1. A+ Guide to Managing and Maintaining Your PC, 7e
Chapter 13
Maintaining Windows

2. Objectives
Learn how to set up and perform scheduled preventive maintenance tasks to keep Windows healthy
Learn how to prepare for disaster by keeping good backups of use data and Windows system files
Learn about the directory structures used by Windows and how to manage files and folders
Learn how to use Windows utilities to manage hard drives

3. Scheduled Preventive Maintenance
Windows problems creeps up on us
Because;
Old unused files
Installing and uninstalling programs
Windows gets tired and slows down

4. Scheduled Preventive Maintenance
To reduce the symptoms;
Verifying Windows settings
Defragmenting the hard drive
Checking drive for errors
Reducing startup processes to essentials
Doing whatever it takes to free up hard drive space

5. Verify Critical Windows Settings
Help user by explaining:
Automatic Windows updates importance
How to manually check for and install updates
Verify updates and service packs installed
Verify Windows Updates is configured correctly
Reasons automatic updates sometimes not set
Slow Internet connection
Lack of trust
Verify updates before installation
Know if update applies to the system

6. Windows Updates Click Start Right click Computer Select Properties
Verify all service packs are installed, please see page 605
Click Windows Update to see if there is any update (left pane, down)
Click View available updates
Select the updates you want to install. Click Install
Click on Change Settings see figure 13-4, pg. 606

7. Verify Critical Windows Settings (cont’d.)
Windows XP verification steps
1. View service packs installed
2. View and manually install updates
3. View how Windows XP installs updates
Windows 2000 verification steps
1. Install updates
Click Start, all programs, and Click Windows Updates
Follow the instructions
Verify antivirus software

8. How XP Installs Updates
Click Start
Right click My Computer
Select Properties
Click the Automatic Updates tab
For Win 2K, click Start and Windows Updates
Microsoft published 4 service packs for 2K
To protect system against malicious attack;
Make sure that antivirus program scheduled to scan regularly
Verify that firewall is configured correctly

9. Clean Up the Hard Drive Delete unneeded files occasionally
Windows requires some hard drive free space for
Normal operation, defragmenting drives, burning CDs and DVDs, and other tasks
Determining hard drive free space
Open Windows Explorer
Right-click the drive and select Properties , see pg. 608
Using Disk Cleanup utility (Vista and XP)
Deletes temporary files
Run cleanmgr.exe in Start Search box
Use Windows Explorer, Properties box, General tab
Please try it on your computers, or pages

10. Clean Up the Hard Drive (cont’d.)
Windows.old folder (page 609, fig. 13.7)
Delete if user no longer needs the data
Freeing up more Windows Vista disk space
Uninstall software
Click More Options tab on the Disk Cleanup box
Click Clean up in Programs and Features area
Delete all but the most recent restore points
In XP the More Options tab offers a third option to delete installed Windows components that you don’t need

11. Defrag the Hard Drive Fragmentation Reasons to defragment
Files fragmented in segments all over the drive
Reasons to defragment
Read-write head moves all over to retrieve a file
Data-recovery utilities may not work
Defragment when user not using the PC
Vista default
Automatic defrag every Wednesday at 1:00 AM
Defrag a healthy drive with 15% free space

12. Defrag the Hard Drive (cont’d.)
Verify Vista default defrag setting or manually defrag
Figure 13-9 The Properties box for a drive allows you to manage the Disk Defragmenter
Courtesy: Course Technology/Cengage Learning

13. Defrag the Hard Drive (cont’d.)
Verify XP default defrag setting or manually defrag
Figure Windows XP defragmenting a volume
Courtesy: Course Technology/Cengage Learning

14. Check the Hard Drive for Errors
Chkdsk utility
Searches for bad sectors on a volume
Recovers data if possible
Error checking and repair time
Potentially long depending on drive size and files
Methods to launch Chkdsk utility in Vista or XP
Windows Explorer drive Properties box
Chkdsk command in a command prompt window
What is the equivalent of chkdsk with Win 98/Me?

15. Figure Windows repairs hard drive errors under the drive’s Properties box using Windows Explorer. Courtesy: Course Technology/Cengage Learning

16. Verify Startup Programs
Some software programs
Add themselves to automatic startup list
Shortcut or program file in a startup folder
Registry entry
Scheduled Task list entry
Problem with too many startup programs
Slow system startup, sluggish system, startup errors
Problem solution
Verify the startup programs
Remove unnecessary programs

17. Verify Startup Programs (cont’d.)
Startup programs in Vista
Windows Vista startup folders
For individual users:
C:\Users\username\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup
For all users:
C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Program\Startup
Software Explorer
View and stop Vista startup programs

18. Software Explorer to view and stop startup programs
Control Panel
Windows Defender
Tools
Click Change Startup Programs
See pages
See snagit program
You can temporarily Disable
Remove from all-users start up folder
Use Snagit program menu not to start

19. Figure 13-12 Use Software Explorer in Vista to find out what programs are launched at startup
Courtesy: Course Technology/Cengage Learning
Figure A startup program is launched by using a startup folder
Courtesy: Course Technology/Cengage Learning

20. Table 13-1 Programs launched at startup on a barebones Vista system

21. Verify Startup Programs (cont’d.)
Startup programs in XP
Windows XP startup folders
For individual users:
C:\Documents and Settings\username\StartMenu\Programs\Startup
For all users:
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Startup
Manually look for unnecessary software
Uninstall with Control Panel, Add or Remove Programs applet

22. Free Up Additional Hard Drive Space
Windows Explorer
Displays drive free space
No set minimum free space for Vista because it depends on how Vista and applications are used
Rule of thumb
Shoot for 15 percent of drive free
Move data to other drives or devices
Use NTFS drive or folder compressions
Why drive compression is not recommended?

23. Free Up Additional Hard Drive Space
To compress folder;
Select the properties of the folder
General Tab, Click Advanced
Click Compress contents to save disk space
Click apply and OK

24. Reorganize Folders and Volumes
If the drive has more than one volume such as C and D;
Move applications, uninstall first
Most require reinstall
Most applications are in C:\Program Files folder
Later in this chapter we will learn how to use Disk Management to extend the size of a volume or to expand the usable space on a volume by mounting a drive to the volume
Note: Vista installs on a NTFS volume, if second volume is formatted using the FA32 file system you can convert
2 reasons, NTFS handles large files better, secure

25. Move the Virtual Memory Paging File
Move virtual memory paging file
Windows Pagefile.sys
Virtual memory enhancing amount of system RAM
Hidden file stored in C drive root directory
Move to another partition on the same or different drive
New drive speed should be equal to or greater than existing drive
New volume should have plenty of space
At least three times the amount of installed RAM

26. Move the Virtual Memory Paging File
Click Start, right click Computer, click Properties
System Properties window appears
Click Advanced System Settings and respond UAC box, the System Properties window appears again
On the Advanced tab, under Performance, click Settings
Select Advance button, click Change
Uncheck Automatically Manage Paging File Size on All Drives

27. Move the Virtual Memory Paging File
Select the drive
Do not check System Managed size as the book says
Custom the size by maximum which is 3 times of existing RAM
Click Set
Click OK, restart the system, Click OK
Click Apply and OK, OK

28. Move the Virtual Memory Paging File
For XP;
Click Start, right click My Computer, Properties
Advanced tab
Click Setting in the Performance section
Click Advance again, click Change
Do the same steps as Vista set it yourself
Never set Paging File “No Paging File” regardless of the amount of RAM

29. Figure 13-15 Manage virtual memory using the System Properties box
Courtesy: Course Technology/Cengage Learning

30. Figure 13-16 Move Pagefile.sys to a different drive
Courtesy: Course Technology/Cengage Learning

31. Limit Space used by Internet Explorer
Limit space used by Internet Explorer (IE)
Reduce IE cache file space
In IE, click Tools, then Internet Options
On the General Tab under Browsing History, click Settings
In Temporary Internet Files and History Settings Dialog box change the amount of disk space to use, not below 50MB

32. Limit Space used by Internet Explorer
Move cache folder to a second volume (if available)
Vista folder is in ;
C:\Users\username\appdata\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Temporary Internet Files
Under General Tab of Internet Options window under Browsing History, Click Settings
Click Move Folder, select the destination, Click OK three times

33. Limit Space used by Internet Explorer
Set IE to empty cache folder when browser closes
On the Internet Options, click Advance
Scroll down to Security section, Check Empty Temporary Internet Files Folder When Browser is Closed, Click Apply (pg )
If you are using public computer this is a good move!
If more space is still needed, add another hard drive

34. Figure 13-17 Allocate hard drive space to be used for temporary Internet files
Courtesy: Course Technology/Cengage Learning
Figure Set Internet Explorer not to keep a cache after the browser is closed
Courtesy: Course Technology/Cengage Learning

35. Backup Procedures Please read Applying Concepts pg. 621, true story!
Extra copy of a data or software file
Use if original file becomes damaged or destroyed
Ways to lose data
System failure, virus, file corruption, or some other problem
Never trust important data to only one media

36. Planning For Disaster Recovery
Points for a backup and recovery plan
Decide on backup media
Consider purchasing third-party backup software
Easier to use
Offers more features than Microsoft utility
Microsoft offers the Ntbackup.exe program, similar in Vista
Use a selective backup plan
Only back up data that changes often to save time
Back up after every four to ten hours of data entry
This means backup up once a day, or week, or a month

37. Planning For Disaster Recovery
Points for a backup and recovery plan (cont’d.)
Record regular backups in a log
Folders or drives backed up
Date of the backup
Type of backup
Label identifying tape, disk, or other media
First time backup
Verify backup tape disks
Verify successful recovery of data
Scheduled backup
Keep backups in a safe place
Routinely test
For travelers

38. Back Up User Data Windows Vista uses Backup and Restore Center
1. Connect backup device to PC
Control Panel, under System and Maintenance
2. Click Backup and Restore Center window Pg. 624
3. Click Back up files and respond to the UAC box
Select where to save backup and click Next
4. Select volumes containing folders or files to back up
5. Select type of files to back up
6. Select back up frequency
7. Save settings and start backup
To see the status of backup; start, all programs, Accessories, System Tools, Backup Status and Configuration.

39. Back Up User Data (cont’d.)
Windows Vista file restore (pg. 626)
1. Open Backup Status and Configuration window
2. Click Restore Files and follow directions
Windows Vista backup issues
Provides little control over the folders
Many turn to third-party backup utilities
Back up messages and address book
Back up Internet Explorer favorites list. See pg 626

40. Back Up User Data (cont’d.)
Windows 2000/XP Ntbackup.exe utility (pg. 627)
Click Start, All Programs, Accessories, System Tools, click Backup, Backup Wizard opens Click Advanced Mode
Click the Backup tab.
See Fig , Check the drive and subfolders to backup

41. Figure 13-25 Backup or Restore Wizard
Courtesy: Course Technology/Cengage Learning
Figure You can perform an immediate backup from the Backup tab
Courtesy: Course Technology/Cengage Learning

42. Back Up User Data (cont’d.)
Windows 2000/XP scheduled backup options
Full backup (also called a normal backup)
Copy backup (archived attributes are not cleared)
Incremental backup (all files have been created or changed since the last backup, does not matter full or incremental backup)
Differential backup (All files that have been created or changed since the last full backup) Book is wrong by the way!
Daily backup
Two best ways to schedule backups
Combination of full backups and incremental backups
Combination of full backups and differential backups

43. Back Up User Data (cont’d.)
Windows 2000/XP backup schedule (pg. 630)
1. Open backup utility, click Schedule Jobs tab, select date to schedule a backup, click Add Job button
2. Backup Wizard opens, click Next
Select Back up selected files, drives, or network data, click Next
3. Select drives, folders, files to back up, click Next

44. Back Up User Data (cont’d.)
Windows 2000/XP backup schedule (cont’d.)
4. Choose where to save the backup, a back up name and type
5. Make decisions on verifying data, compressing the data, and appending the data
6. Select perform back up later
7. Use Schedule Job window to select how often backup occurs
8. Click Next in the wizard and follow remaining instructions
Last word about backups
Make sure you have several generations of backups
If you backup weekly, keep at least 10 weeks of backup

45. Back Up User Data (cont’d.)
With 3rd party back up programs; you may back up
messages and address book
Internet Explorer favorites list
\VALUEADD\MSFT\NTBACKUP Folder, double click Ntbackup.msi to install Win XP Home
Figure Schedule repeated backups
Courtesy: Course Technology/Cengage Learning

46. Back Up System Files System Restore (pg. 631) Restore point
Restores system to a restore point (System State data = files necessary to boot the OS, Registry, and all system files in the %systemroot%)
Restore point
Condition at time a snapshot taken
System Restore turned on
Windows automatically creates a restore point
Before new software or hardware installed or when changes are made to system
Can manually create restore point at any time

47. Manually Create a Restore Point with Vista
Click Start, right click Computer, and select Properties for the shortcut
Menu. The System window opens.
Click Advanced System Settings and respond to the UAC box. The System Properties opens.
Click the System Protection tab, click Create.
Figure Manually create a restore point
Courtesy: Course Technology/Cengage Learning

48. Manually Create a Restore Point with XP
Start
All Programs
Accessories
System Tools
System Restore
Select Create a restore point
Click Next
Enter the description and
Click Create Please see page 632

49. Figure 13-30 Make sure System Protection is turned on
Courtesy: Course Technology/Cengage Learning

50. Back Up System Files (cont’d.)
Keep system protection turned on
Start, right click Computer, Properties, click System Protection, make sure C drive is checked (system), Apply, OK
Creates restore points
At regular intervals
Just before new software or hardware installed
Restore point information:
Normally kept in folder C:\System Volume Information
Not accessible to the user
Restore points are taken at least every 24 hours
Can use up to 15 percent of disk space
When disk space is low, restore points are no longer made

51. Back Up System Files (cont’d.)
Applying a restore point
User data not altered
Can affect installed software, hardware, user settings, and OS configuration settings
Changes made to settings are lost after restore point is created
Always use most recent restore point capable of fixing the problem
If Vista will not boot:
Launch System Restore from Vista Recovery Environment (Ch. 15)

52. Back Up System Files (cont’d.)
Applying a restore point (cont’d.)
Windows Vista or Windows XP desktop
1. Start, All Programs, Accessories, System Tools,
Open System Restore box
2. If multiple restore points exist, two options display:
Use recommended restore point
Choose a different restore point
3. System restarts and restore point is applied

53. Back Up System Files (cont’d.)
Points about system restore
Great tool for fixing a device, restoring Windows settings, and solving application problems
Limitations
Recovers from errors only if registry somewhat intact
Process cannot remove virus or worm infection
Process might create a new problem, out of whack AV
Process might make many changes to a system, device driver problems can be solved update, uninstall, install
Process requires restore points (turned on)
Restore points kept in a hidden folder on the hard drive, if that portion is corrupted, restore points are gone
Viruses and malware sometimes hide in restore points, if it is the case, you need to delete all restore points, turn the protection off and on again. Ch have more info.

54. Back Up System Files (cont’d.)
Backing up system state using Windows XP/2000
All files are backed up
Use Backup, Advanced Mode
Figure Back up the Windows XP/2000 system state
Courtesy: Course Technology/Cengage Learning

55. Backing up system state using Windows XP/2000
Start, all Programs, accessories, System Tools, click Backup, or you can enter Ntbackup.exe run dialog box
On the Backup Utility, click the Backup tab Pg. 635
Check System Stat box (left hand side)
Click Browse where you want the backup saved
Click Start Backup and in dialog box click Start Backup again
When you back up the registry is also backed up in
%systemroot%\repair\RegBack
If you have corrupted registry, you can copy RegBack to %systemroot%\System32\config folder.

56. Back Up System Files (cont’d.)
Restoring system state using Windows XP/2000
Open Backup Utility window
Click the Restore and Manage Media tab
In order to use this utility, you must be able to boot to the Windows desktop, again Ch will cover how to deal with these kind of problems.
Figure Restore the system state from the Restore and Manage Media tab of the Backup dialog box
Courtesy: Course Technology/Cengage Learning

57. Back Up the Entire Hard Drive
Windows Vista, Complete PC Backup
Windows XP, Automated System Recovery
Backup of entire Vista volume
Can back up other volumes
Best practice
Complete PC backup after Vista installation and all hardware devices, and all applications are installed
Works similarly to recovery CDs or DVDs comes with computer
Complete Backup PC is not available in Vista Starter or Home editions

58. Complete PC Backup (Vista)
Follow below steps to create initial Complete PC Backup
Connect the back up device to your PC, verify that you have an access to it
Control Panel, System and Maintenance, Click Back Up Your Computer
Click Back Up Computer, Vista searches for available devices and gives you the list, choose the device (external HD), Click Next
You may select other volumes too to back up, Next
Start back up

59. Complete PC Backup (Vista)
If Hard drive fails or Vista is so corrupted you cannot recover it,
You can restore the volume or volumes from your Complete PC Backup
Because the entire Vista volume will be overwritten
You must perform the operation from the Vista set up DVD using the Windows Recovery Environment (RE)
Follow these steps to recover:

60. Steps to Recover from Backup
This process will erase everything and any other volumes included in the Complete PC Backup
Save important data before continue
Connect backup device (pg )
Boot from the Vista DVD, select language, keyboard
Click Repair Your Computer
System recovery searches for an installed OS, if found select it, if not click Next
Logon as Admin
Click on Windows Complete PC Restore

61. Windows XP Automated System Recovery (ASR)
Backup of entire XP volume
Recover XP system from last ASR backup
Lose everything on the volume since ASR backup created
Installed software and device drivers, user data, any changes to system configuration
ASR backup process creates two items
Full backup of the Windows drive
ASR floppy disk containing backup file location

62. Back Up the Entire Hard Drive (cont’d.)
Windows XP ASR (cont’d.)
Restoring the system using an ASR backup
Restores Windows volume to its state when last ASR backup made
ASR recovery process
Erases everything on the volume being restored
Reformats the volume
After ASR recovery process finished
Restart the system
Restore user data from recent backups

63. XP Home Back Up Utility
By default, Windows XP Home Edition does not automatically install the Backup utility
To install it manually
Go to the \VALUEADD\MSFT\NTBACKUP folder ON YOUR Windows XP set up CD
Double click Ntbackup.msi
The installation wizard will complete the installation

64. Creating the ASR Backup and ASR Disk
The ASR process creates two items;
Full back of the drive on which Windows is installed
An ASR (Automated System Recovery) disk
You will need CD-R or C-RW, tape drive, or external HD
Follow the instructions to create ASR floppy disk
Start, All Programs, Accessories, System Tools and Backup
Click Advanced Mode, Click Automated System Recovery Wizard, Next
Select the location of the medium to receive the backup, and insert a disk into floppy disk drive, this will be ASR diskette, click Next, click Finish
Label the disk as ASR Disk and keep it in safe place

65. Restoring the System Using an ASR Backup
Insert Windows XP CD and hard boot PC
Press any key to boot from CD. Press any key
Press F6 to load RAID or SCSI drivers, or ignore the message
At the bottom, Press F2 to run the ASR process
Insert ASR diskette, Enter
Your backed up medium should be connected to the PC

66. Create an ASR Floppy Disk
The following steps can create an ASR floppy disk from an ASR backup operation: Format a 1.44 megabyte (MB) floppy disk and insert the disk into the floppy disk drive of the computer.
In System Tools, start the Backup program. When the Backup and Restore Wizard is displayed, click Next.
Click Restore Files and Settings, and then click Next.
In the What to Restore dialog box, select the media that contains the ASR backup. Ensure that the media is inserted.
Expand the Automated System Recovery Backup Set that corresponds to the ASR floppy disk that you want to create.
Expand the second instance of the drive letter that contains the system files. Expand the Windows_folder/Repair folder.
Click the following files from this repair folder: Asr.sif and Asrpnp.sif, and then click Next.
At the Completing Backup or Restore Wizard screen, click Advanced.
At the Where to Restore screen, set the Restore Files to: dialog box to Single Folder, and then set the Folder Name dialog box to the root of your floppy drive, for example, "A:\".
Click Next. The other options in this wizard are optional and do not affect the transfer of files to the floppy disk. When the wizard is finished, the files are copied to the location that you had previously specified. The ASR floppy disk is ready for use in the event of an ASR restore operation. NOTE: The Asr.sif and Asrpnp.sif files must reside on the root of the floppy disk drive to be used during a ASR restore operation.
ATTENTION: Content on the A Essential Exam ends here!

67. Managing Files, Folders, and Hard Drives
Understanding of how to manage folders and files
Manage data, configure Windows, set up network resources, and keep the PC in good working order
Knowing where to look on the hard drive to find folders and files needed
Requires understanding of directory structures used by Windows Vista, XP, and 2000

68. Directory Structures
Know user files, system files, fonts, temporary files, program files, and offline files and folders
When a user first logs onto Vista, user profile is created and has two contents
User folder together with subfolders is the user profile namespace
Ntuser.dat in the user’s folder containing user settings
Windows Vista user account folder
Stored in C:\Users\Username
Windows XP user account folder
Stored in C:\Documents and Settings folder
See pg. 643 Fig

69. Directory Structures (cont’d.)
Other important folder locations
Windows registry: \Windows\system32\config folder
Registry backup: \Windows\system32\config\RegBack folder
Fonts: stored in the \Windows\Fonts folder
Program files (32-bit versions)
C:\Program Files
Program Files (Vista and XP 64-bit versions)
C:\Program Files (64-bit programs)
C:\Program Files (x86) (32-bit programs)

70. Directory Structures (cont’d.)
Other important folder locations (cont’d.)
Temporary files: \Windows\Temp folder
Windows Vista temporary IE files:
C:\Users\username\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Temporary Internet Files
Windows XP temporary IE files:
C:\Documents and Settings\username\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files
Client-side caching (CSC) folder: C:\Windows\CSC

71. Client-side caching (CSC) folder
This folder is created and managed by Windows Offline Files utility
Makes it possible for a user to work with a copy of folders and files stored on the local network, when the computer is not connected to the network

72. Client-side caching (CSC)
In todays highly competitive e-commerce marketplace, the performance of a web-site plays a key role in attracting new and retaining current clients. New technologies are being developed to help speed up the delivery of content to customers while still allowing companies to get their message across using rich, graphical content. However, in the rush to find new technologies to improve internet performance, one low-cost alternative to these new technologies is often overlooked: client-side content caching.
This process is often overlooked or dismissed by web administrators and content providers seeking to improve performance. The major concern that is expressed by these groups is that they need to ensure that clients always get the freshest content possible. In their eyes, allowing their content to be cached is perceived as losing control of their message.
This bias against caching is, in most cases, unjustified. By understanding how server software can be used to distinguish unique caching policies for each type of content being delivered, client-side performance gains can be achieved with no new hardware or software being added to an existing web-site system

73. Commands To Manage Files and Folders
Command prompt window
Open by entering cmd.exe
Vista Start Search box or XP Run box
In Vista, go to Start, Accessories, Click on Run to get it
Provides a Command Line Interface (CLI)
Enter command lines to perform a variety of tasks
Figure Use the exit command to close the command prompt window
Courtesy: Course Technology/Cengage Learning

74. Command Prompt If you need elevated command prompt window in Vista
Click Start, All Programs, Accessories and right click Command Prompt
Select Run as administrator
Type EXIT to leave command prompt
Type CLS to clear screen
Commands are not case sensitive, typed here upper case to show the command

75. Commands To Manage Files and Folders (cont’d.)
File naming conventions
Filename and file extension characters
Letters a through z and numbers 0 through 9
Characters: _ ^ $ ! # % & – { } ( ' `
Filename with spaces:
Enclose filename in double quotation marks
Wildcard characters in command lines
Question mark (?): wildcard for one character
Asterisk (*): wildcard for one or more characters

76. Commands To Manage Files and Folders (cont’d.)
Help or <command name> /?
Dir [<filename>] [/p] [/s] [/w]
List files and directories
Table 13-3 Sample dir commands

77. Commands To Manage Files and Folders (cont’d.)
Del or Erase <filename>
Erases files or groups of files
Copy <source> [<destination>] [/A] [/V] [/Y]
Three useful switches or parameters
/A: only copies only files with the archive attribute on
/V: size of each new file compared to the size of original file
/Y: confirmation message does not appear asking to confirm before overwriting a file
Recover <filename>
Attempts to recover a file when parts corrupted

78. Commands To Manage Files and Folders (cont’d.)
Xcopy <source> [<destination>] [/S] [/C] [/Y] [/D:date]
More powerful than Copy command
Table 13-4 Xcopy commands and results

79. Commands To Manage Files and Folders (cont’d.)
Robocopy <source> [<destination>] [/S] [/E] [/LOG:filename] [/LOG+:filename] [/move] [/purge]
Robust File Copy command
New with Windows Vista; similar to Xcopy command
Table 13-5 Robocopy commands and results

80. Commands To Manage Files and Folders (cont’d.)
MD [drive:]path
Creates a subdirectory under a directory
CD [drive:]path or CD..
Changes current default directory
RD [drive:]path
Removes a subdirectory
Directory must contain no files
Directory must contain no subdirectories
Directory must not be current directory

81. Commands To Manage Files and Folders (cont’d.)
chkdsk [drive:] [/f] [/r]
Fixes file system errors
Recovers data from bad sectors
Figure Lost and cross-linked clusters
Courtesy: Course Technology/Cengage Learning

82. Commands To Manage Files and Folders (cont’d.)
Defrag [drive:] [-C]
Examines a drive for fragmented files
Rewrites fragmented files in contiguous clusters
Edit [drive:path] <filename>
Edit program (Edit.com)
Table 13-6 Defrag commands and results

83. Commands To Manage Files and Folders (cont’d.)
Format <drive:> [/v:label] [/q] [fs:<filesystem>]
Format command
Table 13-7 Format commands and results

84. Use Disk Management To Manage Hard Drives
Primary tool for managing hard drives
Manage partitions, mount a drive, or troubleshoot problems with the hard drive
A partition is division of a hard drive
Volumes are primary partitions
Active partition used by BIOS for OS load
Extended partition holds one or more logical drives
File system manages files and folders
Cluster: group of sectors used to hold a file
NTFS, FAT32, and exFAT

85. Managing Hard Drive Volumes
You must initialize the disk
To open Disk Management using Vista;
Start, right-click Computer, select Manage
Click Disk Management
Or you can use diskmgmt.msc
Right click the disk and select Initialize Disk
To create a new volume on a drive, right-click in the unallocated space, select New Simple Volume
Follow directions, select the size of the volume, select file system
Windows XP, cannot size partition or changed volume unless you use third party software

86. Use Disk Management To Manage Hard Drives (cont’d.)
New hard drive
Initialize the disk
Create new volumes
Resize volumes
Figure Use Disk Management to partition a new hard drive. Courtesy: Course Technology/Cengage Learning

87. Use Disk Management Mounted drive
Volume accessible by a folder on another volume
Folder has more available space
Mount point: C:\Data folder is called the mount point
Mounted drive gives the C:\Data folder a capacity of 700GB
Figure The C:\Data folder is the mount point for the mounted drive. Courtesy: Course Technology/Cengage Learning

88. Use Disk Management To Manage Hard Drives (cont’d.)
Use of mounted drives
Need to expand drive space
Drive C too small
Want to enhance space using space on another volume
Want to put all user data on another volume or hard drive, other than the Windows volume
Ran out of drive letters A through Z

89. Steps to mount a drive using Vista or XP
Make sure the host volume uses NTFS
The folder on this volume, called mount point, must be empty
Use Windows Explorer to create a new folder, or empty existing folder, example: mounting a drive to the C:\Data folder
Open Disk Management, right click in unallocated space of Disk 1(second hd) select New Simple Volume, wizard launches, click Next
Specify the amount of unallocated space, click Next
Select Mount in the following empty NTFS folder

90. Steps to mount a drive using Vista or XP
Click Browse to locate the C:\Data folder or enter the path to the folder, click Next
Next window it gives you choices for the Allocation unit size
Leave it at the Default value, you can label the volume, click Next
Wizard reports back your choices and formats the volume
Close Disk Management, open Windows Explorer
Right click the C:\data folder and select Properties
See page 661 figure 13-57

91. Windows Dynamic Disks
Hard drives are normally configured as a basic disk
Basic disk uses MBR partition table
Win Vista Business, Enterprise, and Ultimate editions and XP Professional can use dynamic disk
Basic disk use MBR partitions, volumes and logical drives
Dynamic Disks use dynamic volumes, can span more than one hard drive
Data to configure each HD is stored in a Disk Management Database that resides in the last 1MB of storage space at the end of a HD

92. Windows Dynamic Disks
Dynamic Disks considered more reliable than MBR method
Here are four uses of dynamic disks:
Better reliability can be allocated as simple dynamic volume
You can implement dynamic disks on multiple hard drives to extend a volume across these drives (spanning)
DD can be used to piece data across multiple hard drives (stripping or RAID 0) to improve performance
For XP, you can use dynamic disks to mirror two hard drives for fault tolerance (mirroring or RAID 1) not available for Vista

93. Windows Dynamic Disks
Better reliability, spanning, stripping (RAID 0) to improve performance, mirror two hard drives for fault tolerance (RAID 1) for XP
Figure Basic disks use partitions to organize a hard drive, and dynamic disks use dynamic volumes to organize multiple hard drives
Courtesy: Course Technology/Cengage Learning

94. Use Disk Management To Manage Hard Drives (cont’d.)
Windows dynamic disks (cont’d.)
Disk Management converts two or more basic disks to dynamic disks
Create spanned or stripped volume
Spanning and software RAID is not very safe
Figure Create a spanned or striped volume. Courtesy: Course Technology/Cengage Learning

95. Cautions about Software RAID
When dynamic disks are used for spanning or RAID, catastrophic failure increases, can lead data loss
Microsoft suggests that you only use spanning or RAID with dynamic disks
If you have no other option, RAID be implemented using hardware RAID rather than using dynamic disks
Means, spanning and software RAID aren’t very safe – use hardware RAID instead
You cannot install OS on a spanned or striped volume that uses software RAID, but you can hw RAID
You cannot convert from dynamic to basic disk once you converted to dynamic disk without losing all data

96. Use Disk Management To Manage Hard Drives (cont’d.)
Drive and volume status indicators:
Healthy
Failed
Online
Active
Unallocated
Formatting
Basic
Dynamic
Offline, foreign drive, and healthy (at risk)

97. Regional and Language Settings
Configure computer to use a different language
Download and install the language pack
Change Windows display language
Chang how numbers are formatted
Change language used for keyboard input
Windows Vista Ultimate
Download Language Interface Packs (LIP) through Windows Update
Getting LIP for other Vista editions
Go to Microsoft Web site
See pages

98. Summary Regular preventive maintenance
Improves performance and troubleshooting
Verify Windows settings, defragment hard drives, check drive for errors, reduce startup process to essentials, and free up hard drive space
Windows offers may preventative maintenance tools
Preventative maintenance strategies
Maintain healthy Windows system and hardware resources
Keep good backups of data and system files