This chapter introduced computer operating systems. As a technician, you should be skilled at installing, configuring, and troubleshooting an OS. The following concepts from this chapter are important to remember:
- Several different operating systems are available, and you must consider the customer’s needs and environment when choosing an OS.
- The main steps in setting up a customer’s computer include preparing the hard drive, installing the OS, creating user accounts, and configuring installation options.
- A GUI shows icons of all files, folders, and applications on the computer. A pointing device, such as a mouse, is used to navigate in a GUI desktop.
- A CLI uses commands to complete tasks and navigate the file system.
- You should establish a backup strategy that allows for the recovery of data. Normal, copy, differential, incremental, and daily backups are all optional backup tools available in Windows operating systems.
- With a virtual machine manager, system resources on a host computer can be allocated to run virtual machines. Virtual machines run operating systems, and using them can provide users with greater system functionality.
- Preventive maintenance techniques help to ensure optimal performance of the OS.
- Some of the tools available for troubleshooting an OS problem include administrative tools, system tools, and CLI commands.