Study Lab for Chapter 16

Use the "Key Terms and Definitions" section of the lab to review terms used in this chapter. Try the "Practice Test" to check your comprehension of the chapter. Tackle the "Lab Exercises" to apply your knowledge. Use the sections that follow to help you prepare for operating system installation questions on the A+ Certification Operating Systems Exam.

Key Terms and Definitions

Administrator

Windows NT/2000/XP term for the user or group in charge of the computer's hardware/software configuration. Administrator-class login is required before hardware or software can be installed, removed, or changed on Windows NT/2000/XP systems.

Autorun

Windows feature that loads a specified program from the CD at startup.

back up (or backup)

Process of copying or transferring files from a drive to another storage device for safekeeping.

Batch.exe

Windows 98 utility used to create setup scripts.

boot manager

Utility software that enables the user to choose between two or more operating systems at startup.

boot order

BIOS setting specifying sequence in which bootable drives are accessed.

bootable CD

CD that can start a computer.

clean install

Installation of the only operating system on a hard disk.

compliance check

Verifying your system has a qualifying version of Windows installed or available on media.

Custom (network settings)

Enables Windows XP users to change normal settings for the network.

Dbset.exe

Windows 98 utility used to add personalization to setup scripts.

dual-boot installation

Installation that enables the user to choose between two operating systems at startup time.

ESD (emergency startup disk)

Windows 9x/Me disk used to start the system and prepare the hard disk for use. Can also repair a damaged Windows installation.

EULA (End-User License Agreement)

Agreement between the user and the software vendor that specifies how software can be used.

FAT16

File system compatible with all 32-bit versions of Windows, but with a 2GB limit per drive letter.

FAT32

File system compatible with Windows 95 OSR 2.x, 98/Me, 2000/XP, but not Windows NT 4.0 or original Windows 95.

file system

How data is stored and accessed on a drive.

full version

(of an operating system) An operating system that can be installed to an empty hard disk.

HCL (Hardware Compatibility List)

Microsoft database of hardware supported by different Windows versions. Being replaced by Microsoft Windows Catalog.

.inf file

Specially formatted text file used by Windows to guide the installation process of a particular program, piece of hardware, or operating system.

installation path

The drive/directory (folder) where Windows will be installed.

mass storage

General term for IDE/ATA/SCSI/RAID/Serial ATA drives and host adapters.

Netsetup

Windows 95 program used to copy Windows install files to a network drive.

NTFS (New Technology File System)

File system compatible with Windows NT/2000/XP.

OEM (original equipment manufacturer)

Refers to hardware or software included with or built into a PC.

OEM version

(of an operating system) An operating system supplied as part of the computer.

operating system upgrade

Installation that replaces the original operating system with a new version.

Other Devices

Device Manager category for devices for which Windows can't find drivers.

product activation

Process of unlocking Windows XP after installation. Activation matches the product key to the system configuration.

product key

Alphanumeric identifier used by Microsoft to unlock Windows for installation. Used by Windows XP for product activation.

recovery CD

Windows installation stored in a special form that can be uncompressed only to a particular configuration of hardware.

Regional Settings

Settings such as language, keyboard, and time zone.

restore (data files)

Process of making data files available to the system. Might require the use of a backup program.

SID (Security Identifier Number)

Must be unique on each network. Can be modified through the use of Sysprep on a cloned system.

Typical (network settings)

Normal Windows XP settings.

Unattend.txt

Windows NT/2000/XP term for the script file used to customize an OS installation.

Upgrade Advisor

Downloadable Windows XP utility (also included on the Windows XP CDs) that can be used to analyze a system before installation to find incompatible hardware or software.

upgrade version

(of an operating system) An operating system that is sold as a replacement for an existing operating system.

Practice Test

1:	Your client is using Windows 98, but wants to try using Windows XP on the same computer. Which of the following installation methods will enable both operating systems to be available? Upgrade Windows 98 to Windows XP. Install Windows XP on a network drive and use a boot disk to run it from the network. Install Windows XP from within Windows 98 onto empty disk space. Perform a clean install of Windows XP.
2:	Your client has a computer with the following specifications: 300MHz processor, 32MB of RAM, and 1.5GB free disk space. Which of the following best describes its readiness for a Windows XP installation? No changes are necessarystart installing! Better upgrade the processor. The RAM size is too small. It needs a bigger hard disk.
3:	You have just installed Windows 2000 as a dual boot with Windows 98, and Windows 2000 doesn't have a driver for the network card or the modem. How can you get drivers for these devices? Reinstall Windows 98 and use Windows Update. Run Windows Update from within Windows 2000. Run Windows Update from within Windows 98. Use Windows 98 to download the needed drivers.
4:	Your client is unable to boot from a CD to install Windows 2000. After removing a nonsystem floppy disk from drive A:, the computer is able to boot from the CD. Which of the following best describes the system's boot order? The CD-ROM was listed first. The hard disk was listed first. The CD-ROM was listed before the hard disk. The floppy disk was listed after the CD-ROM.
5:	Your client wants to have the option to start the existing or the new operating system on a particular PC and wants to use the same software with either operating system. Which installation procedure can be used to achieve this goal? Install the new version of Windows to unpartitioned space. Upgrade the system to the new version of Windows. After installing Windows to unpartitioned space, reinstall the applications used with the original version. Use Sysprep to transfer the programs between versions.
6:	During the installation of Windows 98, you are not prompted for the computer name and workgroup name although the computer has a network card installed. Which of the following is the most likely reason? Windows recognizes the card but doesn't have a suitable driver. Windows doesn't recognize the card. Windows is being installed as a dual-boot operating system. None of the above.
7:	You are using Batch.exe , Dbset.exe , and Infinst.exe to prepare for installation of Windows from the network. Which version of Windows are you installing? Windows 98 Windows Me Windows XP Windows NT 4.0
8:	When should you use the Unattend.txt file? To automate installation of Windows NT/2000/XP To configure an already installed copy of Windows To automate installation of Windows 9x To automate installation of Windows Me
9:	You are installing Windows 2000 on a system that contains a RAID adapter that has its own drivers. Which key should you press when prompted to install the adapter's drivers? F4 F6 F8 Esc
10:	When should you use Sysprep? On a Windows installation on a cloned computer. It is used to create a copy of a Windows installation onto CD-R media. Sysprep is used to partition disks with Windows NT/2000/XP. It should be installed on a computer that will be cloned.
11:	Which Windows 2000/XP file logs events during the text-mode portion of installation? Setuperr.log Bootlog.txt setuplog.txt ntbtlog.txt

Lab Exercises

Required equipment : working system with Internet connection, empty hard disk, Windows 9x/Me, and Windows 2000/XP versions that can be used for installation

Installation Readiness

Objective : Learn the steps necessary to prepare for an operating system installation.

1. Determine the processor type/speed, memory size, and hard disk size (empty drive). Are there any Windows versions this system is not compatible with?

2. Use Windows Device Manager to determine the following:

   Modem type/brand/model

   Network card type/brand/model

   Graphics card type/brand/model

3. Use the Internet connection to locate the vendor's Web site for each of these and download drivers (if possible) for the operating system(s) you plan to install.

   If the connection isn't fast enough, just note the names and locations of the file(s).

4. If you have Windows XP, run its Upgrade Advisor and note any problems detected with the system.

Clean Install

Objective : Learn how to perform a clean install.

1. Perform a clean install of an operating system with the empty hard disk (remove the original hard disk and set it aside for safekeeping).

2. Create two or more drive letters on the hard disk during the process. Leave 5GB or more of unpartitioned space on the hard disk.

3. After the installation is over, use the Windows Device Manager to determine if any devices need driver updates.

Dual-Boot Install

Objective : Learn to perform a dual-boot install.

1. Perform a dual-boot install of an operating system to the drive used in the Clean Install exercise.

2. Use the unpartitioned space for the installation.

3. Try loading both old and new versions of Windows when you restart the computer after the installation is over.

Script Tools

Objective : Familiarize yourself with scripting and automation tools.

1. If script and automation tools are available on the Windows version (or by download), try them.

2. View the scripts you create (or sample scripts) with Notepad. What special characteristics do the scripts have?

3. Try running an install using a script sample or one you made to the empty hard disk (delete the operating systems you installed earlier).

Answers to Practice Test

A1:	Answer C (install Windows XP from within Windows 98 onto empty disk space) is the right answer. This creates a dual-boot configuration that lets the user select the operating system to run with each startup.
A2:	If you answered C (the RAM size is too small), you're right. This PC needs at least 64MB of RAM.
A3:	Windows Update can get you drivers, but it can get you drivers only for the currently running operating system and only if there's a working Internet connection. None of those apply here, so D (use Windows 98 to download the needed drivers) is the correct answer.
A4:	It's a puzzler, but if you selected answer C (the CD-ROM was listed before the hard disk), you beat this brain teaser.
A5:	Answer C (after installing Windows to unpartitioned space, reinstall the applications used with the original version) is a winner.
A6:	Answer B (Windows doesn't recognize the card) is the right place to start troubleshooting this system. Check for hardware conflicts, and make sure the card isn't defective.
A7:	Answer A (Windows 98) is the right choice here.
A8:	Answer A (to automate installation of Windows NT/2000/XP) is right again!
A9:	This is easy if you watch the screen, but you should memorize this because the prompt goes away quickly. Try answer B (F6).
A10:	If you answered D (it should be installed on a computer that will be cloned), you have your utilities right! Sysprep helps an "identical" cloned PC customize itself to the network.
A11:	Answer C ( setuplog.txt ) is the one you want.