Chapter 3: Configuring the Windows Vista Environment

Windows Vista Management Utilities

• Microsoft Management Console

• Registry Editor

• Device Manager

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Microsoft Management Console

• Type MMC in Search box

• Framework to organize and standardize administrativetools – “snap-ins”

• Author mode and three User modes

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Microsoft Management Console Modes

• Author Mode– Author mode allows all MMC functions

• User Mode – Full Access– Full functionality, but cannot add or remove snap-ins or

change console properties• User Mode – Limited Access, Multiple Window

– Allows users to create new windows, but not close existing windows. Limited to the console tree as last saved.

• User Mode – Limited Access, Single Mode– Allows users to access only the areas of the console

that were visible when last saved. Can not create new windows

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Microsoft Management Console

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Registry Editor

• Allows access to Registry

• REGEDIT

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Registry Editor

• Registry– The database used by the

operating system to store configurations information.

– Regedit should only be used for advanced configuration, by users with advanced knowledge. Most configuration should be done with Control Panel.

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Registry Editor• Registry Keys

– HKEY_CURRENT_USER• Configuration information for the user who is

currently logged in.– HKEY_USERS

• Configuration information for all users of the computer

• HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE• Computer Hardware information, regardless of

who is logged in.• HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT

• Configuration information used for Windows Explorer to associate file types with apps.

• HKEY_CURRENT_CONFIG• Configuration of the hardware profile used

during system startup.

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Device Manager

• Used to– View a list of all hardware that is

installed on your computer– Determine and update device drivers– Change hardware settings– Disable, enable, and uninstall devices– Use driver rollback– Troubleshoot devices– Print a summary of devices

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Device Manager

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Managing Device Drivers

• Hardware installed– Plug and Play Devices

• Automatic and dynamic recognition of hardware that is installed

• Automatic resource allocation or reallocation

– Non-Plug and Play Devices (Legacy)• Vista supports non-plug and play

devices, and you will have to configure resources manually as always. IRQ, I/O, Memory, DMA

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Managing Device Drivers

• To Update Device Drivers– System Tools > Device Manager

in Computer Management– Right-click device, choose

properties, click Driver tab– Update Driver… button starts

Update Wizard

• You can also Roll Back a driver to the Previous, if need be

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Troubleshooting• If Device Manager detects a problem with

a device, the following icons will appear.– A Blue i indicates that Automatic

settings has been disabled, in place of manual configuration

– A Black down arrow indicates that the device is recognized by Vista but disabled.

– A Black exclamation point indicates the device has a problem and may not be working

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Managing Disk Devices

• Hard Disk Drives– See Chapter 7

• DVD, CD-ROM– Double-click device name in

Device Manager

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Managing Display Devices

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Managing Display Devices

• Configuring Video Adapters– Configure Resolution, Color

Selection, etc.– Multiple Display support

• If built in display adapter, install Vista first before second adapter.

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Power Management• Particularly useful for laptops

– Configured by going to Control Panel, System and maintenance, Power Options

• Vista includes a Battery Meter to manage power consumption.– Visual indication of the amount of

charge left. Red Circle with an X indicates to change power source.

– Clicking on Meter is a shortcut to switch between Power Plans.

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Power Management• Built-in power plans

– Controls the trade-off between quick computer access and power savings.

– Balanced• Display after 20 minutes, PC after 1 hour

– Wireless stays in high performance

– Power saver• Same as balanced, but also Hard Drive after

20 minutes of idle.

– High Performance• Display after 20 minutes, but nothing else.

• Create custom power plan– Based on one of the built-in power plans

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Power Options

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Advanced Power Settings

• Monitor, hard disk, and sleep settings– Sleep leaves data in volatile RAM– Hibernate will copy to non-volatile drive

• Require a password on wakeup

• Power button and lid actions– Do nothing, shut down, or sleep

• Multimedia settings

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ReadyBoost / ReadyDrive

• ReadyBoost– Uses non-volatile flash drive as an additional

cache of memory if the system runs out of RAM

– When flash drive is installed, select this option

• ReadyDrive– Uses the fash drive to recover

from hibernation quickly, because it’s faster than a mechanical hard drive.

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Windows Vista Services

• A service is a program, routine, or process that performs a specific function within the Windows Vista operating system.

• There are a variety of ways to manage services, but usually though Control Panel >Administrative Tools

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Managing Windows Vista Services

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Windows Vista Services

• The Services Window will list information such as:– The Service Name– A description of the Service– Start-up Type of the Service

• Manual, Automatic, Automatic (delayed start), or Disabled

– Status of the Service

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