Work For Today

ASR- ASR represents a new approach to backup and recovery. Prior to ASR, after a large-scale failure, you needed to reinstall Windows, configure all physical storage to the original settings, and then perform a complete restore of the data. The process of rebuilding the operating system could be lengthy, and you needed to perform many of these tasks at the local computer. ASR significantly automates this process. In addition to automating the restore of a single system, ASR can be used with Remote Installation Services (RIS) to automate the system state recovery of several systems across the network.
To prepare for ASR recovery, you must run the Automated System Recovery Wizard, which is part of Backup. To access this wizard when you are running Backup in Advanced Mode, click Tools and select ASR Wizard. You can start Backup in Advanced Mode by clearing the Always start in Wizard Mode check box when Backup starts.

ERD-
Emergency Repair Disk, a Windows backup disk created by using the Backup utility. The ERD contains information about the current Windows system settings and can be used to rebuild the system if the file system becomes corrupt or the operating system will not start up. Whenever the Registry is altered - such as adding new software or hardware, installing a service pack or hot fix, making system modifications or adding new users to an account database - a new ERD should ideally be created to return the user to the most recent setup in case the ERD is needed to repair the damaged system. The disk can also be used to restore an old account that has been deleted if there is a copy of the system on an ERD from before the time the account was deleted.
It is important to note that the ERD is not a bootable disk.
This feature of Windows does not back up files or programs and should not be used as a replacement for regularly backing up your system.
Users can follow the Start/Programs/Accessories/System Tools/Backup/Emergency Repair Disk path in Windows in order to create an ERD.

System Restore- System Restore is a component of Microsoft's Windows Me and Windows XP operating systems that allows for the rolling back of system files, registry keys, installed programs, etc., to a previous state in the event of a failure.

Differences Between Windows 9x and NT

Windows 95 does not support common groups
Windows 95 user profiles do not copy all desktop items, copied items are restricted to shortcuts (.lnk) and program information (.pif) files.
Windows 95 user profiles don’t support a centrally stored Default User profile.
Windows 95 clients don’t use the Windows NT Server profile path to obtain roaming user profiles. They can be retrieved only from the user’s home directory.
To use mandatory user profiles on computers running Windows 95 on a Windows NT Server network, an administrator must create a custom user profile for each user and copy the user profile files to each user’s home directory.
Windows 95 does not support the Application Data folder that makes up the folders structure.

Recovery Console

What is recovery console? The Recovery Console is a feature of the Windows 2000 and Windows XP operating systems. It provides the means for administrators to perform a limited range of tasks using a textual user interface. As its name suggests, its primary function is to enable administrators to recover from situations where Windows does not boot as far as presenting its graphical user interface.

How do we invoke recovery console? The recovery console is always available from the operating system installation CD-ROM. To invoke it, an administrator simply boots the computer from the CD-ROM. From the operating system setup utility, Windows 2000 users have to select two menu options ("To repair a Windows 2000 installation, press R." and then "To repair a Windows 2000 installation by using the recovery console, press C.") whereas Windows XP users have to select just one ("To repair a Windows XP installation using recovery console, press R.")
Task Performed: The recovery console has a simple command line interface. Many of the available commands closely resemble the command line commands that are normally available on Windows, namely attrib, copy, del, and so forth. (However, they are not identical. The normal Windows commands are Win32 programs, which are incapable of running in the environment that the Recovery Console executes in, where no Win32 subsystem is present.)
From the recovery console an administrator can:
create and remove directories, and copy, erase, display, and rename files
enable and disable services (which modifies the service control database in the registry, to take effect when the system is next bootstrapped)
write a new Master Boot Record to a disc, using the fixmbr command
write a new Volume Boot Record to a volume, using the fixboot command
format volumes
expand files from the compressed format in which they are stored on the installation CD-ROM
perform a full CHKDSK scan to repair corrupted disks and files, especially if the computer cannot be started properly
Filesystem access on the recovery console is by default severely limited. An administrator using the recovery console has only read-only access to all volumes except for the boot volume, and even on the boot volume only access to the root directory and to the Windows system directory (e.g. \WINNT). This can be changed by changing Security Policies.

Work For Today... Week Project

Moday

Safe Mode: is a diagnostic mode used by certain computer operating systems, including Microsoft Windows and Mac OS X, as well as other complex electronic devices. While an operating system is in safe mode, it will have reduced functionality, but it is easier to isolate problems because many non-core components are disabled. An installation that will only boot into its safe mode typically has a major problem, such as disk corruption or the installation of poorly configured software that prevents the operating system from successfully booting into its normal operating mode.
Though it varies by operating system, typically safe mode loads as few executable modules as possible and usually disables devices, except for the minimum necessary to display information and accept input. Safe mode can also take the form of a parallel "miniature" operating system that has no configuration information shared with the normal operating system. For example, on Microsoft Windows, the user can choose to boot to the recovery console, a small text-based troubleshooting mode kept separate from the main operating system (and can also be accessed by booting the install CD), or to various "safe mode" options that run the dysfunctional operating system, but with features such as video drivers and networking disabled.
Safe mode typically provides access to utility and diagnostic programs so a user can troubleshoot what is preventing the operating system from working normally. Safe mode is intended for maintenance, not functionality, and provides minimal access to features which often frustrates users who are only aware that their computer "isn't working right".
Safe mode is a troubleshooting method on most electronic devices, including cell phones and interplanetary spacecraft which often run VxWorks.
Safe mode in Microsoft Windows is accessed by repeatedly pressing the "F8" key as the operating system boots (Microsoft's official website for Windows XP simply advises users to press "F8" once, but in practice the exact moment at which to press the key can vary from computer to computer, so it is better to repeatedly press the key at one second intervals). Also, in a multi-boot environment with multiple versions of Windows installed side by side, one can press F8 at the OS selector prompt to get to Safe mode.
An equivalently minimal setting in UNIX-like operating systems is single-user mode, in which daemons and the X Window System are not started, and only the root user can log in. On Mac OS versions 6, 7, 8 and 9, a similar mode is achieved by holding down the shift key while booting, which starts the system without extensions. In Mac OS X holding the shift key after powering up puts the system in safe mode. Safe mode with networking, one of the variations of safe mode, can be used to troubleshoot network issues.
Application software sometimes offers a safe mode as well. In the PHP interpreter, safe mode offers stricter security measures. Mozilla Firefox's safe mode allows the user to remove extensions which may be preventing the browser from loading. - Wiki.org

windows registry

In computing, the Windows registry is a database which stores settings and options for the operating system for Microsoft Windows 32-bit versions, 64-bit versions and Windows Mobile. It contains information and settings for all the hardware, operating system software, most non-operating system software, users, and preferences of the PC and so on. Whenever a user makes changes to "Control Panel" settings, or file associations, system policies, or installed software, the changes are reflected and stored in the registry.

Windows XP Registry Editor
The Windows Registry was introduced to tidy up the profusion of per-program INI files that had previously been used to store configuration settings for Windows programs. These files tended to be scattered all over the system, which made them difficult to track.

Work For Today...Win.ini!

WIN.INI was a basic INI file used in early versions of Microsoft Windows to set basic settings at boot time. By default, all font, communications drivers, wallpaper, screen saver, and language settings were stored in WIN.INI by Windows 3.x. Many of these settings were honored in Windows 9x, although the files had begun to be phased out in favor of the Windows registry. Windows XP still acknowledges some entries in the WIN.INI file, to provide backwards compatibility with older 16-bit applications. However, when a fresh install of XP is performed, the WIN.INI file created is initially blank.

EDITING Microsoft bundles two specialized editors for core configuration files (such as WIN.INI, SYSTEM.INI, CONFIG.SYS, and AUTOEXEC.BAT) with its operating systems. Sysedit is an MDI text editor that opens all of those files simultaneously, available in all versions of Windows since Windows 3.x. MSConfig is a simpler application that allows a user to enable and disable drivers and applications from being loaded at startup by the aforementioned files and the Run, RunEx, and RunOnce registry keys.

Work For Today...

This Startup File Database contains a list of almost every possible application that could load itself when your computer first boots up. Many of these applications are unnecessary and can slow your PC down, some are spyware and can cause hard to your computer and others are applications that you should leave running as they are required to perform certain system operations.
You can find out which items you have running on startup by running "msconfig" from Start > Run and then clicking the Startup tab. Each of the items with a tick next to it is loading each time Windows starts. To find out more about each application, browse the alphabetical list below or type the filename into the search box.

registry: local machine
startup folder doucuments and settings/ all users
win.ini: sysedit

Work For Today...

Dual booting or dual-booting is the act of installing multiple operating systems on a computer, and being able to choose which one to boot when switching on the computer power. The program which makes dual booting possible is called a boot loader.

Work For Today... 2 Questions!

What is the difference between windows 9x and windows XP? The Windows XP platform is based on the Windows NT/2000 product line, and not the DOS-based Windows 9x product line.

Why does Windows XP belong to the NT family? Because it uses NT/2000 product line and not the old DOS-based product line.

Two Topics for Today...

Windows Update: Windows Update is a Control Panel applet found in recent versions of Microsoft Windows that provides updates for the operating system and related components, such as definition updates to the Windows Defender anti-spyware product and Junk Mail filter updates for Windows Mail. Windows Update is also the means to download Windows Ultimate Extras, optional content offered to users of Windows Vista Ultimate.
Microsoft Update is an optional feature in Windows Update that provides updates not only for the operating system, but also certain Microsoft software. It is not enabled by default.

System Restore: System Restore is a component of Microsoft's Windows Me and Windows XP operating systems that allows for the rolling back of system files, registry keys, installed programs, etc., to a previous state in the event of a failure.
In Windows Vista, System Restore features an improved interface.

Windows XP Installation

1.
Power on the computer. Press the Pause/Break key as soon as you see text on the screen.
[If you currently are running in an OS of any flavor, insert XP CD and restart computer. Skip to #3 if system is configured to boot from CD.]
2.
Insert XP CD into CD drive. Press ENTER to resume booting from the XP CD. (BIOS must support booting from CD and boot order must be set so CD boots before hard drive. If computer does not support booting from CD go to 2a for floppy install).
2a. Floppy install: Boot from Win98/Me/Special XP install floppy disk with smartdrv.exe added to the boot disk or the Win XP set of 6 floppy disks.
3.
Look for message "booting from CD" usually located at the bottom of the screen. If you have a factory splash screen, press ESC to unload it.

3a. Floppy install: From the A Prompt; A:\type: smartdrv.exe. then press ENTER. If you are using the XP boot floppy setup disks skip to step #5.
4.
Press any Key when you see the prompt to 'Press Any Key"

4a. Floppy install: CD to the location of the CD-ROM drive with the XP setup files; CD to the i386 folder where you will type: winnt.exe to start setup.


5.
Setup will start copying files, if you need to install any third-party or RAID drivers press F6 at this time. the copying of files can take awhile.

6.
Next you will get the option to repair or enter setup, choose to enter setup. Press ENTER.
To see images full size, place mouse cursor over image and click/double click or press the left button and open.

7.
Press F8 if you agree to the license.


8.
Setup will scan for previous Windows installations


9.
If you are using the upgrade version of XP on a computer without any version of Windows currently installed, this is where you will replace the XP CD with your qualifying CD, XP setup will scan the qualifying CD and instruct you to replace it with the XP CD to continue XP setup; otherwise, you will not see this screen. Clean install qualifying media can be any of the following Win NT3.51, 4.0, 2000, Win 95, 98, Me and XP Home when upgrading to XP Pro.


10.
Choose the location to install.


10a If this is a clean hard drive, you can choose to create a partition in the un-partitioned space. At this point, you can allow Setup to use all the space or set a size for the partition.



10b If the hard drive or partition has a previous installation of XP you want to remove, choose to delete the partition by pressing "D". You will then be prompted to create a new partition in the empty space. This will remove all data from the deleted space.

If setup returns a message the partition contains the setup files and cannot be deleted use the info from this link: Delete NON-DOS Partition

10c If you intend to use multiple partitions or dual boot, this is where you specify the size of the boot partition and or setup location for XP. If you are planning to dual boot XP, I would create a small 100 meg DOS partition for the first primary partition, then an 8 to 10 gig partition for XP. You can partition and format the remaining space after XP is setup from Disk Manager. If you do not intend to dual boot, you can either use all the un-partitioned space or create an 8 to 10 gig partition for XP and leave the rest free to partition later.



If a fat32 partition larger than 32 gigabyte is desired, the hard drive or partition will need to be created before running XP setup. XP will not create a fat 32 partition larger than 32 gig, but will support one previously created.



11.
Choose the file system from this screen. If dual booting and you created the small 100 meg partition, make it a fat partition. NTFS is configured at the optimal file size during the initial setup. See this link for more on NTFS
If you have more that one partition or hard drive on your system, make sure you are formatting the correct partition/drive.


12.
This is where you reinsert the XP Pro Upgrade CD if necessary.

13.
Press Enter to continue.

14.
Setup will show a progress box and reboot when copying files is complete.

15.
When you see the "Press any Key to Reboot" do not Press any Key. If CD boots anyway, remove CD and reboot.

16.
From this point, you will follow the on screen prompts.

17.
If you live outside the US, you will probably need to modify the default settings.

18.
Personalize your XP Enter your Name and Organization.

19.
Enter the Product Key. The Key is located on the back of the CD folder in the Retail versions and on a holographic label with the OEM versions purchased with a piece of hardware. Write this key down and secure it in a safe place in case the original is misplaced or destroyed through natural causes.

20.
Choose a name for the computer, this should be a unique name for the computer, especially if it is to be connected to a network. In Pro, you are given the option of creating a password or leaving it blank.

21.
Set your Time Zone and Time and Date.

22.
Setup will scan for network.

23.
If detected you will have the choice to choose a typical configuration or custom. Choose typical if you are unsure.

24.
For home you will choose your workgroup, if a network is already established and you intend to connect to it, use the existing workgroup name, otherwise, I suggest using the default.

25.
For Pro, the same goes for Pro as suggested for Home, but you will have the choice to join a Domain, if you do not have a Domain or do not know leave blank.

26.
Setup will continue and reboot when completed ignore the "Press Any Key".

27.
The XP loading window will now display after reboot.
Note: All XP SP2 versions now show the same XP loading screen. Windows XP is displayed for both Home and Professional.

28.
You will see a change display settings, say yes, and accept the setting if you can see the screen after accepting.

29.
You will see a welcome screen, press next and unfortunately you have to wait for the dialog to finish.

30.
Set up your internet or network connection.

31.
This is the Activate, Register screen. You must activate within 30 days of installing XP, but you do not ever have to register, Registration is completely optional and if you do not register, no personal information will be transmitted during activation. If you register, then activation will transmit that information along with the activation. The first Activation is usually done over the internet if the computer is connected to the internet, otherwise, it can be accomplished by copying the alphanumeric string from the activation screen and make a phone call to the phone number [Usually Toll Free] supplied on screen. The activation center will then give you a slightly longer number to input into for activation. I suggest you do not activate immediately in case you need to make hard ware changes or install to a different system within the thirty days and you will be reminded on boot up until you do.
Blaster worm warning: Enable the XP firewall before connecting to the internet. Do not immediately activate over the internet. You can activate after the firewall is enabled.
To enable the XP firewall: Control Panel - Network Connections. Right click the connection you use, Properties and there is a check box on the Advanced page.

32.
Setup users screen. Set at least one user for yourself or the person that will be using the computer.

33.
Thank You

34.
Logon to XP and apply Service Pack and Critical updates from Windows Update before installing any software or hardware.

35.
Install your anti-virus software.

36.
Install all applications and setup your email.

37.
Restore from Files and Settings transfer after reinstalling all applications.

Work For Today...

Curriculum-the aggregate of courses of study given in a school, college, university, etc
What is Partitioning?
Analyze of the partition of the O.S. installation step.
Learn Key
Blogger

What is the Process to partition and format your hardrive from a bootable floppy?

1.To format a hard drive with Windows XP or 2000, insert Windows CD and restart your computer.

2.Your computer should automatically boot from the CD to the Windows Setup Main Menu.

3.At the Welcome to Setup page, press ENTER.

4.Press F8 to accept the Windows XP Licensing Agreement.

5.If an existing Windows XP installation is detected, you are prompted to repair it. To bypass the repair, press ESC.

6.Use the ARROW keys to select the partition or the unpartitioned space where you want to create a new partition. Press D to delete an existing partition, or press C to create a new partition.

7.Type the size in megabytes (MB) that you want to use for the new partition, and then press ENTER, or just press ENTER to create the partition with the maximum size.

8.Select the format option that you want to use for the partition (Recommended: NTFS), and then press ENTER.

9.After the Windows Setup program formats the partition, follow the instructions that appear on the screen to continue installing Windows.

Assignment For Today...

Harware requirements for Windows XP:

PC with 300 megahertz or higher processor clock speed recommended; 233 MHz minimum required (single or dual processor system);* Intel Pentium/Celeron family, or AMD K6/Athlon/Duron family, or compatible processor recommended
•
128 megabytes (MB) of RAM or higher recommended (64 MB minimum supported; may limit performance and some features)
•
1.5 gigabytes (GB) of available hard disk space*
•
Super VGA (800 x 600) or higher-resolution video adapter and monitor
•
CD-ROM or DVD drive
•
Keyboard and Microsoft Mouse or compatible pointing device