Installing Windows

An operating system has several functions. One of the main tasks is to function as an
interface between the user and the hardware connected to the computer. The
operating system also controls other functions: Software Resources, Memory
Allocation and all peripheral devices, Services Common to a Computer Application
Software.
From digital clocks to computers, almost all computers need an operating system
before they can be operated, hence the name.
To understand the capabilities of an operating system, it is important to first
understand some basic terms. The following terms are commonly used in the
operating system description: Multiuser: Two or more users have individual accounts
that allow them to work with programs and peripheral devices simultaneously.
Multitasking: The computer is able to operate multiple applications simultaneously.
Multiprocessing: The operating system can support two or more CPUs.
Threading: You can split a program into smaller parts that are loaded as the operating
system needs. Threading allows different parts of a program to run simultaneously.
The operating system boots the PC and manages the file system. Operating systems
can support more than one user, task, or CPU.
The operating system manages the interaction between applications and hardware. To
access and communicate with each hardware component, the operating system uses a
program called "device driver". When a hardware device is installed, the operating
system locates and installs the hardware for that component. System resource
allocation and driver installation are done through a Plug and Play (PnP) process. The
operating system then configures the device and updates the registry, which is a
database that contains all the information about the PC.
If the operating system cannot locate a device driver, a technician must install the
driver manually, either with the media included in the device or by downloading it
from the manufacturer's website.
The processor architecture of the central processing unit (CPU) affects computer
performance. A CPU contains a record, which is a storage location, where logical
functions are performed on the data. A larger record can point to more addresses than
a smaller record.
To better understand the CPU architecture, use a chef's analogy. He's got a tool and
some food on his hands. Think of your hands as a record. If the chef has very large
hands, it may contain more items that can be used immediately. On the counter
(cache), he has other tools and ingredients that he will use very soon, but he is not
using them right now. In the kitchen (main memory) are the ingredients and tools
necessary for the dish, but not as soon as you need the items that are on the counter.
Other tools and ingredients related to the kitchen are in the warehouses around the
city (hard drive). These items can be requested and shipped to your kitchen, if needed.
A technician may have to choose and install an operating system for a client. There are
two different types of operating systems: desktop and network. Desktop operating
systems are designed for use in small office, home office (SOHO) environments with a
limited number of users. Network operating system (NOS) is designed for use in
corporate environments and serves many users with a wide variety of needs.
A network operating system contains features that increase functionality and
manageability in a network environment. An NOS has these specific functions:
Supports multipleusers, Runs multi-userapplications, Provides greater security
compared to desktop operating systems,An NOS provides some network resources to
computers: Server applications, such as shared databases,Centralized Data
Warehouse,Centralized Account Repository, and Network User Resources , Network
Print Queue, Redundant storage systems, such as RAID and backups.Windows Server is an
example of NOS.
When recommending an operating system to a customer, it is important to understand
how the PC will be used. The operating system must be compatible with existing
hardware and requiredapplications. To recommend an operating system, the
technician should analyze budget constraints, know how the computer will be used,
and determine what types of applications will be installed on it and when a new
computer will be purchased.
Operating systems have minimum hardware requirements that must be met for the
operating system to install and function properly. Identify the computer that the client
has. If you need to upgrade your hardware to meet the minimum operating system
requirements, perform a cost analysis to determine the best course of action. In some
cases, it may be cheaper for the customer to purchase a new PC than to update the
current system. In other cases, it may be cost-effective to upgrade one or more of the
following components: RAM, Hard Drive, CPU, Video Adapter Card, Motherboard.
Operating systems must be updated periodically to continue to support the latest
hardware and software. It is also necessary to upgrade the operating system when the
manufacturer stops supporting it. Upgrading your operating system can improve
performance. New hardware products typically require that the latest version of the
operating system be installed to function properly. While upgrading an operating
system can be costly, more functionality can be achieved through new software
features and new hardware support.
The process of updating a computer's operating system may be faster than performing
a new installation. The upgrade process varies by version. For example, the Windows
8.1 Configuration Utility replaces existing Windows files with Windows 8.1 files.
However, existing applications and configurations are saved. The version of an
operating system determines the available upgrade options. For example, a 32-bit
operating system cannot be upgraded to a 64-bit operating system. Another example
is that Windows XP cannot be upgraded to Windows 8.1. Before you perform an
upgrade, search the operating system developer's website for a list of possible upgrade
paths.
When a new installation is required, data from the old operating system must be
migrated to the new one. Three tools are available for transferring data and
configurations. The choice of the tool will depend on your level of experience and your
needs. The Windows User State Migration Tool (USMT) migrates all files and user
settings to the new operating system, as shown in Figure 1. Download and install the
USMT from Microsoft. Then use that software to store the saved files and user settings
in a location outside the operating system. After installing the new operating system,
download and install the USMT again to upload the files and user settings to the new
operating system.
As a technician, you may need to perform a clean installation of an operating system.
Perform a clean installation in the following situations: When a PC moves from one
employee toanother, When the operating system is damaged, when the primary hard
drive is replaced on a PC. The installation and initial boot of an operating system is
known as "operating system configuration". While it is possible to install an operating
system over a network from a server or from a local hard drive, the most common
installation method in a home or small business is through an external device such as a
CD, DVD, or USB. To install an operating system from an external media, configure the
BIOS settings to boot the system to the media. Most modern BIOS must support
booting from CD, DVD, or USB.
Hard disks are divided into areas called partitions. Each partition is a logical storage
unit that can be formatted to store information, such as data files or applications. If
you imagine a hard drive like a wooden cabinet, the partitions would be the shelves.
During the installation process, most operating systems partition the available space
on the hard disk and format it automatically. Splitting a drive is a simple process, but to
ensure a successful boot, the firmware must know which disk and which disk partition
have an operating system installed. The BIOS (Basic Input and Output System) and UEFI
(Unified Extensible Firmware Interface) are two types of firmware used on personal
computers; THE BIOS is an old technology while UEFI is the modern replacement. UEFI
addresses many of the BIOS deficiencies. UEFI firmware performs the same functions
as BIOS and more. As of 2015, the motherboards of modern personal computers are
supplied only with UEFI. When a computer is powered on, it runs the firmware
program. The firmware first runs several tests to ensure important computer
components, such as that video card and RAM, are present and functional. Once the
tests are complete and all the critical components are present and working properly,
the firmware proceeds to locate and load the disk operating system into the RAM for
execution.
The installation of an operating system is done as if the disk were new. Nothing
that currently exists on the hard drive is retained. The first phase of the
installation process consists of partitioning and hard disk formatting. This
process prepares the disk to accept the new file system. The file system provides
the directory structure that organizes operating system files, applications,
settings, and user data. There are several types of file systems, and each has
different structure and logic. Different file systems also differ in speed, flexibility,
security, size, and more properties. Quick formatting deletes files from the
partition, but does not scan the disk for bad sectors. The process of scanning a
disk for bad sectors can prevent future data loss. Therefore, do not use quick
formatting for discs that have already been formatted. While it is possible to
quickly format a partition or disk after the operating system is installed, the
Quick Format option is not available when you install Windows 8.1, Windows 7,
or Windows Vista. Full formatting deletes files from the partition, while scanning
the disk for bad sectors. This process should be done on all new hard drives. The
full formatting option takes longer to complete.

If we want to install a hard drive on our system, we're going to have to make
that drive a basic disk or a dynamic disk. A basic disk, which is the default,
contains primary and extended partitions as well as logical drives. Basic disks are
limited to four partitions. The Windows operating system needs to be installed
on a basic disk. After you have installed the basic disk, it can then become a
dynamic disk. Primary partition. The primary partition contains the operating
system. There can be up to four primary partitions per hard disk, and a primary
partition cannot be subdivided into smaller sections. A primary partition can
also be marked as the active partition. The operating system uses the active
partition to start the computer. Only one of the primary partitions per disk can
be marked as active.

In most cases, the C: drive is the active partition and contains the boot and
system files. Stands for the MBR or the primary table of the boot log partition.
Newer EFI systems instead of BIOS use the GPT or GUID partition table. If you
use the GPT instead of the MBR partition table, you can have more than four
primary partitions on a disk. An extended partition Can only be one extended
partition per hard disk. Again, primary partitions, active partitions, and extended
partitions are all part of a basic disk. The extended partition cannot hold the
operating system, but the operating system can be subdivided into smaller
sections called logical drives. A logical drive is a section of an extended
partition. A dynamic disk has the ability to create volumes instead of partitions
that you can expand on more than one disk.
For example, if you only want to create a replicated volume or an expanded
volume. Let's say you had three hard drives and just want to create a RAID array
where the three hard drives work like a drive, then you're going to need to have
them configured as dynamic disks. The size of the volumes on the dynamic disks
can change after it has been configured, the free space can be added from the
same disk or other disk allowing the user to efficiently store large files. Once a
partition is extended it cannot shrink without deleting the partition completely.
File system. The file system that we will install is the new technology file system
or NTFS. The NTFS system is the most frequently used windows file system
today. The previous Windows file system, FAT32, was introduced with Windows
95 and was mainly used with Windows 98. The NTFS file system has many
advantages over the previous FAT32. Improved file system or ACLS permissions.
It has file-level encryption using an encrypted file system. It has file
compression, the ability to take a file and compress it from the operating
system. You can compress files or extract them, and unzip them. It has a file
system journal that improves file system stability and the ability to create disk
usage rates for users. Implemented, volume sizes can reach up to 255 TB. In
FAT32 volumes were restricted to two terabytes deployed. Two other types of
file systems that you will probably experience with Windows systems are exFAT
or FAT64 which is used by USB flash drives. And the CDFS or CD file system
used for optical discs.