Windows operating system

Computer science

The discipline “Informatics” belongs to the disciplines of the basic part of the mathematical and natural science cycle of the federal state educational standards of higher professional education (FSES HPE) for all areas of training. When studying computer science, an important role is given to mastering the professional skills of a personal computer user who owns basic information processing software.

This textbook is an integral part of the educational and methodological complex in the discipline “Informatics”. The manual, in accordance with the discipline program, discusses the main functions and characteristics of operating systems (OS) personal computers, Windows XP operating system (hereinafter referred to as Windows OS); basics of working with objects and controls; basic operations with files and folders in OS windows and using file managers.

The study guide includes:

· background information with elements of theory on the topic being studied;

· guidelines to perform laboratory work;

· basic and additional technological techniques necessary to perform laboratory work;

· individual control tasks;

· test tasks to assess the mastery of basic didactic units.

Studying this topic and performing laboratory work contributes to the formation of general cultural and professional competencies in students in accordance with the requirements of the Federal State Educational Standard for Higher Professional Education, necessary for solving educational and professional problems in the conditions of informatization of modern society.

1 Operating systems of personal computers.

Basic concepts of operating systems

Purpose of studying the topic– study of the basic functions and characteristics of the operating system of personal computers.

Topic questions:

· Basic concepts of operating systems.

· OS types for personal computers.

· Basics of working with the Windows XP operating system.

Having studied the topic, the student must:

know:

· basic concepts, functions and classification of operating systems;

· main types of OS for personal computers;

be able to:

· work with Windows OS objects and controls;

· work with Windows OS Main Menu commands.

have the skills:

· working with Windows OS objects and controls;

· work with different versions of Windows OS.

When mastering the topic you must:

· study theoretical material;

· pay attention to the basic concepts, functions and classification of the OS;

· consider the features of the OS, paying special attention to information about the Windows OS;

· execute laboratory works to gain skills on the topic being studied; master the tools and techniques for working with Windows OS objects and controls and the technology for working with folders and document files.

operating system(OS) – totality software, providing control of computer hardware and application programs, as well as their interaction with each other and the user.

The OS is usually stored on disks. When you turn on the computer, it is read from disk memory and placed in RAM. This process is called loading the operating system or booting the computer.

The OS can be called computer management software. In the main OS functions includes:

· ensuring dialogue with the user;

· input/output control;

· launching programs for execution;

· planning and organizing the data processing process;

· distribution of resources (RAM, processor, external devices) between running programs;

· organization of storage and access to data on external storage devices;

· data transfer between internal devices of a computer or computers,

· service functions.

OS are classified:

· by the number of simultaneously performed tasks on single-tasking And multitasking.

Single-tasking operating systems perform the function of providing the user with a virtual computer, providing him with a simple and convenient interface for interacting with the computer, tools for managing peripheral devices and files. Multitasking OS, in addition to the above functions, manages the division of shared resources such as processor, RAM, files and external devices;

· by the number of concurrent users on single-user And multi-user.

The main difference between multi-user operating systems and single-user operating systems is the availability of means to protect each user’s information from unauthorized access by other users;

· on the characteristics of resource management algorithms on local And network.

Local operating systems manage the resources of an individual computer, and network operating systems participate in managing network resources;

· according to the method of processor time distribution between several processes running simultaneously in the system on the OS with non-preemptive multitasking And with preemptive multitasking.

With non-preemptive multitasking, the scheduling mechanism is distributed between the system and application programs, and with preemptive multitasking, the task scheduling mechanism is entirely concentrated in the OS. In non-preemptive multitasking, the active process runs until it voluntarily transfers control to the operating system to select another process ready to run from the queue. With preemptive multitasking, the decision to switch the processor from one process to another is made by the operating system, and not by the active process itself;

· by hardware orientation on personal computer operating systems, servers, mainframes, clusters;

· depending on hardware platforms on dependent And mobile.

In mobile operating systems, hardware-dependent places are localized in such a way that when the system is transferred to a new platform, only they are rewritten. A means to facilitate the transfer of an OS to another type of computer is to write it in a machine-independent language, for example, C [C];

· according to the specific areas of use on OS batch processing , time sharing, real time.

Batch processing systems are designed to solve computational problems that do not require quick results. The main goal and criterion for the effectiveness of batch processing systems is maximum throughput, that is, solving the maximum number of problems per unit of time. In time-sharing systems, each user is provided with a terminal from which he can conduct a dialogue with his program. Each task is allocated a slice of processor time, so that no single task takes up the processor for too long. If the time slice is chosen to be small, then all users simultaneously working on one computer have the impression that each of them is solely using the machine. Real-time systems are used to control various technical objects and technological processes when there is a maximum permissible time during which a particular object control program must be executed. Failure to complete the program on time can lead to an emergency. Thus, the criterion for the effectiveness of real-time systems is their ability to withstand predetermined time intervals between the launch of a program and the receipt of a result - a control action.

Each operating system has its own command language, which allows the user to perform certain actions. Analysis and execution of user commands, including loading programs into RAM and their execution is carried out by the OS command processor.

OS interfaces. According to the implementation of the user interface, there are non-graphic And graphic OS. The following types of user interfaces are distinguished:

· command line interface(implement non-graphical operating systems) – the main control device is the keyboard.

Control commands are entered into the command line field, where they can be edited. The execution of the command begins after it is approved, for example, by pressing the ENTER key. For IBM PC platform computers, the command line interface is provided by a family of operating systems under the general name MS-DOS (versions from MS-DOS 1.0 to MS-DOS 6.2);

· GUI (implement graphical operating systems) - a type of interface in which, in addition to the keyboard, a mouse or an adequate positioning device can be used as a control.

GUI– a system of windows, dialog panels and controls that provide interactive dialogue between the user and the OS, programs and applications.

Working with a graphical OS is based on the interaction of active and passive on-screen controls. The active control element is the mouse pointer - a graphic object whose movement on the screen is synchronized with the movement of the mouse. Graphical application controls (dialog panel elements - buttons, switches, checkboxes, drop-down lists, etc.; menu bars and many others) act as passive controls. The nature of the interaction between active and passive controls is chosen by the user.

In the software and OS sector, the leading positions are occupied by IBM, Microsoft, Novell, Apple, etc.

Types of OS for personal computers. The most common types of operating systems for personal computers (PCs):

· OS MS DOS (Microsoft Disk Operating System - disk operating system from MicroSoft) is the most common operating system for 16-bit personal computers, created in 1981 by order of IBM for the IBM PC.

Main characteristics of the first versions of MS DOS: work on a PC with only one user and one program; work only with floppy disks, keyboard and monitor (then support for new devices using drivers appeared); hierarchical support file structure; Availability of service programs - utilities, etc.

Advantages of MS DOS: compactness; modest PC requirements; performing the minimum necessary functions. Disadvantages of MS DOS: single-tasking (although there are software tools that allow you to run multiple DOS programs and switch between them); poor means of protection against unauthorized access and collective work with data; lack of a standard interface.

The inability to introduce fundamental improvements to MS DOS led to the creation of new operating systems.

· Unix OS. UNIX– a group of portable, multitasking and multi-user operating systems. The first UNIX system was developed in 1969. Today, UNIX is used mainly on servers and also as embedded systems for various hardware. In the OS market for workstations and home use, UNIX gave way to other operating systems, primarily Microsoft Windows, although existing software solutions for Unix systems make it possible to implement full-fledged workstations for both office and home use.

The main factors ensuring the popularity of Unix: compatibility with other platforms, openness of the system; multitasking; support for international standards; simple user interface; single hierarchical file system; a large number of applications.

· Linux OS . Start of creation Linux systems started in 1991 by Finnish student Linus Torvalds, who distributed the first prototype of his operating system (open source) on the Internet source code) and called on everyone who liked it or not to respond to his work. From that moment on, many programmers began to support Linux, adding device drivers, developing various applications, etc. The atmosphere of enthusiasts working on a useful project, as well as the free distribution and use of source code, became the basis of the Linux phenomenon. Currently, Linux is a very powerful server stable system, and at the same time free.

The Linux kernel supports multitasking, virtual memory, dynamic-link libraries, lazy loading, efficient memory management, and many networking protocols.

· Windows OS. Microsoft Windows OS (windows from English - windows) is a family of operating systems from Microsoft. Chronology of releases of major versions of Windows OS:

Windows NT 3.1 (1993);

Windows 2000 - Windows NT 5.0 (2000);

Windows XP - Windows NT 5.1 (2001);

Windows Vista- Windows NT 6.0 (2006);

Windows 7 - Windows NT 6.1 (2009);

Windows 8 - Windows NT 6.2 (2012);

Windows 10 (2014).

The main strategic goal of creating the Windows 9x families was to transfer users to new 32-bit programs while maintaining the continuity of programs written for MS-DOS. Windows 9x - an OS with a graphical interface and advanced network capabilities, was used on both desktop and laptop computers.

Windows NT (NT - from the English New Technology) is a 32-bit OS with built-in network support and advanced multi-user tools. The Windows NT family is a preemptive multitasking operating system. This operating system is very convenient for users working within local network, for collaborative users, especially for teams working on large projects and sharing data.

The Windows 2000 family is an operating system for business use on a wide variety of computers, from laptops to servers. This OS is one of the best for conducting business on the Internet.

Windows XP is a continuation of the development of Windows 2000. This OS is mainly aimed at client PCs.

Windows Vista (“vista” - “new opportunities”, “opening prospects” - network OS. This version provides increased security and reliability of data, compatibility with most modern means of communication, simplified installation of the OS on several computers.

Windows 7 is a version of the operating system that focuses on speed, application and device compatibility, reliability, security, and increasing laptop battery life.

Windows Mobile is a new generation OS designed for use in mobile computing devices and has a number of improved characteristics.

Windows 8 is an operating system belonging to the Microsoft Windows OS family that uses new interface entitled Metro, uses Windows 7 techniques.

Windows 10 is an operating system belonging to the Windows OS family; single OS for different devices: computer, smartphone, tablet or any other gadget. The OS has a unified development platform and one stop shop applications.

Basics of working with the Windows XP operating system. The basics of working with the Windows XP operating system come down to studying objects and controls Desktop And Taskbars.

Windows OS desktop. After turning on the computer and starting Windows OS, you can see on the screen Desktop– Windows OS system object (Figure 1.1), graphical environment, which displays objects(in the form of graphic icons) and controls (Task bar– horizontal bar at the bottom of the screen).

Windows OS objects. All objects in Windows OS are presented in the form graphic icons(pictograms). The objects are system folders, folders with documents(files), separate documentation(files), web pages, applications or programs and etc.

TO system folders include My Computer, Network Places, and Recycle Bin. My Computer is a special folder that provides access to the main elements of the PC, allows you to view the contents of disks and perform various operations with files and folders (launching programs, copying, moving, deleting files, creating folders, etc.). Recycle Bin is a special folder used to temporarily store the names of deleted objects from which they can be restored). Network Neighborhood is a special folder that is used to view the contents of the disks of computers connected to the local network and perform various operations on them.

Folder(directory) – a named location on the disk where file names, information about the size of the files, and the time they were created are stored. Folders are used to organize programs and documents on the disk and can contain both files and other folders. All folders in Windows OS are marked with a folder icon. File– a sequence of bytes that has a name and is stored in long-term (external) memory. A file is the basic unit of storage that allows a computer to distinguish one set of data from another. Files of the same type are indicated by the same icons. Document – a file that is created and processed by an application in Windows OS (for example, a text document created in office application Word). Application- This application program, which is designed specifically for Windows OS and has a single user interface with the OS (for example, Word, Excel, etc. applications included in the MS Office package). Program is an ordered sequence of commands that a computer executes in the process of data processing (there are basic, system, utility and application programs).

Figure 1.1 – WINDOWS OS desktop

For quick access to objects frequently used in work, it is advisable to use Desktop labels for these objects. Label(graphic icon with a small slanted arrow) – a link to an object located in another location. From a Windows OS point of view label is a special file that stores data about the parameters and position of an object on disk. When contacting shortcut the system, using the information about the location of the object stored in it, finds and launches (calls up on the screen) the object.

Icons and labels of objects have labels - inscriptions that are located under them. Object icons and shortcuts allow you to manage these objects. The techniques for working with icons and labels are the same, but the consequences of these actions may differ. For example, deleting (or moving) an icon results in deleting (or moving) the object, copying an icon results in copying the object; deleting (or moving) a shortcut leads to deleting (or moving) the pointer, but not the object; copying a shortcut leads to copying the pointer, but not the object. You can open (launch) an object by double-clicking on the icon or shortcut of this object.

Using shortcuts when working with objects provides significant convenience for the user:

· saves time due to quick access to the object associated with the shortcut;

· saves space on your hard drive, because there is no need to copy the file to other folders, which would lead to a significant consumption of work space on the hard drive (and you can create an unlimited number of shortcuts for one object);

· there is no problem with data synchronization, because running the file from different folders through the shortcuts placed in them, only one object associated with the shortcuts is always edited, which is especially important when sharing data.

Windows OS controls. Task bar - one of the main controls of Windows OS. In the left corner Taskbars there is a Start button that opens Main menu Windows OS, with which the user gains access to all programs installed under the OS, files (documents), system resources, all means of setting it up, and the PC shutdown mode. To the right of the Start button is Quick Launch Toolbar, in which the user places icons of the programs with which he works most often. Next are buttons for active applications and open folders and files that appear in Taskbars immediately after launching the corresponding application or opening a folder or file. The button always shows the name of the open object. Click on the button in Taskbars Brings the object's window to the foreground. In the right corner Taskbars located Display panel(notification area), where current time indicators, Ru(En) keyboard layouts and others are located. Other icons temporarily appear in the notification area to indicate the status of ongoing operations (for example, after you send a document to print, a printer icon appears in the notification area while the document is printing). Task bar– customizable panel. You can resize it, move it, apply auto-hide, change appearance etc. Commands for changing settings can be called from the context menu Taskbars or the Start button (PropertiesÞTaskbarÞTaskbar Appearance).

Working with the mouse. After Windows loads, a graphical object called a mouse cursor appears on the screen. “Mouse” is a manipulator-type control device for working with a graphical interface. Moving the mouse on the table causes the cursor to move on the screen, making it possible to position it on object icons or application controls.

Structurally, a standard “mouse” consists of 2 keys and a scroll wheel (or 3 keys). One of the mouse keys is the main one (usually the left one); it is used to perform actions with objects (for example, selecting and moving objects around the screen, etc.). The second key (usually the right one) is called an additional or context menu key. Control techniques using the mouse - clicking and dragging.

Mouse actions:

· freezing(pointing to an object) – hovering the mouse pointer over an object icon or control element (in this case, a tooltip appears on the screen, briefly characterizing the properties of the object);

· click(simple click) – pressing and releasing the left mouse button (for example, to select an object or menu item);

· double click– two quick clicks with the left mouse button at the same point on the screen (for example, selecting an object and launching it, or opening a menu item);

· click right click – pressing and releasing the right mouse button, which calls up a context menu containing commands that are valid when working with the selected object, and depends on the current state (context) of the object;

· drag and drop(drag-and-drop - drag and leave) - pressing and holding the left mouse button while moving it (this causes objects to move around the screen, which ends if you release the button);

· stretching“mouse” (click-and-drag - click and drag) - is performed like dragging, but this does not move the object, but changes its shape (for example, changing the size of a window);

· special drag– is performed in the same way as dragging, but when the right mouse button is pressed, a special dragging menu appears with a set of possible commands (convenient to use, for example, when copying or moving folders, selected paragraphs of text, table cells, etc.).

Windows OS windows. The term "windows" translated from English means "windows". Working in Windows OS comes down to working with windows. Based on the presence of homogeneous control and design elements, several types of windows are distinguished: folder windows, dialog boxes(dialog panels), help windows, application windows, document windows. Window- This is a rectangular area of ​​​​the screen limited by frames, inside which various Windows programs are executed. Each program has its own window, and all windows have the same structure and set of controls. Having mastered the basic operations with windows, the user receives the necessary skills to work with any Windows OS program.

The Windows OS folder window contains the following required elements (Figure 1.2):

· header line(1) – in the left corner contains system icon, the appearance of which depends on the category of the object, when you click on this icon, it opens service menu, whose commands allow you to control the size and position of the window on Desktop, when you call the context menu, it opens system menu;Near system icon indicated open folder name(or applications); right in title line there are three window control buttons( – Minimize, which temporarily minimizes the window as a button in Task bar, or – replaceable buttons Expand or Collapse to window, which “expand” the window to full screen or switch the viewing mode from full screen to normal window mode, – Close, which removes the window from the screen and stops working with the object);

· window menu bar(2) – has a standard appearance for Windows OS windows, contains a list of commands, thematically grouped into items; When you click on each item, a “drop-down” menu containing a specific group of commands opens, and if an ellipsis sign is shown, a dialog box opens with additional information; if an arrow (black triangle or double arrows) is shown, nested pop-up menu items open ; V window menu bar The items File, Edit, View, Favorites, Service, Help, and others are always present possible options depend on the category of the object;

· toolbar(3) – a customizable panel (View Toolbar), contains command buttons (icons) that provide fast access to the most frequently used commands from window menu;

· address bar(4) – allows you to quickly navigate to other sections of the file structure (for example, to a folder on another disk);

· Workspace(5) – the inner part of the window, contains subfolders or document windows; next to it is a list of tasks, you can select a file or folder, and then select a task that allows you to rename, copy, move or delete that file or folder, you can also send the file by e-mail or publish it on the Internet; in addition to the main tasks for files and folders, there are several folders with links to specialized tasks;

· scroll bars – horizontal and vertical (6) – appear if the dimensions work area the windows are not sufficient to view the entire contents of the object; scroll bars have a slider and two end buttons; scrolling is performed by clicking on one of the end buttons, dragging the slider, or clicking on the scroll bar above or below the slider;

· status bar(7) – contains current information about the object;

· window borders(8) – frame limiting the window on four sides; The window size can be changed by doing dragging left mouse button behind the frame or behind the “ eyelet"(bottom right frame element).

Figure 1.2 – My Computer folder window

Windows OS dialog panels. In addition to object windows, when working with Windows OS, you often have to deal with dialog panels(interactive panels with various controls), which serve to organize a dialogue between the PC and the user, in particular: to communicate any information to the user (Figure 1.3); to receive a response to any request (Figure 1.4); to select an object or set its parameters (Figure 1.5).

In the first case, the user must take note of the reported information and click OK (Figure 1.3), in the second case, click the desired button to respond to the request (Figure 1.4).

In the third case dialog panel may contain the controls needed to select the desired commands. In appearance, such panels can be single-page or multi-page (Figure 1.5).

To the main controls dialog panels relate:

· tabs– “pages” of the dialog panel, selection tabs

· buttons– pressing the button performs an action (function embedded in the button), the inscription on the button explains its purpose;

· input fields(text fields) – edit fields; to enter text information, you should left-click in entry field and enter the desired text from the keyboard;

· lists– a set of suggested values; drop-down list– a text field equipped with a button with a downward arrow; the list is expanded by left-clicking the mouse;

· switches(white circle) – to select one of the mutually exclusive options, the selection is made by clicking the left mouse button, the selected option is indicated by a circle with a dot inside;

· checkboxes(square with a “checkmark”) – assign certain values ​​to the parameter (checkboxes can be located either in groups or individually), setting checkboxes carried out by clicking the left mouse button;

· counters– a pair of arrows that allow you to change discretely (step by step) the value in the field associated with it by clicking the left mouse button on the arrow;

· sliders– sliders for smoothly changing parameters;

· display window(or Sample line) – shows the result of the settings made.

Figure 1.5 – Multi-page dialog panel: setting object parameters

You can use the Tab key to move from one group of dialog box elements to another, and the cursor keys to move between elements within a group. Many dialog panels are multi-page. Figure 6 shows a multi-page dialog panel. The OS will make the changes specified in the dialog box only if the OK (or Apply) key is pressed; selecting the Cancel key will save the previous settings and close dialog panel.

Structure and purpose of the Windows OS Main Menu. Main menu– one of the main system controls of Windows OS. It opens by clicking on the Start button in Taskbars. Appearance Main menu can be changed. Commands for changing settings can be accessed from the context menu of the Start button (PropertiesÞStart MenuÞCustomize...). Classic look Main menu and the form adopted in Windows XP have only external differences. From a structure point of view, Main menu contains two sections - mandatory, created by the OS, and optional, created by the user.

Main sections Main menu Windows XP (Figure 1.6): 1 – current user name (generated when creating account user); 2 – Internet programs for viewing web pages and e-mail (the choice of program type is set by the user during setup); 3 – list of recently used programs (the number of items is determined by the user during setup); 4 – main system folders (the display is set by the user during setup); 5 – configuration tools; 6 – help, support, search; 7 – programs; 8 – log out and turn off the PC. Main menu– multi-level: when you hover the mouse over an item, a system of nested menu items opens.

The system folders My Documents, My Pictures and My Music are used to store text documents, pictures (photos and other graphic files) and sound files, respectively. The Recent Documents item gives access to shortcuts to the last fifteen documents the user worked with. My Computer item - opens a special system folder that provides access to the file structure.

Basic configuration tools - items Main menu Control Panel (allows you to customize the appearance and functionality of your PC, install and remove programs, configure network connections etc.) and Printers and Faxes (displays installed devices and allows you to add new ones).

Item Help and support Main menu(Figure 1.7) provides access to the Windows OS help system (the same can be done from the menu bar of any folder window: HelpÞHelp and Support Center). There are three main ways to use the Windows help system (regardless of the OS version): searching for information using the hierarchical tree of sections, using the alphabetical index, and using the contents of articles. Thus, in the Windows XP help system, the selection of the desired topic topic can be done in the Help Topic panel, where the contents of the selected topic are presented as a hierarchical data structure, the contents of the selected article are displayed in the right panel. When searching for an exact name or term, you can use the Index button (which selects the term from an alphabetical list in the left pane and displays the contents of the article that uses the term in the right pane). To search by keyword, use the Find field and the Start Search button. Use the Back and Forward toolbar buttons to navigate through the help panels, and use the Home button to return to the home page. The Favorites button allows you to save help pages for quick view further. The Log button displays a list of all pages visited in the current session in the help window. The Support button allows you to ask someone else or Microsoft Support for help. The Options button allows you to select options for customizing the Help and Support Center.

In addition, Windows XP provides several levels of access to help in dialog boxes:

· via a special button? (Help), after clicking on which the mouse pointer takes the form of a question mark; if you hover it over the control and left-click, a tooltip appears);

· through a contextual tooltip (after right-clicking on the control, a contextual tooltip button appears. What is this?, when left-clicking, a tooltip opens).

Windows uses tooltips to provide instant information about an object or control when you hover over it. Program and application windows provide access to their own help system.

Item Search Main menu opens access to the Search Results dialog box, designed to organize a search for objects and any information on the local computer, on a network server, or on the Internet. Search results are displayed in a special window, which is similar to a folder window and which can be used to launch the found program, folder or document.

The search for files and folders is carried out according to several main criteria: by name and address. If the exact name of the file is unknown, in the Part of the file name or the entire file name field, you can specify only part of it. When specifying a name, you can use wildcard characters: * and?. Symbol? replaces any single character. For example, for template 199 ? all objects whose names contain any year from 199 are suitable 0 199 each 9 . The * symbol means any character or set of characters. For example, search by pattern 1 * 4 can give the following results: 14, 1 23g 4, 199 4, 1program 4, etc. The * symbol is often used to list all files with the same extension. For example, the *.doc template will allow you to find all files with the doc extension, i.e. all files created in the text editor MS Word. The file location is selected from the drop-down list (the Browse button is used to limit the search to a single folder).

When searching, you can use additional criteria: date of last change (item When were the last changes made?), file size (item What is the file size?), file type (item Additional parameters). The search bar has additional hidden controls for this purpose, which are displayed when you click the disclosure arrow. When searching for a text document, you can search by its content (enter a key phrase in the Word or phrase in the file field).

Item Run Main menu serves to launch Windows and DOS programs, open folders and documents. In the Open field of the Run a program dialog box, you must enter a command, the full name of the document folder or Internet resource to open it. The Browse button is used to select a program or document.

To run programs from Main menu Use the All programs item. Along with application names, the All Programs item may contain folders for individual groups or categories of programs (for example, the Standard folder contains programs included with the OS that allow the user to perform certain tasks of operating the OS and working with the PC). Each of these folders opens an additional submenu. By moving through the submenu tree you can get to the name of the desired program.

Items Main menu Logout and Shutdown allow you to gracefully shut down Windows to prevent damage to your PC and loss of data. If you need to interrupt the session and allow another user to work with the PC, you must do the following: close the windows of all active applications and folders; Click the Logout button, and in the Exit Windows dialog box that appears, click the Change user button (after which another user can log in to the OS). When you finish working with your PC, you must do the following: close the windows of all active applications and folders; select Shutdown; in the Turn off computer dialog box that appears, select Shut down; click the OK button; turn off the power to the PC.

Attention! In case of abnormal shutdown (or when programs freeze), you must use the simultaneous pressing of the Ctrl-Alt-Delete keys. In the Manager dialog box Windows tasks select the Applications tab and the End task command. Pressing the Ctrl-Alt-Delete keys again will restart the PC, and all unsaved data will be lost!

General Microsoft Management Console (MMC) Concepts

IN Windows Server 2003 uses a single technology of administration tools, already traditional for Windows 2000/XP systems, called Microsoft Management Console (MMC, Microsoft Management Console) to manage the operating system. This universal management console is designed to launch all software modules for administering, configuring or monitoring local computers and the network as a whole. Such completed modules are called snap-ins. The management console itself does not perform any administrative functions, but serves as a workspace for running snap-ins. Snap-ins are control components that are combined in the MMC environment. From several accessories you can create an individual control tool.
Microsoft Management Console first appeared as a standard management tool as part of Windows 2000, which was driven by the desire to create a single and flexible management interface for all operating systems Windows family. MMC allows you to create more advanced administrative tools that can provide different levels of functionality. Such tools are easily modified and customized to suit user requirements. In this sense, a tool is not just a standalone application, but can consist of one or more snap-ins, and each snap-in can in turn contain additional snap-in extensions. This modular structure allows the system administrator to significantly reduce the cost of system management by creating custom tools based on selected snap-ins that provide only the necessary capabilities and viewing tools. The administrator can save each individual tool in separate file(MMC document file with the msc extension) and send it to other users or administrators who have been delegated the rights to perform these administrative tasks.

Attention

Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 use Microsoft Management Console version 2.0. This environment allows you to open MMS documents created in earlier versions MMC (1.1 and 1.2). However, if files are saved to new version, they are automatically converted and cannot be restored to previous versions.

Microsoft Management Console is an application with a multi-window interface, all of whose capabilities are determined by the snap-ins that are connected to it. Microsoft and independent software vendors develop a variety of MMC snap-ins to perform local computer and network management tasks.
MMC is not a replacement for existing enterprise management tools such as HP OpenView or IBM Tivoli Management Environment. The management console extends the capabilities of these tools by providing a means for them to interact with each other or by combining these tools into snap-ins that can be accessed from the MMC. For example, an enterprise management application might detect an event and send a notification to the snap-in (Figure 6.1). The system administrator will then detect the event in the MMC session and take the necessary action.

Rice. 6.1. The MMC console provides a common interface for management tools, including enterprise level applications

MMC programming interfaces allow you to integrate equipment with the console (Fig. 6.2). These interfaces provide only extensions user interface, since each equipment independently determines the mechanism (logic) for performing its tasks. MMC interfaces allow snap-ins to share a common host environment and provide integration between applications. The MMC console itself does not perform any management functions.

Rice. 6.2. Application interfaces allow you to integrate snap-ins with the console

Tools not designed to work in the MMC environment can be integrated into the MMC through snap-ins or run independently. The system administrator can simultaneously run stand-alone management tools and instances of MMC on the same computer.

Advantages of MMS

• Possibility of individual customization and delegation of authority.

In addition to providing integration and a common environment for administrative tools, the MMC console provides complete customization so that administrators can create management consoles that include only the tools they need. This setting allows administration to be oriented towards execution specific tasks, and the administrator can select only the necessary objects and elements.

Customizing the console also allows administrators to delegate some authority to less experienced employees. Using MMC, you can create a console that will contain objects necessary to perform only certain functions.

• Integration and unification.

MMS provides general environment, which can run snap-ins and allow administrators to manage multiple networking products using a single interface, making it easy to learn how to use different tools.

• Flexibility in the choice of tools and products.

You can use a variety of tools and snap-ins in the MMC environment. To be used in an MMC environment, the equipment must support object model components (Component Object Model, COM) or distributed COM (Distributed Component Object Model, DCOM). This allows you to select the most optimal product among the equipment, and its full compatibility with the MMC environment is guaranteed.

MMS user interface

The MMC management console has a user interface that allows you to open multiple documents (Multiple Document Interface, MDI). An example of the MMC console interface with several connected snap-ins is shown in Fig. 6.3. The Back and Forward navigation arrows on the toolbar allow you to quickly move between the windows of the various snap-ins connected to this MMC tool.
The parent window of the MMC console has a main menu and a toolbar. The main menu provides file and window management functions, as well as access to the help system. Unlike previous versions MMC, in version 2.0, the toolbar is available only in the parent window; it is absent in child windows.
The two child windows of the MMC console provide different means of viewing a stand-alone console document. Each of these windows contains a structure panel (scope pane, left window) and a results or information panel (result pane, right window). The Structure pane displays the tool namespace as a tree that contains all visible nodes that are a managed object, task, or viewer. The results pane in the child window displays a list of elements of the selected node. This list may contain folders, snap-ins, controls, web pages, taskpads, and other items.

Rice. 6.3. Example of a custom MMC console

MMC console tools also allow you to display the window in a simplified form that is accessible to less experienced administrators. In its simplest form, a window may contain a set of icons that provide access to specific tasks.

Types of snap-ins

There are two types of snap-ins in MMC.

• A standalone snap-in allows it to perform its functions even in the absence of other snap-ins, such as Computer Management.
• An extension snap-in can only work after the parent snap-in is activated. The purpose of an extension snap-in is to increase the number of features supported by its parent snap-in. An extension snap-in is a subordinate element of certain snap-ins, and whenever you launch those snap-ins, the MMC console automatically launches all extensions associated with them.

Extension snap-ins can provide a variety of functionality. For example, such snap-ins can expand the console namespace, increase the number of menu items, or add certain wizard programs.

Note

All snap-ins available in Windows Server 2003 are briefly described in Table. 6.1 and 6.2.

Configuring MMC consoles

In Windows Server 2003, you can manage your computer using the standard snap-ins that come with the system. However, if there is a need to fine-tune the system or the set of functions of individual snap-ins does not suit you, you can add the missing elements to the existing console or create a new MMC console. MMC consoles (or administrative tools) can contain snap-ins, snap-in extensions, taskbars, and documentation necessary to manage the hardware, software, or network components of the system.
All MMC tools consist of a set of equipment. Each fixture represents a minimum control unit. From the technical side, the equipment is an “in-proc OLE server” (in-proc server - this is how DLL libraries are often called in the COM model), which runs in the context of the MMC process. The snap-in can call other controls and dynamic-link libraries (DLLs) to perform its task.
A number of snap-ins with specific functionality can be combined by the administrator into a tool (also called a document), which is saved in a file with the msc (Management Saved Console) extension. The *.msc file can then be transferred to another administrator (for example, via email), who can use the tool it contains in their workplace.

Note

In practice, the terms tool and fixture can sometimes be used interchangeably, since some MMC tools (both standard and newly created) contain only one fixture. On the other hand, the term snap-in is used more often, because it is in the snap-in that all functionality is implemented, and it can be included in various tools - including those that the administrator himself configures. That's why you can often find phrases like " this function implemented using equipment..." (and not "using a tool...").

Thanks to the ability to customize MMC, the administrator can create the optimal tool based on the available snap-ins. Each tool can have many functions: for example, service management capabilities Active Directory, replication topology, file access, etc. In large networks, administrators may have a set of tools organized by category of tasks they perform.

Creating a new console

To get an idea of ​​the flexibility of MMC, it is useful to review the process of creating a console file - the MMC tool (document) - from the very beginning. As an example, we will describe the procedure for creating a new console and adding the Computer Management and Certificates snap-ins to it.
1. From the Start menu, select Run, type mmc, and click OK. A Consolel window will open with a blank console.

Note

By default, the MMC console opens in author mode, in which you can create new consoles and modify previously created administrative tools. An empty console has no functionality until snap-ins are added to it. The MMC menu commands in the menu bar at the top of the window apply to the entire console.

2. From the File menu, select Add/Remove Snap-in. The Add/Remove Snap-in window opens, listing the standalone and extension snap-ins that will be added to (or already included in) the console. Snap-ins can be added to the root of the management console or to existing stand-alone snap-ins (other tree nodes); this is indicated in the Snap-ins added to list. In our case, we will leave the default value - Console Root.
3. Click the Add button. The Add Standalone Snap-in window will appear on the screen (Fig. 6.4) with a list of standalone snap-ins available in the system.

Note

You should distinguish between the names of snap-ins (that is, their names that were given by the developers and which are recorded in the supplied snap-in packages, see Fig. 6.4) and the names of menu items, MMC tools and nodes in the snap-in tree of the MMC console.

4. Double click on Computer Management. A window will appear with configuration options for this snap-in.

Rice. 6.4. Window with a list of available snap-ins in the system

5. Leave the switch in the Local computer position. Then click the Finish button. The first snap-in has been added to the console.
6. In the snap-in window, select Certificates and click the Add button.
7. In the next window, select the appropriate radio button - This snap-in will always manage certificates for(This snap-in will always manage certificates for):

• My user account (my user account);
• Service account;
• Computer account.

8. Click the Finish and Close buttons.
9. In the Add/Remove Snap-in window (where the list of snap-ins is displayed), go to the Extensions tab. This tab provides a list of extension snap-ins that come with the selected stand-alone snap-ins. If you do not intend to include all the extension snap-ins, clear the Add all extensions checkbox (which is checked by default) and uncheck the unnecessary snap-ins. When the procedure is complete, click OK.
10. Close the add snap-ins window by clicking OK. The console window now contains two snap-ins - Computer Management and Certificates.
11. To save the created instrument, select Save from the File menu and specify the file name and folder in which the console file will be saved.

Note

An additional benefit of this approach is that if a user has a roaming profile, that user will always have access to all the tools they create.

Customizing snap-in windows

After you add snap-ins, you can maximize the snap-in windows to make them easier to work with.

Rice. 6.5. Customizable user console window

To do this, follow these steps:
1. In the left pane (structure window) of the newly created console, right-click on the Computer Management node and select New Window from Here from the context menu. The Computer Management window will open, representing the snap-in of the same name.
2. Perform similar actions for the Certificates node. In the new window, click the Show/Hide Console tree button on the toolbar to hide the structure panel.
3. Close the original window containing the Console Root node.
4. From the Window menu, select the Tile Horizontally command. The console will look like shown in Fig. 6.5. Please note that in MMC 2.0 the toolbar is available only for the entire console; in child windows this toolbar is missing.

Creating a taskbar

When you need to create a console file for another user, it is useful to provide the user with a simplified tool that allows them to perform only a number of specific tasks. This tool is called a taskpad. The taskbar is an HTML page on which shortcuts (or tasks) can be placed that execute snap-in commands that launch external programs or opening links to favorite pages (Favorites) of the MMC console.
To create a taskbar, follow these steps:
1. From the Action menu or from the context menu of the node you are interested in in the console window, select New Taskpad View.
2. The New Taskpad View Wizard window will open. Click the Next button.
3. On the next page of the wizard, you will be asked to select the type and size of the taskbar (Fig. 6.6). Next, you must specify whether tasks will be associated only with the current node or with all nodes of that type. In the latter case, the taskbar will open whenever in the structure window you select a node (container, division, etc.) of the same type as the node specified when the panel was created.
4. Then enter a name and description for the taskbar you want to create.
5. The Start New Task wizard checkbox on the last page of the wizard is checked by default. In this case
When the New Taskpad View Wizard completes, the New Task Wizard starts. With its help, a specific task function is specified: managing objects (Menu command switch), launching a command (Shell command) or going to a favorite page (Navigation).

Rice. 6.6. Taskbar Wizard window

6. If the new task will launch a program or script, the next page of the wizard will ask you to specify the path to the executable file of this program, launch parameters, the computer on which this program will be executed, and the size of the program window. In our example, we will create commands to manage directory objects in organizational units (OUs).
7. On the Shortcut Menu Command page (Fig. 6.7), select a command that will be placed on the taskbar. In the Command source list, you can select any most appropriate representation of objects and the commands available for them. Let's select a command to create objects of type Computer in departments.
8. On the following pages of the wizard, specify the name of the task, its description and select an icon to display the task (from among those supplied with the system or your own icon).

Rice. 6.7. New Taskpad Wizard page allowing you to select a command for the taskpad you are creating

Rice. 6.8. User console window with created taskbar

9. If you want to create multiple tasks in one panel, check the Run this wizard again checkbox in the last wizard window. Then click the Finish button.
10. In Fig. Figure 6.8 shows the resulting taskbar. (Note that, in addition to the taskbar, the Standard tab on the right side of the window may also display the normal view of directory items.) Using the commands on the panel, you can quickly perform common tasks in any specified organizational unit.
The created taskbar can be reconfigured (add/remove tasks, change the panel appearance, etc.) or deleted. To do this, in the structure window you need to select a node that has a taskbar, and in the context menu execute the Edit Taskpad View or Delete Taskpad View command, respectively. To add tasks, use the New Task Wizard already described above.

Setting Console Options

If the console is being created for another user, it may be useful to set the console to not be modified.
To do this, perform the following operations:
1. From the File menu (Console), select Options.

Rice. 6.9. Window for setting MMC console options

2. In the window that opens (Fig. 6.9), in the Console mode list, select the value User mode - full access. In this mode, the user will not be able to add new snap-ins to the tool, but will be able to change the layout of windows. (The new mode will start working the next time you run the console file.)
3. You can also prevent the user from changing the appearance of the console by unchecking Allow the user to customize views(Allow the user to customize the console view).
4. Click OK and save the console file.
The saved console file can also be opened using Windows Explorer. To do this, double click on the file with the msc extension. The console file will be opened in the MMC environment.

Note

If for any reason you need to restrict user access to snap-in creation mode, follow these steps:
1. Open an object group policy, which applies to the specified group of users.
2. In the structure window, select a node User Configuration | Administrative Templates | Windows Components | Microsoft Management Console(User Configuration | Administrative Templates | Windows Components | Microsoft Management Console) (Fig. 6.10).
3. In the details pane, double-click the policy Restrict the user from entering author mode(Prevent users from using author mode).
4. In the window that opens, select the Enabled switch. To allow the user to work in snap-in creation mode, select the Not Configured or Disabled radio buttons.
You can use a policy to selectively restrict work with snap-ins Restrict users to the explicitly permitted list of snap-ins(Limit the use of snap-ins to a list of snap-ins that are explicitly allowed.) With its help, you can deny user access to all snap-ins except those that are explicitly allowed.
To deny/allow user access to specific snap-ins, open the Restricted/Permitted snap-ins node, select the required snap-ins, and set the appropriate policy settings for them.

Rice. 6.10. Restricting user access to editing snap-ins using Group Policy settings

Note

By default, users have access to all snap-ins and the ability to create new snap-ins.

Launching MMC tools

You can use one of the following methods to launch standard, preconfigured MMC administrative tools installed on your computer.

• Open the Start menu | Administrative Tools (Start | Administration) and select the required tool.
• Double-click the Administrative Tools icon in Control Panel. The Administrative Tools window will open, containing icons for all the tools installed on your computer.
• Run the command Start | Run (Start | Run) and in the Run window enter the name of the snap-in with the extension: for example, the gpedit.msc command allows you to launch a local group policy object for editing.

Windows Server 2003 snap-ins

In table Table 6.1 lists in alphabetical order the main snap-ins that are available in Windows Server 2003, and table. 6.2 - snap-ins that appear in the system interface only on domain controllers. For snap-ins included in the user interface, the names of the corresponding menu items are indicated; for other snap-ins, their own names are given. Snap-ins that can be accessed directly from the Start menu or from the Administrative Tools group in Control Panel—that is, snap-ins that are included in the user interface when you install the system—are marked with an asterisk (*).

Table 6.1. Snap-ins available in Windows Server 2003

Equipment	Purpose
.NET Framework 1.1 Configuration (.NET Framework Configuration)	Allows you to customize the .NET Framework environment
ActiveX Control	Connecting various ActiveX controls to the console tree
Authorization Manager	Allows you to create a flexible environment for managing corporate applications based on access mechanisms based on the concepts of “role”, “task”, “operation”
Certificate Templates	Enables work with certificate templates that are part of a corporate certification authority (Certification Authority)
Certificates (Certificates)	Used to manage certificates issued to a user, service, or computer
Certification Authority	Allows you to work with certification authorities deployed on the corporate network
Component Services (Component Service)*	Configures and manages COM+ component services
Computer Management (Computer Control)*	Provides system administration functions. Contains a number of isolated snap-ins and extension snap-ins
Device Manager (Device Manager) Disk Defragmenter (Disk Defragmenter)	Contains a list of all devices connected to the computer and allows you to configure them Used to analyze and defragment disk volumes
Disk Management (Disk Management)	Used to manage disks and data protection, to partition disks into logical volumes, format, manage sharing, quotas, etc.
Distributed file system (DPS Distributed File System)*	Creates and manages distributed file systems that combine shared folders across different computers
Event Viewer*	Used to view and manage system, security, and application logs
Folder	Used to add a new folder to the tree
Group Policy Object Editor	Serves to assign registration scripts, group policies for a computer and users of a certain computer on the network; allows you to view and change security policy, audit policy and user rights
Indexing Service (Indexing Service)	Used to index documents of various types in order to speed up their search
Internet Authentication Service (IAS) IP Security Monitor	Controls the operation of the Internet Authentication Service Performs the same functions as the IPSecmon.exe utility in Windows 2000: provides monitoring of various aspects of the IPSec protocol.
IP Security Policy Management (IP Security Policy Management)	Used to manage IPSec policies for secure connections with other computers
Link to Web Address (Link to web resource)	Used to connect web pages (html, asp, stml)
Local Security Policy*	Allows you to configure local security settings (Security Settings node of the local GPO); available only on computers not joined to a domain
Local Users and Groups (Local users and groups)*	Used to manage local user and group accounts. Present in the Start menu unless the computer is a member of a domain
Performance Logs and Alerts	Configures system activity data logs and alert service
Remote Desktops*	Allows you to manage multiple terminal access sessions to remote computers
Removable Storage Management (Removable Storage Management)	Used to manage removable storage media
Resultant Set of Policy (Resultant Policy)	Allows you to view the resulting Group Policy for the computer and user. The snap-in can be used to view active policies, as well as to schedule the use of policies for a selected computer or user
Routing and Remote Access*	Used to manage routing and remote access
Security Configuration and Analysis(Security analysis and configuration)	Used to manage system security using security templates
Security Templates (Security Templates)	Provides the ability to edit security template files
Services*	Starts, stops, and configures Windows services(s)
Shared Folders	Displays shared folders, current sessions and open files
Telephony	Used to configure telephony services
Terminal Services Configuration*	Allows you to manage the configuration of the Terminal Services server
Wireless Monitor	Allows you to control wireless (infrared, etc.) connections to the system
WMI Control (WMI control)	Used to configure Windows Management Instrumentation tools

Table 6.2. Snap-ins that install only on Windows Server 2003 domain controllers

Equipment	Purpose
Active Directory Domains and Trusts(Active Directory - domains and trust) *	Used to manage domains and trust relationships
Active Directory Sites and Services(Active Directory - Sites and Services) *	Defines the topology and schedule of Active Directory replication. Enables enterprise-grade service change
(Active Directory - Users and Computers) *	Manages users, groups, organizational units (OUs), and other Active Directory objects
Domain Controller Security Policy(Domain Controller Security Policy) *	Used to manage security settings (represented in the Security Settings node of the GPO associated with the Domain Controllers OU) on domain controllers
Domain Security Policy (Domain Security Policy) *	Used to manage security settings (represented in the Security Settings node of a GPO bound to a domain object) for the entire domain

Note

In addition to those listed in table. 6.1 and 6.2 snap-ins, in the system after installing additional services and components - for example, network services(DNS, DHCP, WINS, etc.), the Support Tools package, the Active Directory Migration Tool, Internet Services, Fax Services, Terminal Services - there are many other snap-ins that are used to administer these services. Such equipment is discussed in the corresponding chapters of the book.

In table 6.3 lists system management tools that are not implemented as snap-ins or have specific features when working with them. Almost all of these tools can be accessed from the Start | Administrative Tools (Start | Administration).

Table 6.3. Additional funds Windows management Server 2003

Name	Purpose
Cluster Administrator *	Utility for managing cluster configurations
Configure Your Server Wizard *	A wizard that allows the administrator to configure the server according to the selected roles (file server, Internet services server, etc.)
File Server Management	A snap-in that allows you to centrally manage shared resources, file server disk systems, and access to it. The snap-in can be launched by the name filesvr.msc or by clicking the Manage this file server link in the Manage Your Server wizard window
Licensing *	A utility that allows you to manage client licenses enterprise-wide
Manage Your Server *	A wizard that provides an information center for managing various server roles, accessing support services and support tools, and allowing you to quickly find information about updates, troubleshooting, etc.
Network Load Balancing Manager*	In cluster systems, using this utility you can manage the distribution of network load across cluster nodes
System Information (System Information)*	In Windows 2000, this utility is implemented as a snap-in that is part of the Computer Management snap-in. In Windows XP and Windows Server 2003, this is a stand-alone utility. To run you need to select the command Start | All Programs | Accessories | System Tools | System Information(Start | Programs | System Tools | System Information)
Terminal Server Licensing *	A utility that allows you to manage client licenses for Terminal Services running in application runtime
Terminal Services Manager *	Terminal Services Manager, which allows you to monitor terminal servers across the enterprise; allows, in particular, to control client sessions and running tasks

Computer Management snap-in

The Computer Management tool (and snap-in of the same name) (Fig. 6.11) is one of the system administrator’s main tools for configuring a computer. This snap-in can be used to administer both the local system and remote computers (including Windows 2000 systems and, with some limitations, computers running Windows NT 4.0). This allows the administrator to troubleshoot and configure any computer on the network running Windows Server 2003 from their desk.
There are two ways to start the Computer Management snap-in: select the appropriate command from the Start | Administrative Tools or right-click on the My Computer command in the Start menu and select Manage from the context menu.

Rice. 6.11. Computer Management snap-in allows you to manage many computer services

There are three nodes in the snap-in namespace: System Tools, Storage, and Services and Applications. These nodes are containers and contain a number of snap-ins:

• System Tools - the node contains tools designed for system administration. This unit includes the following accessories:
  • Event Viewer;
  • Shared Folders;
  • Local Users and Groups;
  • Performance Logs and Alerts;
  • Device Manager.
• Storage - the node contains snap-ins used to manage disk system:
  • Removable Storage;
  • Disk Management;
  • Disk Defragmenter.
• Services and Applications - the node contains the following snap-ins:
  • Telephony (Telephony);
  • Services;
  • WMI Control (WMI Control);
  • Indexing Service;
  • Other accessories (for example, Fax, Windows Media Services, Routing and Remote Access, DNS, Internet Information Services etc.) - depending on what additional services are installed in the system.

System Tools

The System Tools node displays the computer's configuration and integrates computer management tools. Support staff use this information to help troubleshoot problems on your local computer.

Event Viewer snap-in

The Event Viewer node corresponds to the snap-in of the same name and standard utility, which was available in Windows NT 4.0. You can use it to view operating system, security, and application event logs. This equipment is discussed in detail in Chapter 7, “Monitoring and Optimization Tools.”

Shared Folders snap-in

The Shared Folders snap-in allows you to view information about connections and resource usage on a local or remote computer. This equipment is used instead Server programs in the Control Panel of Windows NT 4.0.
The Shared Folders snap-in contains three nodes: Shares, Sessions, and Open Files. When you select these nodes, the results pane displays the contents of the corresponding node.
Using the snap-in, you can perform the following tasks:

• create, view, change properties and delete shares on local or remote computers (Windows NT 4.0/2000/XP and Windows Server 2003) and set access permissions. In addition, you can control the caching behavior of public folders (if they are used as isolated folders). In Windows XP and Windows Server 2003, a very convenient new opportunity managing the process of publishing a shared folder in the Active Directory directory (Fig. 6.12) - you can immediately publish it in the directory after creating a shared folder, without resorting to the Active Directory Users and Computers snap-in. All necessary actions are quite obvious from the content of the example given: in in this case a shared fax service folder is published that contains client software for systems that do not have it (for example, Windows 9x);

Rice. 6.12. Publishing shared folders to Active Directory

• view the list of remote users connected to the computer and disconnect them;
• View a list of files opened by remote users and close open files.

Local Users and Groups snap-in

The Local Users and Groups node corresponds to the snap-in of the same name, which was analogous to the User Manager for Domains administrative utility in Windows NT Server 4.0. The functions and purpose remain unchanged: using this snap-in, user and group accounts are created, modified, and deleted on the local computer. The use of this equipment is described in sufficient detail in other chapters of the book, primarily in Chapter 10, “Typical Administration Tasks.” The snap-in is not available on domain controllers. To manage users and groups in a domain, use the snap-in Active Directory Users and Computers(Active Directory - Users and Computers), described in Chapter 20 "Domain Administration".

Performance Logs and Alerts snap-in

The Performance Logs and Alerts extension snap-in allows you to configure logs to record data and an Alerter service to notify you when a counter is exceeded. certain value. This equipment allows you to record data on the degree of computer usage and the operation of services on local and remote computers. This equipment is discussed in more detail in Chapter 7, “Monitoring and Optimization Tools.”

Device Manager

The Device Manager node represents a snap-in of the same name, which displays in a tree view all hardware devices installed on the local computer and shows their status, software driver versions, and resources used (input/output ports, memory addresses and IRQs). This equipment allows you to change the configuration of hardware elements, as well as the mechanism for their interaction with central processor computer. Device Manager allows you to:

• find out whether the computer hardware is working correctly;
• change equipment configuration settings;
• identify the device drivers that are loaded for each device and obtain driver information for all devices;
• change additional settings and device parameters;
• install updated device drivers and roll back drivers;
• disable and activate devices;
• identify device conflicts and manually configure resource settings;
• print summary information about the devices installed on the computer.

Device Manager is primarily used to check the hardware status and update device drivers on your computer. Advanced users who are knowledgeable about their computer hardware can use Device Manager's diagnostic capabilities to resolve device conflicts and change resource settings.

Note

Changing resource settings may disable hardware components and cause your computer to malfunction. Therefore, changing resource settings is recommended only for users who have sufficient knowledge of computer hardware and hardware configurations. Typically, users do not need to change resource settings because the system automatically allocates resources to hardware components during installation.
You can use Device Manager to manage devices only on your local computer. On the remote computer, this snap-in will only work in view mode.

Each device on the computer is allocated a unique set of system resources to ensure the correct operation of the device. These resources include:

• Interrupt Request (IRQ) numbers;
• channel numbers for direct memory access (Direct Memory Access, DMA);
• input/output port addresses (Input/Output, I/O);
• memory address ranges.

The Windows Server 2003 Plug and Play mechanism (see Chapter 2, “Hardware Support”) allocates resources automatically during the installation of all devices that support the mechanism. If two devices access the same resources, a hardware conflict occurs. In this case, you must manually change resource settings to ensure they are unique for each device. In general, you should not change resource settings manually, since this can create complex conflict situations that require a deep understanding of the operation of hardware and software (including drivers) to resolve.
Device Manager allows you to disable and remove devices from your computer's system configuration. When you disconnect a device, the physical device remains connected to the computer, but the corresponding changes are made to system registry so that device drivers will not be loaded the next time the system starts. Disabling devices is useful if you need to have multiple computer hardware configurations or if you are working on a laptop computer used in conjunction with an expansion station (docking station).
A hardware profile is a set of instructions that tell the system what devices should start when you turn on your computer. When you install Windows Server 2003, a default hardware profile is created. IN this profile All devices available on the computer at the time of installation of the operating system are activated.
Hardware profiles are especially useful if you are using a laptop computer. For example, you can create a profile that will enable the network card and external monitor if the computer is connected to an expansion station, and a profile without support for these devices otherwise.
To create a new hardware profile, launch the System utility in Control Panel and go to the Hardware tab in its window. If you have multiple hardware profiles, you can select a default profile that will load every time you start your computer. After you create a hardware profile, you can use the Device Manager snap-in to enable or disable the devices that the profile contains.

Note

When disabling a device in the hardware profile, drivers of this device will not load the next time you start your computer.

To change the appearance of the Device Manager snap-in results pane, select the View menu to display Devices by type, Devices by connection, Resources by type, or Resources by connection. connection). As you can see, devices and resources can be sorted by type or by connection.

Note

This menu can also be opened by right-clicking on the Device Manager node and selecting View from the context menu.

To view hidden devices, select the Show hidden devices checkbox in the View menu. Hidden devices include devices that do not support Plug and Play (devices with legacy drivers previous versions Windows NT systems), and devices that have been physically removed from the computer, but their drivers remain.
To install a new device, move the cursor to the right window, select the Scan for hardware changes command from the Action menu. The snap-in will check the computer's hardware configuration and, if new devices are detected, it will launch the Install New Devices Wizard. If you need to remove a device, select it in the device tree and select the Uninstall command from the Action menu.
The properties window for any selected device can be opened using the Properties command in the Action menu or by double-clicking on its name.

Storage devices

The Storage container contains snap-ins that are used to manage and maintain logical disks and disk drives.

• With the Removable Storage snap-in, you can easily manage removable tape libraries optical discs and devices with automatic disc feeding (jukebox). More detailed information about this snap-in can be found in Chapter 8, “Working with disk resources.”
• The Disk Defragmenter snap-in is used to analyze and defragment remote and local logical drives. This snap-in is discussed in detail in Chapter 8, “Working with disk resources.”
• The Disk Management snap-in manages logical disks. This equipment (its functions and methods of use) is discussed in detail in Chapter 8, “Working with disk resources.”

Services and Applications

Using the Services and Applications node, you can change settings to manage installed services or server applications, such as telephony, multimedia, or DHCP server. Some of these services used in Windows Server 2003 and how to manage them are described in the corresponding chapters of the book.

Snap-in Services

The Services snap-in allows you to start, stop, pause, and resume services on remote and local computers, as well as configure options for starting and restoring services.
As can be seen in Fig. 6.13, in Windows Server 2003, the Services snap-in has an additional Extended tab, which provides a description of the selected service and contains control commands.

Rice. 6.13. The Services snap-in node of the Computer Management snap-in

You can use the Services snap-in to do the following:

• manage services on a local and remote computer (only on computers running Windows Server 2003, Windows XP, Windows 2000, or Windows NT"4.0);
• Perform operations to restore the service (for example, automatically restart the service or computer) (only on computers running Windows Server 2003, Windows XP, and Windows 2000);
• enable or disable the ability to start a service for a specific hardware profile;
• view the status and description of services.

Configuring installed services
To determine the service startup mode:
1. Select the service you want to configure and select the Properties command from the Action menu or the Properties command from the context menu. You can also double-click the service name. A window with service parameters will open on the screen.
2. On the General tab, select one of the values ​​from the Startup Type list: Automatic, Manual, or Disabled. If you select Disabled, the service will be disabled completely.
3. To specify the user account with which the service will be logged, go to the Log On tab and select the Local System account or This account radio button.
4. If the switch is in the This account position, then click the Browse button to select the user account. In the window that opens, select the object type (Object Types button), its location (Locations button) and enter the user name in the list Enter the object name to select(Enter the names of the objects to select.)
5. To allow the service to use the user interface, select the Allow service to interact with desktop(Allow the service to interact with the desktop).

Note

To change options for starting services you must register as a member local group administrators.

To start, stop, pause, or resume a service, right-click on its name and select the appropriate command from the context menu: Start, Stop, Pause, Resume, or Restart ( Restart).

Note

If you need to specify parameters for starting a service, open the service properties window (Properties command) and enter parameters in the Start parameters field on the General tab before clicking the Start button. The backslash (\) is interpreted as a space character, so to get a backslash character, you must enter two backslash characters in the parameter.

WMI Control snap-in

The WMI Control node (the WMI control element (and the snap-in of the same name) allows you to configure Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) tools in local system and on remote computers. For example, using this snap-in, you can set permissions for authorized users and groups, save a repository of WMI objects, and turn error logging on and off. WMI technology is described in more detail in Chapter L, “Managing Windows Systems in a Corporate Environment.”

Indexing Service snap-in

The Indexing Service is installed as a standard feature of Windows Server 2003. This service indexes the contents of all drives on the local computer, allowing the user to search for any word or phrase that is contained in documents on the local computer. this computer. The Indexing Service snap-in is a system tool with graphical shell for the indexing service, which simplifies a number of administrative tasks, including the following:

• checking the status of the indexing process and parameters of indexed directories;
• setting global parameters for all directories on the computer;
• create and configure new directories for optimal performance;
• selection of indexed directories.

This snap-in is described in more detail in Chapter 16, Internet Services.

List Windows services Server 2003

In table 6.4 lists the main services (services) installed by default in Windows Server 2003, Standard Edition (including Internet services). A list of services currently running on the system can be easily obtained from the command line by entering net start. Knowing the name of the service, you can manage it from the command line or batch files using net start / net stop commands<названиеСлужбы>. Executable file name (image name)
is displayed for the running service in the Task Manager window on the Processes tab. Knowing the correspondence between the names of services and executable files, it is easier to understand the processes occurring in the system, and in this case, for example, you will not be surprised why several processes are always running in the system with the same image name svchost.exe.

Table 6.4. List of essential Windows Server 2003 services

Display name	Service name	Executable file name (image name)
Alerter	Alerter	Svchost.exe
Application Layer Gateway Service	ALG	Alg.exe
Application Management	AppMgmt	Svchost.exe
Automatic Updates	Wuauserv	Svchost.exe
Background Intelligent Transfer Service	BITS	Svchost.exe
ClipBook (Charge Folder Server)	ClipSrv	Clipsrv.exe
COM+ Event System	EventSystem	Svchost.exe
COM+ System Application ( System Application COM+)	COMSysApp	Dllhost.exe
Computer Browser	Browser	Svchost.exe
Cryptographic Services	CryptSvc	Svchost.exe
DHCP Client	Dhcp	Svchost.exe
Distributed File System(DPS Distributed File System)	Dfs	Dfssvc.exe
Distributed Link Tracking Client	TrkWks	Svchost.exe
Distributed Link Tracking Server	TrkSvr	Svchost.exe
Distributed Transaction Coordinator	MSDTC	Msdtc.exe
DNS Client	Dnscache	Svchost.exe
Error Reporting Service	ERSvc	Svchost.exe
Event Log	Eventlog	Services.exe
File Replication Service	NtFrs	Ntfrs.exe
Help And Support	Helpsvc	Svchost.exe
HTTP SSL	HTTPFilter	Lsass.exe
Human Interface Device Access	HidServ	Svchost.exe
IMAPI CD-Burning COM Service	ImapiService	lmapi.exe
Indexing Service	cisvc	Cisvc.exe
Internet Connection Firewall (IGF) / Internet Connection Sharing (ICS)	SharedAccess	Svchost.exe
Intersite Messaging	IsmServ	lsmserv.exe
IPSEC Services	PolicyAgent	Lsass.exe
Kerberos Key Distribution Center	kdc	Lsass.exe
License Logging	LicenseService	Llssrv.exe
Logical Disk Manager	dmserver	Svchost.exe
Logical Disk Manager Administrative Service	dmadmin	Dmadmin.exe
Messenger (Messaging Service)	Messenger	Svchost.exe
MS Software Shadow Copy Provider	SwPrv	Dllhost.exe
Net Logon	Netlogon	Lsass.exe
NetMeeting Remote Desktop Sharing	mnmsrvc	Mnmsrvc.exe
Network Connections	Netman	Svchostexe
Network DDE (Network DDE Service)	NetDDE	netdde.exe
Network DDE DSDM (Network DDE Manager)	NetDDEdsdm	netdde.exe
Network Location Awareness (NLA)	Nla	Svchost.exe
NT LM Security Support Provider	NtLmSsp	Lsass.exe
Performance Logs And Alerts	SysmonLog	Smlogsvc.exe
Plug and Play	PlugPlay	Services.exe
Portable Media Serial Number Service ( Serial number portable media device)	WmdmPmSN	Svchost.exe
Print Spooler	Spooler	Spoolsv.exe
Protected Storage	ProtectedStorage	* Lsass.exe
Remote Access Auto Connection Manager	R as Auto	Svchost.exe
Remote Access Connection Manager	Rasman	Svchost.exe
Remote Desktop Help Session Manager	RDSessMgr	Sessmgr.exe
Remote Procedure Call (RPC)	RpcSs	Svchost.exe
Remote Procedure Call (RPC) Locator remote call procedures (RPC))	RpcLocator	Locator.exe
Remote Registry	RemoteRegistry	Svchost.exe
Remote Server Manager	appmgr	Appmgr.exe
Removable Storage	NtmsSvc	Svchost.exe
Resultant Set of Policy Provider	RSoPProv	RSoPProv.exe
Routing And Remote Access	RemoteAccess	Svchost.exe
Secondary Logon	seclogon	Svchost.exe
Security Accounts Manager	SamSs	Lsass.exe
Server	lanmanserver	Svchostexe
Shell Hardware Detection	ShellHWDetection	Svchost.exe
Smart Card	SCardSvr	Scardsvr.exe
Special Administration Console Helper	sacsvr	Svchost.exe
System Event Notification	SENS	Svchost.exe
Task Scheduler	Schedule	Svchost.exe
TCP/IP NetBIOS Helper (NetBIOS support module over TCP/IP)	LmHosts	Svchost.exe
Telephony	TapiSrv	Svchost.exe
Telnet	TlntSvr	Tlntsvr.exe
Terminal Services	TermService	Svchost.exe
Terminal Services Session Directory	Tssdis	Tssdis.exe
Themes	Themes	Svchost.exe
Uninterruptible Power Supply	UPS	Ups.exe
Universal Plug And Play Device Host	upnphost	Svchost.exe
Upload Manager	upload mgr	Svchost.exe
Virtual Disk Service	vds	Vds.exe
Volume Shadow Copy	VSS	Vssvc.exe
WebClient	WebClient	Svchost.exe
Windows Audio	AudioSrv	Svchost.exe
Windows Image Acquisition (WIA)	Stisvc	Svchost.exe
Windows Installer	MSIServer	Msiexec.exe
Windows Management Instrumentation	winmgmt	Svchost.exe
Windows Management Instrumentation Driver Extensions	Wmi	Svchost.exe
Windows Time	W32Time	Svchost.exe
WinHTTP Web Proxy Auto-Discovery Service	WinHttpAutoProxy Svc	Svchost.exe
Wireless Configuration	WZCSVC	Svchost.exe
WMI Performance Adapter	WmiApSrv	Wmiapsrv.exe
Workstation	lanmanworkstation	Svchost.exe

A detailed description of the purpose of services and their settings (status, startup type, and name of the account used when starting the service) can be obtained by clicking the Export List button in the Services snap-in window and saving the information to a text file.

Attention

In Windows Server 2003, the IMAPI CD-Burning COM Service, which provides CD burning to CDRW devices, is disabled by default; So it should come as no surprise that the user interface for the CDRW drive lacks appropriate commands. If you need this functionality, enable the service, set the startup mode to Manual and reboot the system.
The new Windows XP interface style can also be used in Windows Server 2003. To do this, you need to enable and start the Themes service. After this, you can set the desired style in the screen properties window.

System Information utility

The System Information utility provides comprehensive information about your computer's hardware, system components, and software environment. System information is divided into categories, which in the structure window correspond to the following nodes (Fig. 6.14): System Summary, Hardware Resources, Components, Software Environment and Internet Settings Internet).

• The System Summary node displays general information about the computer and operating system: OS version and build number, processor type, amount of RAM, BIOS version, regional settings, as well as information about the amount of physical and virtual memory on the computer.
• The Hardware Resources node displays information about hardware settings such as DMA channels, interrupt numbers (IRQs), input/output (I/O) addresses, and memory addresses. The Conflicts/Sharing node identifies devices that share resources or conflict with other resources. This information helps identify problems with hardware devices.
• The Components node displays Windows configuration information and is used to determine the status of device drivers, network devices, and media device software. In addition, this node contains extensive information about the history of drivers with a record of all changes that were made to the components.

Rice. 6.14. System Information utility window

• The Software Environment node displays a snapshot of the software loaded into the computer's memory. This information can be used to view a list of running tasks or to find out the version number of a product.
• The Internet Settings node contains, in particular, information about settings Internet programs Explorer.

Note

Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 also provide a command-line utility, Systemlnfo.exe, that can be used to obtain general information about a local or remote system. To learn about the utility's parameters, enter systeminfo /? at the command prompt.

Using the View menu, you can switch between two display modes: Current System Information and System Hystory. System History mode displays information about all changes made to the system since installation, which may be of interest to advanced users or Microsoft Technical Support.
The obtained information can be saved in a file with the nfo extension (the file will be saved as an MSInfo document) or exported to text file using the File | Export for further analysis.
In addition, from the Tools menu you can launch very useful diagnostic utilities, such as Net Diagnostics and DirectX Diagnostic Tool. The second utility is especially useful for testing the multimedia capabilities of the system.

Introduction. 3

Windows Core Objects. 5

Basic Windows management techniques. 9

Conclusion. 14

References.. 15

Introduction

Windows is a multitasking operating system with a modern graphical interface. After installation, it takes over all PC management functions and does not require a separate purchase and installation of MS-DOS. Windows is a set of PC resource management tools and the latest application programs. There was further integration of the operating system with application software products. The programs have a single user interface, are compatible with each other and support dynamic data exchange with each other.

The Windows operating system is focused on organizing a convenient user work environment on a personal computer. Before its appearance, any operating system required the user to know the language of computer control commands. Windows has made it possible to change the appearance of the system environment and the rules for working in it. A user-friendly graphical interface with fairly simple operating rules has appeared. There is no longer any need to learn command structures and rules for working with them. It is interesting that the first versions of this product were received rather coldly and did not find a response either among professionals or among users. Remaining unclaimed during 1985 - 1990, the Windows environment changed the face of the computer world in the next five years, going from the graphical shell of the MS DOS operating system in the first versions to a full-fledged operating system in subsequent versions.

The main characteristics of Windows are:

Preemptive multitasking and multithreading,

Graphical user interface;

Connecting new peripheral devices using Plug and Play technology;

Virtual memory usage;

Compatible with previously created software;

Availability of communication software;

Availability of multimedia.

In this work, we will consider the main objects and techniques for managing Windows.

Windows Core Objects

After loading the operating system, the main Windows work screen opens. It's called the Desktop. This is the main object of the operating system. The Desktop contains Windows objects and Windows controls.

In Windows, the word object refers to almost everything that the operating system works with. It is necessary to note that an object is a concept, and concepts are not defined, but introduced.

The desktop is the main window of Windows. It contains the main Windows objects.

These include: the taskbar, the Start button (Main Menu), context menu, set of icons (system), windows.

In addition, the user can display on the desktop: folders, programs, documents, icons (shortcuts) of various objects (we will expand on the concept of “shortcut” a little later). Actually, only by “laying out” such objects on the desktop can the user work with them .

Each of them is displayed in its own window or represented by its own icon (label). Now let's take a closer look at each of the objects.

Task bar. It is usually located at the bottom of the window (but can be placed along any edge of the window). This is the main control panel of the system. In the left corner of the panel there is the “Start” button: to the right of it there are several more buttons in a row, and in the right corner of the panel there is an indicator of the current time and an indicator of the keyboard layout (Russian/Latin), and other indicators are possible.

Start button. Her role is very great. By bringing up the Main Menu on the screen, it opens access to all files, system resources, all means of setting it up, and the PC shutdown mode. True, it's not the only way access to these objects and modes.

Buttons for active applications are located to the right of the Start button. A similar button appears after launching the corresponding application. It always indicates the name of the application and the name of the document being processed (often in abbreviated form).

The importance of these buttons is that they are always visible to the user, even if the corresponding windows are not on the screen (“minimized”) or are covered by other applications and documents. Left-click on such and such a button - and a corresponding window appears on the screen on top of others

Set of icons. An icon is a small symbol, drawing (illustration). IN Windows name Each object (file, folder) is provided with an icon. This allows you to quickly “identify” an object.

We emphasize that each object is associated with 1 icon, and vice versa, using an icon, you can perform various operations with an object (folder, file): launch a file program; open document file, etc.

Type and the icon of the document file are usually determined by the application in which the document was created. For example, the bmp and doc file types mean that the files were created in a graphics and text editor, respectively.

Folder- this is an analogue of the concepts directory, subdirectory, i.e. it is a logical container where files that have something in common are included (for example, general user). You can also attach other folders to a folder.

Each folder is assigned a special icon that looks like a card separator in the library catalog.

In Windows, all drives are treated as folders named after the drive name. A printer group is also represented as a folder. Thus, the Windows file system combines data, programs and devices, i.e. all computer resources.

Window. This is the name given to the rectangular part of the screen limited by a frame, which can be worked with as a separate screen. This is the fundamental concept of the system, as reflected in its name. There can be several windows on the screen at the same time, but at any given time it is permissible to work with only one; it is called current (active).

Basically, the desktop contains system icons, i.e. icons associated with system folders. Such folders are created and maintained by Windows itself. They cannot be removed, they include the following:

a) My computer. Opens a folder with which you can access any files and computer devices (floppy and hard disks, CD-ROM drive, printer, etc.), all means of system management and configuration, etc.

b) Basket. Similar to a waste paper basket in an office. Deleted files and folders are transferred to it. Erroneously “thrown out” documents can be removed from the trash bin (as long as it is not emptied).

c) Portfolio. Used when working with a laptop computer.

d) Inbox. Used when working on the network. This folder stores messages received by email.

e) The Microsoft Network. Provides access to global network The Microsoft Network, and through it the Internet.

In addition, if desired, the user can display icons of any objects of interest on the desktop - folders, applications, their documents, etc. However, this is not recommended, because The desktop is treated as a normal folder in Windows. Setting an icon for an object on the desktop means copying the object to a folder with that name (this is exactly how this operation is performed).

But it should be clear that it is irrational to clutter the main system folder with objects that are not essential for the operation of the system. In this case, you should use "shortcuts".

Label. This concept is often confused with the concept of “icon.” Roughly speaking, a label is also an icon, but equipped with a small oblique arrow. This is its external difference.

Essential differences:

a) a shortcut is also a representative of an object (file, folder, program, etc.), but you can create an unlimited number of shortcuts for one object;

b) the shortcut does not allow you to copy or move an object; it is used only to launch the program, open a document and folder (to do this, simply double-click on the shortcut).

When you move a shortcut, the location of the corresponding object on the disk does not change.

More strictly speaking, a shortcut to some object A is a small file (374 bytes) of type .LNK, which stores data about the parameters and position of object A on disk. The icon for this new file has a small slanted arrow. When accessing a shortcut, the system, using the information stored in it, finds and launches (or displays) object A (file, folder, etc.).

Context menu. This is the name of a menu whose contents depend on the context in which the menu is called, i.e. on the type and condition of the object with which it is associated. This menu can be called up for an icon, shortcut, etc.

For this:

Right-click on an object: a menu appears. To select a menu item:

Left-click on an item or hold the mouse cursor over it. At the bottom line of such a menu is the “Properties” item.

When you enter it, you can get complete information about the object - its type, the amount of memory it occupies, its location on the disk (i.e. in which folder, in which file), etc.

Basic Windows Management Techniques

Naming objects

The Windows system allows (unlike MS-DOS) to give long names to files and folders (255 characters is the limit), allows the use of the space character, use Russian letters.

Operations with objects

1. Create folders.

You need to open the window corresponding to the drive or folder in which you want to create a new folder;

From the menu bar, select the File mode;

Select the create command and specify the object type, for example, folder;

And confirm the execution of the command by pressing the Enter key or the OK button.

To create an object on the desktop, select the context menu, then the create command, and then continue in the same way.

2. Selecting objects.

To select one object, just click on it with the mouse one (!) time.

To select several objects arranged in random order, click on each object while holding down the Ctrl key.

3. Copying objects. (Can be done in many ways)

The drag and drop method.

Open the folder with the object you want to copy or move;

Expand the folder to which you want to copy or move the object;

If there are several objects, you need to select them;

Then you should hook the mouse on the object (that is, click on it and do not release the mouse button) and, with the mouse button pressed, drag it to its destination. Now release the mouse button.

Note1. If the system automatically moves instead of copies (usually this happens when copying an object to the same disk, but, for example, to a different folder), you must also hold down the keyCtrl.

Note2. When copying executable files (files with extensionsEXEorCOM) the system creates shortcuts instead of copies of files, you must also hold down the keyCtrl, if a copy of the file is needed.

4. Moving objects.

Similar to copying, but when dragging, you also need to hold down the Ctrl key. (Or vice versa.)

5. Removing objects.

You need to select an object or group of objects;

Execute the File-Delete command, or press the Del key, or drag the object to the Trash icon, or select the delete command from the context menu;

In the deletion confirmation window that appears, click on the Yes or No button.

6. Restoration of objects.

All deleted items are moved to a special Trash folder. If an object was accidentally deleted, you can restore it from the Recycle Bin. To do this, open the shopping cart window. Find the object there, select it and execute the command File - Restore.

Files deleted from a floppy disk (floppy disk) are not placed in the Recycle Bin. They can only be restored using special program recovery.

7. Renaming objects.

Select an object;

Run the command File - Rename or simply click once in the icon label field;

Enter the new name directly into the icon label field.

The same can be done using the Rename command from the context menu.

8. Launching programs

The system provides several ways:

a) if there is a program icon or shortcut on the Desktop or in an expanded folder, then you need to double-click on the icon with the mouse;

b) you can use the Main Menu: open it through the Start button, execute the Programs command, click on the program icon;

c) you can enter the name and path to the file from the Run main menu command (it’s convenient to use the Browse button;

d) if there is already a button with the name of the program on the taskbar, then just click on it once with the mouse.

Let's take a closer look at managing windows, folders and files.

Window management

When actively using the Windows system and application programs, you almost always have to work with several applications simultaneously. Each application runs in its own window, and therefore several windows will be open at the same time. Some of them can be located on the desktop, some can be minimized as an icon button on the taskbar. In any situation, active at a given time can be only one window , whose title bar is highlighted in color (usually dark blue) compared to the rest of the windows

To switch activities between different windows, you can use one of the following methods:

· if at least a small fragment of the desired window is visible on the desktop, just click on it with the mouse

· in any situation, to activate the window, just click on the corresponding button in the taskbar

· you can switch windows only using the keyboard: while holding down the Alt key, press the Tab key several times until the required program is highlighted in a small window in the center of the screen; After this, both keys must be released

Managing folders and files

The easiest way to manage folders and files is to use the My Computer icon. With its help, first of all, you need to go to the directory (folder) where you need to create a new folder. Then you can:

· or select the “New” command from the “File” menu and then the “Folder” command

· or right-click to open the context menu and select the commands "New"/"Folder"

After creating a folder template, you should enter its name, which can consist of several words (for the Russian version, you can use Russian words).

To delete or rename a folder, you can right-click on it and select the required command from the context menu.

You can use one of the following methods to copy and move folders and files:

· "Edit" menu and "Cut", "Copy", "Paste" commands

· corresponding toolbar buttons

· right click on a folder or file and context menu commands

· the operation of dragging objects with the mouse; in order to copy, you must first press and hold the Ctrl key

To set the parameters of open folders, use the “View” “Options” item. At the same time, sheets of folder properties appear on the screen (three inserts of the dialog box). The Folder property sheet (insert one) allows you to control how new windows are displayed on the screen. You can open a new window each time a subfolder is selected, or use one window. Separate windows are more often used.

The View property sheet (second tab) lets you control the content that appears in a folder when you view it. opening. If the "Display all files" option is checked, the folder displays all the files it contains, including hidden and system files. When you set the following option, the files listed in the list below the checkbox are not output. The next checkbox must be checked if the full path to the selected object (folder) is needed in the header. Next, it is set to output files without an extension if these files are properly registered. The File Types property sheet allows you to view and change the list of registered extensions.

To view the properties of a folder or file, select the desired object and select the "Properties" command from the "File" menu. A dialog box for viewing the properties of the selected object will appear on the screen: name; type; the directory to which the file belongs; file size; name for MS-DOS (long file names are shortened); date of creation and date of last modification; file attributes, which can be changed if necessary.

To search for folders and files, use the “File” “Find” menu item. Searching for files is easy to do using the Start button menu or using Explorer.

Conclusion

Nowadays, almost no specialist can do without computer knowledge. The most common operating system that allows you to work with various applications and devices on your computer is Windows. Therefore, learning this operating system is very important.

This work examined the basic objects and techniques for managing Windows. Based on the material reviewed, we can conclude that Windows has gained mass popularity for a reason.

The Windows operating system provides an extremely convenient and flexible object structure and an intuitive interface. Without even being experienced user You can easily understand and master the basic techniques for working with folders, files and other system objects.

Bibliography

1. Bogumirovsky V. Effective work on an IBM PC in a Windows 95 environment. St. Petersburg: Peter, 1997.

2. Evseev G. A, Patsuk S. N., Simonov S. V. You bought a computer. Complete Guide for beginners in questions and answers. M.: AST-Press: Inforkom-Press, 1998.

3. Lyakhovich V.F., Kramarov S.O. Fundamentals of computer science. Ed. 4th. – Rostov-n/D: Phoenix, 2004. – 704 p.

4. Getting started. Windows 2000 Professional, Microsoft Corporation, 2000.

5. Simonovich S.V., Evseev G.P., Alekseev A.G. General computer science: Textbook for high school. – M.: AST-PRESS KNIGA, 2003 – 592 p.



The basis of the Windows OS user interface is desktop concept. Operating systems that use this concept are called object-oriented. Each type of object in such systems is assigned its own icon and a certain set of properties that determine how the object can be used.

The Windows Start screen is a system object called the Desktop. Desktop is a graphical environment that displays Windows objects and controls. Everything we deal with when working with a computer in a given system can be attributed either to objects, or to controls. In the initial state, the Desktop contains several screen icons and the Taskbar (Fig. 2.2). Badges is a graphical representation of Windows objects, and Task bar– one of the main control elements.

In Windows, most commands can be executed using the mouse that the active control is associated with - mouse pointer. When you move the mouse across a flat surface, the pointer moves across the desktop and can be position on object icons, or on passive application controls.

Rice. 2.2. Worker Windows table

Icon is a graphical representation of an object. Deleting an icon deletes the object; copying an icon results in copying an object, etc. Icons are divided into folders, files (documents), and shortcuts.

Folders– storage that contains shortcuts, files, other folders and icons various devices(disks, printers, network computers). They are ordinary(created by users) and special(created by the operating system, for example My Computer, Recycle Bin, My Documents).

Label is only pointer to the object. Removing a shortcut removes the pointer, but not the object; copying a shortcut results in copying the pointer, but not the object. Shortcuts allow you to speed up the launch of programs, documents, or access to other Windows tools. The shortcut icon in the lower left corner contains an arrow (Fig. 2.2).

Task bar provides the user with convenient tools for working and can be located on any edge of the Desktop (usually at the bottom). There is a button on the taskbar Start, quick launch buttons, currently active application buttons, language indicator, icons
programs launched when the OS boots (resident programs), and date, time
(Fig. 2.3). The Start button calls Main menu, with which you can launch all programs installed under the operating system or registered in it, open the most recently worked documents, gain access to all the operating system customization tools, as well as access to the Windows search and help systems.

Rice. 2.3. Task bar

Window– one of the most important Windows objects. Absolutely all operations that the user performs take place either on the Desktop or in some window. Windows are rectangles displayed on the screen in which folders are opened, applications are activated, or Windows messages are displayed. The window has the following elements (Fig. 2.4).

Rice. 2.4. Elements of the C:\Windows folder window

Title bar– it contains the name of the object.

Control menu button. Located in the upper left corner of any window. Clicking this icon opens a menu called manager. Teams featured in this menu, allow you to control the size and location of the window on the Desktop.

Size control buttons. These buttons duplicate the main commands of the control menu. In the Windows operating system, most operations can be performed in different ways. There are three control buttons: [Collapse], [Expand] ([Collapse to window]) and [Close].

Clicking the [Close] button closes the window completely (and terminates the process). Clicking the [Collapse] button causes the window to be minimized to the size of the button found on the Taskbar (but does not terminate the process associated with the window). The window can be restored at any time by clicking on the button on the Taskbar.

Clicking the [Maximize] button expands the window to full screen. At the same time, it is convenient to work with it, but access to other windows is difficult. In a maximized window, the maximize button is replaced by the [Minimize to Window] button, which can be used to restore the window to its original size.

Menu bar(line menu). For folder windows, the menu bar has a standard appearance. When you click on each of the items in this menu, a “drop-down” menu opens, the items of which allow you to perform operations with the contents of the window or with the window as a whole. The row menu provides access to all commands, which can be performed in this window.

Toolbar contains command buttons for performing the most common operations; it is more convenient to use than the line menu, but is limited in the number of commands. In modern applications, this panel is customizable. The user can place on it those command buttons that he uses most often. Each window can have several toolbars, and they are displayed in the window at the user's discretion. One of the most interesting toolbars is Address bar . It indicates the access path to the current folder, which is convenient for orientation in the file structure. It allows you to quickly navigate to other sections of the file structure by selecting from the list on the right edge of the line.

Workspace. It displays icons for objects stored in the folder, and you can control how they are displayed. Application windows in the work area contain document windows and work panels.

Scroll bars. If the number of objects is too large (or the window size is too small), scroll bars may appear along the right and bottom edges of the work area, allowing you to “scroll” through the contents of a folder in the work area. The scroll bar has a slider and two end buttons. Scrolling is done in three ways:

Click on one of the end buttons;

By dragging the slider;

Click on the scroll bar above or below the slider.

Status bar. Additional, often important information is displayed here. So, for example, if among the objects presented in the window there are hidden or system ones, they may not be displayed when viewing, but there is a special entry in the status bar about their presence.

Windows uses several types of windows (Fig. 2.5–2.7).

Figure 2.5. Window Microsoft applications Excel with the generated document window Book1

Rice. 2.6. Date and Time Dialog Box Rice. 2.7. System message window

Application windows– are associated with specific applications (Fig. 2.5), within them there may be separate document windows, generated by applications (if the application allows you to work with several documents at the same time).

Dialog boxes– provide organization of user interaction with the OS application (Fig. 2.6), they can only be closed and moved (for example, setting the date, time, keyboard properties, screen, etc.).

System message windows– to display various messages and warnings generated by the OS or applications (Figure 2.7).

Size Most windows are resized by dragging their borders; moving window– by dragging the window by its title. Switching from one window to another carried out using the Taskbar (by clicking on the button of the desired window) or by clicking the mouse on the desired window (if it is displayed on the screen).

Operating system controls

Task bar – one of the main control elements, the main means of interaction with the system.

Start button– located on the left side of the taskbar. It serves to activate Main Windows menu .

Quick Launch Toolbar – is a set of shortcuts for launching the most frequently used applications. Usually located next to the button Start.

Display panel – located on the right side of the taskbar. As a rule, it contains indicators of the current time, keyboard layout, etc.

Window is a framed rectangular element on Windows screen. After the desktop, windows are the most important objects Windows. A folder window is a container whose contents graphically display the contents of a folder. Any folder Windows can be opened in your window. You can open a large number of windows at the same time. Based on the presence of homogeneous control and design elements, other types of windows can be distinguished: dialog boxes, help system windows and working application windows, and within the windows of many applications there can be separate document windows (if the application allows you to work with several windows at the same time).

2.4. Elements of the folder window (Fig. 2.2)

1. B title The name of the open folder or document is marked. The title bar is also used to move the window. The active window is identified by the title bar (it differs in color) and, usually, the working window is located on top of the others.

2. Menu bar(menu items) located directly below the header, contains submenu items, and provides access to commands.

Figure 2.2

3. Toolbar located below the menu bar, it is a set of buttons that provides quick access to the most frequently used commands.

4. Address bar is intended to indicate the access path to the current folder, which helps to better navigate the file structure.

5. Workspace The inner part of the window contains subfolders and documents.

6. Status bar intended for output additional information(for example, the amount of information in the files of a given folder) .

7. Scroll bars are present in the window if all the contents do not fit in the working area of ​​the window.

8. Frame – window border, by hooking which you can change the size of the active window.

9. For the convenience of working with several windows at the same time, there are window control buttons .

1 – maximize (expands the window to full screen). After this action, the button will look like this: 2 . Clicking on it restores the window size.

0 – collapse. When minimized, the window remains on the screen, but as a button on the taskbar. You can easily return to a minimized window by clicking on the button with the name of this window on the taskbar.