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MCTS Chapter

The document provides an overview of the features and history of Windows XP, Vista, and 7 operating systems. It discusses new features introduced in each version such as the start menu, kernel updates, and remote assistance in XP. It also covers service pack 3 for XP and new elements in Vista like the sidebar and parental controls. Finally, it outlines the various editions of Windows 7 and new capabilities like jump lists and touch support.

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Sreekanth Rallapalli
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110 views26 pages

MCTS Chapter

The document provides an overview of the features and history of Windows XP, Vista, and 7 operating systems. It discusses new features introduced in each version such as the start menu, kernel updates, and remote assistance in XP. It also covers service pack 3 for XP and new elements in Vista like the sidebar and parental controls. Finally, it outlines the various editions of Windows 7 and new capabilities like jump lists and touch support.

Uploaded by

Sreekanth Rallapalli
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Installing Windows 7

Overview of Windows XP
Microsoft introduced Windows XP in 2001. Microsoft
Windows XP was a replacement to the Millennium operating
system.
Windows XP was a stable environment that catered to both
the home user and work environment user.
Windows XP was the fi rst operating system to introduce the
dual column Start menu, shown in Figure 1.1. The Windows
XP operating system also redesigned how the Control Panel
was structured.
Windows XP was also the first operating system to use the
new core called the kernel.
Previous versions of Microsoft used a 9 x version of the core
systems, but this new kernel was more stable and ran more
efficiently.
Windows XP also introduced Remote Assistance (which is
still in use in Windows 7).
This allows an administrator to accept an invitation from a
user and then connect to that user s machine to help the
user technically from a remote location.
Windows XP made it easier to keep your machine up - to -
date with the ability to schedule Windows updates with the
Microsoft website, also included with Windows 7.
This allows users to guarantee that their machines are
always running with the latest security patches and also
with the latest versions of the XP system files.
Another feature that was introduced into the XP operating
system and is still used in Windows 7 is driver signing. If a
manufacturer of a device did not adhere to Microsoft s
standards and the devices were not digitally signed, you
have the ability to stop the installation of the drivers.
As Microsoft developed Windows Vista, it incorporated some
new features. These features are available for Windows XP
only if you install Service Pack 3, but they are included with
Windows 7.
Windows XP Service Pack 3

With the release of Windows XP Service Pack 3, the


operating system obtained some new benefits over the
basic XP system. First off, Service Pack 3 includes all
previous service pack fixes and patches. It also includes all
required security fixes.
The following features are some of the enhancements
included in Service Pack 3.
Network Access Protection (NAP) Network Access Protection
(NAP) is a compliancy checking platform that is included
with Windows 2008 Server, Windows Vista, Windows 7, and
Windows XP with SP3.
NAP allows you to create compliancy policies that check
computers before allowing them access to the network.
Windows Product Activation Users have the ability to install
the complete integrated operating system with SP3 without
the need of a product key. The operating system will ask
the user to provide a product key at a later time.
Microsoft Cryptographic Module The rsaenh.dll fi le has
been redesigned with the SHA2 hashing algorithms (SHA256,
SHA382, and SHA512) in X.509 certificate validation already
included.
Now that we have looked at some of the features of XP and
how these features affect Windows 7, let s take a look at
Windows Vista and some of the features that are still
included with Windows 7
Overview of Windows Vista

Windows Vista was the next generation of Microsoft s


client operating system to be released after Windows XP.
Since the majority of the IT market did not switch to
Windows Vista, it is important to understand some basics
about it. Windows 7 has many of the same features and
attributes.
New Improved Desktop
Windows Sidebar
Gadgets
Parental Controls
Improved Windows Firewall
Windows Vista User Account Control
Windows Search
Live Icons
Windows 7

Microsoft currently has six different versions of the


Windows 7 operating system:
Windows 7 Starter
Windows 7 Home Basic
Windows 7 Home Premium
Windows 7 Professional
Windows 7 Enterprise
Windows 7 Ultimate
New Features in Windows 7

Windows 7 Taskbar
Jump Lists
New Preview Pane
Windows Touch
Windows XP Mode
Simpler Home Networking
Device Stage
View Available Networks (VAN)
Windows Internet Explorer 8
Windows 7 Architecture

Windows 7 is built on the Windows Vista core, but Windows


7 has limited the files that load at startup to help with the
core performance of the operating system. Microsoft has
also removed many of the fluff items that Windows Vista
used, allowing for better performance.
32 - bit versus 64 - bit

The terms 32 - bit and 64 - bit are referring to the CPU, or


processor. The number represents how the data is
processed. It is processed either as 232 or 264 .
The larger the number is, the larger the amount of data
that can be processed at any one time.
It s all about Random Access Memory, or RAM. A 32 - bit
operating system can handle up to 4 GB of RAM, and a 64 -
bit processor can handle up to 16 Exabyte of RAM.
The problem is that Windows and most motherboards can t
handle this much RAM.
None of this is new. Although 64 - bit processors are just
starting to get accepted with Windows, other operating
systems, such as Apple, have been using 64 - bit processors
for many years.
Preparing to Install Windows 7

Microsoft has six different versions of the Windows 7


operating system. This allows an administrator to custom fi
t a user s hardware and job function to the appropriate
version of Windows 7. The six different versions of Windows
7 are:
Windows 7 Starter
Windows 7 Home Basic
Windows 7 Home Premium
Windows 7 Professional
Windows 7 Enterprise
Windows 7 Ultimate
Windows 7 Starter

The Windows 7 Starter edition was designed for small


notebook PCs, and it is now available worldwide.
A safe, reliable, and supported operating system
HomeGroup, which allows a user to easily share media,
documents, and printers across multiple PCs in homes or
offices without the need of a domain
Improved Windows Taskbar and Jump Lists Broad application
and device compatibility with unlimited concurrent
applications
Limitations of windows Starter

Aero Glass. You are allowed to use only the Windows Basic or other opaque
themes.
Also, you do not get to use the Live Taskbar Previews or Aero Peek.
Personalization features for changing Desktop backgrounds, window colors, and
sound schemes.
The ability to easily switch between users. You must log off to change users.
Multi - monitor support.
DVD playback or Windows Media Center for watching recorded TV or other
media.
Remote media streaming for streaming your videos, music, and recorded TV
from your home computer.
Domain support for business customers.
XP Mode for those who want the ability to run older Windows XP programs on
Windows 7.
Windows 7 Home Basic

Broad application and device compatibility with unlimited


concurrent applications
A safe, reliable, and supported operating system
HomeGroup, which allows a user to easily share media,
documents, and printers across multiple PCs in homes or
offices without the need of a domain Improved Taskbar and
Jump Lists
Live thumbnail previews and an enhanced visual experience
Advanced networking support (ad hoc wireless networks and
Internet connection sharing)
Windows Mobility Center
Windows 7 Home Premium

Broad application and device compatibility with unlimited


concurrent applications
A safe, reliable, and supported operating system
HomeGroup, which allows a user to easily share media,
documents, and printers across multiple PCs in homes or
offices without the need of a domain
Improved Taskbar and Jump Lists
Live thumbnail previews and an enhanced visual
experience
Advanced networking support (ad hoc wireless networks
and Internet connection
sharing)
Mobility Center
Windows Aero transparent glass design and advanced
Windows navigation
Easy networking and sharing across all your PCs and
devices
Improved media format support and enhancements to
Windows Media Center and media streaming, including Play
To
Multitouch
Improved handwriting recognition

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