IT Essentials 5.0 Chapter 5

Multitasking refers to the ability of a computer to run multiple applications simultaneously. It allows the computer to switch between different tasks quickly, giving the illusion of running multiple programs at the same time. This feature is essential for improving efficiency and productivity, as it enables users to perform multiple tasks concurrently without having to wait for one task to finish before starting another.

A corrupt Master Boot Record (MBR) can prevent the operating system from starting. The MBR is a small section of the hard drive that contains essential information for the computer to boot up. If it becomes corrupt, the computer may not be able to locate the operating system files and therefore fail to start. This can result in a black screen, error messages, or an endless boot loop. Other components like the printer, application installation, or keyboard functionality are not directly affected by a corrupt MBR.

To boot a Windows XP system into Safe Mode, you need to reboot the system and press and hold the F8 key until a menu is displayed. From this menu, you can then select the option for Safe Mode. This allows the system to start with only the necessary drivers and services, which can help troubleshoot and fix any issues that may be preventing the system from booting properly.

A 64-bit operating system can theoretically address much more than 128 GB of RAM. This is because a 64-bit system can support up to 18.4 million TB (terabytes) of RAM. Therefore, the correct answer is 128 GB or more.

When the technician installs a new video driver on the Windows XP computer and encounters distorted images on the monitor, it indicates a compatibility issue. To resolve this problem, the technician needs to install a different video driver that is available on a network server. Safe Mode with Networking is the appropriate startup mode to use in this situation. Safe Mode allows the computer to start with only the essential drivers and services, which can help troubleshoot and fix issues. Safe Mode with Networking additionally enables network connectivity, allowing the technician to access the video driver on the network server and install it.

An advantage of conducting the lab exercises inside the virtualized environment is that virus and worm attacks are more easily controlled. This helps to protect the college network and its devices from attack. By isolating the viruses and worms within the virtualized environment, the impact and spread of the attacks can be contained, minimizing the potential damage to the network and devices.

Aero Peek is a Windows 7 feature that allows a user to view the contents of the desktop by moving the mouse to the right edge of the taskbar. When the mouse is moved to the right edge, all open windows become transparent, allowing the user to see the desktop without minimizing any windows. This feature is helpful when the user wants to quickly access desktop icons or gadgets without closing or minimizing any open applications.

Microsoft Virtual PC belongs to the category of Type 2 hypervisors. Type 2 hypervisors are hosted on top of an existing operating system and provide virtualization capabilities. In the case of Microsoft Virtual PC, it runs on top of the Windows operating system and allows users to create and run virtual machines. This type of hypervisor is typically used for desktop virtualization and is more suitable for individual users or small-scale virtualization needs.

The correct answer is AT. The AT command is used from the Windows command prompt to schedule a program to run at a specific time. It allows users to specify the time and date for the program to execute, providing a convenient way to automate tasks on a Windows system.

Performance Monitor is the correct answer because it is a Windows administrative tool that displays the usage of various computer resources simultaneously. By monitoring the performance of different resources such as CPU, memory, disk, and network, a technician can determine if any of these resources are being heavily utilized and if an upgrade is required to improve the overall performance of the system.

A probable cause of a PC running slowly and exhibiting a delayed response to keyboard commands is that a process is using most of the CPU resources. When a process consumes a significant amount of CPU power, it can cause other tasks to slow down and result in delayed responses. This can happen due to a poorly optimized or resource-intensive program running in the background. By identifying and terminating the process that is hogging the CPU, the PC's performance can be improved.

Lowering the UAC setting in the Change User Account Control settings dialog box of the User Accounts control panel will reduce the frequency with which the UAC appears. This setting determines the level of notification and permission requests that the UAC panel displays. By lowering the setting, the user will receive fewer prompts, allowing for a smoother and less interrupted user experience.

An operating system has the function of controlling hardware access, which means it manages and regulates how different software applications interact with the computer's hardware components. This ensures that the hardware resources are properly allocated and utilized by the applications. Additionally, an operating system also manages applications by providing a platform for them to run on, handling tasks such as process scheduling, memory management, and providing a user interface for users to interact with the applications.

If a program that is listed in the registry of a Windows computer is not found on that computer, a possible solution to the problem would be to reinstall the application. This can help to ensure that any missing or corrupted files are replaced and that the program is properly installed. After reinstalling, running the uninstall program can help to clean up any remaining files or registry entries related to the program, preventing any potential conflicts or issues in the future.

To revert to a previous video driver on a Windows 7 computer, the technician should open Device Manager, right-click on the video adapter card, select Properties, go to the Driver tab, and click on Roll Back Driver. This will allow the computer to revert to the previously installed video driver.

Running the CONVERT.EXE utility is the correct course of action to upgrade the file system from FAT32 to NTFS without losing user data. The CONVERT.EXE utility is a built-in command in Windows XP that allows for the conversion of the file system without the need to reformat the drive or reinstall the operating system. This utility will convert the file system from FAT32 to NTFS while preserving all user data on the drive.

The Windows Virtual PC can be described as a hypervisor because it is a software layer that allows multiple operating systems to run on a single physical machine. It can also be described as a Virtual Machine Manager because it provides the tools and interface to create, manage, and run virtual machines on a host computer.

Disk Cleanup and Disk Defragmenter are two Windows utilities that can be used to help maintain hard disks on computers that have had long periods of normal use. Disk Cleanup allows users to free up disk space by removing unnecessary files and temporary data. Disk Defragmenter, on the other hand, reorganizes fragmented data on the hard disk, improving system performance and reducing file access time.

In Safe Mode, the Advanced Startup Options menu allows the user to disable the auto restart function. By doing this, the computer will not automatically reboot after encountering a stop error during startup. This will provide an opportunity for the user to view the error messages and diagnose the issue.

To restore system functionality after a suspected virus attack, using a system image that was created prior to the failure would be the most effective measure. A system image is a complete snapshot of the operating system, including all files, settings, and installed programs. By restoring the system using a previous system image, it would revert the operating system back to a known good state, eliminating any potential virus infection and allowing the computer to boot successfully. Running chkdsk may help fix file system errors, but it would not address the virus issue. Incremental and differential backups are not comprehensive enough to restore the entire system.

The NTFS file system provides more security features compared to FAT32. It supports file and folder level permissions, encryption, and auditing, which allows for better control and protection of data. Additionally, NTFS supports larger file sizes, allowing for the storage of larger files on the system. This is especially beneficial for tasks such as video editing or storing large media files.

After upgrading to Windows 7, some programs may not function properly due to compatibility issues. Running the programs in Compatibility Mode allows the user to simulate an older version of Windows, which can help resolve compatibility problems. This mode adjusts the settings to make the program work as it would on a previous version of Windows. By doing so, the user can fix the problem and ensure that the programs function correctly on the upgraded operating system.

The active partition must be a primary partition because only primary partitions can be marked as active. The operating system uses the active partition to boot the system because it contains the necessary files and data for the system to start up properly.

Restore points are useful for restoring the computer to a previous state when the system was functioning properly. They contain information about the system and registry settings used by the Windows operating system.