1. Introducing Windows Operating Systems

2. Objectives
Learn what an operating system is and about different operating systems
Exam Objectives: Compare and contrast various features and requirements of Microsoft Operating Systems (Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1)

3. What is an Operating System? (YT 3:36)
Three elements that make a computer useful are the hardware, the operating system, and applications
An operating system interacts with hardware and allows you to run programs or applications
Years ago operating systems were text-based (used a CLI)
Every time you wanted to run a program, you had to type in a command
Today, most operating systems use a graphical user interface (GUI)
You point and click with a mouse to interact with the computer

4. Users and applications depend on the OS to relate
to all applications and hardware components

5. Different Operating Systems
Modern operating systems for personal computers: Microsoft Windows, Apple Mac OS X, and Linux
Each operating system has a different look and feel
Mobile devices such as phones, tablet computers, and MP3 players are different from desktop and laptop computers
However, modern operating systems are designed to be easy to use, and most of the basic principles are the same
They run an OS designed specifically for mobile devices
Examples of mobile operating systems include Apple iOS, Windows Phone, and Google Android

6. Windows Operating System
Windows operating systems are used more than any other OS
The primary Windows operating systems are Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 8.1
Windows Vista is the oldest
Windows 7 was released between Vista and 8
Windows 8 and 8.1 are the most recent (for the exams)
Windows 7 is considered an upgrade to Vista, Windows 8 is an upgrade to Windows 7, and Windows 8.1 is an upgrade to Windows 8
Every PC support technician needs to be a power user of Windows 7 and be familiar with Windows Vista and Windows 8/8.1

7. Most Popular Operating Systems
Jan 2016
Jul-Aug 2016
March 2017
Mar 2016
Oct 2016

8. Windows Operating System Features
The CompTIA A+ exams focus on the different features available in different Windows editions
Many features are common to Vista, 7, 8 and 8.1
Some features are only in specific versions
Some important features we’ll discuss include:
Aero Desktop
User Account Control
Sidebar and Gadgets
Windows Libraries

9. PM Video 16:36 PM Video 7:00 Feature Windows Vista Windows 7 Windows 8
Action Center
Yes
Aero
BitLocker
Gadgets No
Easy Transfer
Homegroups
Ready Boost
Sidebar
Shadow Copy
User Account Control
Windows Libraries
Windows XP Mode
PM Video 16:36
PM Video 7:00

10. Windows Aero Desktop
Aero is a feature that became available in Vista and was improved on in 7
Aero uses a variety of graphics features, such as translucency and animations
Aero can enhance the usability of the system
To use Aero, your system must support it
1 GHz CPU, 1GB of RAM, and 128 MB of graphics memory
If your system is capable, Aero turns on automatically

11. Aero Snap, Shake, Peek, and Flip 3D
Aero features include Snap, Shake, Peek, and Flip 3D
Aero Snap automatically maximizes a window when you drag it to the top of the desktop or snaps to fill half the screen
Aero Shake minimizes all other windows except the one you shake

12. Aero Snap, Shake, Peek, and Flip 3D
With Aero Peek mouse over any taskbar icon and Aero previews the item
Peek allows you to view the desktop with multiple windows open - Hover over the far right and windows become transparent
Aero Flip 3D enables you to view and select open windows in a 3D format
Press the Windows key and Tab key at the same time and release both keys to open a specific window

13. The Windows 7 desktop using the Aero interface has a glassy transparent look

14. Aero Peek - Mouse over the Internet Explorer icon in
the taskbar to see each open tab in IE

15. Aero Flip 3D – Press the Windows key and the Tab key at the same time to start it

16. Windows Sidebar & Gadgets =vulnerabilities
Vista includes a GUI feature called the Windows Sidebar
The Sidebar sits on the side of the desktop and hosts gadgets that users can add
A gadget is a mini-program that has specific functionality, such as a clock or weather update
Windows 7 also includes gadgets but removes the sidebar concept and they can be placed anywhere on the desktop
Several gadgets are available by default, but many more are online

17. Windows User Account Control
The User Account Control (UAC) is a security feature that first appeared in Vista and a big reason people hated Vista
The UAC window appears each time a user attempts to perform an action that can be done only with admin privileges
The UAC is used to prevent malicious background tasks from gaining admin privileges
Without UAC if a user is logged on with admin privileges and the system is infected, the malicious program has full admin access

18. Windows User Account Control
The UAC works for both standard user accounts and admin accounts
If a standard user attempts an action that requires admin privileges they will see a UAC window that requires an admin password
If a user with admin privileges attempts an action that requires admin privileges a simple UAC window appears that does not require an admin password
By default, UAC dims the desktop and disables all other interaction with the system

19. The UAC box of an admin does not require a password
The UAC box of a standard user requires an admin password

20. Windows Libraries
Libraries are included in Windows 7 and later but not Vista
A library provides a central place to manage files that are located in multiple locations
4 default libraries are created when Windows is installed:
Libraries don’t hold any data but are pointers to the actual location
Documents, Music, Pictures, and Videos
When you add a folder to a library, that folder is still in it’s original location
In Windows Explorer, you can access libraries from the Navigation Pane