A+ 1102 Operating Systems Notes

Index

  1. Desktop Operating Systems

  2. Mobile Device Operating Systems

  3. Windows OS Overview & Editions

  4. Installation Requirements

  5. OS Boot & Installation Methods

  6. Partitioning & File Systems

  7. Post-Installation Tasks

  8. Windows Client Network Configuration

  9. Windows Command Line Tools

  10. Microsoft System Utilities

  11. Using Microsoft System Utilities (Control Panel Style)

  12. Microsoft Control Panel Utilities

  13. macOS Tools and Features

  14. Linux Commands & Tools (Ubuntu Focus)

Section 1: Desktop Operating Systems

  • OS controls hardware, manages applications, provides interface, and supports communication.

  • 32-bit OS: Up to ~4GB memory, x86 processors.

  • 64-bit OS: Supports more RAM, x64 only.

  • Application compatibility varies based on architecture.

  • OS Examples: Windows, macOS, Linux.

  • Interfaces: CLI (command line) and GUI (graphical).

Section 2: Mobile Device Operating Systems

  • ARM-based processors (e.g., Apple M1, Qualcomm Snapdragon).

  • OS Examples: iOS, iPadOS, Android, ChromeOS.

  • Optimized for battery, thermal efficiency, and mobile hardware.

  • Often pre-installed and tailored for the device.

Section 3: Windows OS Overview & Editions

  • Windows 10: Released 2015, support through 10/2025.

  • Windows 11: Released 2021.

  • Editions: Home, Pro, Enterprise, Education, Pro for Workstations.

  • Feature Comparison:

    • Home: Basic consumer use, no RDP or domain join.

    • Pro/Enterprise: RDP, BitLocker, Hyper-V, advanced networking.

Section 4: Installation Requirements

Windows 10:

  • CPU: 1GHz+ | RAM: 1GB/2GB | Storage: 16GB/20GB | Graphics: DX9 | Display: 800x600

Windows 11:

  • CPU: 64-bit, 1GHz+, dual-core | RAM: 4GB+ | Storage: 64GB+ | TPM 2.0, Secure Boot, DX12

Linux (Ubuntu):

  • CPU: 2GHz+ | RAM: 4GB | Storage: 25GB

macOS Monterey:

  • RAM: 4GB | Storage: 35.5GB | Mac-compatible hardware only

Section 5: OS Boot & Installation Methods

  • Clean Install: Wipes drive, fresh install.

  • Upgrade: Retains apps/settings.

  • Repair: Fixes issues with current OS.

  • Boot Media: USB, DVD, PXE (network), ISO.

  • Performed on: Bare-metal systems, VMs, dual-boot systems.

Section 6: Partitioning & File Systems

  • MBR: Legacy BIOS, 4 partitions, ≤2TB.

  • GPT: UEFI support, more partitions, >2TB.

  • File Systems:

    • NTFS (Windows)

    • ReFS (Windows Server)

    • EXT4 (Linux)

    • APFS/HFS+ (macOS)

    • FAT32/exFAT (Legacy, portable)

    • ACL (Access Control Lists): Permission model across platforms.

Section 7: Post-Installation Tasks

Windows:

  1. Select region and keyboard layout

  2. Configure Microsoft/local account

  3. Privacy and Cortana setup

  4. Install updates

  5. Set device name

  6. Install/verify drivers

  7. BitLocker (Pro/Enterprise)

  8. EFS (Encrypting File System)

macOS:

  • Region, Apple ID setup

  • FileVault encryption

  • Disk Utility for storage

  • Driver auto-detection

  • Rename via System Preferences

Section 8: Windows Client Network Configuration

  • Adapter Testing: Device Manager, taskbar icons.

  • IP Addressing: DHCP (auto), Static (manual)

  • IPv4/IPv6/APIPA: 169.254.x.x fallback

  • Network Discovery: File/printer sharing config

  • Join Domain: Rename PC → System Settings

  • RDP/Assistance: RDP for Pro+, Remote Assistance

  • Firewall: Inbound/outbound rules via wf.msc

Section 9: Windows Command Line Tools

  • dir, cd, cd .. – Directory navigation

  • chkdsk, sfc /scannow, diskpart – Disk/system utilities

  • xcopy, robocopy – File/folder copy utilities

  • DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth – Repairs Windows image

Section 10: Microsoft System Utilities

  • Task Manager: View/manage processes, startup apps

  • Resource Monitor: Real-time CPU/memory/disk/network use

  • Performance Monitor: Data collectors, system tracking

  • Computer Management: Unified admin tools: Task Scheduler, Event Viewer, Device Manager

  • Administrative Tools: msconfig, Disk Cleanup, System Info, etc.

Section 11: Using Microsoft System Utilities (Control Panel Style)

  • MMC: Console with snap-ins (e.g., services.msc)

  • msconfig: Startup/boot options

  • System Info: View hardware/software specs

  • Memory Diagnostic: RAM check at boot

Section 12: Microsoft Control Panel Utilities

  • File Explorer Options: Show hidden files/extensions

  • Programs and Features: Add/remove Windows components

  • Devices and Printers: Set default devices

  • Network and Sharing Center: Change adapter settings

  • System and Security: BitLocker, File History, Power Plans

  • Credential Manager: Manage web/Windows logins

  • User Account Manager: Add/remove users, local or MS

  • Extras: Default Programs, Troubleshooting, Fonts

Section 13: macOS Tools and Features

  • Dock, Finder, Menu Bar: Core UI components

  • System Preferences: Customization and settings

  • Mission Control: Virtual desktop switching

  • Gestures: Touchpad shortcuts

  • Terminal: CLI for commands

  • Disk Utility: Format/manage drives

  • FileVault: Drive encryption

  • iCloud: Cloud storage and sync

  • Boot Camp: Dual boot (Intel only)

  • Remote Disk, .dmg, .pkg, .app: App management and file formats

Section 14: Linux Commands & Tools (Ubuntu Focus)

Navigation & Files:

  • pwd, cd, ls, cp, mv, rm, rmdir, mkdir, touch, cat, nano

Permissions & Ownership:

  • chmod, chown

Search:

  • grep

Networking:

  • ifconfig, ip addr, dig

Process Management:

  • ps, top, kill

System Info:

  • clear, man, df, free, dd, shutdown

Software Installation:

  • sudo apt update

  • sudo apt upgrade

  • sudo apt install [package]

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A+ 1102 Security Fundamentals