This chapter covers Windows configuration and management. As a technician, you should be skilled at installing, configuring, and troubleshooting an operating system. 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.

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. You should establish a backup strategy that allows for the recovery of data.

Some of the tools available for troubleshooting an OS problem include administrative tools, system tools, and CLI commands.