The Official CompTIA ITF+

(Exam FC0-U61) Guide

Module 1 / Unit 4 / Managing an OS

Objectives Objectives
• Use GUI and command-line
management interfaces to configure an
operating system

• Explain the importance of access

control features and configure user
accounts

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Management Interfaces
• Control Panel/Windows Settings

• Management consoles
o Computer Management default console
o Custom consoles with selected snap-ins
• Registry Editor (regedit)

• Command prompt and PowerShell

• Linux configuration files

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Task Manager
• Processes and threads

• Use Task Manager to monitor and

control processes (and other
performance indicators)

• End or “kill” a process that is not

responding

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Service Management
• Typical application processes run in a
window that the user can interact with

• Services are processes that run in the

background

• Support functionality of OS and many

applications

• Start, stop, and configure services via

the Services snap-in

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Task Scheduler
• Automate execution of processes

• Use schedules or other triggers

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Memory and Disk Management
• System memory
o Volatile, meaning that it is only preserved while the system is powered up
o System memory is provided by Random Access Memory (RAM) modules
• Mass storage
o Preserves data when the system is turned off
o Primary fixed disk - hard disk or a Solid-State Drive (SSD)

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Memory Management
• Mostly controlled by the OS

• Monitor memory usage to see if

upgrade is required

• Monitor how processes use memory

to detect leaks and other faults

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Virtual Memory/Pagefile
• Use space on a fixed disk to
supplement system RAM

• Can be configured via System

properties

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Disk Management
• Create partitions and file systems on
fixed disks to make them usable by
the OS

• Can also format removable and

external disks

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Command Line Interfaces
• Operate the OS using typed
commands rather than GUI

• Commands available depend on the

environment
o Windows command prompt (cmd.exe)
o Windows PowerShell
o Linux Bash (Bourne Again SHell)

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Access Control and Protection

• Access control systems ensure authorized use of computers, networks, and data
resources

• Users are identified via accounts

• Users access an account by authenticating with credentials know or held only by

them

• Accounts are assigned privileges or rights to do things

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Account Types and UAC
• Administrator versus standard user
accounts

• Least privilege
o Allocate as few rights and permissions
to accounts as possible
• User Account Control (UAC)
o Too many people use administrator
accounts all the time
o UAC requires explicit authorization to
perform a “protected” task

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Creating and Managing User Accounts

• Microsoft versus local accounts

• Account settings app (password,

picture, etc)

• Local Users and Groups snap-in

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Review Review
• Use GUI and command-line
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management interfaces to configure

an operating system

• Explain the importance of access

control features and configure user
accounts

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Labs Labs
• Lab 4 / Using Management Interfaces
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• Lab 5 / Managing User Accounts

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