Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Project 16-1

16-1 scanonce

Digging Deeper into System File Checker.

1. What are other parameters for the sfc command besides /scannow?
sfc /scanonce.


2. Explain the purpose of the findstr command when finding the log file.
The findstr command is short for find string and is a command used in MS-DOS to locate files containing a specific string of plain text.

Can a filename other than sfcdetails.txt be used in the findstr command line?
Yeah, it could be anything really. Any file can be found, you just have to be specific.

What is the purpose of the edit command?
to edit things
Explain why the icacls command is needed in the process.
Icacls.exe deal with the process manages Windows dll files and loads them into Windows memory.

List some ways that you can locate a known good copy of the corrupted system file

Thursday, November 11, 2010

Project 15-4

Using Ntbtlog.txt

I have to compare ntbtlog.txt from standard, to safe mode.
The differences are quite a bit. I can't really go in and explain the specifics being this blog would be like 20 pages long. But I took a screen shot of the properties window of the 2 different ntbtlogs next to eachother to show the file differences, and how safemodes ntbtlog is quite a bit larger than the standard ntbtlog

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Project 15-3

For this project I have to boot into the Recovery Environment using the windows 7 dvd.
I am to execute startup repair process, and my results for attempt number one is.. that there is no system state for me to backup to, (which isnt right becasue I made a system state.. 2 of them actually)

I'm rebooting now to try another option. And thats to use a backup point

The most recent restore point is a windows update on 11/10/2010 at 3:31:45 am

I now have to open command prompt and open the registry window. I used the regedit command.

Now i have to move a file from my documents folder to a flash drive.
so in command prompt i went to my documents folder by typing "cd documents"
and then typing "copy lolwut.jpg f:\"
my message read "1 file(s) copied."



Thursday, November 4, 2010

Project 14-6

I had to create a custom console for my desktop by following steps in the book, ha.
here is a screen shot of my console, next to the icon of it on my desktop.

Project 14-5

Editing and restoring the registry

I had to export a registry key to the desktop prior to making a change, I named it lol.
Then I changed the name of the recycle bin to trash can. here is a screen shot of all my hard work


Project 14-3

Practicing Launching Programs at Startup

1. Launch notepad at startup.
(clicked start > programs > right clicked Startup and hit open > then went to start>programs>accessories and copied notepad and pasted it in the startup folder. )

2. Launch command prompt on startup.
(licked start > programs > right clicked Startup and hit open > then went to start>programs>accessories and copied command prompt and pasted it in the startup folder. )

I restarted my pc, and notepad opened along with command prompt, successfully. No errors.
Then i removed the two programs off the startup folder.

Project 14-2

for this blog I had to disable all the non-windows startup items by using msconfig.
so I did here:


Then i downloaded and installed WinPatrol:


Then i went back into msconfig and enabled all the things i disabled and then restarted

When restarted, WinPatrol popped up messages for all the things I had re-enabled basically asking me if i'm aware of them being open.

Project 14-1

This project I basically have to show the difference in the process list in task manager between a normal boot, and safe mode.

here is a screenshot of the process list in a normal boot:

and here is a snapshot of the process list in safe mode:



the differences are that safemode does not run 'dwm.exe', 's3funkey.exe', 's3trayp.exe', and 'taskhost.exe'.


Chapter 13 page 655

I had to Manage hard drive volumes and create a new volume, but my drives were already partitioned and whatnot, so i could not initialize a disk being they were already initialized.

Chapter 13 page 624

I had to backup User Data.

Chapter 13 page 613

I had to verify startup programs by using msconfig.

Chapter 13 page 612

I had to check the harddrive for errors

Chapter 13 page 609

I had to defragment my drive.

Chapter 13 page 608

I had to do a cleanup on the harddrive.



Tuesday, November 2, 2010

CTS-120 Project 13-4

So basically I have to back up my system state to a folder, change my backgroud picture, the screen resolution, and the windows theme.
Then I must remove and add a Windows component, reboot my pc, and verify my changes are implemented.
Finally I'll restore my system state from the backup I made.


Here is my desktop before the restore


Here is my system restore, its location is... I have no idea. BLAHH.


As for the changes I made, I changed the windows theme, the background picture, and i lowered screen resolution.
here is the desktop afterward.


I also had to add and remove some windows components. I added the games folder, and I removed Internet Explorer (ha might as well keep it that way)



I restarted my pc. Then did a backup to the system state I made.
I notice one thing instantly about my backed-up pc.. and thats the background image as well as the theme didn't go back the way it was before the backup was made. (I find that kind of odd...)
But all the other changes are gone, my resolution is back to its default, the games arent there, and internet explorer is.

soo yep.
peace

Thursday, October 28, 2010

Project 13-2

For this lab I have to make another user that doesn't have admin privelages. Log onto the admin account, do a disk cleanup, then log onto the non-admin account and do a disk cleanup, and see the difference in the limitations in comparison to the admin's disk cleanup.

Here is a photo of the disk cleanup for the Admin Account

And here is a picture of disc cleanup for the Guest account:


The only real difference I see, is that the Admin account has the option to clear Offline Webpages.

Project 13-1

Hardware Software Support
Lab 13-1
Creating a Restore Point

Basically what I did was just go to Start, right click Computer and clicked Properties. Clicked Advanced system settings on the left, then the System Protection Tab.

Then I clicked Create and named my Restore point "Restore to Old Background"


I then changed my background to some northern lights or something and some my taskbar on the side of the screen:


Then I restored back to my "Restore to Old Background" Restore point.


After the restore it just had my settings back to the way they were.
woot.

Thursday, September 23, 2010

CTS-120 Project 9-1

Installing a Device

For project 9-1 I had to install a DVD Drive into the computer I'm building. n

I used an orange serial cable to plug the DVD Drive into the motherboard.


I pushed the DVD drive into the case through the front, and screwed it in.



Then I got the right adapter to get power to the DVD Drive, and plugged it into the motherboard and whatnot.



And then I had a DVD Drive in. w00t.

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

CTS-120 Project 8-6

Installing a Hard Drive

For this lab I had to install a power supply, as well as 2 hard drives.

Here is a picture of the power supply after being installed.



Here is a picture of the 2 hard drives. They are both Seagate 30gb drives.


Here is a picture of the hard drives installed and the power supply connected to the drives and the motherboard.


w00t.


Thursday, September 16, 2010

CTS-120 Project 6-1

Recognizing Processors


1.) What motherboard is installed?
Biostar Viotech 3100+

2.) What processor is installed?
There isn't an processor installed yet (I'm doing this project on the computer we are building in class, so we haven't been able to get the processors in yet)

3.) What socket is the processor using?
Well.. there isnt a processor in yet... (I will update this post when we get to putting the processor in)

4.) Describe the cooler assembly. Does it contain a heat sink and fan?
It contains 2 heat sinks, and there we will be installing a fan.

CTS-120 Project 5-1

Examining the Motherboard in Detail

1.) Look at the back of your computer. Without opening the case, list the ports that you believe come directly from the motherboard.


Mouse/Keyboard inputs, COM Port, Printer Port, VGA port, USB Ports, LAN port, Line In/Line Out/Mic in.


2.) Remove the cover of the case, which you learned to do in Chapter 4. List the different expansion cards in the expansion slots. Was your guess correct about which ports come from the motherboard?


The two expansion slots on this motherboard are the PCI-Express x16 Slot and the regular PCI Slot

My guess was correct about the first question. wOOt.


4.) Draw a Diagram of the motherboard and label these parts:
Processor, RAM, CMOS Battery, Expansion slots, each port coming directly from motherboard, power supply connections, SATA or IDE Drive connectors, and floppy drive connector.




6.) What is the brand and model of the motherboard?
Biostar Viotech 3100+


7.) Locate the manufacturers website. If you can find the motherboard manual on the site, download it.





CTS-120 Project 7-3

Planning and Pricing Memory


1.) What is the maximum amount of memory the banks on your motherboard can accomodate?
2GB
(2 1gb sticks)

2.) What type of memory does the board support?
DDR2 DIMM

3.) How many modules are installed, and how much memory does each hold?
Only one, and it is a 1Gb Stick.

It would cost $22.99 to buy another 1gb stick of ram that matches the one already installed.



Tuesday, September 14, 2010

For project 4-1 We had to take a computer completely apart, and then put it all back together.
At first I took the RAM out, then started taking the IDE connectors out, then the Cd ROM.

The RAM was easy to take out, I just hit the little switches on both sides and it pops right out
The IDE Connectors were a little stubborn sometimes but they just pulled right out
The CD-ROM drive just slid right out when I hold down the green tabs.


After taking the CD-ROM Drive, IDE Connectors, and the RAM out, I took the Hard Drive out, as well as the floppy drive.

The Hard Drive came out the same way that the CD player did. It just slid out while holding the green tabs, and the Floppy Drive did the same thing. So this part was pretty easy



I then unplugged the power to the motherboard and processor, and took the power supply out
The the power cables coming from the power suply going into the motherboard were pretty easy to pull out, they just came out, it took a bit of effort, but they came right out


After taking the power supply out, I then took the fan out, and eventually the motherboard. Once I had the motherboard out there was nothing left in the case.
The power supply was held in by 2 screws, and the fan came off just from hitting this little switch.



After the computer was totally emptied out, class was over.. The next class I put it all back together, in the reverse order that I took it apart. After about.. 30 minutes I had it all back together.




so yeah! it was a fun project to do, it was the first time I've ever taken a computer completely apart, and put it back together.

CTS-120 Project 3-1

CTS-120

Project 3-1

Dave Mathis

1.) In the role of desk-side support to users, what do you think is your strongest social skill that would help you succeed in this role?

Probably my ability to be patient, kind and have a sense of humor.

2.) What is likely to be your greatest interpersonal weakness that might present a challenge to you in this role?

My randomly timed inability to pay full attention.

3.) What is one change you might consider making that will help you to improve on this weakness?

Take some kind of medication for my Attention Deficit Disorder, ha.

4.) In the role of phone support at the help desk, what part of that job would you enjoy the most? What part would give you the greatest challenge?

-I would enjoy being able to help someone troubleshoot their problems, It would really only be enjoyable if the person listened well, and followed directions and there wasn’t any problems. Other than that I can’t see it as being very enjoyable at all.

-The part that would give me the greatest challenge would probably be keeping hope that I can actually help them with the problem, depending on how bad the problem is.

5.) When making on-site calls to corporate branches, what part of this job would you enjoy the most? What interpersonal skills, if any, would you need to develop so that you could do your best in this role?

Well, I would enjoy because odds are if I’m calling a corporate branch, I wouldn’t need to worry about it being someone I can’t understand, or someone that doesn’t have a single clue as to what they’re asking of me.

Interpersonal skills to develop, would probably have to be to watch my language. I can have quite the sailors mouth sometime.

Friday, September 3, 2010

CTS-120 Project 2-2

So for this lab we had to download Fresh Diagnostic, a program that basically does the same thing as System Information. It downloaded really fast, and it was only around 2 mb. Didn't try to install a bunch of crap on my system when I downloaded it, which is kinda uncommon, ha.



As for those questions we're supposed to do...

Which utility is easier to use and why?
I would say System Information was easier to use, simply because it doesnt seem to be as in depth as Fresh Diagnose. All the different buttons and lists are a bit overwhelming.

Which utility give more information about your system?
Fresh Diagnose by far.

What is one advantage that System information has over Fresh Diagnose?
System Information is a default program on all machines, so you don't have to go download it.

What is one advantage that Fresh Diagnose has over System information?
Plain and simple, it does a LOT more. You can even look at installed programs, and it gives a very detailed description of each program.

Which utility do you prefer and why?
Fresh Diagnose, I never even really used System Information, and now that I've checked out Fresh Diagnose, I'll actually keep it on my pc lol!

CTS-120 Cleaning Lab

I think I successfully cleaned that computer pretty well. Brad told us to take breaks because the can got cold, and I *the idiot I can be* just did it anyway, and I burned (or froze..) my finger. Ha.

But here is a picture of me cleaning

PC was cleaned, finger was frozen, everything was alright.

CTS-120 Project 2-1

Project 2-1
Dave Mathis



OS Name = OS Name Microsoft® Windows Vista™ Home Premium
Version 6.0.6001 Service Pack 1 Build 6001


Processor = Processor AMD Athlon Dual-Core QL-64, 2100 Mhz, 2 Core(s), 2 Logical Processor(s)














BIOS Version/Date = BIOS Version/Date Hewlett-Packard F.3E, 6/23/2009

Adapter RAM = Adapter RAM 256.00 MB (268,435,456 bytes)















Parallel Port = This last question I'm doing for my laptop. And apparently I dont have a paralell port driver, because nothing is listed..



I know this is kind of late, and I'm not trying to make excuses, but this hurricane really screwed up my week.