Chapter 14. Windows Operating Systems Features and Installation

This chapter covers the following subjects:

Differences Between Windows Versions—Components and features are compared and contrasted in this section.

Boot Methods—Network, optical disc, and USB boot methods are described in this section.

Installation Types—Installation methods from clean install to image deployment are covered in this section.

Partitioning Methods—Partitioning methods are different on drives over 2.1TB. Learn what has changed.

Windows File Systems—Use this section to choose the best file system.

Configuring Windows During/After Installation—Learn how to bring Windows up to date as quickly as possible.

Using the Factory Recovery Partition—The factory recovery partition resets your system to its original state. Here’s how to use it safely.

Refresh and Reset (Windows 8/8.1/10)—Refresh and reset have very different effects, so this section helps you figure out when to use each option.

Characteristics of a Properly Formatted Boot Drive—Discover what a properly formatted boot drive looks like in this section.

Windows Vista/7/8/8.1 differ widely in features, but use similar installation methods. In this chapter, you are introduced to the differences in appearance and features as well as the many options available for installing Windows on individual systems or for deployment to multiple computers.

220-902: Objective 1.1 Compare and contrast various features and requirements of Microsoft Operating Systems (Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1).

220-902: Objective 1.2 Given a scenario, install Windows PC operating systems using appropriate methods.

The terms x86 and x64 are important to understand: x86 refers to older CPU names that ended in an “86”—for example, the 80386 (shortened to just 386), 486, and so on. Generally, when people use the term x86, they are referring to 32-bit CPUs that allow for 4GB of address space, while x64 (or x86-64) refers to newer 64-bit CPUs that are a superset of the x86 architecture. This technology can run 64-bit software as well as 32-bit software and can address a maximum of 1TB.

32-bit Windows and 64-bit Windows versions are available for Windows Vista/7/8/8.1/10 so that users from both generations of computers can run the software efficiently. 32-bit versions are primarily used on tablets that use the Intel ATOM or Celeron processors.

By contrast, Windows 8/8.1 do not use Aero, because these versions of Windows are designed to work on less powerful systems (low-end laptops and tablets) as well as full-featured desktop and laptop computers.

Figure 14-1 shows Aero Glass in the comparison of Windows 7’s Start menu to Windows 8.1’s Start screen.

Windows Vista also introduced the Windows Sidebar and small programs called gadgets. Gadgets are small programs such as clocks set for other time zones, slideshows, RSS newsfeeds, weather updates, and more. Windows Vista and Windows 7 include a number of gadgets.

In Windows Vista, gadgets run only in the Windows Sidebar (see Figure 14-2), but in Windows 7, gadgets can run anywhere on the Windows desktop. In both versions of Windows, gadgets can have different opacities and sometimes are available in different sizes.

Live tiles in Windows 8/8.1/10 provide much of the functionality of gadgets without the security risks. For example, the Weather tile can display the current weather for your location, and the News tile can display headlines.

Vista and 7 can be configured to display a desktop and Start menu that emulate older Windows versions.

If you overwrite a file with a newer one but want to return to the previous version of the file, follow this procedure:

Step 1. Right-click the file in Windows Explorer.

Step 2. Select Properties.

Step 3. Click the Previous Versions tab.

Step 4. Select the file version to restore. (If none are listed, no shadow copies are available.) If the file location is listed as Backup, insert the last disk in the backup media set, or attach the backup drive that contains the old version of the file.

Step 5. Click Restore (see Figure 14-3).

Step 6. To confirm the restoration, click Restore. The previous version replaces the current version.

Introduced in Windows 8, Windows now uses File History to make versioned backup copies of files. By default, it backs up files in the user’s Documents, Pictures, Music, and Videos folders, but can also be configured to back up files in other folders. Just as with Shadow Copy, you can choose the file version to restore.

To enable applications written for older versions of Windows to run properly on your current version of Windows, you can use compatibility tools such as the Program Compatibility Wizard built in to Windows or the Compatibility tab located on the executable file’s properties sheet to run the program in a selected compatibility mode.

If the program doesn’t run properly, click No, Try Again and answer questions about the problems you noticed (see Figure 14-4). From the answers you select, Windows selects settings to try (see Figure 14-5) and prompts you to run the program. After you find settings that work, Windows uses them every time you run the program.

After the wizard starts, you can select from programs already installed on your computer, select the current program disc in the optical drive, or browse to the program manually. After you select a program, you can select the version of Windows the program worked best under.

On the next screen, you can select one or more of the following options to aid compatibility:

256 Colors—Many older Windows programs can’t run under 16-bit or higher color depths.

640 × 480 Screen Resolution—Many older Windows programs use a fixed screen size and can’t run properly on a high-resolution screen.

Disable Visual Themes—Many older Windows programs were created before visual themes were common.

After selecting the options, test the program (which applies the settings you selected and runs the program). After you close the program, Windows switches back to its normal screen settings if necessary, and you can decide whether to use these settings for your software or try others. You can choose whether to inform Microsoft of your settings, and the settings you chose for the program are used automatically every time you run the program.

Keep in mind that the Program Compatibility Wizard won’t work with all old Windows programs; in particular, the wizard should not be used with antivirus, disk, or system utilities that are not compatible with the Windows version in use. Instead, replace outdated applications with updated versions made for the version of Windows in use.

As an alternative to the Program Compatibility Wizard in Windows, you can apply the same settings by using the Compatibility tab on an executable file’s properties sheet (see Figure 14-6). Use this method if you already know the appropriate settings to use.

To learn more about virtualization, see the “Client-Side Virtualization Overview” section on page 958 in Chapter 19.

Component Services—Used by developers and administrators to configure and administer Component Object Model (COM) components

Computer Management—Manages local and remote computers, including viewing system events, managing services, configuring hard drive storage, and others

Data Sources (ODBC)—Moves data between different types of databases using Open Database Connectivity (ODBC)

Event Viewer—Displays the contents of system logs for errors, program start and stop, and other significant events

iSCSI Initiator—Configures devices on storage networks that use Internet Small Computer System Interface (iSCSI) connections

Local Security Policy—Views and edits Group Policy security settings

Performance Monitor—Monitors performance of CPU, memory, hard drive, and network

Print Management—Manages and administers network printers and print servers

Services—Manages background services (print spooler, search, others)

System Configuration—Starts MSConfig, which helps troubleshoot problems with Windows

Task Scheduler—Schedules programs and tasks

Windows Firewall with Advanced Security—Creates rules and other advanced firewall settings for local and remote computers on the network

Windows Memory Diagnostic—Tests computer RAM to verify proper functioning before the Windows desktop appears

Windows PowerShell Modules—Runs Windows PowerShell, a powerful scripting language

Figure 14-7 shows a Modern UI app, Internet Explorer.

After starting the apps, drag one app from the upper-left side of the display into the screen. The screen splits to make room (see Figure 14-8).

To pin a program that is not running, drag the program shortcut from the Start menu or desktop to the taskbar. You can also right-click the program shortcut and select Pin to Taskbar (see Figure 14-9).

In Windows Vista, 7, and 8, OneDrive can be used by logging into the Microsoft OneDrive Live website and using a browser interface. Windows 7 and 8 can also install the OneDrive client available at https://onedrive.live.com/about/en-us/download/. Windows 8.1 and Windows 10 have an integrated OneDrive app (see Figure 14-10).

Whether OneDrive is used with a browser or the integrated client, it provides file synchronization between the cloud and the selected device.

The update from Windows 8 to Windows 8.1 must be acquired through the Windows Store.

In all of these versions of Windows, user folders are stored in the path

C:UsersUserName

Libraries (Documents, Music, Pictures, and Videos) as well as folders such as Desktop, Download, Favorites, Saved Games, and so on are stored as subfolders of UserName.

In Windows 8/8.1/10, libraries are still available, but are not created automatically. You can specify whether to use libraries in File Explorer.

If you are upgrading a system to Windows 7, run the Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor, available from https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=20. It will determine if your system is ready for Windows 7, and what changes might need to be made. Figure 14-14 shows a typical report.

If you are upgrading to Windows 8.1, download and run the Windows 8.1 Upgrade Assistant, available from http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-8/upgrade-from-windows-7-tutorial. It will determine if your system is ready for Windows 8.1, and what changes might need to be made. Figure 14-15 shows a typical report.

On the 220-902 exam, these utilities are referred to as Windows OS upgrade advisor.

If you want more details about your system’s hardware and software, use one of these tools:

System Information—You can access the Windows System Information tool by opening the Run/Search prompt and typing msinfo32.exe. See Figure 14-16.

Belarc Advisor—Currently a free download, you can find this program at www.belarc.com/free_download.html. It’s extremely quick and painless; all you need to do is double-click it after the download is complete. It automatically installs, looks for updates, and creates a profile of your computer that runs in a browser window. Here you can find all the hardware-related (and software-related) information on one screen. It also lists system security status.

SiSoftware Sandra—Powerful, flexible system reporting, benchmarking, and evaluation program. Available in limited-feature free and various commercial versions from www.sisoftware.co.uk (current versions support Windows 7 and newer versions).

For computers without an installed operating system, use self-booting diagnostic programs such as

#1-TuffTEST (available from www.tufftest.com)

PC Check (available from www.eurosoft-uk.com)

Ultimate Boot CD (available from www.ultimatebootcd.com/index.html)

CD-ROM boot or DVD boot (booting from the distribution DVD or CD)—Use this method to install Windows to an individual PC and to create a master PC from which disk images can be created.

PXE boot (Preboot eXecution Environment)—Use this method to install Windows to one or more systems that have working network connections. To use this method, network adapters must be configured to boot using the PXE boot ROM to a network location that contains an operating system image.

USB boot (booting from USB thumb drive)—Use this method (also known as solid state/flash drives boot) when installing from a DVD isn’t feasible, such as installing Windows to a computer that lacks a DVD drive. The Windows USB/DVD Download Tool available from https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/windows-usb-dvd-download-tool can create a bootable USB drive from a Windows ISO (.iso) image you have downloaded. If necessary, change the boot order in the system BIOS or UEFI firmware to permit booting from USB.

Other sources for Windows installation files include:

Internal hard drive (partition)

External/hot-swappable drive

With each of these types of drives, the Windows installation files could be extracted or, with Windows 7 or later, the ISO file could be used as an installation source.

As an upgrade to an existing version

As a clean install to an empty hard drive or to the same partition as the current version

To unused disk space (new partition) to multiboot the current or new version as needed

As a repair installation to fix problems with the current installation

With the recovery partition (resets the system to its original installed state)

Refresh/reset (Windows 8/8.1/10)

The preceding installation options typically use the original distribution media or preinstalled recovery files.

Large-scale or customized installations might use the following methods:

Unattended installation

Remote network installation

Image deployment

This second group of installation options typically require the creation of an image file.

The exact upgrade paths between Windows versions vary according to the Windows edition currently in use. You can upgrade to the equivalent or better edition of Windows but not a lower edition. For example, Windows 7 Professional or Ultimate to Windows 8 Pro but not to Windows 8 Home; Windows 8 Pro to Windows 8.1 Pro, but not Home. The 32-bit versions can upgrade to 32-bit versions only; 64-bit versions can upgrade to 64-bit versions only.

Make sure the drive for installation is placed before the hard drive in the boot sequence. The system needs to boot from the Windows distribution media if you are installing to an empty hard drive. You can perform a clean install of Windows 7 from within an older version of Windows if you want to replace the older installation.

If you will be installing to a drive that might require additional drivers (SATA, RAID, or third-party host adapters on the motherboard or in an expansion slot), have the drivers available on any type of removable media supported by the system. To learn more, see “Loading Alternative Drivers,” later in this chapter.

If you are installing from optical media, a disk image (ISO or VXD), or within a virtual machine (VM), after restarting the system with the CD or DVD media or image file in place, press a key when prompted to boot.

During the installation process, be prepared to confirm, enter, select, or provide the following settings, information, media, or options when prompted:

Custom installation—Choose this option if you are performing a “clean boot” installation to an unused portion of the hard drive or if you want to wipe out the existing installation rather than upgrade it.

Edition of Windows you are installing—If you specify the incorrect version, the installation cannot be activated.

Location (home, work/office, or public—The location information is used to configure Windows Firewall.

Network settings—These are normally detected automatically for a wired connection. If your connection is wireless, make sure you have the SSID and password (encryption key) available, or you will need to skip this part of the process.

Partition location, partition type, and file system—See “Partitioning Overview” and “Windows File Systems” in this chapter for details.

Password and password hint—Windows prompts for a password, but only Windows 7 and newer versions also prompt for a password hint.

Product key—Some installation processes enable you to skip this temporarily, but you must provide it before you can activate Windows.

Time, date, language, and region—See “Time/Date/Language/Region Settings” in this chapter for details.

Time zone, time, and date—U.S. editions of Windows default to Pacific time.

Username and company name—The company name is optional.

Workgroup or domain name—See “Workgroup Vs. Domain Setup,” later in this chapter, for details.

At the end of the process, remove the distribution media. Windows is ready to download the latest updates and service packs.

Install the oldest version of Windows first—For example, if you want to multiboot Windows 7 and Windows 8.1, install Windows 7 first.

You must install Windows into a separate disk partition than the previous operating systems, and the partition must be prepared as a primary partition—For example, say you want to install Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 to multiboot on a 2TB hard drive. First, install Windows 7 to a primary partition that uses only a portion of the disk, and leave the rest of the drive unassigned. When you install Windows 8.1, you would create a new primary partition on the remainder of the drive and install to that partition.

If you want to install multiple editions of Windows as a multiboot, each installation must be to its own primary partition—You can have up to four primary partitions on a hard drive. However, you can create primary partitions on more than one hard drive, so if you have two bootable hard drives, you could (theoretically) install up to eight different Windows editions.

Windows’ multiboot support does not cover non-Windows operating systems such as Linux—Use a third-part boot manager if you want to multiboot Windows and non-Windows operating systems, or if you need to install an older version of Windows to multiboot on a system that already has a newer Windows version installed.

To perform a repair installation of Windows Vista or Windows 7:

Step 1. Boot your computer normally (that is, to the Windows desktop).

Step 2. Insert your Windows disc.

Step 3. Start the setup program when prompted.

Step 4. Specify or accept the language, time and currency format, and keyboard layout, and click Next (see Figure 14-17).

Step 5. Click Repair your computer.

Step 6. Accept the end-user licensing agreement.

Step 7. Select Upgrade as the installation option.

The remainder of the installation proceeds as with a normal installation.

At the end of the installation, be sure to install the latest service pack and updates available for your version of Windows.

To perform a repair installation on Windows 8/8.1 (see Figure 14-18):

Step 1. Boot your computer normally (that is, to the Windows Start screen).

Step 2. Insert your Windows disc.

Step 3. Start the setup program when prompted.

Step 4. Confirm language and other settings. Click Next.

Step 5. Click Repair your computer.

The remainder of the installation proceeds as with a normal installation.

At the end of the installation, be sure to install the latest service pack or updates available for your version of Windows.

Windows 7 and Vista use the Windows System Image Manager to create the Unattend.xml file.

Server-based programs work along with the Microsoft Development Toolkit or Windows System Image Manager program. These programs are used to create an answer file. The answer file provides the responses needed for the installation.

However, if you plan to deploy a disk image to multiple computers, rather than as a backup of a single computer, you must consider special issues:

Hardware differences—Traditional image cloning methods, such as those using Acronis True Image, were designed for restoration to identical hardware (same motherboard, mass storage host adapters, same BIOS configuration, same Hardware Abstraction Layer [HAL] and same Ntoskrnl.exe [NT kernel] file). For organizations that have different types and models of computers, this poses a problem.

Same Security Identifier—A cloned system is identical in every way to the original, including having the same Security Identifier (SID). This can cause conflicts in a network.

To overcome these problems, use cloning programs designed to capture an image that can be deployed to different types of computers (laptops, desktops, and tablets) with different hardware and software.

To create an image of Windows 7 or Windows Vista for installation, use the free Microsoft ImageX utility (ImageX.exe) that is part of the Windows Automated Installation Kit. For Windows 8/8.1 (as well as Windows 7), use the Deployment Imaging Servicing and Management (DISM) tool included in the Windows Assessment and Deployment Kit (ADK). DISM is also installed on some Windows 10 editions.

Third-party tools, such as Symantec Ghost Solution Suite (www.symantec.com) and Acronis Snap Deploy (www.acronis.com), are also designed to create images that can be deployed to dissimilar hardware.

To fix problems with the SID and network settings, use the Sysprep utility from Microsoft to enable a system image created with ImageX, DISM, or other imaging tools to make needed changes in SID and network settings after it has been transferred to a destination system. (Ghost Solution Suite and Snap Deploy include similar features.)

The Sysprep utility for Windows is installed with the operating system and can be found by navigating to C:WindowsSystem32Sysprep. Sysprep is installed on a system that will be used for cloning before it is cloned.

When Sysprep for Windows is run as a GUI (see Figure 14-19), the following options are available: System Audit Mode, enabling additional apps and drivers to be added; Generalize, which clears away unique system identification information, such as security ID, restore points, and event logs (this option must be selected for any system that will be used for cloning); and System-Out-of-Box Experience (OOBE), which prompts the user to customize, set up user accounts, name the computer, and perform other first-time startup tasks. Sysprep can be run with additional options from the command line, including the option to use an answer file (Unattend.xml). If the answer file does not have the answer needed by the setup program, the user setting up the system is prompted to provide this information, such as the Windows license number (Product key).

All cloning tools can work with a target drive that is the same size or larger than the original cloned system drive. Some can also work with a smaller drive; check documentation for details.

Master boot record (MBR) and GUID Partition Table (GPT) partition tables

Primary and extended partitions

Extended partitions and logical disk drives

Dynamic and Basic disks

Creating partitions

Formatting partitions (which assigns drive letters)

A disk partition is a logical structure on a hard drive that specifies the following:

Whether the drive can be bootable

How many drive letters (one, two, or more) the hard drive will contain

Whether any of the hard drive’s capacity will be reserved for a future operating system or other use

Although the name “disk partition” suggests the drive will be divided into two or more logical sections, every hard drive must go through a partitioning process, even if you want to use the entire hard drive as a single drive letter. All versions of Windows support two major types of disk partitions:

Primary—A primary partition can contain only a single drive letter and can be made active (bootable). Only one primary partition can be active. Although a single physical drive using MBR can hold up to four primary partitions, you need only one primary partition on a drive that contains a single operating system. If you install a new operating system in a multiboot configuration with your current operating system, you must install the new operating system to a different disk partition than the previous Windows version. If you want to use a non-Windows operating system along with your current operating system, it should be installed into its own primary partition. A drive partitioned using GPT can have up to 128 primary partitions.

Extended—An extended partition differs from a primary partition in two important ways:

An extended partition doesn’t become a drive letter but can contain one or more logical drives, each of which is assigned a drive letter.

Neither an extended partition nor any drive it contains can be bootable.

Only one extended partition can be stored on each physical drive. Extended partitions are used only with MBR drives.

GPT (GUID partition table) supports drives up to 256TB and up to 128 primary partitions. GPT is also more reliable than MBR because it protects the partition table with replication and cyclic redundancy check (CRC) of the partition table’s contents. GPT also provides a standard way for system vendors to create additional partitions. GPT partition tables are supported by UEFI firmware.

To boot from a GPT drive, the system must have a 64-bit version of Windows Vista/7/8/8.1 or later (Windows Server 2003 SP1 and newer also support GPT). 32-bit versions of Windows can use GPT drives for data.

Primary partition occupies 100% of the physical drive’s capacity—This is typically the way the hard drive on a system sold at retail is used and is also the default for disk preparation with Windows. This is suitable for the only drive in a system or an additional drive that can be used to boot a system but should not be used for additional drives in a system that will be used for data storage.

Primary partition occupies a portion of the physical drive’s capacity, and the remainder of the drive is occupied by an extended partition—This enables the operating system to be stored on the primary partition and the applications and data to be stored on one or more separate logical drives (drive letters created inside the extended partition). This is a common setup for laptops but requires the partitioning process to be performed with different settings than the defaults. This configuration is suitable for the only drive or first drive in a multiple-drive system.

Extended partition occupies 100% of the physical drive’s capacity—The drive letters on the extended partition can be used to store applications or data but not for the operating system. An extended partition cannot be made active (bootable). This configuration is suitable for additional hard drives in a system (not the first drive); an extended partition can contain only one logical drive or multiple logical drives.

You can also leave some unpartitioned space on the hard drive for use later, either for another operating system or another drive letter.

After a disk is partitioned, the drive letters must be formatted using a supported file system.

Extended—An extended partition differs from a primary partition in two important ways:

An extended partition doesn’t become a drive letter but can contain one or more logical drives, each of which is assigned a drive letter.

Neither an extended partition nor any drive it contains can be bootable.

Only one extended partition can be stored on each physical drive.

After local drives are created in an extended partition, the drive letters must be formatted using a supported file system.

To use all the space in the disk, make sure that the disk and partition you want is highlighted, and click Next (see Figure 14-20).

To use only part of the space, click Drive Options (Advanced), click New, specify the partition size, and click Apply. Windows displays a message that it is creating an additional partition. Click OK to clear the message. A system-reserved partition is created, followed by the partition size you selected, which will be used by Windows, and the unused (unallocated) space. See Figure 14-21.

To use an existing partition, highlight the wanted partition, and click Next. Be careful; whatever partition you select for the installation will be formatted, and all data on that partition will be erased.

You can also format partitions from here; they are automatically formatted as NTFS. In addition, you can extend existing partitions to increase the size of the partition but without losing any data.

The rules for how large a logical drive (drive letter) can be and whether the hard drive can be used as one big drive letter, several smaller drive letters, or must be multiple drive letters.

How efficiently a system stores data; the less wasted space, the better.

How secure a system is against tampering.

Whether a drive can be accessed by more than one operating system.

The term file system is a general term for how an operating system stores various types of files. Windows supports three different file systems for hard drives and USB flash drives: FAT32, NTFS, and exFAT, and CDFS for CD drives.

The 32-bit file allocation table, which allows for 268,435,456 entries (2³²) per drive. Remember, an entry can be a folder or an allocation unit used by a file.

The root directory can be located anywhere on the drive and can have an unlimited number of entries, which is a big improvement over FAT.

FAT32 uses an 8KB allocation unit size for drives as large as 16GB.

The maximum logical partition size allowed is 2TB (more than 2 trillion bytes).

You can use FAT32 to format hard drives, flash memory, and removable media drives. However, it is primarily used today for flash memory cards and USB flash drives.

exFAT is also called FAT64 because it supports 64-bit addressing. exFAT’s main features include

Support for volumes (drive letters) larger than 32GB. 512TB is the recommended maximum volume size, but the theoretical volume size is 64ZB (zettabytes; 1ZB = 1 billion TB).

Recommended and maximum file sizes also increase to 512TB and 64ZB, respectively.

Improvements in file system structure for better performance with flash media and for movie recording.

Support for Universal Time Coordinate (UTC) date stamps.

exFAT support is included in Windows Vista SP1, 7, 8/8.1, and 10. To find information about non-Microsoft operating systems that support exFAT, see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ExFAT.

Figure 14-22 illustrates exFAT as a formatting option for a USB thumb drive in Windows 8.1.

Access Control—Different levels of access control by group or user can be configured for both folders and individual files.

Built-in compression—Individual files, folders, or an entire drive can be compressed without the use of third-party software.

Individual Recycle Bins—Unlike FAT32, NTFS includes a separate recycle bin for each user.

Support for the Encrypting File System (EFS)—EFS enables data to be stored in an encrypted form. No password and no access to files!

Support for mounting a drive—Drive mounting enables you to address a removable-media drive’s contents; for example, as if its contents are stored on your hard drive. The hard drive’s drive letter is used to access data on both the hard drive and the removable media drive.

Disk quota support—The administrator of a system can enforce rules about how much disk space each user is allowed to use for storage.

Hot-swapping—Removable-media drives that have been formatted with NTFS (such as USB) can be connected or removed while the operating system is running.

Indexing—The Indexing service helps users locate information more quickly when the Search tool is used.

Follow these steps to determine what file system was used to prepare a Windows hard drive:

Step 1. Open Windows Explorer or File Explorer.

Step 2. Right-click the drive letter in the Explorer Window and select Properties.

The Properties sheet for the drive lists FAT32 for a drive prepared with FAT32 and NTFS for a drive prepared with NTFS (see Figure 14-23).

To convert a drive’s file system using CONVERT.EXE, follow these steps:

Step 1. Open a command-prompt window in elevated mode (Run as Administrator).

Step 2. Type Convert x: /fs:ntfs and press Enter. For example, to convert f:, type Convert f: /fs:ntfs.

To see advanced options for Convert, type convert /?. To learn more, see https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/214579.

During installation, Windows Vista/7/8/8.1/10 automatically format the partitions created by the partition process with NTFS.

In Windows Vista/7/8/8.1, device drivers are added within the same screen where partitioning was done by clicking Load Driver (refer to Figures 14-20 and 14-21). These drivers can be installed from CD, DVD, or USB flash drive.

If you click Load Driver and cannot supply a proper driver for Windows or if the computer cannot read the media where the driver is stored, you must exit the installation program.

To learn more about these network types, see Chapter 16, “Networking Microsoft Windows.”

However, if you are installing Windows for the first time and your system or motherboard was supplied with a driver disc, perform driver installation first before running Windows Update. Windows updates can also be performed manually in some cases.

Step 1. Click Start > All Programs > Windows Update.

Step 2. When the Windows Update window appears, click the Install Updates button. With Windows 7 only, click Show all available updates.

Step 3. Windows Update automatically scans for updates. Updates are divided into the following categories

Important—Critical updates and service packs

Optional—Driver updates and updates to Windows features

Step 4. If you have selected an Express install or if you selected wanted updates, they are downloaded to your system and installed. You might need to restart your computer to complete the update process.

To install additional updates for Windows through Windows Update using the Start screen, follow these steps in Windows 8.1:

Step 1. Open the Charms menu and select Settings.

Step 2. Select Change PC Settings.

Step 3. Select Update and Recovery.

Step 4. Select Check now.

Step 5. Select View details. Windows Update displays Important, Recommended, and Optional updates. Updates already selected for you are checked (see Figure 14-24).

Step 6. Check any additional updates desired, then click Install. Your updates are downloaded and installed.

Step 7. You might need to restart your computer to complete the update process.

If you prefer to work from the Windows desktop in Windows 8/8.1, follow this procedure:

Step 1. Press the Windows key+X.

Step 2. Select Control Panel from the menu.

Step 3. Select System and Security from the menu.

Step 4. Select Windows Update from the menu.

Step 5. Select Check for updates from the menu.

To continue, see step 3 for Windows Vista/7.

If you use Microsoft Office or other Microsoft applications as well as Microsoft Windows, Windows Update offers to install Microsoft Update, which provides software updates for Microsoft apps as well as for Windows. After you install Microsoft Update, it runs automatically whenever you run Windows Update. Keep in mind that Microsoft Office uses service packs as well.

To download service packs manually, go to the Service Pack and Update Center at http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows/service-packs-download. Select your operating system, and choose from the updates available.

To download and install a service pack for Windows manually, follow these steps:

Step 1. Determine whether the system has any service packs installed. You should perform this check even if you have just installed Windows because you can install Windows with service packs included and newer Windows DVDs contain a service pack. Right-click Computer and select Properties to determine the current service pack. You can also use the command winver.exe in the Command Prompt to discern this information. Figure 14-25 illustrates a Windows 7 system with Service Pack 1 installed.

Step 2. Go to http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/service-packs-download, select your operating system, and follow the links provided for downloads for the version of Windows you need to update.

Step 3. Review the release notes for the service pack to see whether it will cause any problems for your particular configuration, such as problems with networking, peripherals, CD/DVD mastering software, and so forth. Take the necessary actions as noted. (Some might require changes before you perform the service pack installation; others might take place afterward.)

Step 4. Select the correct language, and click the link.

Step 5. Shut down real-time virus checkers.

Step 6. Select the Manually Installing option to download the service pack from the Download Center.

Step 7. Click the link to download the service pack. Use Save As and when prompted, select a location to store the file with Network Installation.

Step 8. Open the file you downloaded in step 7 to start the installation process.

Step 9. You should update your system backup media and back up your files before you install the service pack, and select the option to archive existing Windows files during the service pack installation.

Step 10. Restart the system when prompted.

Service packs are large because they contain hundreds of updates and hotfixes. Hotfixes, which are solutions for specific problems experienced only by users with certain combinations of hardware and software, can also be downloaded individually. When a hotfix is deemed safe for all users, it will usually be distributed via Windows Update or Microsoft Update. However, it can also be downloaded manually or requested by the user. Hotfixes are listed as part of Help and Support (formerly Knowledge Base) articles about specific problems. See http://support.microsoft.com for Help and Support articles.

At one time, it was necessary to call Microsoft to request hotfixes that were not available for automatic downloading. Now, Microsoft provides a link on the Help and Support pages where you can make the request. Enter the wanted information and your email address, and a link to the requested hotfix will be emailed to you.

Typically, you have limited choices when you want to restore a damaged installation with a recovery disc or recovery files on a disk partition. Typical options include

Reformatting your hard drive and restoring it to just-shipped condition (causing the loss of all data and programs installed after the system was first used)

Reinstalling Windows only

Reinstalling support files or additional software

After you run the recovery disc to restore your system to its original factory condition, you need to activate your Windows installation again.

If you want to restore your system, not to its original-out-of-the-box condition but to its most recent status, create an image and file backup of the system and update it frequently. See Chapter 15.

Use Refresh to remove apps that were not obtained from the Windows Store (downloaded or installed from disc). This includes the installed apps as well as downloaded apps in the Downloads folder. Windows Store apps are reinstalled. However, user files are not affected.

Use Reset to return the system to its originally installed (out of box) condition. All apps, including apps from the Windows Store, and all user files are removed.

A boot drive for Windows Vista uses a primary partition (preferably NTFS) occupying all or a portion of the disk.

A boot drive for Windows 7 has a reserved area formatted with NTFS of about 200MB at the beginning of the physical disk, followed by a bootable NTFS partition. On drives that were prepared in a system sold at retail, there might be a FAT32 partition used for OEM-specific tools after the bootable partition. Any unallocated space is located at the end of the physical disk.

A boot drive for Windows 8/8.1 has a reserved area formatted with NTFS of less than 500MB at the beginning of the physical disk, followed by a bootable NTFS partition. Any unallocated space is located at the end of the physical disk. A Windows 10 boot drive typically has a 5GB recovery partition, a 200MB EFI system partition (for use with UEFI firmware), and the Windows partition. As with Windows 8/8.1, any unallocated space is left at the end of the drive. If Windows 8/8.1/10 were upgraded from earlier versions of Windows, additional recovery partitions of 500MB or less each might also be present.

32-bit Windows

64-bit Windows

Aero

gadgets

user account control

BitLocker

Shadow Copy

System Restore

ReadyBoost

Sidebar

compatibility mode

Virtual XP mode

Windows Easy Transfer

Administrative Tools

Defender

Windows Firewall

Security Center

Event Viewer

file structure and paths

category view vs. classic view

side-by-side apps

Modern UI

pinning

One Drive

Windows Store

multi-monitor task bars

charms

Start Screen

PowerShell

Live sign in

Action Center

in-place upgrades

compatibility tools

Windows OS upgrade advisor

USB boot

CD-ROM boot

DVD boot

PXE boot

solid state/flash drives boot

Netboot

external/hot swappable drive

internal hard drive (partition)

unattended installation

upgrade

clean install

repair installation

multiboot installation

remote network installation

image deployment

recovery partition

Refresh/Restore

dynamic (partition)

basic (partition)

primary (partition)

extended (partition)

file system

GPT (partition)

exFAT

FAT32

NTFS

CDFS

NFS

ext3

ext4

quick format

full format

alternate third-party drivers

workgroup

domain

time/date/region/language settings

driver installation

Windows updates

software updates

factory recovery partition.

Restore a file from a Shadow Copy (Windows Vista or 7).

Install a program made for an older version of Windows and use the Compatibility Wizard to see if it needs any compatibility settings to work. For old games (Windows 95/98), see www.old-games.com.

Download and run Windows Virtual PC and Virtual XP mode (Windows 7 Professional, Ultimate, Enterprise editions).

Use two Modern UI or a Win32 (classic Windows) and Modern UI apps side-by-side (Windows 8/8.1).

Pin a program to the taskbar (Windows 7/8/8.1/10).

Open the Action Center (Windows 7/8/8.1/10).

Run the appropriate Windows upgrade advisor/assistant to see if a Vista, 7, or 8 system is ready for an upgrade.

Download Windows 8.1 and save it to an .iso file. Get it from http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-8/upgrade-product-key-only and also follow the tips at www.cnet.com/how-to/how-to-download-the-official-microsoft-windows-8-1-iso/.

Install Windows 8.1 to an empty hard disk. Do not activate it unless you have a spare license key.

During installation, create a partition that uses only about half the hard disk.

A. x86 is a type of architecture that supports 86-bit CPUs.

B. x86 is a system that supports 86GB or more of address space.

C. x86 is a system that requires a minimum of 8.6GB of RAM for installation.

D. x86 is old nomenclature referring to the 80386 or 80486 CPU family.

2. Which of the following statements best describes why the gadgets utility in Windows Vista and Windows 7 was discontinued in Windows 8/8.1?

A. The gadgets utility included serious security vulnerabilities.

B. Many of the real-time streaming gadgets did not work.

C. There was very little interest in using these gadgets.

D. Gadgets have been replaced by Charms in Windows 8/8.1.

3. Which of the following restore options is used by Windows 8/8.1 instead of Shadow Copy to restore earlier versions of a file?

A. System Restore

B. Image Backup

C. File History

D. File Backup

4. Which utility is used to ensure that older applications or games run properly on newer versions of an operating system?

A. Compatibility Mode

B. Virtual XP Mode

C. Easy Transfer

D. Ready Boost

5. Which of the following is Window’s cloud storage program?

A. FirstUp

B. OneDrive

C. Cloud Drive

D. Easy Transfer

6. Which of the following statements are true? (Choose three.)

A. Apps from the Windows Store are free to anyone with a Microsoft account.

B. Apps from the Windows Store can be easily updated.

C. Apps from the Windows Store will automatically be reinstalled when the computer is refreshed.

D. Files created using apps from the Windows Store will automatically be synced each time you access the Windows Store online.

E. Use of the Windows Store requires a Microsoft account using a Live sign in.

7. In Windows 7/8/8.1/10, the Action Center performs which of the following functions?

A. It allows you to easily apply updates and service packs to your system.

B. It is a quick resource for updating drivers.

C. It warns you about potential security and maintenance problems.

D. It allows you to change the computer name or join a workgroup.

8. In Windows 7 or 8/8.1/10, libraries do which of the following?

A. They allow multiple folders stored in different locations to be viewed as a single logical folder.

B. They allow users to borrow apps for a specified length of time from the Microsoft Store.

C. They are critical files used in troubleshooting system problems.

D. They contain updates and service packs.

9. When installing a multi-boot system, which of the following steps should be completed? (Choose all that apply.)

A. Install the oldest operating system first.

B. Install the newest operating system first.

C. Install a Windows operating system and a Linux system on separate primary partitions.

D. Install all Windows systems on the same primary partition.

E. Create up to four primary partitions on an MBR drive.

F. Use a virtual machine if you want to switch between operating systems without rebooting.

10. Which of the following statements best describes how to boot a new computer using the PXE (Preboot eXecution Environment) method?

A. Use a CD or DVD to boot the computer.

B. Boot the computer through a network connection.

C. Use a thumb drive or some other portable media to boot the computer prior to inserting the installation CD or DVD.

D. Create an ISO image with which to boot the computer.

11. A Windows repair installation allows you to do which of the following?

A. It allows you to reinstall only selected files, such as corrupt registry files.

B. It allows you to easily repair corrupt data files without changing the system files.

C. It allows you to repair the partition on which the operating system is installed.

D. It allows you to reinstall the operating system without having to reinstall your existing applications and files.

12. Which of the following allows you to create an image of a perfect installation and then deploy that image on one or more computers across a network?

A. An unattended installation

B. A repair installation

C. An image deployment or disk cloning

D. A multiboot installation

13. Which of the following statements best describes advantages that the exFAT file system offers over FAT32?

A. exFAT provides support for 64-bit addressing.

B. exFAT provides increased security with group- and user-level access control.

C. exFAT supports the use of compression and encryption.

D. exFAT supports the use of disk quotas.

14. Which of the following statements best describes advantages that the NTFS file system offers over FAT32? (Choose all that apply.)

A. NTFS provides support for 64-bit addressing.

B. NTFS provides increased security with group and user level access control.

C. NTFS supports the use of compression and encryption.

D. NTFS supports the use of disk quotas.

15. After installing the operating system, which of the following should be performed next?

A. You should update the latest service packs, hotfixes, and drivers.

B. You should format the drive before beginning any updates.

C. You should partition the drive containing the operating system.

D. You should create the file system you plan to use.

16. Which of the following best describes how to determine whether a service pack has already been installed on your computer?

A. In the Control Panel, open Administrative Tools and select System Configuration.

B. In the Control Panel, open the Device Manager and select Disk Drives.

C. In Windows Explorer or File Explorer, right-click Computer and select Properties.

D. In Windows Explorer or File Explorer, right-click Computer, select Manage, then select Disk Management.

Step 1. Make sure System Restore is enabled on a system running Business/Professional/Ultimate/Enterprise editions.

Step 2. Create a file on C: drive (such as a text file, photo, document). If you decide to use an existing file, make a backup copy first.

Step 3. Create a restore point on C: drive.

Step 4. Edit the file and save the changes.

Step 5. Open Windows Explorer, right-click the file, select Versions, and choose the old version.

Use the Compatibility Wizard or the compatibility tab as you prefer. A common requirement for old games is to run them as Administrator.

If the Windows upgrade advisor or assistant indicates problems with your system, follow the links to get updates or advice.

Even if you aren’t currently using hardware virtualization, enabling AMD-V or Intel VT-x (hardware virtualization) in the BIOS/UEFI firmware helps get your system ready for virtualization in the future.

2. A. Gadgets represented a serious flaw in security. Attackers could gain access to your computer’s system files or your document files or could even use remote access to take over complete control of your computer.

3. C. Shadow Copy was removed from the Windows 8/8.1 operating systems and was replaced with File History.

4. A. Compatibility Mode is used to ensure that older programs will run on newer operating systems.

5. B. OneDrive is Window’s cloud storage program. It ships with Windows 8/8.1/10 but it can also be downloaded as an app for earlier Windows systems, OS X, Android, iOS, and others. It can also be used from a web browser.

6. B, C, E. Apps installed using the Windows Store are easy to update and they will be reinstalled automatically if the computer is refreshed. Apps that are downloaded from the Internet or installed from discs will be removed when the computer is refreshed and they must be manually reinstalled. Windows 8/8.1/10 recommendations include using a Microsoft Account and a Live sign in. If you log on using a local account, you will not be able to access the Windows Store. Apps from the Windows Store may either be free or paid. Files are synced in the OneDrive cloud storage system, not when accessing the Windows Store.

7. C. The Action Center displays messages warning you about potential security and maintenance problems in your system. The Action Center may be accessed from the taskbar at the bottom-right of the screen or from the Control Panel inside System and Security. A white flag means that no issues have been detected. A yellow flag is an alert meaning that you have an issue of moderate importance. A red flag warns you about more serious issues.

8. A. A library is a group of files that are stored in a variety of physical locations but that appear to reside in a single logical folder. When a file in the library folder is opened and changes to that file are saved, the original file in the original location will automatically be saved as well.

9. A, C, E, F. When creating a multi-boot system, each operating system must be installed on its own separate primary partition with the oldest operating system being installed first. You may create up to four primary partitions on a single MBR hard drive. You will need third-party software if you want to install a Windows system and a non-Windows system and you will need to create a virtual machine if you want to avoid rebooting each time you switch operating systems. You should never install a second operating system on a single partition unless you are doing an upgrade installation because you will lose the original system when the new one overwrites it.

10. B. PXE allows you to boot through a network connection prior to installing an operating system. The advantage of using a network connection is that you can first boot and then install operating systems on multiple computers simultaneously by accessing an image located on the network. To use this method, each computer must be connected to the network.

11. D. A repair installation (also known as an in-place upgrade) allows you to reinstall the operating system without reinstalling your applications and files. In a repair installation, you are simply upgrading from one operating system to the same operating system. This will replace any corrupt system files without changing your data files.

12. C. Image deployment or disk cloning allows you to create a perfect installation, make an image of that installation and then deploy the image on multiple computers on the network. Problems may arise if the hardware on every computer is not identical. Also, each computer must have a different computer name and SID, which can create network conflicts. Both of these problems (and other problems) can be solved depending on what type of software you use to make the image.

13. A. exFAT is designed for use with mobile devices and has many improvements over FAT32. It uses 64-bit addressing, but it does not support increased security, compression, encryption, or disk quotas.

14. A, B, C, D. NTFS has many advantages over FAT32. It supports 64-bit addressing, increased security, compression, encryption, and disk quotas. exFAT also supports 64-bit addressing, but only NTFS supports the other features listed above.

15. A. After installing the operating system, you should update the system with any service packs, hot fixes, or drivers that might be needed. Never format a drive on which an active operating system is installed. Formatting will overwrite the drive and you will lose everything that had been written to that drive. Partitioning is done prior to formatting and installing, and while you might be able to add additional partitions after installation, the drive containing the operating system must be partitioned before installation. The file system is created during the installation of the operating system.

16. C. Open Windows Explorer in Vista and Windows 7. Right-click Computer, select Properties, and look under Windows Edition at the top of the page.