System Management and Networking

1. Operating System and Boot Process
1. PC Hierarchy
1.1 Hardware
Motherboard, expansion boards, power supplies, peripheral devices, monitors, keyboards, pointing devices, printers, etc.

1.2 BIOS (Basic input/Output System)

BIOS is a set of small program interfacing between a specific hardware and a standard OS. It is stored in a read-only memory (ROM) chip. It also executes a power-on self-test (POST) program each time the PC is initialized.

1.3 Operating System

OS interacts with BIOS to give an application easy access to system resources.
OS forms an environment through which application can be executed and provides a user interface.

1.4 Applications
Any programs which to execute is the purpose to use computer.

2. Boot Process

2.1 Applying Power
A power supply generates a Power Good (PG) logic signal. A motherboard timer chip receives the PG signal, and then CPU starts processing.

2.2 Bootstrap
CPU fetch an instruction from address (FFFF)h (almost the end of ROM space). Jump to actual starting address.

2.3 Core tests
BIOS starts with a test of the motherboard hardware and video system.

2.4 POST
In case of warm start, POST routine is skipped. For cold start, POST routine checks higher-level functions of motherboard, port and peripheral hardware.
Note: start computer by reset button or CTRL+Alt+Del is warm start. Start by power button is cold start.

2.5Finding OS
Search boot sector according to boot order. (e.g. floppy disk, hard disk, CD-ROM)Tips: To change boot order press F2 or F10 (depend on motherboard) after POST and before loading OS. The first sector of hard disk is the master boot record (MBR) where location of OS and partition table are recorded.

2.6Loading OS
2.7 Establishing Environment

3. Create Startup Disk
Click Start->Settings->Control Panel. Double click Add/Remove Programs->select Startup Disk tab. Insert blank diskette into floppy drive and click Create Disk.

2. Computer Hardware

1. Mother Board

1.1 IDE (Integrated Device Electronics)
Connect between the processor and peripheral devices like hard disks, CD-ROMs inside the computer.

1.2PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect)

PCI bus inserts an electronic “bridge” between the CPU and the bus. PCI is used for NIC (network interface card), SCSI (small computer system interface) etc.

2. Back Panel

NotePS/2: IBM PScomputer compatible USB : Universal Serial Bus

3. Power Button
In Windows 95, Windows 98, or Windows 2000, pressing the power button does not turn off the power, but enter a low-power state. To turn off the power, pressing the power button and hold for 4 seconds.

3. Maintenance of Windows 98 System

1. Scan Disk
It checks hard disk for logical and physical errors and repair the damaged areas.
Click Start->Programs->Accessories->System Tools->Scan Disk
Select drive(s) and type of test. Then start.
Tips: Thorough test scans whole disk surface and takes more than 30 minutes.
Or My Computer-> right click [C:]->Properties->Tools tab->Error checking status, Check Now.
2. Disk Defragmenter
A File consists of clusters on hard disk. The tool rearranges clusters and straightens used and unused spaces on hard disk.
Click Start->Programs->Accessories->System Tools->Disk Defragmenter
Select drive and OK.
Tips: Execution time depends on used space. It’s usually takes more than 30 minutes.

3. Disk Cleanup
Utility to delete temporary and unnecessary files from disk.
Click Start->Programs->Accessories->System Tools->Disk Cleanup->OK
Select files to delete->OK
Tips: Temporary internet files keep browsed web pages and save time to download duplicate data. Recycle Bin may be used to recover files.

4. Registry Checker
Registry is a place of memory where setting of computer is stored. When computer is started a backup of system files and registry configuration is automatically created once daily. Registry Checker scans the system registry and if invalid registry entries are detected, it will restore the previous day’s backup.
Click Start->Programs->Accessories->System Tools->System InformationAt the screen of Microsoft System Information, click Tools->Registry Checkers

5. System File Checker
To verify the integrity of system files, to restore them if they are corrupted.
Click Start->Programs->Accessories->System Tools->System Information
Select Tools tab->System File Checker->Start
If a file is corrupted, insert installation disk and restore it.

6. Backup Utility

6.1 Install Backup Utility
Click Start->Settings->Control Panel. Double click Add/Remove Programs->Windows Setup tab->System Tools->Details. Select Backup->OK. And restart computer.

6.2 Backup Full System
Click Start->Programs->Accessories->System Tools->Backup.
Microsoft Backup wizard appears. Using default setting and start backup.
It will take 20-30 minutes and occupies 1.5GB (file name: C:\MyBackup.qic)
Tips: At the second time you can backup updated files only. At Microsoft Backup wizard, select “Create a new backup job” OK->“Back up My Computer” Next-> “New and changed files” Next->Next->Next->Start-6.3 Restore Backup Set
Click Start->Programs->Accessories->System Tools->Backup.
At Microsoft Backup wizard, select “Restore backed up files” and

7. Restoring Windows 98
Windows 98/SE System Recovery wizard restores a previously created full system backup.

7.1 Insert Windows 98 Startup disk into the floppy disk drive, and then start computer.
Tips: If you can boot from CD, insert Windows 98 installation CD into the CD drive, and then start computer. (no need to use Startup disk)

7.2On the Windows 98 Startup Menu, choose Start computer with CD-RO

7.3 Insert Windows 98 installation CD. At the command prompt, type the following lines.

A:\>f: (note: Because the diagnostic tools is loaded to a temporary drive,
the letter of CD drive shift one character e.g. E to F.)
F:\>dir
Volume in drive F is WIN98 (to confirm it is CD drive)
F:\>cd tools\sysrec (to change directory)
F:\TOOLS\SYSREC>pcresto

7.4 In the System Recovery wizard, click Next. Remove Windows 98 Startup disk.

7.5 The process takes about 30 minutes. Type name and (company) when it is requested.
7.6 In the Backup dialog box, click Restore Backed Up Files if they are exist.
Tips: System files are restored by this process, but data and settings are kept as original. Some system settings are changed, however.

8. Rescue Data by DOS Command Prompt .
8.1 Insert Windows 98 Startup disk into the floppy disk drive, and then start computer.
8.2 On the Windows 98 Startup Menu, choose “Start computer without CD-ROM support” ort+F5 (Command Prompt) .

8.3 At the command prompt, type the following lines. Now Startup disk can be removed.

A:\>c: (to change drive to C)
C:\>dir (list of files and directories)
C:\>cd mydocu~1 (to change directory to MYDOCU~1)
C:\MYDOCU~1>dir (list of files and directories)
If you find files to be rescue, insert new floppy disk and make backup.
C:\MYDOCU~1>copy xyz.doc a: (copy XYZ DOC file to floppy disk)
C:\MYDOCU~1>copy *.* a: (copy all files to floppy disk)
To exit command prompt, press (Ctrl+Alt+Del)

8.4 Copy files including subdirectories (XCOPY) .
XCOPY command is not included in the Startup disk. To use it, make a copy of the command in a floppy disk. Using another Windows 98 computer, click Start->Find->Files or Folders. Type xcopy->Find Now. Insert blank floppy and right click xcopy->Send To->31/2 Floppy. Right click xcopy32.mod->Send To->31/2 Floppy.
Now ready to use XCOPY. At the command prompt, type the following lines.
C:\MYDOCU~1>a: (to change drive A in order to execute xcopy command)

A:\>xcopy/s c:\mydocu~1 d: (copy all files and directories under mydocu~1 to D:)
Note: /s is an option switch to include subdirectories.
The copied file names are modified because DOS can handle up to 8 characters

4. Hard Disk File System

1. Data Organization

Platter is a disk coated both side with a magnetic media.
Track is one of concentric circles on each side of each platter.
Sector is a section of a track and it is the smallest accessible unit (512 Bytes).
By zoned-bit recording, tracks on the outside of the disk contain more sectors than those on the inside. (modern high density disks using this technique.)
Cylinder is a group of sectors in same position of each platter.
Cluster is a group of sectors and the basic unit of logical storage on

2. File System

FAT (file allocation table) is the Microsoft Windows file system.
It is located at the beginning of partition and provides mapping between clusters and physical location of data (cylinders, tracks, sectors).
Drive/Partition Size
FAT32 Default Cluster Size

Records of FAT file systemFAT contains address of starting cluster for every file. Each cluster contains a pointer to the next cluster in the file or end-of-file indicator (FFFF).

FAT16 can support up to 2GB. (32KB×65,536 (216) clusters)
FAT32 can support up to 2TB.

2.1 Master Boot Record (MBR)
It is located on the first sector of hard disk. (512 bytes)

3. Disk Partition
DOS/Windows is always installed in Primary Partition (C drive). Extended Partition can be divided into Logical Drives (e.g. D, E, F etc)

3.1 FDISK
Insert Windows 98 Startup Disk into floppy drive and (re-)start computer.
On the Win 98 Startup Menu, choose “Start computer without CD-ROM support”
At the command prompt, type the following line.

A:\> fdisk
Do you wish to enable large disk support (Y/N)…? [Y]

Enter choice: [4]

Do you want to display the logical drive information? [Y]

Press Esc to continue (go back to FDISK Option menu)
Enter choice: [1]

Press Esc to return to FDISK Option
Press Esc to exit FDISK

Tips: By pressing Esc (once or twice), you can go back to FDISK Option menu.
Do not try Delete if it is not necessary. There are risks to erase data accidentally.
Primary partition cannot delete if Extended partition exists. Extended partition cannot delete if Logical drives exist. (error massage will be displayed)
Windows FDISK can handle only FAT file system. (cannot handle Linux file system)
Reference A:\> format c: (format C drive. Caution: All data are destroyed.)
A:\> fdisk /mbr (restore MBR for windows system)