It Essentials Cisco Ch 5: Fundamental Operating Systems

Front 1

Application Programming Interface API

Back 1

A set of guidelines used by programmers to ensure that the application they are developing is compatible with an OS . Two examples: Open Graphics Library (OpenGL) Cross platform standard specification for multimedia graphics. DirectX - Collection of APIs related to multimedia tasks for Windows.

Front 2

Multi-threading

Back 2

A program can be broken into smaller parts that can be loaded as needed by the OS. Multi-threading allows individual programs to be multi-tasked.

Front 3

Real Mode

Back 3

A CPU that operates in real mode can only execute one program at a time, and it can only address 1 MB of system memory at a time. Although all modern processors have real mode available, it is only used by DOS and DOS applications or by 16-bit operating systems, such as Windows 3.x. In real mode, when an application creates an error, the entire computer can be affected because the program has direct access to memory. This can cause the computer to stop responding, restart, or shut down due to corruption of the memory space

Front 4

Protected Mode

Back 4

A CPU that operates in protected mode has access to all of the memory in the computer, including virtual memory. Virtual memory is hard disk space that is used to emulate RAM. Operating systems that use protected mode can manage multiple programs simultaneously. Protected mode provides 32-bit access to memory, drivers, and transfers between input and output (I/O) devices. Protected mode is used by 32-bit operating systems, such as Windows 2000 or Windows XP. In protected mode, applications are protected from using the memory reserved for another application that is currently running.

Front 5

Virtual Real Mode

Back 5

A CPU that operates in virtual real mode allows a real-mode application to run within a protected-mode operating system. This can be demonstrated when a DOS application runs in a 32-bit operating system, such as Windows XP.

Front 6

Compatibility Mode

Back 6

Compatibility mode creates the environment of an earlier operating system for applications that are not compatible with the current operating system

Front 7

Minimum XP requirements.

Back 7

233mhz, 64 MB RAM, 1.5 GB HDD space, Super VGA (800x600)

Front 8

Primary Partition

Back 8

This partition is usually the first partition. A primary partition cannot be subdivided into smaller sections. There can be up to four partitions per hard drive.

Front 9

Active Partition

Back 9

This partition is the partition used by the operating system to boot the computer. Only one primary partition can be marked active.

Front 10

Extended Partition

Back 10

This partition normally uses the remaining free space on a hard drive or takes the place of a primary partition. There can be only one extended partition per hard drive, and it can be subdivided into smaller sections called logical drives.

Front 11

Logical Drive

Back 11

This drive is a section of an extended partition that can be used to separate information for administrative purposes.

Front 12

Formatting

Back 12

This process prepares a file system in a partition for files to be stored

Front 13

Sector

Back 13

Contains a fixed number of bytes, generally 512

Front 14

Cluster

Back 14

AKA file allocation unit. It is the smallest unit of space used for storing data. It is made up of one or more sectors

Front 15

Cylinder

Back 15

A stack of tracks lined up one on top of another to form a cylinder shape.

Front 16

Drive Mapping

Back 16

A letter assigned to a physical or logical drive.

Front 17

FAT32

Back 17

File Allocation Table, 32-bit: A file system that can support partition sizes up to 2 TB. Supported by Windows 9X, ME, 2000, and XP

Front 18

NTFS

Back 18

New Technology File System: A file system that can support partition sizes up to 16 exabytes, in theory. NTFS incorporates more file system security features and extended attributes than the FAT file system.

Front 19

Sysprep

Back 19

Microsoft System Preparation: Installs and configures the same OS on multiple Computers

Front 20

MBR

Back 20

Master Boot Record

Front 21

NTLDR

Back 21

Boot loader for XP, NT Loader.

Front 22

NTDETECT.COM

Back 22

Gets information about installed hardware.

Front 23

NTOSKRNL.EXE and HAL.DLL

Back 23

Make up the core of XP

Front 24

The Windows Registry

Back 24

These files are recognized by their distinctive names, which begin with HKEY_ followed by the name of the portion of the operating system under their control: CLASSES_ROOT, CURRENT_USER, USERS, LOCAL_MACHINE, CURRENT_CONFIG

Front 25

Msconfig

Back 25

This boot configuration utility allows you to set the programs that will run at startup and to edit configuration files. It also offers simplified control over Windows Services

Front 26

Regedit

Back 26

This application allows you to edit the registry

Front 27

Safe Mode

Back 27

Starts Windows but only loads drivers for basic components, such as the keyboard and display.

Front 28

Safe Mode with Networking Support

Back 28

Starts Windows identically to Safe Mode and also loads the drivers for network components.

Front 29

Safe Mode with command prompt

Back 29

Starts Windows and loads the command prompt instead of the GUI interface

Front 30

Last Known Good Configuration

Back 30

Enables a user to load the configurations settings of Windows that was used the last time that Windows successfully started. It does this by accessing a copy of the registry that is created for this purpose.

Front 31

Windows naming convention

Back 31

Max 255 characters, periods and slashes are not allowed, an extension of three or four letters is added to the filename to identify the file type. Filenames are not case sensitive.

Front 32

Directory Attribute: R

Back 32

The file is read-only

Front 33

Directory Attribute: A

Back 33

The file will be archived the next time that the disk is backed up

Front 34

Directory Attribute: S

Back 34

The file is marked as a system file and a warning is given if an attempt is made tot delete or modify the file.

Front 35

Directory Attribute: H

Back 35

The file is hidden in the directory display

Front 36

Device Manager

Back 36

Allows you to view all of the settings for devices in the computer.

Front 37

Task Manager

Back 37

Allows you to view all applications that are currently running and to close any applications that have stopped responding. The Task Manager allows you to monitor the performance of the CPU and virtual memory, view all processes that are currently running, and view information about the network connections.

Front 38

Event Viewer

Back 38

Logs a history of events regarding applications, security, and the system.

Front 39

Remote Desktop

Back 39

Allows one computer to remotely take control of another computer.

Front 40

Performance Settings

Back 40

To enhance the performance of the OS, you can change some of the settings that your computer uses, such as virtual memory configuration settings.

Front 41

Normal Backup

Back 41

Full backup, all files are archived to the backup medium

Front 42

Copy Backup

Back 42

Copies all selected files.

Front 43

Differential Backup

Back 43

Backs up all the files and folders that have been created of modified since either the last normal backup or the last incremental backup.

Front 44

Incremental Backup

Back 44

An incremental backup procedure backs up all the files and folders that have been created or modified since either the last normal or incremental backup. It marks the files as having been archived by clearing the archive bit. This has the effect of advancing the starting point of differential backups without having to re-archive the entire contents of the drive.