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Even when the installation seems smooth, issues may slowly surface, especially in the case of upgrades. Be prepared to reinstall applications or deal with new functions that were absent in the previous OS. If things really fall apart, you can go back to the previous OS or, if you have an OEM computer (one built by, for example, Dell or HP instead of by you), your computer likely came with either a special recovery partition on its hard drive or a set of recovery discs that you can utilize to restore your operating system to its factory settings. You usually invoke a system recovery by hitting a certain key during boot-up—usually F10 or F11—and then following a set of prompts.

* * *

EXAM TIP Boot Configuration Data (BCD) replaces the boot.ini used in previous operating systems and can be altered by using the command-line tool bcdedit.exe.

The procedures I’ve laid out in this chapter may seem like a lot of work—how bad could it be to grab an installation CD/DVD-ROM, fling a copy of Windows onto a system, and, as the saying goes, let the chips fall where they may? Plenty bad, is how bad. Not only is understanding these procedures important for the CompTIA A+ certification exams; they can also save your, ah, hide, once you’re a working PC tech and you’re tasked to install the latest version of Windows on the boss’s new computer!

Chapter Review

Questions

1. Which of the following is an advantage of running Windows 2000 on NTFS as opposed to FAT32?

A. Security

B. Support for DOS applications

C. Long filenames

D. Network support

2. Ricardo’s Windows XP installation has failed. What file should he check to see what files failed to copy?

A. Install.log

B. Setup.log

C. Setup.txt

D. Setuplog.txt

3. If you do not complete the activation process for Windows XP, Vista, or 7, what will happen to your computer?

A. Nothing. Activation is optional.

B. The computer will work fine for 30 days and then Windows will be disabled.

C. Microsoft will not know how to contact you to provide upgrade information.

D. You will have to use a floppy disk set to boot to Windows.

4. If Windows locks up during the installation, what should you do?

A. Press CTRL-ALT-DEL to restart the installation process.

B. Push the Reset button to restart the installation process.

C. Press the ESC key to cancel the installation process.

D. Unplug the computer and restart the installation process.

5. You can upgrade directly to Windows 2000 from which of these operating systems?

A. Windows 3.11

B. Windows 95

C. Windows Me

D. All of the above

6. The Windows XP disc contains which two tools for checking hardware and software compatibility?

A. The HCL and the HAL

B. The HCL and the Windows Catalog

C. The Windows Catalog and the Upgrade Advisor

D. The Upgrade Advisor and the HCL

7. Which term describes a combination of many updates and fixes?

A. Hot fix

B. Hot pack

C. Service pack

D. Service release

8. What does the BOOTMGR do in the Windows Vista installation process?

A. It loads device drivers and files from the system Registry to prepare for the loading of the operating system.

B. It gathers information about a system’s installed operating systems, enables a user to select between them, and then loads WINLOADER.EXE.

C. It manages a system’s boot order.

D. It’s the name of the operating system process.

9. If you are experiencing problems with Windows Me and wish to install Windows XP, what type of installation is preferred?

A. Clean installation

B. Upgrade installation

C. Network installation

D. Image installation

10. You’ve just replaced Jane’s PC with a new, upgraded version. What post-installation tool should you run to make the transition as painless as possible for her?

A. Windows Activation

B. Repair installation

C. Files and Settings Transfer Wizard

D. User State Migration Tool

Answers

1. A. Security is an advantage of running Windows 2000 on NTFS as opposed to FAT32.

2. D. Ricardo