PPT ch07

A+ Guide to IT Technical Support, 9th
Edition
Chapter 7
Survey of Windows Features and
Support Tools
Objectives
• Use Windows to interface with users, files and

folders, applications, and hardware
• Use Windows tools to examine and support the
system
• Make network connections using Windows
• Manage local user accounts and Microsoft accounts
in Windows
A+ Guide to IT Technical Support, 9th 2

Edition © Cengage Learning 2017
Windows Interfaces
• Operating system (OS) software

– Controls a computer
• Four main functions of all OSs
– Provide a user interface
– Manage files
– Manage hardware
– Manage applications
• Windows 8 is an upgrade to Windows 7, which was
preceded by Windows Vista

Windows Interfaces
Figure 7-1 Users and applications depend on the OS to relate to all applications and hardware components

Windows Interfaces
• Editions of Windows 8:
– Windows 8, Windows 8 Professional, Windows 8
Enterprise, and Windows RT
– Windows 8.1 is a free update
• Editions of Windows 7:
– Windows 7 Ultimate, Windows 7 Enterprise, Windows
7 Professional, Windows 7 Home Premium, Windows
7 Home Basic, and Windows 7 Starter
• Every Windows OS provides a graphical user
interface (GUI)

© Cengage Learning 2017
Edition
Windows 8 Modern Interface
• Windows 8 modern interface

– Also called the Windows 8 interface and formerly
called the Metro User Interface or Metro UI
– The Start screen contains tiles that represent lean
apps (use few system resources)
– Some apps use live tiles
• Offer continuous real-time updates
– Uses pages in comparison to windows used on the
desktop
– Designed for touch screens

Edition
Figure 7-2 The Windows 8 Start screen is used to view app tiles and to open apps

Edition
• Charms bar appears on the right side of the screen

when you move your pointer to a right corner
– Click a charm to select it
• Settings charm can be useful
– Items at the top of the Settings pane can change
depending on the situation

Edition
Figure 7-3 (a) The charms bar, (b) the Settings pane on the Start screen,
and (c) the Settings pane on the desktop

Edition
• Power icon in the upper-right corner of the Start

screen can be used to shut down or restart
computer
– Items on this menu might include Sleep and
Hibernate
Figure 7-4 Use the Power icon at

the top of the Start screen to shut
down or restart the system

Edition
Windows 8 Desktop
• To access the desktop, click the Desktop tile on the

Start screen
– You can click the Start button in the taskbar to return
to the Start screen
• Taskbar is normally located at the bottom of the
Windows desktop
• Notification area (system tray or systray) is usually
on the right side of the taskbar and displays open
services
– Service is a program that runs in the background

Edition
Windows 8 Desktop
• To launch a program from the desktop, use one of

these methods:
– Start screen
– Quick Launch menu
– Pin to taskbar
– Double-click the program file in File Explorer
– Shortcut on desktop
– Run box

Edition
Windows 8 Desktop
Figure 7-9 Windows 8 desktop with charms bar in view

Edition
Windows 8 Desktop
• Tips about managing windows on the desktop:

– Press and drag the title bar of a window to move the
window
– Drag a window to the top of the screen to maximize it
– Press and shake the title bar of a window to minimize
all other windows except the one you shake

Edition
Windows 7 Desktop
• Desktop is the initial screen that is displayed

• Windows 7/Vista desktop provides a 3-D user
interface called the Aero user interface
– Aero interface is not available for the Windows 7
Starter and Home Basic editions
– Windows 7 requires 1 GB of RAM and a video card
that supports Aero
• Can have gadgets on the desktop
– Gadget is a mini-app that provides information such
as the time, date, news headlines, or weather

Edition
Windows 7 Desktop
Figure 7-13 The Windows 7 desktop using the Aero interface has a glassy transparent look

Edition
Windows 7 Desktop
• Start menu
– Username shown at the top right
– Applications used often are listed in the white left
column (can change from time to time)
– User libraries, files and OS utilities are listed in the
dark right column
– A Windows 7 library is a collection of folders

Windows 7 Desktop
Figure 7-14 The Windows 7 Start menu

Edition
Windows Tools for Users and
Technicians
• All users need to know how to use File Explorer or
Windows Explorer
• A technician also needs to know how to use:
– Control Panel
– Power Options
– System Window
– System Information Window
– Action Center

Edition
Windows 8 File Explorer And Windows
7 Windows Explorer
• To Open File Explorer or Windows Explorer
– Click the yellow File Explorer or Windows Explorer
icon in the taskbar
• From Windows 8 desktop:
– Open the Quick Launch menu (press Win+X) and
click File Explorer in the menu
• For Windows 7:
– Right-click Start and select Open Windows Explorer
from the menu

7 Windows Explorer
Figure 7-15 Windows 8 File Explorer window with the Computer ribbon showing

7 Windows Explorer
Figure 7-16 Windows 7 Windows Explorer window with the Computer item in the left pane showing

Files and Directories
• Every OS manages a hard drive, optical drive, USB

drive, or other type of drive by using directories (also
called folders), subdirectories, and files
• Drive is organized with a single root directory
– At top of the top-down hierarchical structure of
subdirectories
– Exception: hard drive
• Divided into partitions
• Each volume has its own root directory and hierarchical
structure of subdirectories

Figure 7-17 Storage devices such as a USB drive, CD, or hard drive, are organized
into directories and subdirectories that contain files

• Root directory can hold files or other directories
– These directories are called subdirectories, child
directories, or folders
– Any directory can have files and other subdirectories
in it
Figure 7-18 A hard drive can be divided into one or more partitions that can each
contain a volume such as drive C: or drive D:

Edition
• Path: location of a file referenced by a drive and

directories
Figure 7-19 The complete path to a file includes the volume letter, directories, filename, and
file extension; the colon, backslashes, and period are required to separate items in the path

Navigate the Folder Structure
• Tips to navigate when working with File Explorer

or Windows Explorer
– Click or double-click items in the left pane (called
navigation pane) to drill down to subfolders
– To control how files appear in the right pane in
Windows 8, click one of the icons in the lower-right
corner to select Thumbnail view or Details view
• For Windows 7, click the View icon and select your
view

• Tips to navigate when working with File Explorer or
Windows Explorer (cont’d):
– To control column headings that appear in the Details
view, right-click a column heading and select the
headings that you want to appear
Figure 7-21 Right-click a column heading to select columns to display in Details view

Edition
• Tips to navigate when working with File Explorer or

Windows Explorer (cont’d):
– Use the Search box in the upper-right corner of the
window
– Use the forward and back arrows in upper-left corner
to move forward and backward to previous views
– Click a right arrow in the path displayed in the
address bar at the top of the Explorer widows to see a
drop-down list of subfolder

Edition
Figure 7-22 Click a right arrow in the address bar to move up the folder
tree and down to a new folder

Edition
Create a Folder
• Create a folder:
– Select parent folder
– Use one of these methods to create a folder:
• In Windows 8, select the Home ribbon and click New
folder
– In Windows 7, click New folder on the menu bar
• Right-click in the white area of the right pane
– Select New from the shortcut menu
– Click Folder to create a regular folder of click
Compressed Folder to create a compressed folder
– Folder is created and highlighted so that it may be
renamed
Figure 7-24 Edit the new folder’s name

Edition
Create a File
• Methods to create a file

– Use a particular application
– Use File Explorer or Windows Explorer
• Right-click in the unused white area in the right pane of
the window and point to New
• Click the application you want to use in order to create
a file
• You can rename the filename (keep file extension the
same)

Copy, Move, Rename, or Delete Files
or Folders
• Copy
– Right-click file, select Copy from the shortcut menu
– Click in folder white area where the copied item goes
– Select Paste from the shortcut menu
• Alternative way to copy or move
– Drag and drop item to its new location (move)
– To copy, hold down the Ctrl key while you drag and
drop
• Rename a file or folder
– Right-click it and select Rename
Copy, Move, Rename, or Delete Files
or Folders
• Delete a file or folder
– Select the item and press the Delete key
– Can also, right-click on the item and select Delete
from the shortcut menu
• To select multiple items to delete, copy, or move at
the same time, hold down the Shift or Ctrl key as
you click
– Shift key selects adjacent items in a list
– Ctrl key selects nonadjacent items in a list
• Deleted files are stored in Recycle Bin on desktop
Edition
Create a Shortcut
• Use File Explorer or Windows Explorer to locate the

data file or program file
– Right-click, click Create shortcut in the menu
Figure 7-25 Place a

shortcut to a program file
on the Windows desktop

Edition
The Control Panel
• Contains applets used to manage the system

• Accessing Control Panel in Windows
– Right-click Start (click Start in Windows 7) and the
click Control Panel
• By default, Control Panel appears in category view
– Utilities are grouped by category
– Can switch to classic view by clicking Category

The Control Panel
Figure 7-26 Many technicians prefer to use Control in Classic view to more easily access utilities

Folder Options
• Folder Options applet in Control Panel can be used

to view and change options assigned to folders
– Controls how users view files in a folder, what users
can do with the files
– File extension
• Used to identify file types
• Windows does not show file extensions if it knows
which application is associated with a file extension
• Windows hides system files until you force it to show
them

Power Options
• Power Options applet of Control Panel can help you

conserve power and increase the time before a
battery pack on a laptop needs recharging
• Different power-saving states:
– Sleep mode (suspend mode) – Windows saves
current state including open files to memory
• Everything is shut down except memory and enough of
system to respond to a wake-up
– Hibernation – saves all work to the hard drive and
powers down the system

Edition
System Window
• System window: can give you a quick look at what

hardware and software is installed
• To open the System window in Windows 8:
– Open the Quick Launch menu (press Win+X)
– Click System
• In Windows 7:
– Click Start
– Right-click Computer
– Select Properties

Edition
System Window
• Useful information found there:
– Edition of Windows
– Type of OS installed
– Type of processor installed
– Whether Windows has been activated

Edition
System Information Window
• Used to view detailed information about the system

• Important features to view
– BIOS version installed
– RAM is installed
– OS installation directory
– Hard drive size
– Names of currently running drivers
• Device drivers: small programs stored on hard drive
that tell the computer how to communicate with a
specific hardware device

System Information Window
• To run System Information in Windows 8:
– Open the Quick Launch menu
– Click Run
– Enter msinfo32.exe in the Run box and press Enter
• To run System Information in Windows 7:
– Click Start
– Enter Msinfo32.exe in the Search box and press
Enter

Edition
Action Center
• Action Center: tool to use when you want to make a

quick jab at solving a computer problem
– Lists errors and issues that need attention
– Action center flag appears in the notification area of
the taskbar
Figure 7-35 A red X on the Action

Center flag in the taskbar
indicates a critical issue needs
resolving

Edition
Action Center
Figure 7-36 The Action Center shows a critical problem that needs a resolution

Edition
Windows Network Connections
• If a network is public (public hotspot) resources are

not shared
• Private networks often share their resources
• Windows offers three ways to share resources:
– Workgroups
– Homegroups
– Domain

Edition
Windows Workgroup and Homegroup
• Peer-to-peer (P2P) network

– A network that doesn’t have centralized control
• In a Windows workgroup
– Each computer maintains a list of users and their
rights on that particular computer
• In a homegroup
– Each computer shares files, folders, libraries, and
printers with other computer in the homegroup
– Provides less security than a workgroup

Edition
Windows Domain
• Windows domain is implemented on a larger, private

network
– Forms a logical group of networked computers that
share a centralized directory database of user
account information and security for entire group of
computers
– A type of client-server network where resources are
managed by centralized computers
– The directory database is controlled by a network
operating system (NOS)

Edition
Windows Domain
Figure 7-38 A Windows domain is a type of client/server network where security on

each computer or other device is controlled by a centralized database on a domain
controller

Edition
Windows Domain
• Windows Server Active Directory

– Windows directory database
– Each user must have his own domain-level account
called a global account, network ID, domain account,
or global username
• If connecting a computer to a domain:
– Administrator will tell you the network ID and
password to the domain that you can sign in to the
network

Edition
Public and Private Networks
• Windows 8 offers two types of network security:
– Public network security – Windows configures strong
firewall settings and you cannot join a homegroup or
domain
– Private network security – you can join a homegroup or
domain and share files and printers
• Windows 7 security options:
– Public network – Network Discovery is turned off
– Home network – Network Discovery is on and can join a
homegroup
– Work network – Network Discovery is on and you can join
a domain, but not a homegroup
Edition
Making a Windows 8 Network
Connection
• To make a wired connection, plug in the cable and
Windows does the rest
– Unless you have an unusual network setup
• To create a wireless connection in Windows 8, use
the charms bar:
– Click the Settings charm, click the network icon, click
a network to select it, click Connect
– Enter security key (if network is secured)
– Open your browser window and verify you have
access to the Internet

Edition
Connection
• To view network information and to troubleshoot
network problems:
– Use the Network and Sharing Center
• Right-click the Network icon in the taskbar, click Open
Network and Sharing Center in the menu that appears
• Or, open Control Panel in classic view and click
Network and Sharing Center

Edition
Connection
Figure 7-43 Windows 8 Network and Sharing Center reports network information
and gives access to network troubleshooting tools

Edition
Connection
• In Widows 7, to connect to a wireless network and
secure the connection:
– Click the network icon in the taskbar, click a network
and click Connect
– If network is secured, enter the security key
– To verify or change the security setting, open the
Network and Sharing Center window

Edition
Domain Setup
• To access resources controlled by a Windows

domain, you will need the network ID and password
to the domain provided by administrator
– Open the System window
– Under Computer name, domain, and workgroup
settings, click Change settings
– In the System Properties box that appears, click
Network ID and follow directions on screen

Edition
Domain Setup
Figure 7-47 Setup Windows to join a domain

Edition
Windows User Accounts
• Windows supports various types and privileges for
user accounts:
– The scope of the account – a local account is created
on the local computer and is recognized only on the
local computer
– Privileges for the account – two types of privileges
assigned to user account: administrator account and a
standard account
– A Microsoft account – an email address, which allows
you to access several online accounts including
Microsoft OneDrive, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter,
Skype, Outlook.com, and others
Edition
Using a Microsoft Account with
Windows 8
• Advantages and disadvantages of signing in to
Windows using a Microsoft account:
– Personal settings across several devices
– OneDrive storage in the cloud
– Windows Store
– Private settings are stored on the local computer

Edition
Connecting a Microsoft Account to a
Local Account or Network ID
• To connect an existing local account or network ID
to a Microsoft account:
– Open the charms bar, select the Settings charm,
select Change PC settings, and click Accounts
– Select Your account and then click Connect to a
Microsoft account
• To switch Microsoft account back to a local account:
– Open the charms bar and go to PC settings screen,
click Accounts, and click Disconnect

Edition
Figure 7-55 The Windows user account can be converted from a

Microsoft account to a local user account

Edition
• When signing in to Windows using a local account,
network ID, or Microsoft account, consider where
the account is authenticated:
– Local account is authenticated on the local computer
and gives access to the local computer
– Network ID is authenticated by a computer on the
network, gives you access to the local computer and
other resources on the network
– Microsoft account is authenticated on the live.com
website, gives access to the local computer and
online resources
Edition
User Account Control Box
• User Account Control (UAC) dialog box appears

each time a user attempts to perform an action that
can be done only with administrative privileges
• Used to:
– Prevent malicious background tasks from gaining
administrative privileges when the administrator is
logged on
– Administrator can log in using a less powerful user
account for normal desktop activities, but still be able
to perform administrative tasks while logged in as a
regular user
Edition
User Account Control Box
Figure 7-56 (a) and (b) (a) the User Account Control box of an administrator does not
require an administrative password; (b) The UAC box of a standard User
requires an administrative password

Edition
Summary
• OS manages system resources for users and
applications
• Windows 8 offers two GUIs: modern interface and the
Windows 8 desktop
– Windows 7/Vista desktop offers the Aero user interface
• Ways to launch an application in Windows 8: using the
Start screen, Quick Launch menu, icon pinned to
taskbar, File Explorer, shortcut, and Run option
– In Windows 7/Vista: use the Start menu, search box,
icons pinned to taskbar, Windows Explorer, or a shortcut

Summary
• Windows 8 File Explorer and Windows 7 Windows
Explorer are used to manage files and folders on
storage devices
• The file extension indicates how the file contents are
organized and formatted and what program uses the
file
• Control Panel give access to a group of utility
programs used to manage the system
– Folder Options applet changes the way files and
folders are displayed in Explorer
– Power Options applet manages power settings
Summary
• The System window gives a quick overview of the
system
• The System Information window gives detailed
information about the computer
• The Action Center is used to solve problems with
security and computer maintenance issues
• Windows 8/7 supports workgroups, homegroups, and
domains to manage resources
• A network ID and password is used to authenticate to
a Windows domain, which gives access to network
resources
Edition
Summary
• Use the Network and Sharing Center to view

information about network connections and solve
network problems
• Use the System window to set up a computer to a
Widows domain
• Windows supports local accounts that are
recognized only on the local computer and network
IDs that are recognized on a Windows domain
• Two types of privileges assigned to a Windows
account: administrator account and standard
account
Edition
Summary
• Windows 8 offers a Microsoft account that is

authenticated online at live.com website
• Use the Settings charm to manage Windows 8 user
accounts
• You can associate a Microsoft account with a local
account or network ID on a domain
• The User Account Control (UAC) box is used to
protect the system against malware or accidental
changes to a system done by inexperienced users

Edition

PPT ch07

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

PPT ch07

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

A+ Guide to IT Technical Support, 9th

• Use Windows to interface with users, files and

A+ Guide to IT Technical Support, 9th 2

• Operating system (OS) software

A+ Guide to IT Technical Support, 9th 3

A+ Guide to IT Technical Support, 9th 4

A+ Guide to IT Technical Support, 9th 5

• Windows 8 modern interface

A+ Guide to IT Technical Support, 9th 6

A+ Guide to IT Technical Support, 9th 7

• Charms bar appears on the right side of the screen

A+ Guide to IT Technical Support, 9th 8

A+ Guide to IT Technical Support, 9th 9

• Power icon in the upper-right corner of the Start

Figure 7-4 Use the Power icon at

A+ Guide to IT Technical Support, 9th 10

• To access the desktop, click the Desktop tile on the

A+ Guide to IT Technical Support, 9th 11

• To launch a program from the desktop, use one of

A+ Guide to IT Technical Support, 9th 12

Figure 7-9 Windows 8 desktop with charms bar in view

A+ Guide to IT Technical Support, 9th 13

• Tips about managing windows on the desktop:

A+ Guide to IT Technical Support, 9th 14

• Desktop is the initial screen that is displayed

A+ Guide to IT Technical Support, 9th 15

A+ Guide to IT Technical Support, 9th 16

A+ Guide to IT Technical Support, 9th 17

Figure 7-14 The Windows 7 Start menu

A+ Guide to IT Technical Support, 9th 18

A+ Guide to IT Technical Support, 9th 19

A+ Guide to IT Technical Support, 9th 20

A+ Guide to IT Technical Support, 9th 21

A+ Guide to IT Technical Support, 9th 22

• Every OS manages a hard drive, optical drive, USB

A+ Guide to IT Technical Support, 9th 23

A+ Guide to IT Technical Support, 9th 24

A+ Guide to IT Technical Support, 9th 25

• Path: location of a file referenced by a drive and

A+ Guide to IT Technical Support, 9th 26

• Tips to navigate when working with File Explorer

A+ Guide to IT Technical Support, 9th 27

A+ Guide to IT Technical Support, 9th 28

• Tips to navigate when working with File Explorer or

A+ Guide to IT Technical Support, 9th 29

A+ Guide to IT Technical Support, 9th 30

Figure 7-24 Edit the new folder’s name

A+ Guide to IT Technical Support, 9th 32

• Methods to create a file

A+ Guide to IT Technical Support, 9th 33

• Use File Explorer or Windows Explorer to locate the

Figure 7-25 Place a

A+ Guide to IT Technical Support, 9th 36

• Contains applets used to manage the system

A+ Guide to IT Technical Support, 9th 37

A+ Guide to IT Technical Support, 9th 38

• Folder Options applet in Control Panel can be used

A+ Guide to IT Technical Support, 9th 39

• Power Options applet of Control Panel can help you

A+ Guide to IT Technical Support, 9th 40

• System window: can give you a quick look at what

A+ Guide to IT Technical Support, 9th 41

A+ Guide to IT Technical Support, 9th 42