CHAPTER TEN: CONFIGURING WINDOWS Flashcards
(25 cards)
What is Windows and Why Do We Need It?
A computer needs something called an Operating System (OS) to actually work. Without it, your computer is just a bunch of parts.
The OS is like a translator between you (the user), your apps (like Word or Chrome), and the computer’s hardware (the stuff inside the box).
It helps things run smoothly by controlling how the computer handles stuff like sound, screen, typing, and files.
What Makes Up Windows?
Kernel files and device drivers – These are the deep technical parts that talk directly to the hardware.
User interface and tools – These are the menus, buttons, and settings you actually see and use.
Graphical User Interface (GUI)
A long time ago, computers used only command-line interfaces (just typing text commands, no pictures).
Now we use a Graphical User Interface (GUI) – this means windows, icons, buttons – all the visual stuff you click on.
People like certain GUIs better than others, so the look and feel of the desktop actually matters a lot.
Changing Windows Settings
You can change how Windows works using two main things:
Settings App
Control Panel
All these settings are saved in a hidden spot called the Registry. It’s like the master file cabinet for how your computer is set up.
User Accounts
Each person using the computer gets a user account.
This account controls:
What the person can do on the computer (called rights and permissions).
What files and folders they can see and change.
The first account made is the Administrator – this person can change anything.
Everyone else is usually a Standard user, with limited power.
Privacy Settings
These settings control what data Windows collects from you and what apps can do on your device.
You can:
Choose if Microsoft gets data about how you use your computer (called telemetry).
Allow or block apps from using your camera, microphone, location, or looking at your contacts and files.
Ease of Access Settings
These help make the computer easier to use for people with different needs.
- Vision – Makes things easier to see (big cursor, high contrast, color filters, screen reader called Narrator).
- Hearing – Helps with sound (like visual alerts or turning sound to mono).
- Interaction – Helps with typing, clicking, or even using your voice or eyes to control the computer.
System Objects in File Explorer
File Explorer is the tool you use to look at and manage your files and folders. These are the main places you’ll find in File Explorer:
User Account – Your personal folders (like Documents, Music, etc.).
OneDrive – If you use a Microsoft account, this is your cloud storage.
This PC – Shows all your files and also all the drives (like hard drives or USB sticks).
Network – Lets you see shared stuff from other computers nearby.
Recycle Bin – Where deleted files go first, in case you want to bring them back.
Drives
Drives are like drawers in the cabinet. They’re the places where your stuff is actually stored.
Each drive is given a letter like C: or D:. The C: drive is the main one where Windows lives.
A drive might be:
A real physical part inside your computer (like a hard drive),
A part (or partition) of that drive,
A folder on another computer that you’re connected to (network drive),
Or something you plug in like a USB drive
root directory
Every drive has a main folder called the root directory. It’s like the top-level folder—kind of like the first page in a binder. It’s shown with a backslash symbol . So the root of the C drive is C:.
Inside that are subfolders, which are called directories or folders. Folders can contain more folders (subfolders) or files.
System Files
These are the important files that make your computer work.
At the root (C:), you’ll usually see these important folders:
Windows: This is like the brain of your computer. It contains system files, drivers (which help hardware talk to software), logs, and more.
Program Files / Program Files (x86): These are the folders where your apps get installed. On 64-bit computers, one is for 64-bit apps, the other for 32-bit apps.
Users: This is where all your personal stuff lives. Each person who uses the computer has their own folder here. Inside, there are files and settings specific to that user.
File Explorer Options
This controls how files and folders look when you browse them.
General tab: Lets you pick if you want to open files with a single click or double click.
View tab: Has important settings like:
Hide extensions for known file types: A file like report.docx might just show as report—this setting hides the .docx. But if you rename the file and mess up the extension, it might not open properly.
Hidden files and folders: Some files are hidden by default. You can change a setting to show them.
Hide protected operating system files: These are super-important system files. Windows hides them so you don’t accidentally break something.
Device Settings
This is about the hardware (like your mouse, printer, phone) connected to your computer.
Plug and Play means Windows can usually recognize and set up new hardware automatically when you plug it in.
Sometimes, you have to install a driver (the special software that lets the device talk to Windows) manually.
Usually, drivers come through Windows Update, but sometimes you need to download them from the manufacturer’s website.
You can manage devices in a few places
System Settings: Set up things like your screen and sound.
Devices Settings: For mice, keyboards, printers, Bluetooth, USB devices, etc.
Devices and Printers: A classic Control Panel view to manage what’s connected.
Device Manager: An advanced tool to see and control every hardware part in your system, like your graphics card or network adapter.
Scale
On big high-resolution screens, text and icons can look tiny. Scaling makes them look bigger so they’re easier to read.
Colour
If you’re a graphic designer, your screen needs to show colors exactly right. This is called calibration.
Multiple displays
If you have more than one screen, Windows needs to know how they’re arranged so your mouse moves correctly from one to the other.
Resolution and refresh rate
Your screen works best at a certain resolution (how sharp it looks) and refresh rate (how smoothly it updates). Windows usually sets this for you, but you can change it manually.
Power management
Windows can turn off parts of your computer (like the screen or hard drive) to save energy when you’re not using it.
You can set your computer to go into a sleep mode if you leave it alone for a while, so it saves power but wakes up quickly when you come back.
Instead of turning the computer all the way off, you can use power-saving states.
ACPI (Advanced Configuration and Power Interface)
ACPI (Advanced Configuration and Power Interface) is a system that lets the software and hardware talk to each other about power saving.
Power states what in a pc?
S0: Computer is on.
S1-S3: Standby/Suspend to RAM – Computer turns off everything except memory so it can wake up quickly.
S4: Hibernate/Suspend to Disk – Saves everything to a file and shuts down. Starts slower but uses no power.
S5: Off, but still plugged in.
G3: Completely off (unplugged).
Network Settings (How You Connect to the Internet)
Your PC connects to the internet using network adapters, like:
Ethernet (cable)
Wi-Fi
Cellular
VPN (Virtual Private Network – makes your connection more private)
Each adapter needs an IP address so it knows where to send and receive data.
Every network is given a profile
Public: Very strict security
Private: More relaxed, like at home
Domain: For business networks
Administrative Tools (Advanced Settings for Pros)
Microsoft Management Console (MMC): A container for tools (called snap-ins).
Resource Monitor (resmon.exe) and Performance Monitor (perfmon.msc): Show how your computer is performing.
Registry Editor (regedit.exe): Lets you edit hidden Windows settings. Be careful here!
Services (services.msc): Lets you turn background services on or off.
Task Scheduler (taskschd.msc): Automatically run programs at certain times or when something happens.
