001. Windows Intro

(1) Desktop GUI

(i) Desktop

: for shortcuts to programs, folders, files, ...

(a) Display settings : for the screen's resolution, multiple screens, ...

(b) Personalize : for the background image, fonts, themes, ...

(ii) Start Menu

: Start Menu provides access to all the apps/programs, files, utility tools, ...

(iii) Search Box (Cortana)

: for searching apps, files, ...

: Search Box can be hidden/disabled.

(iv) Task View

: Task View can be hidden/disabled.

(v) Taskbar

: Any apps/programs, foldrs, files, etc., that you open/start will appear in the taskbbar.

: Items can be pinned here.

(vi) Toolbars

(vii) Notification Area

: Date and time, volume icon, network/wireless icon, action center, etc. are displayed.

(2) File System

(i) FAT16/FAT31

: File Allocation Table

: FAT can not repair folders/files automatically.

: still for USB devices, MicroSD cards, ... today

(ii) HPFS

: High Performance File System

(iii) NTFS

: New Technology File System

: NTFS can automatically repair the folders/files on disk using information stored in a log file.

: used in modern versions of Windows nowadays

: NTFS supports files larger than 4GB.

: NTFS sets specific permissions on folders and files.

: Folder and file compression

: Encryption (EFS : Encryption File System)

: On NTFS, these permissions can be set:

(a) Full control

(b) Modify

(d) List folder contents

(e) Read

(f) Write

: Right-click -> Properties -> Security -> Group or user names

: ADS (Alternate Data Streams) : ADS is a file attribute specific to Windows NTFS. Every file has at least 1 data stream ($DATA). ADS allows files to contain more than 1 stream of data.

(3) Windows\System32 folders

(i) Windows folder (c:\Windows)

: the folder which contains the Windows operating system

: in the C drive or in any other drive

(ii) %windir%

: the system environment variable for the Windows directory

(iii) Environment Variables

: store information about the operating system environment.

(iv) System32

: holds the important files that are critical for the operating system.

: Be careful with this folder!

(4) User Accounts, Profiles, Permissions

(i) User Accounts

: there are 2 types.

(a) Administrator

: can make changes to the system.

: Addition, deletion of users, modification of groups, settings on the system, ...

: Start Menu -> Other User -> adding someone, etc.

: If a user account is created, a profile is created for the user and is stored in C:\Users.

: Each user profile have these folders: Desktop, Documents, Downloads, Music, Pictures

: another way : Local User and Group Management : Right-click on the Start Menu -> Run -> lusrmgr.msc -> 2 folders (Users, Groups)

: Groups : each group has permissions set and the users in the group inherits the permissions of that group. A user can be assigned to multiple groups.

(b) Standard User

:can only make changes to folders/files attributed to the user

: can not perform system-level changes (eg. install programs)

(5) User Account Control

(i) UAC (User Account Control)

: to protect the local user with high privileges

: The shield icon for standard users is an indicator that UAC will prompt to allow higher-level privileges to install the program. The administrator's account's password must be entered.

(6) Settings and the Control Panel

: the primary locations to make changes

: Both can be accessed from the Start Menu.

(i) Settings Menu

: start in Settings and end up in the Control Panel

(ii) Control Panel

: the menu where you will access more complex settings and perform more complex actions

(7) Task Manager

: provides information about the applications and processes currently running on the system.

: + information about Performance

: Ctrl+Shift+Esc