CompTIA A_ Certification All-In-One Exam Guide, Seventh Edition - Michael Meyers [279]
To open Task Scheduler, go to Start | All Programs or Programs | Accessories | System Tools | Task Scheduler or Scheduled Tasks. Note the variation in the name of the utility in the Start menu options.
The key to running scheduled maintenance is to know the names of the executable programs and any special switches you may need to enter. As we go through each of these I’ll show you the names.
Figure 17-6 Windows XP Scheduled Tasks (Version 1.0)
Figure 17-7 Daily Backup Schedule in Windows XP
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EXAM TIP The CompTIA A+ exams may use either name for the utility for scheduling maintenance in Windows. Remember that Windows 2000 and Windows XP label the tool Scheduled Tasks; Windows Vista (and Windows 7) label it Task Scheduler.
Figure 17-8 Conditions tab in the Windows Vista Task Scheduler (Version 2.0)
Defragmentation
To defragment, you need to run Disk Defragmenter (as you know), so you’ll look for the executable file called defrag.exe. In Windows 2000 and XP, open Scheduled Tasks, browse for defrag.exe, and then add the drive you want to defragment, as shown in Figure 17-9.
If you use Windows Vista/7 and want to change when Disk Defragmenter runs (or turn it off completely), open the Start menu, type defrag, and press ENTER. You can start defragging right away or modify/disable the task on the Disk Defragmenter: Modify Schedule dialog box (Figure 17-10).
It’s best to run Disk Defragmenter every evening if possible. If you’re using Vista, take advantage of the “only run when idle” condition to keep Disk Defragmenter from interrupting possibly more important tasks.
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EXAM TIP The CompTIA exams call the Disk Defragmenter program “Defrag,” the common tech slang term for it.
Error-checking (Scandisk and Check Disk)
The tool you know and love as Error-checking appears on the CompTIA A+ competencies as Scandisk and Check Disk. (Neither tool exists on modern versions of Windows.)
Figure 17-9 Scheduling a disk defragmentation in Windows XP
Figure 17-10 Vista’s Disk Defragmenter Schedule
Regardless of what you call Error-checking, setting up Task Scheduler to run it automatically is a good thing.
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NOTE No versions of Windows run Error-checking automatically, so you’ll need to set up a task on the computer if you wish to do so.
Using the technique you just learned to set up a scheduled task with Disk Defragmenter, create another scheduled task to run Error-checking. Its executable is called chkdsk.exe (Figure 17-11). There are two switches you should use: /F to repair sectors and /R to tell Error-checking to attempt to recover data on known bad sectors.
Figure 17-11 Scheduling Error-checking in Windows XP
Opinions vary on how often you should run Error-checking as a scheduled task. For the CompTIA exams, a monthly check is a good idea. For the real world, you should run Error-checking when you suspect a problem with your drives.
Startup Programs
Techs use the System Configuration utility to edit and troubleshoot operating system and program startup processes and services. It has been available in all Windows operating systems except Windows 95 and Windows 2000. Prior to Windows Vista, the System Configuration utility offered quick access to troubleshoot and edit the boot.ini file. It still offers some of these features in Vista, such as the capability to disable or enable troublesome or unwanted services and startup items. The BCD data store is used in place of the boot.ini in Windows Vista, however, so you obviously cannot use the System Configuration utility to edit the boot.ini in Vista.
To start the System Configuration utility, go to Start | Run or Start | Start Search,