CHAPTER 4
USING WINDOWS CONTROL PANEL
Introduction:
Windows 2000 stores configuration information in two locations: the registry and the directory
services based on Active Directory technology. Modifications to the registry or Active Directory
services changes the configuration of Windows 2000 environment, and should be used with caution.
Lesson 1:
Configuring Hardware Settings
You use the Control Panel to configure hardware settings, manage user-specific settings, and manage
settings that apply to the computer regardless of which user is currently logged on.
Understanding Hardware Profiles
A hardware profile stores configuration settings for a set of devices and services.
For example, a portable computer can use different hardware configuration depending on whether
it is docked or undocked. A portable-computer user can create a hardware profile for each state
and choose the appropriate profile when starting Windows 2000.
To create or modify a hardware profile in Control Panel, double click the system icon, and then
click the Hardware tab in the System Properties.
TIP To open the System Properties dialog box from the desktop, right-click My Computer, and
then click Properties.
Windows 2000 creates an initial profile during installation, which is listed as Profile 1 (current).
You can create a new profile with the same configuration as another profile.
Activating a Hardware Profile
If two or more profiles are available in the Available Hardware Profiles list, Windows 2000 prompts
the user to make a selection during startup. You can set the time that the computer waits before
starting the default configuration. To adjust this time delay, click the Select The First Profile Listed
If I Don’t Select a Profile In option and then specify the number of seconds in the seconds box within
the Hardware Profiles Selection
group. You can configure Windows 2000 to start the default profile
by setting the number of seconds to 0. To override the default during setup, press the Spacebar
during the system prompt.
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Be careful in the Control Panel to disable a
Lesson Summary:
System icon in the Control panel was covered, to configure hardware devices or services by creating
and configuring hardware profiles.
During installation of Win 2000, an initial profile is created.
The Available hardware Profiles list determines the default order at startup. To change the order
of the profile, you use the arrow buttons.
Lesson 2:
Configuring the Display
Users with permission to load and unload device drivers can also install and test video drivers.
Windows 2000 can change video resolutions dynamically without restarting the system.
Setting Display Properties
To view or modify the display properties, in Control Panel double-click the Display icon, and then
click the Settings tab.
CLASSROOM NOTES:
frequently
used information. That is why you see to have quicker response time than other times.
Using Multiple Displays
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IMPORTANT You must use Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) or Accelerated Graphics
Port (AGP) devices when configuring multiple displays.
If one of the display adapters is built into the motherboard, note these additional considerations:
The motherboard adapter always becomes the secondary adapter. It must be multiple-display
compatible. You must set up Win 2000 before installing another adapter. Windows 2000 Setup
will disable the motherboard adapter if it detects another adapter.
Configuring Multiple Displays:
You must configure each display in a multiple display environment.
Windows 2000 uses the virtual desktop concept to determine the relationship of each display.
The coordinates of the upper-left corner of the primary display always remain 0,0.
Lesson Summary
video screen.
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Lesson 3:
Configuring Operating System Settings
In the Control Panel, you can look in the System Properties and perform the following:
The Control Panel programs that you use to configure the operating system settings affect the
operating system environment regardless of the user who is logged on to the computer.
Performance Options
The first Control Panel program that allows you to configure operating system settings is accessed
through System Properties. The options in this dialog box allows you to adjust the application
response, which is the priority of the foreground applications versus background applications and
virtual memory.
Application Response
Windows 2000 uses the Application Response settings to distribute microprocessor resources
between running programs. If you select Applications, more resources are assigned to the
foreground application, but if you select Background Services, an equal amount of resources are
assigned to all programs.
Virtual Memory
The Windows 2000 memory model is based on a flat, linear, 32-bit address space. It has several
advantages:
the amount of physical memory installed in the computer. The protection of memory
resources. Virtual memory management helps prevent situations where one process interferes
with the memory space for another process.
Physical memory refers to the RAM hardware chips inside your computer. Virtual memory refers to
the way that an operating system makes this physical memory available to an application.
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Windows 2000 represents each memory byte, both physical and virtual, with a unique address. The
amount of physical RAM installed in the computer limits the number of physical addresses that are
available. However, the number of virtual addresses is limited only by the number of bits in the virtual
address. Windows 2000, which uses a 32-bit virtual address scheme, has 4 GB of virtual addresses
available for use.
Virtual Memory Manager (VMM) manages memory. VMM has two specific roles:
that belong on each process and where the actual data referenced by these virtual
addresses resides. When a thread requests access to memory, it requests a virtual
address space. VMM uses the virtual address requested by the thread to locate the
corresponding physical address. It then transfers the data requested by the thread.
referred to as paging.
Virtual Address Space:
A Virtual Address is the address space that an application uses to reference memory. See the diagram
of the 4GB space:
The upper 2 GB is reserved for the system or kernel-mode threads only. The lower portion of this
upper 2GB area is mapped directly by the hardware. Access to this lower portion is extremely fast.
The lower 2 GB is available to both user-mode threads, for example applications and kernel-mode
threads. VMM can move it to a disk if required. Windows 2000 divides the upper portion into a
paged and a nonpaged pool. Addresses in the paged pool can be swapped out to disk, but those
in the nonpaged pool must remain in physical memory. The size of each page is 4KB.
Paging:
The process or moving data in and out of physical memory is called paging.
When the physical memory becomes full and a thread need access to code or data not currently in
physical memory, VMM moves some pages from physical memory to a storage area on disk called
a pagefile.
The virtual address space assigned to a process is divided
up into either valid pages or invalid
pages.
Valid pages are those pages that are located in physical memory and are available to the process.
Invalid pages are those pages that don’t exist in physical memory. They aren’t available to the
process or stored on disk.
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When a thread requests access to an invalid page, the microprocessor issues a page fault. VMM
intercepts, or traps, the page fault, locates the required page, and then loads it from disk into a free
page frame in physical memory.
VMM performs three tasks as part of the paging process:
It determines which pages to remove from physical memory when memory is full. VMM keeps track
of the pages currently in memory for each process. This group of pages is referred to as a process’s
working set. VMM uses a local first-in first-out replacement policy to decide which pages to move
ut of physical memory. The data that has been in physical memory for the longest is the first to be
removed. When a thread generates a page fault, VMM examines the working set for the thread’s
process and then moves to disk the page that has resided in physical memory for the longest.
It brings pages from disk into physical memory, and process called fetching. VMM also uses a
method known as demand paging with clustering. Demand paging with clustering means that
hen a page fault is triggered, VMM loads the needed page into memory, plus some of the pages
that surround it.
It determines where to place pages retrieved from disk. If physical memory isn’t full, VMM loads
the data into the first free page. If physical memory is full, VMM determines which page or pages
to move to disk to make room in
physical memory for the pages retrieved from disk.
Page File Size
When you install Window 2000, Setup creates a virtual-memory paging file, Pagefile.sys, on the
partition where you installed Win2000. The minimum paging file size is 2MG. The default or
recommended paging file size for
Windows 2000 P is equal to 1.5 times the
total amount of RAM.
To configure the paging file, click Change in Performance
Options.
If you set the size of the initial paging file below recommended, a message Virtual Memory Minimum
Too Low will be displayed. If any programs are running, they will be slow.
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As needed, a paging file grows from its initial size to the maximum configured size. When the paging
file reaches the maximum size, system performance might degrade if you place additional demands
on the system by running more applications.
When you restart a computer running Windows 2000, the system resizes all paging files to the initial size.
Registry Size
The setting simply limits the size to which the registry can grow.
Enhancing Performance
You can enhance your system’s performance in several ways. First, if you computer has multiple
hard disks, you can create a paging file for each disk. When attempting to write to the paging file,
VMM tries to write the page data to the paging file on the disk that is the least busy.
You can move the paging file off the boot partition avoids competition between the various reading
and writing requests. If you
place a paging file on the Windows 2000 system
partition to facilitate
recovery, you can still increase performance by creating multiple paging files. Because the VMM
alternates write operations between paging files, the paging file on the boot partition is accessed
less frequently.
Finally, you can enhance your system’s performance by setting the initial size of the paging file to
the value displayed in the Virtual Memory dialog box’s Maximum Size Box. This eliminates the
time required to enlarge the file from the initial size to the maximum size.
NOTE: Then applying new settings, be sure to click SET before clicking OK.
Environment Variables
Define the system and user environment information, and they contain information such as a drive,
path or filename. Environment variables provide information that Windows 2000 uses to control
various applications. For example, the TEMP environment variable specifies where an application
places the temporary files.
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System Environment Variables
The system environment variables applies to the entire system. Consequently, these variables
affect all system users. Only the Administrator can add, modify, or remove a system environment
variable.
User Environment Variables
The user environment variables differ for each user of a particular computer. The user environment
included any user-defined setting (such as a desktop pattern) and any variables defined by
applications (such as the path to the location of the application file). Users can add, modify, or
remove their user environment variable in the System Properties.
How Windows 2000 sets Environment Variables, and the order:
AUTOEXEC.BAT. By default, Windows 2000 searches the autoexec.bat file, if it exists,
and sets any environment variables.
SYSTEM. Windows 2000 sets the system environment variables. If any system environment
variables conflict with environment variables set from the search of the autoexec.bat, the system
environment variables override them.
USER. Windows 2000 sets the user environment variables. If any user environment variables
conflict with environment variables set from the search of the Autoexec.bat file or from the system
environment variables, the user environment variables override them.
For example, if you add the line SET TMP=C:\ in autoexec.bat, and a TMP=X:\TEMP user
variable is set, the user environment variable setting (X:\TEMP) overrides the prior setting C:\.
Startup and Recovery Settings
The system properties also controls the startup and recovery for the computer. In addition to
using Control Panel to access the System icon, you can right-click My Computer, Click properties,
click advanced tab, then click Startup and Recovery.
A system failure is a severe error that causes Windows 2000 to stop all processes. System failures
are also know as fatal system errors or blue screen errors.
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System Startup
When you first turn on the computer, the system displays a boot menu, which lists the available
operating systems loaded on the
computer, By default, the system chooses one of the operating
ystems and displays a countdown timer. You can modify the timer setting in the system startup
menu.
System Failure
Lesson Summary:
1) System Properties to configure performance options, registry size, environment variables, and
startup and recovery settings.
2) You can alter the background of the Desktop appearance.
3) System autoexec.bat file is used in the startup of the system.
4) System recovery.
Lesson 4:
Installing Hardware Automatically
Installing Plug and Play:
Installing Plug and Play hardware, you simply connect the device to the computer, and Windows 2000
automatically configures the new settings.
Installing Non-Plug and Play Hardware:
For non-plug and play Win2000 still does an automatic install. You can use the Add/remove wizard
in the Control Panel:
Initiate automatic hardware installation by starting the Add/Remove Hardware wizard.
Confirm the automatic hardware installation.
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Using the Add/Remove Hardware Wizard
You can use the Wizard for undetected hardware devices, both Plug and Play devices and non-Plug and
play devices.
Lesson Summary:
Windows 2000 supports Both Plug and Play and non-Plug and Play hardware. Windows 2000 does
not automatically configure you must user the Add/Remove Hardware Wizard to perform that task.
Lesson 5:
Installing Hardware Manually
Occasionally, Windows 2000 fails to automatically detect a hardware device.
When installing new hardware, you need to know which resource the hardware you can use. You can
reference the product documentation to determine the resources that a hardware device requires.
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Resource Description
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Interrupts Hardware devices use interrupts to send messages, or IRQ.
Windows 2000 provides 16 IRQ’s, numbered 0-15.
Input/Output I/O ports are a section of memory that a hardware device
I/O ports uses to communicate with the operating system. An I/O
Port is represented in a hexadecimal number.
Direct Memory DMAs are channels that allow a hardware device
Access (DMA) such as a floppy to access memory directly. Win2000
Has 8 DMA channels, numbered 0-7.
Memory Many hardware devices, such as a network adapter card
NAC, use onboard memory, or reverse system memory.
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Lesson Summary:
Installing hardware manually.
Hardware resources include interrupts, I/O ports, and memory.
You can use Device Manager to view or change the hardware, by adding snap-ins.
Lesson 6:
Configuring and Troubleshooting the Desktop Environment:
Windows 2000 provides great flexibility in configuring the desktop. You can configure your computer
for multiple languages and multiple locations.
Configuring Language and Location Settings:
Through Regional Options program in the Control Panel, Windows 2000 gives you the ability to
configure your computer for multiple languages and multiple locations.
You can also select a currency, time tab, data tab etc.
At the bottom of the desktop, you can access the languages, by clicking on it and a drop down box
will display the active ones on the system.
Configuring and Troubleshooting Accessibility Options
The accessibility options has five tabs, Keyboard, Sound, Display, Mouse, and General. This can
be good for someone who has a hearing problem, or is visually
Impaired in some say.
Configuring Keyboard Options:
The keyboard allows you to configure StickyKeys. Turning on StickyKeys allows you to press a
multiple key combination, such as Ctrl+Alt+Delete, one key at a time. This is useful for people
who have difficulty pushing more than one key at a time. This check box is either off or on, it is a
toggle type of switch.
Filter Keys, is a switch you can turn on, and it causes the keyboard to ignore brief or repeated
keystrokes.
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Configuring Sound Options:
The sound tab allows you to configure Windows 2000 to use SoundSentry.
When selected, Win2000 generates visual warnings when your computer makes a sound. This
would drive me nuts.
Configuring Display Options
You can use colour and fonts designed for easy reading.
Configuring Mouse Options
The Mouse tab provides a check box that allows you to configure Windows 2000 to allow
you to control the pointer with a numeric keypad.
Configuring General Tab Options
You can configure Automatic Reset, which turns off all the accessibility features, except the
SerialKey devices, after the computer has been idle for a specified amount of time.
The Notification feature is another and it allows you to configure Windows 2000 to display a
warning message when a feature is activated and to make a sound when turning a feature on
or off. The Administrative Options provide two check boxes that allow you to configure
Win2000 to apply all configured accessibility options to this user at logon and to apply all
configure accessibility options to all new users.
Configuring and Troubleshooting Additional Desktop Settings
Some other options are FAX, Internet options, and phone and modem options.
Lesson Summary:
1) Regional Settings program in Control Panel to configure Win2000P for multiple languages and
multiple locals. Also change the date, time and currency.
2) Accessibility options, in the Control Panel, you can change the desktop to a different style and
settings for the monitor, keyboard etc. Used if you are visually impaired or hard or hearing.