Module 14

A group of Windows 10 tools accessed through Control Panel and used to manage the local computer or other computers on the network. In Windows 11, the same group of tools is called Windows Tools.

A process of starting Windows with a basic set of drivers and startup programs; a clean boot can be useful when software does not install properly.

When a Windows system does not report accurate time to a time-sensitive application that requires accuracy in milliseconds.

A Windows console (compmgmt.msc) that contains several administrative tools used by support technicians to manage the local computer or other computers on the network.

A window that consolidates several Windows administrative tools.

A program associated with a file extension that is used to open the file.

In Windows, a group of components running in kernel mode that interfaces between the subsystems in user mode and the HAL (hardware abstraction layer).

The association between a data file and an application to open the file; this association is determined by the file extension.

The low-level part of Windows, written specifically for each CPU technology, so that only the HAL must change when platform components change.

A Windows registry key that stores information to determine which application is opened when the user double-clicks a file.

A Windows registry key that contains information about the hardware configuration that is used by the computer at startup.

A Windows registry key that contains data about the current user. The key is built when a user logs on using data kept in the HKEY_USERS key and data kept in the Ntuser.dat file of the current user.

An important Windows registry key that contains hardware, software, and security data. The key is built using data taken from the SAM hive, the Security hive, the Software hive, and the System hive and from data collected at startup about the hardware.

A Windows registry key that contains data about all users and is taken from the Default hive.

A Windows "privileged" processing mode that has access to hardware components.

A Windows 10/11 utility (mdsched.exe) used to test memory.

A Windows utility to build customized consoles. These consoles can be saved to a file with an .msc file extension.

The protocol that requests and reports the time on a Windows domain; time is reported by the primary time server, which receives its time from an external time source, such as a GPS or atomic device.

A Windows Microsoft Management Console snap-in that can track activity by hardware and software to measure performance.

A component where almost all processing of data and instructions takes place; receives data input, processes information, and executes instructions. Also called a microprocessor or processor.

A database that Windows uses to store hardware and software configuration information, user preferences, and setup information.

The Windows utility (Regedit.exe) used to edit the Windows registry.

A Windows tool that monitors the performance of the processor, memory, hard drive, and network.

The technique of launching Windows with a minimum configuration, eliminating third-party software, and reducing Windows startup to only essential processes. The technique can sometimes launch Windows when a normal Windows startup is corrupted.

Using administrator privileges to perform an operation when you are not logged on with an account that has these privileges.

A console used by Windows to stop, start, and manage background services used by Windows and applications.

The portion of an OS that relates to the user and applications.

A Windows utility that can be installed in a console window by Microsoft Management Console.

A Windows utility (Msconfig.exe) that can identify what processes are launched at startup and can temporarily disable a process from loading.

A Windows utility that verifies and, if necessary, refreshes a Windows system file, replacing it with one kept in a cache of current system files or downloaded from the Internet with the help of Windows Updates.

A Windows utility (Taskmgr.exe) that lets you view the applications and processes running on your computer as well as information about process and memory performance, network activity, and user activity.

A Windows tool that can set a task or program to launch at a future time, including at startup.

When a Windows system does not report accurate time to a time-sensitive application that requires accuracy in milliseconds.

In Windows, a mode that provides an interface between an application and the OS, and only has access to hardware resources through the code running in kernel mode.

The group of folders and subfolders in the C:\Users folder that belong to a specific user account and contain the user profile.

A method whereby the OS uses the hard drive as though it were RAM. Also see pagefile.sys.

A Windows Server service on a Windows domain that uses the Network Time Protocol (NTP) to report the time accurate to within one millisecond when requested by a client computer.

A group of Windows 11 tools accessed through Control Panel and used to manage the local computer or other computers on the network. In Windows 10, the same group of tools is called Administrative Tools.