Microsoft Windows XP Illustrated Complete

1
Microsoft Windows XP Illustrated Complete
Maintaining

• Your Computer

2
Objectives

• Format a disk
• Copy a disk
• Find and repair disk errors
• Defragment a disk
• Clean up a disk

3
Objectives

• Restore computer settings
• Remove a program
• Add a program
• Enter DOS commands

4
Unit Introduction

• Windows XP offers useful tools for managing
  routine tasks, such as
• Installing and removing programs
• Cleaning up disk space
• Formatting, copying, and repairing disks
• Restoring computer settings after problems occur
• Finding and fixing disk problems
• Speeding up disk access
• You can also use DOS to enter DOS commands or run
  older programs with Windows

5
Formatting a Disk

• Formatting a disk prepares it so you can store
  information on it
• Formatting removes all information from the disk
• Disks are usually formatted before you buy them
• Formatting is a good way to erase all files on a
  disk and check for errors before reusing the disk

6
Formatting a Disk (cont.)

• To format a floppy disk
• Start Windows Explorer and insert a floppy disk
  into the appropriate drive (A in this example)
• In the left pane of Windows Explorer, click the
  A drive
• Right-click the A drive in the left pane, then
  click Format on the shortcut menu
• In the Format dialog box, click the appropriate
  options, then click Start
• Click OK in the Format Complete message box, then
  click close in the Format dialog box

7
Formatting a Disk (cont.)

• Format dialog box options

8
Protecting Against Computer Viruses

• A computer virus is a program that attaches
  itself to a file, reproduces itself, and spreads
  to other files
• Viruses are typically attached to programs and
  files that are
• Downloaded from the Internet
• E-mailed as attachments
• On shareware disks containing free, cheap, or
  illegally pirated software
• Viruses can destroy data, erase a hard drive,
  damage computer settings, and replicate
  themselves to everyone in your e-mail database

9
Protecting Against Computer Viruses (cont.)

• Antivirus software can detect viruses by
  examining files and destroying or repairing
  infected files
• Antivirus software
• Typically starts when you start Windows and runs
  continuously
• Needs to be purchased from a retailer
• Should be updated from the Internet every three
  months, or when you hear about a new virus

10
Copying a Disk

• Copying a disk can protect data loss by providing
  alternative file storage
• Windows can copy information from one disk to
  another using the same disk drive, but the disk
  type must be the same type, size, and not
  write-protected

11
Copying a Disk (cont.)

• To copy files from one floppy to another
• Insert the floppy containing the files to be
  copied in the appropriate drive (in this case A)
• Right-click the A drive in the left pane of
  Windows Explorer, then click Copy Disk on the
  shortcut menu
• In the Copy Disk dialog box, select a destination
  disk if necessary, click Start, then click OK
• When prompted, remove the floppy disk and insert
  a blank formatted disk in the same drive, then
  click OK
• Click Close in the Copy Disk dialog box

12
Synchronizing Files Between Computers

• To work with files that are copied onto two
  different computer, you can synchronize them to
  keep the copies updated using a Windows feature
  called Briefcase
• First you need to create a Briefcase by
  right-clicking an empty area of the desktop,
  clicking New, then clicking Briefcase
• Drag the files to copy from Windows Explorer to
  the Briefcase icon
• Drag the Briefcase icon to the icon for the
  floppy disk, then remove the disk and insert it
  into the other computer and copy the file to its
  desktop
• To synchronize the files, reinsert the floppy
  disk, double-click the Briefcase icon, then click
  Update All to copy the new versions of the files
  to the floppy disk

13
Finding and Repairing Disk Errors

• An unexpected power loss or program error can
  create inaccessible file segments
• The Check Disk program helps you find and repair
  damaged disk sections or to find physical disk
  errors, called bad sectors
• Check Disk doesnt repair the media, but it moves
  data away from bad sectors
• While Check Disk runs, all files must be closed,
  and the hard drive wont be accessible for other
  tasks

14
Finding and Repairing Disk Errors (cont.)

• To find and repair disk errors
• Close all open files and programs
• Right-click the disk drive you want to scan in
  the left pane of Windows Explorer, then click
  Properties on the shortcut menu
• In the Properties dialog box, click the Tools
  tab, then click Check Now in the error-checking
  area
• Click the Automatically fix file system errors
  check box to select it, then click the Scan for
  and attempt recovery of bad sectors check box
• Click Start, click OK in the message box, then
  click OK in the Properties dialog box

15
Backing up Files

• Backing up makes copies of files on a separate
  disk to protect yourself from losing critical
  data
• With Windows Professional, click Backup Now on
  the Tools tab of the disks Properties dialog box
  to start the Backup or Restore Wizard
• You can back files up to a floppy or tape drive
• You can backup an entire disk, or only certain
  files
• Using Backup compresses files as they are copied
  and can split a large file across two or more
  floppies

16
Defragmenting a Disk

• When files are deleted from a disk, empty spaces
  remain that may be fragmented over different
  area.
• When a new file is created, parts of the files
  are stored in these fragmented areas, so that a
  single file might be broken into several parts
• To open a fragmented file, the computer must
  search many areas of the disk, which lengthens
  retrieval time but doesnt affect the files
  usability
• Disk Defragmenter places all parts of a file in
  one contiguous, or adjacent, location
• This process is called optimization and it makes
  your programs run faster and your files open more
  quickly

17
Defragmenting a Disk (cont.)

• To optimize a hard disk
• Click the Start button on the taskbar, point to
  All programs, point to Accessories, point to
  System Tools, then click Disk Defragmenter
• In the Disk Defragmenter dialog box, click the
  disk drive, then click Analyze
• After the analysis, click View Report, then click
  Close in the Analysis Report dialog box
• Click Defragment, then click Close twice after
  the defragmentation is completed

Defragmented files are red
18
Cleaning up a Disk

• Cleaning up a disk involves removing unnecessary
  files to make room for other files on your
  computer
• Disk Cleanup can clean up your hard drive safely
  and efficiently so you dont delete necessary
  files
• You can select the types of files Disk Cleanup
  will delete, or delete Windows components or
  installed programs
• Emptying the Recycle Bin also clears up space on
  the hard drive
• The computer runs better if it has more free space

19
Cleaning up a Disk (cont.)

• To run Disk Cleanup
• Click the Start button on the taskbar, point to
  All Programs, point to Accessories, point to
  System Tools, then click Disk Cleanup
• In the Disk Cleanup dialog box, click the
  appropriate options and check boxes in the Files
  to delete list
• Click OK in the Disk Cleanup dialog box, then
  click Yes to confirm the deletion

Selected item to delete
20
Terminating an Inactive Program

• If a program stops responding to mouse or
  keyboard commends, Windows Task Manager can exit
  the program
• To terminate in inactive program
• Right-click an empty area on the taskbar, then
  click Task Manager
• In the Windows Task Manager window, click the
  Applications tab if necessary
• Click the program to terminate in the task list,
  click End Task, then click Close
• If the program doesnt terminate, click End Task
  again

21
Restoring Computer Settings

• Anytime you make changes to your computer, such
  as adding or removing software or hardware, you
  can cause problems with the operating system
• System Restore is a Windows XP Professional
  program that can undo harmful changes to your
  computer and restore its settings to an earlier
  time, called the restore point
• System Restore creates restore points
  automatically as you work, but you can also set
  them at any time
• If you have recently performed a system
  restoration, you can use System Restore to undo
  your most recent restoration

22
Restoring Computer Settings (cont.)

• To run System Restore
• Click the Start button on the taskbar, point to
  All Programs, point to Accessories, point to
  System Tools, then click System Restore
• Click System Restore Settings
• In the System Properties dialog box, verify that
  your disk space usage is 20 or less, then click
  OK
• Click the Create a restore point option button,
  then click Next
• Type a description and name, click Create, then
  click Close

23
Recovering from a System Failure

• System failure is when your computer doesnt
  start properly
• System Restore will not help you unless you have
  an Automated System Recover (ASR) disk to start
  and recover your computer.
• An ASR can be created using Windows XP
  Professional
• You will need a backup media to store the backup
  files
• Only system files necessary to start up your
  system will be backed up you need to back up
  your personal files separately

24
Removing a Program

• If you dont use a program often, you can remove
  it to save disk space, and reinstall it later if
  necessary
• The Add or Remove Programs feature can uninstall
  any program safely
• Avoid using Windows Explorer to delete program
  files because program files and other information
  might be located in other places, and you might
  accidentally delete shared files that might
  affect other programs

25
Removing a Program (cont.)

• To remove a Windows component
• Open the Control Panel in Classic View
• Double-click the Add or Remove Programs icon
• In the Add or Remove Programs window, click
  Add/Remove Windows Components
• Use the Windows Components Wizard to select the
  program to remove, then click Finish

26
Updating Windows Using the Web

• Windows Update is a Microsoft Web site that you
  can use to add the latest Windows features and
  updates from the Internet
• Updates are continually added, so it is important
  to check regularly
• To be notified when updates occur
• Double-click the System icon in the Control Panel
• Click the Automatic Updates tab, click the
  appropriate option, then click OK
• To add features from Windows Update
• Connect to the Internet
• Click the Start button on the taskbar, point to
  All Programs, then click Windows Update
• Follow the instructions on the Web site

27
Adding a Program

• Add or Remove Programs can install additional
  components you didnt include in your original
  installation or that you removed
• You need the Windows XP installation CD in order
  to install Windows components
• Newly installed programs appear highlighted on
  the Start menu

Newly installed programs
28
Adding a Program (cont.)

• To install a Windows component
• Open the Control Panel in Classic View
• Double-click the Add or Remove Programs icon
• In the Add or Remove Programs window, click
  Add/Remove Windows Components
• Use the Windows Components Wizard to select the
  program to remove, inserting the Windows XP
  installation CD when prompted, then click Finish

29
Getting Older Programs to Run on Windows XP

• The Program Compatibility Wizard can update a
  program written for an earlier version of Windows
  that is incompatible with Windows XP
• The wizard steps you through the process of
  testing a program in different Windows
  environments and with various settings
• To start the wizard
• Click the Start button on the taskbar, point to
  All Programs, point to Accessories, click Program
  Compatibility Wizard, then follow the wizard steps

30
Entering DOS Commands

• Microsoft Disk Operating System (MS-DOS, or DOS)
  employs a command-line interface, in which you
  must type commands at a command prompt to run
  tasks
• DOS differs from Windows XP, which is a Graphical
  User Interface (GUI) that uses icons and windows
• A command prompt begins with a character such as
  gt or
• You can start Windows XP programs from within DOS

31
Entering DOS Commands (cont.)

• Each DOS command has a strict set of rules called
  command syntax

32
Entering DOS Commands (cont.)

• To use the Command Prompt window
• Click the Start button on the taskbar, point to
  All Programs, point to Accessories, then click
  Command Prompt
• Type a command, then press Enter
• To exit, type exit, then press Enter

Output of dir / p command in C directory