Maintaining, Optimizing, and Troubleshooting Windows NT, 2000 and XP

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Maintaining, Optimizing, and Troubleshooting
Windows NT, 2000 and XP

• Chapter 8

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Overview

• In this chapter, you will learn to
• Select the proper tools for maintaining and
  optimizing Windows
• Maintain and optimize Windows NT/2000/XP
• Troubleshoot Windows NT/2000/XP

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Tools for Maintaining and Optimizing Windows
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Microsoft Management Console

• Microsoft Management Console (MMC) provides a
  standardized method to create customized
  administrative tools called consoles and to save
  them
• MMC does not provide management functions itself
  it just hosts management applications called
  snap-ins

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Snap-Ins

• There are many available snap-ins to add
  functionality to MMC
• Some companies create additional snap-ins

Many preconfigured consoles have been already
created for you. Check out the System Tools under
Start ? Programs ? Accessories
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Adding Snap-ins to MMC

• There are many available snap-ins to add
  functionality to MMC
• Some companies create additional snap-ins
• To add a snap-in to MMC
• Windows 2000 Use the Console menu
• Windows XP Use the File menu
• Choose Add/Remove Snap-in

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Adding Snap-ins to MMC

• You may add as many snap-ins as you wish
• Save your newly created console using Save As on
  the File or Console menu
• You may also use the Options choice on the File
  or Console menu to decide whether uses may make
  changes to the console

User will be unable to make any changes to the
console
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System Information as MMC
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Event Viewer

• Event Viewer enables users to see whats
  happening behind the scenes with their OS
• To start Event Viewer
• Windows 2000 Control Panel ? Administrative
  Tools ? Event Viewer
• Windows XP Control Panel ? Performance and
  Maintenance ? Administrative Tools ? Event Viewer

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Event Viewer Logs

• By default, Event Viewer has three logs

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Event Viewer Events
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Event Viewer Settings

• To change the maximum log size
• Alt-click on any of the log files and choose
  Properties
• While viewing the Properties of any log file,
  click on the Filtering tab to keep all of the
  events but to view only a portion of them
• When your Event log is full, alt-click the log
  file and choose Clear all Events
• Youll be able to save the log file for later
  viewing

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Event Viewer
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Task Manager

• Task Manager provides information about programs
  and processes running on your computer
• Monitor key indicators of your computers
  performance
• Interface contains three tabs Applications,
  Processes, and Performance
• Update by clicking Refresh Now on the View menu
• To open press Ctrl-Alt-Del

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Task Manager
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Maintaining and Optimizing Windows
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Windows Update

• Microsoft issues updates to Windows on a regular
  basis to fix problems
• Start ? Windows Update (in Win2K)
• Start ? All Programs ? Windows Update (XP)
• To automate updates, alt-click My Computer under
  the Start menu and choose Properties, then the
  Automatic Update tab
• Software Update Service (SUS) is a product that
  network administrators may use to control what
  updates are pushed down and when

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Windows Update
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Windows Update
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Adding or Removing Software

• Installing software
• Most programs are distributed on CD-ROMs that
  make use of the Autorun feature
• Or you could use the Add/Remove Programs icon in
  Control Panel
• Removing software
• Use the uninstall option that is part of the
  program
• Or go to Control Panels Add/Remove Software
  applet

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Add/Remove Programs
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Installing/Adding a Device

• Installing new hardware in Windows 2000/XP is the
  same as in Windows 9x/Me

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Drivers

• Drivers
• Drivers tell Windows how to talk to devices
• This allows new devices to be added to your
  computer
• Poorly written device drivers can cause a lot of
  problems

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Driver Signing

• Microsoft issues digital signatures (called
  driver signing) to devices that have been tested
  by them at the Windows Hardware Quality Lab
• Designed for Windows 2000
• Designed for Windows XP

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Unsigned Drivers

• Many manufacturers issue drivers that have not
  been signed
• When detected during a hardware install, youll
  get the message shown
• You are taking a chance when installing unsigned
  drivers

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Device Manager

• Device Manager may be set up in a MMC
• Or Alt-click My Computer ? Properties ? Hardware
  tab ? Device Manager button

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Adding a PnP Device

• Usually Windows you just plug in the device and
  Windows will find it
• If Windows does not detect the device, use the
  Add Hardware wizard in Control Panel

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Adding a Printer

• To add a printer
• Windows 2000 Start ? Printers and Faxes ? Add
  Printer
• Windows XP Start ? Printers and Faxes ? File
  menu ? Add Printer

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Adding Non-PnP Devices

• Non-Plug and Play devices are called legacy
  devices
• If there is no setup program, use the Add
  Hardware wizard in Control Panel

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Managing User Accounts and Groups

• A valid user account and password is required to
  log in to a Windows NT/2000/XP system
• Every Windows NT/2000/XP system has an account
  called the Administrator
• An Administrator account has complete access and
  control to the computer
• A Guest account is also created with limited
  privileges

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Managing User Accounts and Groups

• Each user is a member of one or more groups
• Groups enable system administrators to easily
  assign rights and permissions
• All members of the group will inherit the same
  rights and permissions
• Several built-in groups are automatically created
• Right-click My Computer and select Manage

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Users and Passwords Applet

• The Users and Passwords applet in Windows 2000s
  Control Panel
• Allows you to decide whether a user needs to log
  in or not
• Allows you to add, remove, or change the
  properties of users
• Always give users a password for Security reasons
• Passwords should be at least 8 characters long
• Passwords should contain a mixture of letters and
  numbers both upper and lower case
• Passwords are case sensitive
• Do not use common words for passwords

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Users and Passwords Applet
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Managing Users in Windows XP

• In Windows XP the Control Panel applet for
  managing users is called User Accounts
• Limited account belongs to the local Users group

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Optimizing Windows 2000/XP

• Windows 2000 and Windows XP come well optimized
  out of the box
• Optimization tasks follow the same basic process
  as in Windows 9x

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Performance Options

• Performance Options are under the Advanced tab of
  My Computer Properties

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Resource Tracking

• Resource Tracking tools include
• Task Manager
• Performance Console

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Task Manager

• To start Task Manager, press Ctrl-Shift-Esc or
  Ctrl-Alt-Del

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Performance Console

• Performance Monitor contains two utilities
• System Monitor snap-in
• Track resource use and network throughput
• Collect and view real-time data about memory,
  disk, processor, network, and other activity in
  graph, histogram, or report form
• Performance Logs and Alerts snap-in
• Collect performance data from local or remote
  computers
• Configure logs to record performance data and set
  system alerts to notify you when a value is above
  or below a defined threshold

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Performance Console
Add counter
Value bar
Legend
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Objects and Counters

• An object is a system component
• A counter tracks specific information about the
  object
• Performance Console includes System Monitor
• Shows real-time data on objects
• Click the to add counters for new
  objects

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Performance Logs and Alerts

• Performance Logs and Alerts allows you to create
  a written record of anything that happens on your
  computer
• Alt-click Counter Logs and select
  New Log Settings
• Give it a name and then make your
  choices

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Disk Defragmentation, Error Checking, and Disk
Cleanup

• Disk Defragmentation, Disk Cleanup, and Error
  Checking may be accessed by selecting the
  Properties of the drive
• These are similar to the tools used in Windows 9x

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Preparing for Problems

• Tools to prepare for problems
• System Restore
• Backup and Restore Wizard
• Automated System Recovery
• Emergency Repair Disk
• Recovery Console

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System Restore

• System Restore enables you to create a restore
  point, a copy of your computers configuration at
  a specific point in time
• To create a restore point
• Start ? All Programs ? Accessories ? System Tools
  ? System Restore
• A new restore point is automatically created
  whenever you install new software

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System Restore
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Backup and Restore Wizard

• Backup enables you to backup and restore your
  data and files
• Backup System State Data backs up the registry
  and for Windows 2000 Server Active Directory
• In addition, theres a third option
• Windows 2000 Emergency Repair Disk (ERD)
• Stores a copy of the registry in \WINNT\REPAIR
• Windows XP Automated System Recovery (ASR)
• Creates a backup of your system containing the
  system partition and disks containing the
  operating system

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Creating an MS-DOS Startup Disk

• Windows XP contains an option to create an MS-DOS
  Startup Disk
• Just go to the Format disk screen

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Recovery Console

• Recovery Console offers a command line interface
  to help resolve issues like faulty drivers
• To install Recovery Console
• Run Setup but select Repair and then Recovery
  Console (lets you run it from the CD)
• Or install to your hard drive, run \i386\winnt32
  /cmdcons from your Setup CD

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Troubleshooting Windows
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Recovery Console

• The Recovery Console is a text-mode command
  interpreter that is separate from the Windows
  command prompt
• Allows you to gain access to the hard disk
• Limited access to NTFS and FAT volumes
• Requires an Administrator password
• Start and stop services, repair the master boot
  record and boot sector, format volumes
• To exit, type exit

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Recovery Console Commands
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Troubleshooting Windows XP Using System Restore

• To restore XP to a previous time, start the
  System Restore wizard
• Start ? All Programs ? Accessories ? System Tools
  ? System Restore ? Restore My Computer To An
  Earlier Time

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Advanced Startup Options

• If your computer wont start, press F8 during the
  operating system selection phase to see a menu of
  Advanced Boot Options that includes
• Safe Mode
• Basic files and drivers are load with no network
• Enable Boot Logging
• ntbtlog.txt is located in the windir folder
  (c\winnt)
• Enable VGA Mode
• Last Known Good Configuration
• Directory Services Restore Mode (Server only)
• Restoration of directory services
• Debugging Mode (Windows 2000 Server only)
• Boot Normally (to abort advanced boot options)

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Safe Mode
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Safe Mode with Command Prompt
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Last Known Good

• Use Last Known Good
• If you install a new device driver, and Microsoft
  Windows 2000 restarts, but the system stops
  responding
• If you accidentally disable a critical device
  driver
• Dont use Last Known Good
• When the problem isnt related to Windows 2000
  configuration changes
• After you log on
• When startup failures relate to hardware failures
  or missing or corrupted files

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Resetting Forgotten Passwords in Windows XP

• Windows XP allows the currently logged-on user to
  create a Password Reset Disk to use if the
  password is forgotten
• Youll even be able to access any encrypted files
• If an administrator resets your password, youd
  loose access to encrypted files
• Choose User Accounts in Control Panel ? Select
  your user account ? Choose Prevent a Forgotten
  Password under Related Tasks and follow the wizard

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Using the Emergency Repair Disk

• An Emergency Repair Disk contains
• Create a new ERD anytime you apply a Service
  Pack, update drives, or the system state changes
• To use the ERD, boot to the setup CD and choose R
  to repair the installation

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