Table of Contents

• Copyright and Disclaimer
• Introduction and “Guide to the Guide”
  • About the Authors
  • About the Book
  • Acknowledgments
• Chapter 1: What are Operating Systems and How Do They Work?
  • The CPU and the Life Cycle of Operating Systems
    • Common Microsoft Operating Systems
  • Operating System Features
    • CDI versus GUI Interface
      • Command-Driven Interface
      • DOS / Command Prompt CDI Interface
      • Graphical User Interface
      • What is a Window?
    • The Mouse
      • Mouse Control Modifiers
      • Mouse Cursors
    • The Keyboard
      • The Tab Key
      • The “Three Finger Salute”
      • Basic Shortcut Keys for Desktop
    • The Start Menu
      • Advanced Taskbar Properties
      • Basic Shortcut Keys for the Start Menu
    • The Desktop
      • Navigating the Desktop
      • Customizing the Desktop
    • “What's This?” Explained
      • Context Sensitive Menus
      • How to Create a Shortcut
      • The Properties of “My Computer”
    • Manipulating Files and Folders
      • Drag and Drop
      • The Recycle Bin
    • The Task Bar and System Tray
      • The Task Manager
      • Multiple Windows
    • Explorer: Understanding the Structure
      • Navigating with Explorer
      • Customizing Explorer
      • General Folder Options
      • File Associations
    • The Control Panel
      • Changing the Date, Time and Localization
      • Power Management
      • Modem Properties
      • Display Properties
      • Add/Remove Programs
    • System Properties
  • System Configuration Tools
    • Computer Management Console (Windows 2000 and XP)
      • Adding an MMC Snap-In
      • Computer Management Snap-In
    • The Event Viewer
      • Warning Events
      • Error Events
      • Local Security Settings
    • The System Information Tool
      • System Information Snap-In
    • Performance Logs and Alerts
      • Creating a Sample Alert
      • Checking the System Monitor Log
      • Performance Monitor Tool
    • Shared Folders
    • Device Manager Snap-In
    • Local Users and Groups
      • Creating a New User
      • Managing User Groups
      • Viewing Members of a Group
    • Disk Management
    • Services
      • Service Start-Up Methods
      • Service Configuration
  • File Structure
    • Partitioning, Formatting and File Systems
      • FAT
      • FAT16
      • FAT32
      • NTFS v4
      • NTFS v5
      • HPFS
    • Partitioning Hard Drives
    • Formatting Hard Drives
    • Disk Fragmentation
    • Using the Windows Disk Defragmenter
    • Checking for Disk Errors
      • Scandisk
      • Chkdsk
  • File Attributes
    • Attributes and Permissions
    • NTFS File Permissions
      • NTFS Permissions Exercise
      • Security Permissions
      • Managing Inherited Permissions
      • Adding Permissions
      • Advanced Permissions
      • Object Access Auditing
      • Enabling Auditing
      • The “Creator Owner”
  • File Naming Conventions (Most Common Extensions)
  • Lost in the Maze? How to Search
    • Search Options
    • Full Text Searches
  • File Management
    • Compress? Encrypt?
    • Understanding Disk Compression
    • Encryption?
    • EFS
    • Third Party Tools
  • Backup/Restore
    • The Archive Bit
    • Full Backup Strategy
    • Differential Backup Strategy
    • Incremental Backup Strategy
    • Windows Backup
      • Configuring a Backup
      • Selecting a Backup Strategy
      • Backup Media Options
      • Restoring from Backup
  • CDI System Commands
    • DOS - Where it all Begins
    • “8.3“ File Naming Limit
    • Navigation
    • The CD Command
    • The DIR Command
    • The Prompt Command
    • The Ver Command
    • The Copy and XCopy Commands
    • The Echo Command
    • The Del / Erase Command
    • The RMDir / RD Command
    • The DelTree Command
    • The MKDir Command
    • The Ren Command
    • The Type Command
    • The Edit Command
    • The Attrib Command
    • The FDisk Command
    • The Format Command
    • Batch Files
    • Batch Files: AUTOEXEC.BAT
  • The Registry
    • Registry Hives
    • Registry Keys and Values
    • Registry Tools - RegEdit.EXE
      • Creating a New Registry Key
      • Adding Values to a Registry Key
      • Exporting and Importing Registry Data
    • Registry Tools - RegEdt32.EXE
      • Setting Registry Key Permissions
      • Dangers in Editing the  Registry
• Chapter 2: Windows XP New Category View
  • Classic View and Category View
  • Control Panel Categories
  • Appearances and Themes
    • Computer Themes
    • Desktop Options
    • Screen Saver and Power Options
    • Appearance Options
    • Display Settings
    • Video Troubleshooting
    • Folder Options
    • Folder Views
    • File Types
    • Offline Files
    • Taskbar and Start Menu
    • Fonts Display
    • Mouse Properties
    • Display Accessibility Options
    • User Account Pictures
    • Display Troubleshooter
  • Network and Internet Connections
    • Internet Connections Properties
    • New Connection Wizard
    • Internet Properties - General
    • Internet Properties - Security
    • Internet Properties - Privacy
    • Internet Properties - Content
    • Internet Properties - Programs
    • Internet Properties - Advanced
    • Network Connections
  • Printers and Other Hardware
    • Remote Desktop
  • Add or Remove Programs
  • Sounds, Speech, and Audio Devices
    • Sounds and Audio Device Properties
    • Sound Schemes and Advanced Properties
  • Performance and Maintenance
    • General System Properties
    • Performance Options
    • Disk Cleanup
    • Backup or Restore Wizard
    • Disk Defragmenter
    • Administrative Tools
    • Scheduled Tasks
    • Power Options, System Properties and System Restore
  • User Accounts
    • Changing an Account
    • Creating a New Account
    • Learning About User Accounts
  • Date, Time, Language, and Regional Options
  • Accessibility Options
    • Keyboard Accessibility Options
    • Other Accessibility Options
  • Category View - Summary
• Chapter 3: Windows XP Command Line Interface (CLI)
  • BootCfg
  • Defrag
  • DiskPart
  • DriverQuery
  • EventCreate
  • EventQuery
  • EventTriggers
  • FSUtil
  • GetMAC
  • HelpCtr
  • IPSecCmd
  • LogMan
  • OpenFiles
  • PageFileConfig
  • PerfMon
  • PrnCnfg
  • PrnDrvr
  • PrnJobs
  • PrnMngr
  • PrnPort
  • PrnQCtl
  • Relog
  • SC
  • SchTasks
  • Shutdown
  • SystemInfo
  • TaskKill
  • TaskList
  • TraceRpt
  • TypePerf
  • WMIC
• Chapter 4: Diagnosing and Troubleshooting in the Windows OS
  • Troubleshooting the Windows Start-up “Journey”
    • General Boot Sequence
    • Windows NT Boot Sequence
    • Windows 9x Boot Sequence
  • Troubleshooting Black Screen Error Messages
  • Real World Scenario: How Might a Black Screen Error Happen?
  • Fatal Errors: Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) or ***STOP
  • Turning Off Restart on ***STOP
  • Lock-ups
    • Driver Problems and IRQ/DMA Conflicts
    • Power Supply
    • CMOS or RAM Problems
    • Overclocking
    • Corrupt Swap or Hibernate File
    • Corrupt or Changed System Files
  • Troubleshooting Registry Problems
    • Solving Registry Problems
    • Restoring the Registry
  • Less Fatal Errors
    • Illegal Operation
    • General Protection Fault (GPF), Invalid Page Fault, Access Violation
    • Program Will Not Start or Load
    • Invalid Working Directory
    • Control Panel Causes an Error When Opened
    • Out of Memory Error
  • Safe Windows Start-up
  • Troubleshooting Printing
  • Troubleshooting Utilities
    • Creating a Boot Floppy
    • Event Viewer
    • Device Manager
    • Task Manager
    • Dr.  Watson
    • System Configuration Editor (SysEdit.exe)
    • Microsoft System Information Tool (Msinfo32.exe)
    • ConfigSafe
  • Virus – Computer (Age) Illness
    • Protecting Your Computer from Viruses
    • Removing Viruses
    • Internet/Web Resources for Virus Information
• Chapter 5: The Linux Operating System
  • A Look Back to the Roots of Linux
  • Linux Distributions
  • Further Links and Info
  • The Major Components and Interfaces of Linux and Their Functions
    • Linux Directory Structure
    • Linux Path Names and File Names
    • Disk Partitions and Key System Directories
    • /bin
    • /boot
    • /dev
    • /etc
      • /etc/fstab
      • /etc/group
      • /etc/grub.conf
      • /etc/passwd
      • /etc/rc.d Run Level Directories
      • /etc/xinetd.d
    • /home
    • /lib
    • /mnt
    • /opt
    • /proc
    • /root
    • /sbin
    • /tmp
    • /usr
    • /var
  • Linux System Interface: The Command line
    • The Command Line
  • The User Model
    • Log In
    • Starting Up and Shutting Down
    • The Help System - Man Pages
  • Basic Concepts and Procedures for Creating, Viewing and Editing Files and Directories
    • Common Commands
      • ls - List  Directory Contents
      • mkdir - Make Directories Command
      • pwd - Print Name Of Current/Working Directory
      • cd - Change Directory
      • touch - Change File Time Stamps
      • cat - Concatenate Files And Print To The Standard Output
      • more, less - Peruse A File One Screen at a Time
      • head, tail - Output the First or Last Part of a File to the Screen
      • cp - Copy Files or Directories
      • mv - Move (rename) Files
      • rm - Remove Files Or Directories
      • rmdir - Remove Empty Directories
      • chmod - Change File Access Permissions
      • find - Search For Files In A Directory Hierarchy
      • locate - Index And Search Files
      • diff - Find Differences Between Two Files
      • grep - Print Lines Matching A Pattern
      • jobs - List Jobs that are Running from the Current Shell
      • vi - A Full Screen Text Editor
    • Meta Characters
      • Wildcard Characters
    • Character Ranges
    • Match Negation
    • Examples of Using Meta Characters
    • Pipes And Redirection
    • Shell Information
      • History
      • Number
    • Aliases
    • Bash Config File
    • Environment Variables
  • Command Line Functions And Administrative Utilities
    • User Management Commands
      • w and who - Who is Logged in and What They are Doing
      • su - Run a Shell with Substitute User and Group IDs
      • whoami - Print Effective UserID
      • useradd - Create A New User
      • passwd - Update A User’s Authentication Tokens (Password)
    • Disk Space Monitoring Commands
      • df - Report Filesystem Disk Space Usage
      • du - Estimate File Space Usage
    • Process Management
      • Overview of Processes, Sessions and Daemons
      • ps - Report Process Status
      • pstree - Show Process Relationships
      • top - Show System Activity Information
      • kill - Terminate A Process
    • Scheduling Processes For Later Execution
      • at  - Queue Jobs For Later Execution
      • cron/crontab - Execute Scheduled Commands
  • Package Management
    • rpm - Red Hat Package Manager
    • apt-get - APT Package Handling Utility
  • System Run Levels
    • chkconfig - Updates and Queries Run Level Information for System Services
  • System Backup and the tar Archiving Utility
  • Networking with Linux
    • ifconfig - Configure a Network Interface
    • route - Show /Manipulate the IP Routing Table
• Chapter 6: The Graphical Interface of the LINUX OS
  • History of the X Windows System
  • The Gnome and KDE Desktop Interfaces
    • The KDE Desktop
    • Launching Applications
    • Exploring with Konqueror
      • Konqueror View Modes and Pull-Down Menus
      • Edit Menu - File Manipulation Utilities
      • File Access Permissions and Copying/Moving Files
      • Viewing Man Pages
    • The Gnome Desktop
    • The KDE Control Center
    • System Administration Tools
    • Network Configuration
    • User Management
    • Web-Server: Webmin
      • Webmin Install and Login
      • Webmin Configuration
      • Webmin System Configuration Tools
    • Information on Processes, Disks and Network File Systems
    • Software Management
    • Hardware Management
    • Printer Installation
    • Network Information
      • Network Interfaces
      • IP Address Configuration
    • Server Configuration
    • Video and Graphic Installation
  • Example of Configuration
• Chapter 7: History, Installing and Use of the MacOS
  • Installing Mac OS X
    • Checking System Requirements
    • Installing to the Same Partition as OS 9
    • Installing to a Different Partition than OS 9
  • Let’s Get Some Users!
    • The User Window
    • Types of Users
  • You are Booted Up, Now What?
    • Multitasking and the Mac
    • Context Switching
    • Pre-Emptive Multitasking and Protected Memory
    • Virtual Memory
    • Symmetric Multiprocessing
  • Connecting to a Network
    • Manual Network Setup
    • Ethernet Configuration
    • AppleTalk Setup
    • PPPoE Setup
  • Verifying the Connection
  • Enabling Email
  • Sharing More Than Your Spam
  • Other Connections
  • Using the UNIX Terminal
    • Listing Files and Directories - ls
    • Other Commands
  • Troubleshooting - Because Even a Mac Can Have a Bad Day
    • The Network Utility
  • Recovering from a Lost Password
• Chapter 8: Motherboards
  • What is a Motherboard?
  • Form Factors
    • AT
    • Baby AT
    • ATX and Mini ATX
    • LPX and Mini LPX
    • NLX
    • What’s New?
  • What is a Chipset?
  • Northbridge and Southbridge Architecture
  • Hub Architecture
  • What is CMOS?
  • What is BIOS?
  • What is POST?
  • What is a Bus?
    • Frontside/Backside Bus
    • I/O Bus
    • Cache
    • Expansion Buses
  • ISA
  • MCA
  • VESA VL Bus
  • PCI
  • Plug and Play (PnP)
  • PCI Steering
  • AGP
  • AMR
  • What is Interrupting?
  • IRQ
  • DMA
  • DMA Details
  • Bus Mastering
  • Memory Addresses
  • Memory Mapping
  • Logical Names
  • The Future of Motherboards
    • MicroATX
    • FlexATX
    • BTX
    • ATX12V
    • TFX12V
    • SFX12V
    • CFX12V
    • LFX12V
• Chapter 9: Graphic Cards
  • Fundamentals of Computer Graphics: Pixels, Resolution and Color
    • Colors on the Computer
    • Memory Use by Images
    • Refresh Rate
  • Graphic Card Types and Functions
    • Understanding 3D Graphics and Functions
    • Polygon Rendering and Fill Rates
    • OpenGL
  • Card Components, Modes and Architecture
    • Display Modes
    • SVGA/XGA
    • Buses: PCI and AGP
    • Memory
    • Upgrading, Troubleshooting, and Common Problems
    • Explanation of Common Video BIOS Settings
• Chapter 10: The Small Computer System Interface, SCSI
  • A Little Background
  • Catch the Bus!
  • The Three Buses
  • Parallel SCSI Standards and Features
    • Ultra2 SCSI
    • Tagged Command Queuing
    • Ultra3 SCSI
    • Ultra160 SCSI
    • Ultra320 SCSI
  • SCSI IDs
  • Logical Unit Numbers (LUNs)
  • SCSI Bus Termination
    • Passive Termination
    • Active Termination
    • Multimode Termination
    • Forced Perfect Termination
    • TermPwr (Termination Power)
  • SCSI Connectors
  • Summary: SCSI Types, Standards, Speeds, Cables and Connectors
  • RAID
    • RAID Basics
      • Parity
      • Error Correcting Code (ECC) and XOR
      • Striping
    • RAID Levels
      • RAID-0
      • RAID-1
      • Duplexing
      • RAID-5
      • RAID-0/1
    • Summary of Common RAID Levels
    • Hardware or Software?
    • Internal or External?
      • BUS-Based RAID
      • External Controller Based
    • RAID Systems Still Need Tape Backups!
  • iSCSI
    • ISCSI HBAs
  • Fibre Channel
  • Serial Advanced Technology Attachment (SATA)
  • Additional information/Links
• Chapter 11: Power Supplies, Surge Protection and Uninterruptible Power Supplies
  • Testing an ATX Power Supply
  • Power for PC Survival: Surge Protectors
    • Metal Oxide Varistor (MOV)
  • Uninterruptible Power Supplies (UPSes)
    • UPS Types
    • What Size UPS?
    • UPS Software
  • Further Information Links
• Chapter 12: Material Safety: a Personal and Technical Report on Hazardous Material Handling
  • What You Need to Know for the A+ Test
  • HazCom: What it is and Where it Came From
    • Physical Hazards
    • Health Hazards
  • The Major Elements of the Hazard Communication Standard
  • Reading and Understanding MSDSs
    • Title/Header and Section One - Product Information
    • Section Two - Hazardous Constituents and Exposure Limits
      • Exposure Limits
      • Understanding Parts Per Million (PPM)
    • Section Three - Physical Data
    • Section Four - Fire/Explosion Data
      • Flash Point
      • Hazard Ratings
    • Section Five - Reactivity Data
    • Section Six - Health Hazard Data
    • Section Seven - Toxicological Data
    • Section Eight - Exposure Controls Data
      • Concentration Limits and Personal Protective Equipment
    • Section Nine - First Aid Data
    • Section Ten - Storage Data
    • Section Eleven - Environmental / Regulatory Data
    • Section Twelve - Other Information
  • Some Ending Notes
  • Links to Additional Information
• Chapter 13: Basic Networking Terminology
  • History of Networking
  • Cables and Fibers
    • Thick, not Thin
    • Thinnet
    • RG-58U vs. RG-58AU
    • Removing a PC from a Network
    • Shielded Twisted Pair (STP)
    • Unshielded Twisted Pair (UTP)
    • 100BaseT
    • Gigabit Ethernet
    • Ethernet Cabling Summary
    • Fiber Optic Cabling
      • SingleMode/MultiMode Fiber
      • Fiber-Optic Connectors
  • OSI Reference Model and Networking Protocols and Technologies
    • Layer 1 - Physical layer
    • Layer 2 - Data Link Layer
      • Network Topology
        • Bus
        • Star
        • Extended Star
        • Tree
        • Ring
        • Mesh
      • Encapsulation
      • Peer-to-Peer Communications
      • LAN Segmentation
      • Bridge
      • Switch
      • Router
      • MAC Addressing
      • NIC
      • Duplex
      • Ethernet, Token Ring, 100VG Any-LAN, FDDI
      • CSMA/CD
      • Ethernet
      • Token Ring
      • 100VG Any-LAN
      • FDDI
      • PAN
      • Bluetooth
      • FireWire
      • GigaWare
      • HomePNA
    • Layer 3 - Network Layer
      • IP Addressing
      • Class A
      • Class B
      • Class C
      • Subnet Mask
      • Static Addressing
      • Configuration of TCP/IP in Windows OS
      • Dynamic Addressing and DHCP
      • IPX/SPX and AppleTalk
    • Layer 4 - Transport Layer
      • TCP
      • UDP
    • Layer 5 - Session Layer
    • Layer 6 - Presentation Layer
      • Encryption
      • Compression
    • Layer 7 - Application Layer
      • Network Applications
  • Internet
  • Wide Area Networking (WAN)
    • WAN Connections
    • Main Interfaces
    • WAN Technologies
    • Dedicated Lines
    • Packet/Cell Switching
    • ATM
    • Circuit Switching
  • Modem, IDSN, DSL and More
    • ISDN
      • BRI
      • PRI
    • DSL
    • Cable Modem
  • Wireless
    • Infrared (IR)
      • Advantages and Disadvantages of Using IR
    • Satellite
    • Asymmetrical Access
    • Symmetrical Access
    • Internet from Unstable Satellites
  • Video and Voice Transmission over IP
• Chapter 14: Networks
  • What is a Network?
    • Network Components
      • Network Topology and Models
      • Peer-To-Peer
      • Domains
      • Network Clients
    • Protocol Standards
      • Internet Protocol (IP)
      • Network Address Translation (NAT)
      • Automatic Private IP Addressing (APIPA)
      • Subnetting
      • Classless Inter-Domain Routing (CIDR)
      • Domain Name System (DNS)
      • Windows Internet Naming Service (WINS)
      • Name Resolution Using the Hosts File
      • TCP Ports
      • Clients
    • Network Utilities
      • PING
      • TraceRoute (TraceRt)
      • IPCONFIG and WINIPCFG
      • NSLOOKUP
      • Dial Up Networking
    • Resource Sharing
      • File Sharing
      • Network Drive Mapping
      • Printer Sharing
      • The NET Command
    • Troubleshooting Network Problems
      • Troubleshooting Network Cards
      • Troubleshooting Network Connectivity
      • Troubleshooting DNS and Name Resolution
  • The Internet
    • Internet Application Technologies
      • Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP)
      • File Transfer Protocol (FTP)
      • POP3 and IMAP
      • SMTP
      • Telnet
      • DNS
    • Configuring Internet Explorer
      • Configuring Internet Explorer Security Zones
      • Configuring Internet Explorer Proxy and Connections
    • Spyware and Internet Explorer
      • Spybot Search & Destroy
      • Hijack This
      • SpamBayes
  • Summary
• Chapter 15: Wireless LANs
  • Wireless Technologies
  • Regulatory Bodies
  • Putting Your WLAN Together
  • Security
  • Summing Up
• Chapter 16: Network Load Balancing and Clustering
  • Network Load Balancing (NLB)
  • Clustering
    • How Clustering Works
    • Cluster Grouping and Dependency Configuration