C26 Selecting and Installing An Operating System

PC Hardware Servicing
Chapter 26: Selecting and Installing an Operating System
Chapter 26 Objectives
Define functions of an OS Identify major system files and features of DOS, Windows 3.1, 9x, NT, 2000, XP Install the above operating systems Troubleshoot installation problems
Functions of an OS
Communicates between applications and BIOS/hardware Provides a user interface to the user Enables user interface and applications to interact
Checking the Current OS Version

Command prompt: VER command In Windows: Choose Help > About Windows from any file management window
MS-DOS
Command prompt interface No GUI Singleuser, singletasking
MS-DOS Commands
Internal commands
Built into COMMAND.COM, the command interpreter application
External commands
Exist as separate applications in the C:\DOS folder
MS-DOS Major System Files

COMMAND.COM
Command interpreter Present in top-level folder of boot drive
MSDOS.SYS and IO.SYS

Hidden, system files in top level folder of boot drive
AUTOEXEC.BAT and CONFIG.SYS

Optional configuration files Store settings that load at boot
MS-DOS Major System Files

HIMEM.SYS
Extended memory manager, to access memory above 1MB
EMM386.EXE
Expanded memory manager
SMARTDRV
Disk caching utility, for better performance
Windows 3.x
First commercially successful version of Windows 3.x refers to Windows 3.0, Windows 3.1, and Windows 3.11 for Workgroups 16-bit application Runs on top of MS-DOS (DOS is required)
Windows 3.1
Windows 3.1 Major System Files

Basic set from MS-DOS
IO.SYS, MSDOS.SYS, COMMAND.COM, HIMEM.SYS
WIN.COM
Executable file that starts Windows
Windows System files

GDI.EXE: Graphical interface KRNL386.EXE: Memory management USER.EXE: User input and output
Introducing DLLs
DLL: Dynamic Link Library Libraries of programming routines that applications can call upon Execute standard functions Some come with Windows Others come with specific applications Still the cornerstone of Windows applications today
Windows 3.1 Configuration

Precursor to the Windows Registry SYSTEM.INI for system settings WIN.INI for application settings
Introducing INI Files

Initialization files Run when the corresponding application is started Contain startup settings for that application Better to have a separate file than to try to store setting for all installed applications in WIN.INI
Features of Windows 3.x

Memory allocation
Protected-mode application Able to access extended memory and make it available to the applications
Common device drivers

One driver for each piece of hardware, regardless of the applications that use it

TrueType fonts (3.1)
Scaleable outline fonts that work with any printer
Virtual memory
Extra RAM can be simulated by using part of hard disk
Virtual machines
More than one program can run at once in its own address space

Data sharing:
Windows clipboard Dynamic Data Exchange (DDE), precursor to the more modern OLE we use today
Cooperative multitasking
Applications share CPU time Each application voluntarily pauses to allow others to run
Windows 95, 98, and Me

Collectively referred to as Windows 9x Includes:
Windows 95 (several service pack versions) Windows 98 Windows 98 Second Edition Windows Millennium Edition (Me)
Windows 95, 98, and Me

A real operating system Does not rely on MS-DOS (well, not much) Still uses some DOS underpinnings, but they are transparent to most users
Windows 9x User Interface
Windows 9x Major System Files

IO.SYS: The main startup file MSDOS.SYS: Now just a configuration file COMMAND.COM: Required for command line interface HIMEM.SYS: Extended memory manager

Carryovers from Windows 3.1 (not required, but used if they are present)
AUTOEXEC.BAT and CONFIG.SYS WIN.INI and SYSTEM.INI
16-bit system files (for backward compatibility

GDI.EXE: Graphical interface KRNL386.EXE: Memory management USER.EXE: User input and output

WIN.COM
The main Windows program
32-bit program files:

KERNEL32.DLL: Memory manager USER32.DLL: User input and output GDI32.DLL: Graphical interface
VMM386.VXD
Loads the 32-bit device drivers
Windows 9x Features
Application compatibility
Can run both 16-bit (Windows 3.x) and 32-bit applications
Plug and Play hardware detection Preemptive multitasking

Uses time slices to prevent rogue programs from locking up the system
Windows 9x Registry
System settings for startup SYSTEM.DAT and USER.DAT files From the Registry Editor, they appear to be a single database
Windows 9x Features
Object Linking and Embedding (OLE)
Data transfer between applications Superior to the earlier DDE
Safe Mode
Allows startup when PC cannot start Windows normally
Long file names

Up to 255 characters, including spaces
Windows 9x Versions
Version Windows 95 Windows 95 SP1 Windows 95 SR2 Windows 95 SR2.1 Windows 95 SR2.5 Windows 98 Number 4.00.950 4.00.950A 4.00.1111 4.03.1212.1214 4.03.1214 4.10.1998 Distribution Retail, OEM Retail, OEM, Patch OEM only OEM only OEM only Retail, OEM Bug fix FAT32, IE, NetMeeting, DirectX USB OE, Internet Connection Wizard Disk Cleanup, System Information, Drive Converter, Maintenance Wizard Internet Connection Sharing System Restore, Home Networking Wizard, Windows Movie Maker Features
Windows 98 Second Edition Windows Me
4.10.2222A 4.90.3000
Retail, OEM Retail, OEM
Windows NT, 2000, and XP

The NT Platform For business use 32-bit OS GUI and OS built together, no DOS underpinnings Cannot boot OS to a command prompt from a floppy (as with Win9x)
Windows NT 4.0 User Interface
Windows 2000 User Interface
Windows XP User Interface
NT Platform Major System Files

NTLDR (NT Loader)
Equivalent to IO.SYS in Win9x Loads the operating system
NTDETECT
Checks the hardware
BOOT.INI
Initialization file similar to MSDOS.SYS

WINNT32.EXE
Main program file for Windows
NTOSKRNL.EXE (NT OS Kernel)

The equivalent of Krnl386.exe in earlier versions
HAL.DLL (Hardware Abstraction Layer)

A dynamic link library that helps communicate between the hardware and the OS

NTUSER.DAT
User information for each user (separate) Windows NT/2000: Stored in \Winnt\Profiles\username Windows XP: Stored in \Windows\Profiles\username
NT Platform Registry
Windows NT/2000:
Stored in \Winnt\System32\Config
Windows XP:
Stored in \Windows\System32\Config
NT Platform Registry
Registry Hives
Sam Security System Software Default
Log files (*.log) for each Backup files (*.sav) for each
Windows NT 4 Features
NTFS file system (NTFS 4) Improved networking Better security Server version Multiple CPU support Support for non-PC hardware (ex. DEC Alpha workstation)
Windows 2000 Features

Plug and Play NTFS 5 and support for FAT32 Dynamic disks Active Directory Internet Printing protocol Microsoft Management Console Administrative tools
Windows XP Features
Utilities from Windows Me
Windows Media Player Windows Movie Maker System Restore Scanner and Camera Wizard
Friendlier logon (Welcome screen) Fast User Switching Driver signing and roll-back
Windows XP Features
Internet Connection Firewall Wireless networking Remote desktop
Window XP Home vs. Professional

Multiple CPU support 64-bit CPU support Advanced security features File encryption (EFS) Personal Web server Remote desktop connection Membership in a domain Dynamic disks Microsoft Backup and ASR
Preparing to Install an OS
Check system requirements Plan how you will start the Setup program Decide whether you will upgrade or do a clean install Plan for multi-booting
OS System Requirements
Starting the Setup Program

Start from a startup floppy
Possible only if existing OS is MS-DOS or Windows 9x Desirable only if installing Windows 9x/Me
Boot from the Windows CD

Possible on all existing OS systems Possible only if installing Windows NT/2000/XP
Starting the Setup Program

Copy Setup files to hard disk and install from there
Keeps OS files handy so CD will not be needed in the future Takes up space on the hard disk
Install from Network

Existing network connection must be present, or must set up real-mode boot disk with network drivers
Planning an OS Upgrade
Hardware
Is all the hardware on the Hardware Compatibility List (HCL)? Does the system meet the minimum requirements?
Existing OS
Is the existing OS upgradeable to the desired new version?
Software
Are all existing applications able to run under new OS version?
Clean Install?
Is it necessary to preserve existing application installations? Is it necessary to preserve existing data files? Does the old OS have performance problems that might be corrected by a clean install of the new OS? Do you want to redo the partitions on the hard disk?
Planning for Multi-Booting

Windows NT 4, 2000, and XP are all multi-boot aware; Windows 95, 98, and Me are not
1. Install the non-multi-boot-aware OS first 2. Install the multi-boot-aware OS afterward, on a different logical drive
Settings for multi-booting are stored in BOOT.INI
Special Upgrading Issues

DOS to Windows 9x
Disable any 3rd party memory management utilities, disk caches, antivirus
NT/2000/XP to 9x
Not a directly supported upgrade path Clean install only
9x to NT/2000/XP
Check device compatibility, driver updates may be required
Installing Windows 9x
Start Setup from CD or from files copied to hard disk
Installing Windows NT, 2000, or XP

Boot from the Windows CD Create setup boot disks if needed
Useful if PC does not support booting from CD x:\bootdisk\makeboot a:
Partitioning and Formatting

Setup creates FAT or NTFS partitions Both partitions and formats
Computer Name and Administrator Password

Very important to remember the password you use here Password will be required to get into Recovery Console
Managing Multi-Boot Settings

Control Panel method:
System Properties, Advanced tab, Startup and Recovery Settings
Alternate method:
Edit BOOT.INI in Notepad
Troubleshooting Installation Problems

Hardware incompatibilities
Check HCL (www.microsoft.com/hcl) Remove all non-essential hardware for the install Check device manufacturers Web site for firmware or driver updates
Cannot get past Scandisk

Run setup with /is switch: setup /is

Errors reading from CD
Remove the CD, rotate it, try again Clean dirt and fingerprints off CD with soft dry cloth Copy setup files from CD to hard disk and install from there Try a different CD drive if possible

File missing after installing
Use EXTRACT utility to copy needed file from CD: EXTRACT x:\path\cabinetfile x:\path\filename Search all CAB files with the /A switch: EXTRACT /A x:\path\cabinetfile x:\path\filename

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PC Hardware Servicing

Chapter 26: Selecting and Installing an Operating System

Checking the Current OS Version

MS-DOS Major System Files

MSDOS.SYS and IO.SYS

AUTOEXEC.BAT and CONFIG.SYS

MS-DOS Major System Files

Windows 3.1 Major System Files

Windows System files

Windows 3.1 Configuration

Introducing INI Files

Features of Windows 3.x

Common device drivers

Features of Windows 3.x

Features of Windows 3.x

Windows 95, 98, and Me

Windows 95, 98, and Me

Windows 9x User Interface

Windows 9x Major System Files

Windows 9x Major System Files

16-bit system files (for backward compatibility

Windows 9x Major System Files

32-bit program files:

Plug and Play hardware detection Preemptive multitasking

Long file names

Windows 98 Second Edition Windows Me

Retail, OEM Retail, OEM

Windows NT, 2000, and XP

Windows NT 4.0 User Interface

Windows 2000 User Interface

Windows XP User Interface

NT Platform Major System Files

NT Platform Major System Files

NTOSKRNL.EXE (NT OS Kernel)

HAL.DLL (Hardware Abstraction Layer)

NT Platform Major System Files

Windows 2000 Features

Window XP Home vs. Professional

Starting the Setup Program

Boot from the Windows CD

Starting the Setup Program

Install from Network

Planning for Multi-Booting

Settings for multi-booting are stored in BOOT.INI

Special Upgrading Issues

Installing Windows NT, 2000, or XP

Partitioning and Formatting

Computer Name and Administrator Password

Managing Multi-Boot Settings

Troubleshooting Installation Problems

Cannot get past Scandisk

Troubleshooting Installation Problems

Troubleshooting Installation Problems

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