CIS 106a: Introduction to Operating System Concepts

Review for First Test

 

1. What is operating system software? How is it different from application software?
   
   
2. What is DOS? What other operating system is it like?
   
   
3. What versions of Windows ran on top of a layer of DOS? What version was the first to not use a DOS layer?
   
   
4. Match the versions of Windows that are most alike:
   • Windows 3.x
   • Windows 9.x
   • Windows Me
   • Windows 2000
   • Windows XP
     
     
5. What is a user interface? What are three types described in the first chapter?
   
   
6. Why does an operating system provide hardware management? How about applications and files?
   
   
7. What is the difference between the shell and kernel components of an operating system?
   
   
8. What are tracks on a file system? What is a sector? How much data can a sector hold?
   
   
9. What is a file system cluster? Why can't we immediately answer if asked how many sectors are in a cluster? What else do you need to know?
   
   
10. Some file systems are known by the number of bits in each entry in a particular table. What table? What are the names of 3 of these file systems?
    
    
11. What does formatting a drive do?
    
    
12. What is partitioning a drive? Why did older file systems require you to do this with large drives? What is the difference between a primary and an extended partition? How many primary partitions can you have on a drive under Windows XP?
    
    
13. What are three ways you might start a program under Windows 2000 or XP?
    
    
14. What is the difference betwee Real Mode, Protected Mode, and Long Mode? Which is most likely to be seen under which operating systems?
    
    
15. What is multitasking? What are two types of it?
    
    
16. What is a driver? Where are two places on the Internet where you might find a newer version of a driver?
    
    
17. What are two standard Windows desktop icons that will allow you to manage files and folders?
    
    
18. What are two ways to access System Properties on a Windows XP computer?
    
    
19. What do red icons and yellow icons mean in Device Manager?
    
    
20. Many Windows applications and utilities support keyboard commands using the control (ctrl) key. Name at least 4 of them.
    
    
21. What are some of the versions of Windows XP that a support technician might encounter? What are some versions of Windows 2000?
    
    
22. What is User Mode? What kind of users will typically use applications in this mode? What is Kernel Mode? What kind of users will typically use applications in this mode?
    
    
23. The first chapter used one definition of a process, and the second chapter uses a different one. With regard to the two modes in the question above, what is a process? What is a thread?
    
    
24. What is a Hardware Abstraction Layer? Why is it needed? What is typically the only way to resolve a problem with a HAL?
    
    
25. How are Windows Workgroups and Domains different? What rule of thumb does Microsoft suggest for when you should use a domain instead of a workgroup?
    
    
26. What is Active Directory? What two kinds of domains can be called Active Directory domains? With regard to Windows 2000 Server, what is a mixed mode domain?
    
    
27. In Windows 2000 domains, what is a SAM? Where is it stored? What is the difference between a PDC and a BDC?
    
    
28. What is the difference between a permission and a right, according to Microsoft?
    
    
29. What Internet-based Microsoft resource should you consult to find out if your hardware is compatible with a version of Windows you are thinking about installing?
    
    
30. What is the difference between an upgrade and a clean install of Windows?
    
    
31. What are two ways to run an unattended installation of Windows?
    
    
32. When installing Windows XP, you might start winnt.exe or winnt32.exe. What is the rule that tells you which one to run?
    
    
33. What is a dual boot system? What is the rule about which OS to install first when making a dual boot system? What kind of partition must each OS be installed in?
    
    
34. What should you expect to happen if you install a new hardware device in your computer, then start the computer and Windows? What should you have ready when Windows asks for it?
    
    
35. Where should you look to determine whether to install hardware or a device driver for it first?
    
    
36. What are two ways to start the Disk Management utility in Windows XP?
    
    
37. What possible danger could exist in repartitioning a drive?
    
    
38. What is the only efffective way to reinstall the same driver for a device? Why might you want to do so?
    
    
39. What are two classic ways to install software in Windows?
    
    
40. What is compatibility mode? Why is it simple to use it with a shortcut?
    
    
41. What is a console? What file extension will consoles typically have? What is a snap-in to a console?
    
    
42. What does the Event Viewer console do? How does it tag events to give us an idea to their severity?
    
    
43. What is the Windows registry? What is it good for?
    
    
44. What is the System State? What are its three components?
    
    
45. What is the System Restore feature? What does it do regarding the registry? What does it do regarding data files?
    
    
46. What file structure is the Windows registry stored in? How many files are there? What are they called?
    
    
47. How is the registry logically organized?|
    
    
48. What is the System Configuration Utility? If you have used it, what name are you more likely to know it as?
    
    
49. What is virtual memory? How does Windows Virtual Memory Manager allocate memory? Is it save to remove virtual memory?
    
    
50. How to you access Task Manager from the keyboard? How can you access with a mouse?
    
    
51. How do you remove a driver from the operating configuration?
    
    
52. What is the Services Console used for? How is that different from the System Configuration Utility?