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Upon completion of the class, the student will be able to:
1. Identify the major functions of operating system software and compare differences between Windows XP and earlier Windows versions.
2. Customize elements of the Windows graphical user interface, including the Desktop and Start menu.
3. Create and navigate the folder structure of a disk, search for folders and files, and organize files efficiently by folder.
4. Compare and contrast the features and efficacy of the File Allocation Tables (FAT 16, FAT 32) and NTFS (New Technology File System).
5. Create shortcuts and customize shortcut paths for system tools, applications, folders, files on a local or network computer as well as create shortcuts to web sites.
6. Create compound documents using OLE (object linking and embedding) and use the OLE properties of the taskbar and other objects to work more efficiently.
7. Use disk analysis repair and defragmenting utilities to optimize the hard disk.
8. Work with tools for safeguarding and restoring a computer, such as boot disks and the System Restore utility.
9. Examine different Windows boot options, and use the System Configuration Utility to evaluate and determine which background programs to load during booting.
10. Use System Monitor to evaluate the performance and memory usage of a work session and identify performance problems.
11. Examine how to install and upgrade software, install and uninstall hardware, and use Device Manager to document hardware settings and identify and troubleshoot hardware problems.
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1. Microsoft Windows
a. Operating system features and functions
b. Comparison with MS-DOS operating system
2. The Windows Graphical User Interface
a. The Windows desktop and desktop components
b. Using an object-oriented operating system and applications
c. Navigating a computer's disk and folder structure
d. Drive names, folder names, and filenames
e. Working with registered files
f. Organizing files into folders
3. Customizing Windows
a. Customizing the desktop, taskbar, and start menu
b. Customizing and creating toolbars
c. Desktop resolution, color settings, and refresh rate
d. Power management settings
4. Windows file systems
a. NTFS
b. FAT 32
c. FAT 16
5. Shortcuts
a. Concept and use of the path
b. Creating and customizing shortcuts
c. Customizing the Start menu and Send To menu
6. Object linking and embedding (OLE)
a. Concept and use of object linking and embedding
b. Creating compound documents
c. Using OLE properties of Windows
7. Optimizing disks with Disk Cleanup, Check Disk, and Disk Defragmenter utilities
8. Safeguarding your computer
a. Using the BIOS (basic input/output system) setup utility
b. Overview of boot disks, startup disks, setup disks, and other features for repairing, troubleshooting, and restoring a computer
c. System restore utility and Windows firewall
9. Troubleshooting tools
a. Using Windows task manager
b. Using the system configuration utility to control the loading of background programs
c. Using boot options on the Windows XP advanced options menu
10. Evaluating system performance
a. Concept and use of virtual memory and paging
b. Using system monitor to evaluate memory usage
11. Installing and uninstalling software
a. Installing and upgrading Windows
b. Installing and uninstalling applications and Windows components
12. Installing and troubleshooting hardware
a. Plug-and-Play vs. legacy hardware
b. Installing and uninstalling hardware
c. Hardware resources and ports
d. Using Device Manager to document hardware and troubleshoot hardware problems
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"Microsoft Windows XP For Power Users" by Harry Phillips, Thomson/Course Technology, Inc., 2003.
Instructor prepared materials