System Management Flashcards
Task Manager
Task Manager is a utility that comes with Microsoft Windows to allow users and administrators to do various tasks and perform system administration. With Task Manager you are able to perform tasks such as shut down applications that are not responding, view processes, view what applications are using system resources, view network usage, connected users, and other system functions. Open Task Manager by using any of the following methods:
- Press Ctrl+Shift+-Esc • Right-click an empty area of the taskbar and select Task Manager
- Press Ctrl+Alt+Delete and select Task Manager
Task Manager Tabs
Processes: The Processes tab is used to view the status of all current applications running on the computer. Use this tab to terminate unresponsive applications.
Performance: The Performance tab is used to view system-wide processor, memory, disk, and network statistics.
App History: The App History tab is used to monitor Windows Store apps running on the system.
Startup: The Startup tab is used to enable or disable applications that start automatically when the system boots.
Users: The Users tab is used to monitor users currently logged on to the system. Details: The Details tab is used to view the status of all current processes running on the computer, and the CPU and memory resources they use. Use this tab to modify the priority of a process or terminate unwanted processes. Services: The Services tab is used to view a list of services running on the computer. You can use this tab to start and stop a particular service.
Control panel applet: System and Security
- Security and Maintenance is used to review recent error messages and options for resolving issues.
- Windows Defender Firewall is used to check firewall status and allow apps through the Windows Firewall.
- System allows you to view RAM and processor speed, remote access, remote assistance, or to see the computer name.
- Power Options is used to change battery settings, change what the power buttons do, or change when the computer sleeps.
- File History is used to save backup copies of your files and to restore your files.
- Backup and Restore (Windows 7) is used to backup and restore with the legacy Windows 7 backup utility and to restore files using the legacy Windows 7 backup utility.
- BitLocker Drive Encryption is used to manage BitLocker settings and protect your files and folders from unauthorized access.
- Storage Spaces is used to save files to two or more drives to help protect you from drive failure.
- Work Folders is used to make your work files available on all devices you use, even when offline.
- Administrative Tools is used to clean up hard disk space, run defragmenter, optimize drives, format disks, view event logs, and schedule tasks
Control Panel Applet: Network and Internet
- Network and Sharing Center is used to view network status, connect to a network, and to view network computers and devices.
- Internet Options in Network & Internet contain the following tabs and they are used to:
- General tab to modify your browser home page, startup window, tabs, history, and appearance.
- Security tab to determine your security zone and security level
- Privacy tab to manage website privacy and enable and disable pop-ups and InPrivate Browsing.
- Content tab to view certificate, AutoComplete, and Feeds and Web Slices settings.
- Connections tab to set up an Internet connection.
- Programs tab to manage your default browser, add-ons, and other internet programs and file associations.
- Advanced tab to set and reset advanced browser settings.
Control panel applet: Hardware and Sound
Hardware and Sound is used to view and configure the current system sound settings, installed audio devices, sound cards, printer settings, and other hardware settings
Control panel applet: Programs
Programs is used to uninstall programs, turn Windows features on or off, view installed updates, run programs from previous versions of Windows, get additional programs, and change default settings for media and devices
Control panel applet: User accounts
User Accounts is used to view and modify user accounts, give users access to the computer, change account types, manage web credentials, and manage windows credentials
Control panel applet: Appearance and Personalization
Appearance and Personalization is used to configure navigation properties, modify the behavior of input and display devices to accommodate users with special needs, specify single or double click options, show or hide hidden files, and add or remove fonts on the computer
Control panel applet: Clock, Language, and Region
Clock, Language, and Region contains settings to configure various items such as language preference, default currency symbols, and date and time notation
Control panel applet: Ease of Access
Ease of Access is used to optimize visual display, modify sound and visual cues, change mouse and keyboard settings, and set up speech recognition or a microphone
With Sync Center, you are able to:
- Check the results of your recent sync activity.
- Have access to copies of your network files even when your computer isn’t connected to the network.
- Keep information in sync between your computer and files stored in folders on network servers, which are called Offline Files.
- Sync files between your PC and mobile devices that are compatible with Windows 10 Sync Center
Computer Management
Computer Management is a saved MMC console that includes common snap-ins used to manage your computer. Some common ways to start Computer Management include:
- Right-click Start and select Computer Management.
- Search for Computer Management
Microsoft Management Console (MMC)
The Microsoft Management Console (MMC) is a framework that provides a common user interface for performing system administration tasks. Management of a set of related features is done by adding snap-ins to the console. The MMC provides the shell for running these snap-ins, while the snap-ins provide the details for performing specific management tasks. Microsoft provides snap-ins for managing:
- Local Users and Groups
- Device Manager • Disk Management
- Print Management
- Component Services
- Windows Firewall with Advanced Security
To open a blank console, type mmc in the Run box (Press Windows+R). You can then add snap-ins to work with the configuration of your system. The console consists of three panes:
- The tree pane (on the left) organizes objects in a hierarchy.
- The results pane (in the middle) shows objects and configuration options.
- The actions pane (on the right) lists the actions you can take on objects.
You can save a console that includes the snap-ins you use most (saved consoles have the .msc extension). Microsoft provides a number of preconfigured consoles that include snap-ins for common tasks
System Information (Msinfo32.exe)
Use System Information to view hardware and configuration information for your computer. While much of this information is available through other tools, System Information provides a single location for viewing information such as:
- Operating system version
- Computer manufacturer, processor type, available memory
- Installed devices and drivers used
- Running tasks
- Applications that run at system startup
You can only view, not modify, configuration settings in System Information
Event Viewer
Use Event Viewer to view logs about programs, system events, and security. Each entry is listed as a warning, error, or information event. Events are added to the following logs:
- The Application log contains a list of all application-related events such as application installations, un-installations, and application errors.
- The System log contains a list of all system-related events such as system modifications, malfunctions, and errors.
- The Security log contains a list of all security-related events such as security modifications and user login events. Additional logs might be added by applications or services
Performance Monitor
Performance Monitor displays statistics that tell you about the operation of your computer.
- A counter identifies a specific statistic, such as % Processor Time or % Disk Free Space.
- You can add or remove counters to customize the statistics you can see.
- Real-time data are displayed in a graph
- Performance Monitor by itself does not save any data. To save statistics over time, use a data collector set
Reliability Monitor
Reliability Monitor maintains historical data that describe the operating system’s stability.
- Overall system stability is given a stability index that ranges from 1 to 10 (10 being the most stable). The stability rating is affected by application, hardware, Windows, and other failures.
- Reliability Monitor shows an historical chart that identifies when software installs/uninstalls and failures have occurred. By clicking on a day, you can view the changes to the system that have affected its stability
Windows Memory Diagnostics
The Windows Memory Diagnostic tests the Random Access Memory (RAM) on your computer for errors. This utility is not included with Windows and must be downloaded from Microsoft’s Online Crash Analysis website
General tab in Msconfig
The General tab is displayed by default when the System Configuration Utility is opened. There are three options under the General tab:
- Normal Startup is used to load all device drivers and services when Windows starts up
- Diagnostic Startup will load only the basic devices and services and is similar to starting Windows in safe mode
- Selective Startup allows the user to choose in more detail what should start with Windows
Boot tab in Msconfig
The Boot tab will show you the operating system that is installed on the computer. The tab contains some of the following options:
- Boot Options allow the user to select options such as Safe boot along with some additional options
- Timeout specifies the amount of seconds that Windows will wait in the Boot menu before loading the operating system, with the default being 30 seconds
Services tab in Msconfig
The Services tab displays all the Services configured to start up, when the operating system boots up. Uncheck services that you do not want Windows to start.
Startup tab in Msconfig
With Windows 10, the Startup tab in System Configuration Utility displays a shortcut to the Startup tab in Task Manager
Tools tab in Msconfig
The Tools tab will show you various utilities and tools that you can launch directly from the System Configuration Utility to the various tools available in Windows
Microsoft Registry Editor (Regedit.exe)
Microsoft Registry Editor is a tool for modifying entries in the Windows registry. The registry is a database that holds hardware, software, and user configuration settings.
- Whenever a change is made to preferences, software, hardware, and user-settings, those changes are stored and reflected in the registry.
- The preferred method of modifying the registry is to use the applications or management tools that write to the registry. For example, many Control Panel applets make changes to registry settings.
- There will be some advanced settings that can be made only by directly editing the registry
