System and Security category
The Network and Internet category covers exactly what you'd think it would: the status of the network connection and Internet Options. If you have issues with your network, come to this category first.
The Hardware and Sound category includes applets for Devices and Printers, Sound, Display, Power Options (again), and more. This category covers almost every device that attaches to your computer.
The Hardware and Sound category
The Programs category deals with uninstalling applications, installing updates, and Desktop Gadgets (little programs that sit on your desktop, telling you neat things like the temperature or CPU usage).
The User Accounts category enables you to create and adjust user accounts. (I'll cover those later in this chapter.) In the home versions of Windows 7, the User Accounts and Family Safety category has family safety options. These enable you to set up parental controls, stop young users from accessing inappropriate Web sites, and control when and how long each user can use the computer.
The User Accounts category
The Appearance and Personalization category enables you to set up Windows to look and feel precisely how you like it. You can change individual colors of screen elements, for example. You can also make radical changes by altering the entire theme.
The Appearance and Personalization category
Use the Clock, Language, and Region category to set up a computer for a specific location. You can change the region settings, which may lead to a change in the default language that Windows uses. You can also change the time or the time zone.
The Clock, Language, and Region category
Visit the Ease of Access category to set up a computer so that people can work with it more easily. You can change how the mouse and keyboard work. Click on Change how your keyboard works to access features such as Sticky Keys, for example, which enables you to press key combinations using only one key at a time.
The Ease of Access category
A user account defines what someone can do on the machine and what actions he or she can take. Each time you log on to a computer, you must present a valid user name and password for one of the accounts. This logon can be highly simplified, or even invisible, but you still need a user account.
Having multiple user accounts on one machine means that people can share the computer and retain some privacy. Multiple accounts provide private folders in which each user can keep personal files separate from those of other users.
Each user gets a Documents folder, Music folder, Pictures folder, and so on. No other user, with the exception of the administrator, can access these folders. This adds a level of organization and security to the files.
Different user accounts also have different privileges. Some users may understand computers well enough to know how to install files properly or adjust Windows settings safely. Assigning each user the proper account type protects the system from unfortunate accidents.
Windows offers several types of user accounts, such as administrator, standard user, and guest. The professional versions of Windows have a lot more than that, but let's stick with the big three for now.
A user with an administrator account type can install new software, change any setting in the Control Panel, add new users, and do pretty much anything else on the computer. This makes the administrator account the most powerful account type. As you might expect, this level of power carries with it a similar level of responsibility. Make sure that users with administrative privileges know how to use a computer responsibly. Strictly limit the number of administrator accounts on a single machine. Both Windows 7 and Vista require only one administrator account, while Windows XP requires two.
Standard users can use most programs and access personal files, but they can't install programs or change any settings that could affect other users. If a standard user tries to do anything that only an administrator can do, a dialog box will pop up and ask for an administrator's user name and password. Windows calls this User Account Control (UAC), and it acts as a gatekeeper between users and sensitive Windows settings. This ensures that an administrator always knows what happens on the computer. Most users on a machine should have standard user account types.
Windows XP calls its standard user account a limited user.
Use the guest account type for people who don't normally use that particular machine. Guest users can run most programs, but they can't change settings, access personal files, or install software. Windows turns off the guest account by default to keep strangers from logging on to your computer.
Each time you boot a computer, Windows greets you with the Welcome screen. It's the gateway to the rest of Windows and your usual computing experience. The OS lists each user account with its user name and icon. Click the icon for your user account to log on to Windows. If your account is password protected, Windows will prompt for a password.
Windows Welcome screen
You can configure the professional versions of Windows to use a more secure login screen that, unlike the Welcome screen, shows no icons or user names. Login requires you to type a valid user name and password to access the computer.
Once you log on, you can log off easily (though you might want to use the computer first). From the Start menu, click the arrow next to Shut down, and select Log off from the menu. Or, in some versions, simply click Start and select Log Off from the menu. Windows logs you out of your account and returns you to the Welcome screen.
Shut down options
Make sure that you understand each of these tools before moving on to the next lesson. In Chapter 5, we'll do a quick review of everything you've learned today.
In this lesson, you learned that the operating system controls the computer and enables you to use the hardware and software installed on it. The OS provides the user interface as well, plus it gives you tools for managing and securing data. The vast majority of users run some variety of Windows, so learning about Windows and its features helps you troubleshoot most computers.
You also learned about two big features of Windows: the Desktop and Windows Explorer. All the action happens on the Desktop, from running applications to accessing the Start button. The OS uses Windows Explorer to structure your files so you can more easily get to your data. Microsoft gives you many ways to get to Windows Explorer and many ways to store your files once you get there.
Finally, you learned about some important tools that will help you troubleshoot PC issues. The Task Manager enables you to shut down troublesome applications and services. The Control Panel configures almost every aspect of Windows and your hardware. Remember that you need to use an administrator account to make any critical changes to Windows. Also, make backups of your data so that if something happens to your PC, your files aren’t lost forever.
The next lesson builds on the Windows foundation, tackling specific troubleshooting issues with Windows. You’ll learn what to do about system and application crashes, for example. We’ll delve into the various start-up options in Windows XP, Vista, and 7. The lesson concludes with a discussion on issues with the display, sound, and other peripherals. So what are you waiting for? Grab the quiz and assignment for this lesson, and you’ll be ready for Lesson 4!
Microsoft's Windows site gives you more information on the operating system. There are tools for determining which version of Windows is compatible with your system and for finding your next PC. You can also read about recent updates to Windows and get information on the difference between Macs and PCs. (Naturally, the Mac-versus-PC information is from Microsoft's point of view; Apple sees things differently.)
A: Windows XP comes in three common varieties: Home, Professional, and Media Center.
A: Yes. For consumers (rather than big corporations), Microsoft released four editions of Windows Vista: Home Basic, Home Premium, Business, and Ultimate. You could buy each edition in either 32-bit or 64-bit, to work with 32-bit or 64-bit CPUs.
A: Windows 7 also comes in four editions, with each edition available in 32-bit and 64-bit varieties.
A: Both Mac OS X and Linux distributions like Ubuntu are great operating systems, but the vast majority of computers use some version of Windows. While many of the principles of troubleshooting are the same for any operating system, the step-by-step fixes in this course are for Windows users.
Today's lesson was fairly long, so we'll keep the assignment short. Explore the Control Panel by adjusting the available settings. Look through the Appearance and Personalization category. Change your desktop wallpaper, turn on a screen saver, and pick a new theme. You don't have to keep any of these settings, but you just might find something you like.
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