Chapter 8: Supporting Storage Devices in Windows XP

Exam Objectives in this Chapter:

• Configure and troubleshoot storage devices

  • Answer end user questions related to configuring hard disks and partitions or volumes

  • Manage and troubleshoot disk partitioning

  • Answer end user questions related to optical drives such as CD-ROM, CD-RW, DVD-ROM, and DVD+R

Why This Chapter Matters

A storage device is any device that is installed on a computer designed to store data. Microsoft Windows sorts storage devices into two categories: fixed storage devices and removable storage devices. Hard disks are considered to be fixed storage devices because the hard disk’s media are not removable. Most other storage devices, including CD-ROM and DVD-ROM, are considered removable because you can remove either the device itself or the storage media that the device uses. This chapter covers the support and troubleshooting of hard disks and removable storage devices.

Lessons in this Chapter:

• Lesson 1: Supporting and Troubleshooting Hard Disks

• Lesson 2: Supporting and Troubleshooting Removable Media

Before You Begin

Before you begin this chapter, you should have a basic familiarity with working in a Windows-based operating system and with the types of storage devices typically used on a computer running Microsoft Windows XP. You should also have a computer running Windows XP Professional.