DFC2063: OPERATING SYSTEM

PRACTICAL TASK 3 (LAB ACTIVITIES)

DEPARTMENT OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY

COURSE WORK ASSESSMENT

CODE & COURSE : DFC2063 OPERATING SYSTEM

PROGRAMME : DIS
LABSHEET : 3 (4.3.1 4.3.10)
CLO : CLO 2 perform installation of Operating System with
appropriate setting and management (P3, PLO2)
DURATION : 2 HOURS

LABSHEET 3: CONFIGURING, OPTIMIZING AND EXPLORE BACKUP IN

WINDOWS 7

Learning Outcome:

By the end of the Lab, student should be able to:

1. Configuring Windows 7 operating system by using System Tool (Disk error checking,
create Virtual memory)
2. Explore Windows Backup in Windows 7.

THEORY

System Tools
To maintain and optimize an operating system, you can access various tools within
Windows. Some of these tools include disk error checking, which can scan the hard drive for
file structure errors, and hard drive defragmentation, which can consolidate files for faster
access.

Activity 3A
Activity outcome: Disk Error-Checking Tool

The Windows operating system uses CHKDSK from within the GUI or at the command line
to detect and repair disk errors.

To check a drive for errors using the GUI, follow these steps:
1. Click Computer in the Start menu.
2. Right-click the drive that you want to check.
3. Click Properties.
4. On the Tools tab, under Error-checking, click Check Now.
5. Under Check disk options, select the Scan for and attempt recovery of bad sectors
check box.
6. Click Start.

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NOTE: The Scan for and attempt recovery of bad sectors option will automatically fix file
system errors as well as check the disk for bad sectors and recover any data from sectors
that are found to be bad. Any data that is recovered is saved to files in the root directory of
the disk.

The CLI version of the utility has four options to check a drive for errors:
chkdsk Displays a status report of the drive
chkdsk /f Fixes errors on the disk
chkdsk /r Recovers readable information from bad sectors
chkdsk /x Dismounts the volume if necessary

CHKDSK makes multiple passes over the disk, checking for specific criteria:

Phase 1: Checking Files CHKDSK examines each file record in the Master File Table
(MFT) for consistency. By the end of this phase, used and available space on the volume
have been identified.

Phase 2: Checking Indexes CHKDSK examines the MFT to ensure that every file and
directory is referenced by at least one entry. Finally, CHKDSK checks that the time stamps
and file sizes are correct in the directory listings.

Phase 3: Checking Security Descriptors CHKDSK examines the security descriptors for
file or directory ownership information and NTFS permissions.

Phases 4 and 5: Checking Sectors If the /r option is used, CHKDSK makes two more
passes looking for sectors that have physical damage.

Activity 3B

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Activity outcome: can create Virtual Memory in Windows 7.

If you receive warnings that your virtual memory is low, you'll need to increase the minimum
size of your paging file. Windows sets the initial minimum size of the paging file equal to the
amount of random access memory (RAM) installed on your computer, and the maximum
size equal to three times the amount of RAM installed on your computer. If you see warnings
at these recommended levels, then increase the minimum and maximum sizes.

1. Open System by clicking the Start button , right-clicking Computer, and then
clicking Properties.

2. In the left pane, click Advanced system settings. If you're prompted for an
administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.

3. On the Advanced tab, under Performance, click Settings.

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4. Click the Advanced tab, and then, under Virtual memory, click Change.

5. Clear the Automatically manage paging file size for all drives check box.

6. Under Drive [Volume Label], click the drive that contains the paging file you want to
change.

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Click Custom size, type a new size in megabytes in the Initial size (MB) or Maximum size
(MB) box, click Set, and then click OK.

Activity 3C

Activity outcome: explore windows backup in Windows

THEORY
A data backup stores a copy of the information on a computer to removable backup media
that can be kept in a safe place. If the computer hardware fails, the data can be restored
from the backup to functional hardware.

Data backups should be performed on a regular basis. The most current data backup is
usually stored offsite to protect the backup media if anything happens to the main facility.
Backup media is often reused to save on media costs.

The Windows 7 backup files have the extension .zip. Backup data is automatically
compressed, and each file has a maximum compressed size of 200 MB. A Windows 7
backup file can be saved to a hard drive, any recordable media, or to another computer or
server connected to your network. The backup can only be created from an NTFS partition.
The target hard drive must be either NTFS or FAT formatted.

To start the Windows 7 Backup Files wizard for the first time, select:

Start All Programs Maintenance Backup and Restore Set up backup.

To change the backup settings in Windows 7 after the Backup Files wizard has been
completed, select

Change settings Change backup settings Continue.

To restore a backed up file in Windows 7, select:

Start All Programs Maintenance Backup and Restore Restore my files.

The data backup media is just as important as the data on the computer. You should store
the backup media in a climate-controlled offsite storage facility with good physical security.
The backups should be readily available for access in case of an emergency.
CODE & COURSE : DFC2063 OPERATING SYSTEM
PROGRAMME : DIS
LABSHEET : 4 (4.4.1 4.4.3)
CLO : CLO 2 perform installation of Operating System with
appropriate setting and management (P3, PLO2)
DURATION : 2 HOURS

LABSHEET 4: MAINTAINING WINDOWS 7 OPERATING SYSTEM

Learning Outcome:

By the end of the Lab, student should be able to:

1. Maintaining Windows 7 operating system (clean Windows 7 by using various tools, eg:
Disk
Clean-up, Disk Defragmenter, Windows Update and Windows Defender)

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Activity 4A

Activity outcome: Disk Defragmenter

To help optimize the files on the hard drive, Windows operating systems provide a
defragmentation utility. As files are accessed and stored on a hard drive, the files change
from being contiguous on the disk to being scattered across the disk. This can cause the
operating system to slow down. The hard drive has to search several areas on the hard drive
platter to find the entire file. For one file, the effect of the process is minimal. When this
occurs for thousands of files, however, the process will physically slow down the reading and
writing of a file to a hard drive.

1. To defragment a drive in Windows 7, double click Computer in the Start Menu.

2. Right-click any drive that you want to optimize. Figure 1 as below will be appear.

Figure 1.

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3. Choose Properties then choose Tools tab.

4. Click Defragment Now button to optimize the files on the hard drive.

5. To determine if the disk needs to be defragmented or not, click Analyze disk. If

you're prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or
provide confirmation.
6. Once Windows is finished analyzing the disk, you can check the percentage of
fragmentation on the disk in the Last Run column. If the number is above 10%, you
should defragment the disk.

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 7. Click Defragment disk. If you're prompted for an administrator password or
confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.
8. Disk Defragmenter might take from several minutes to a few hours to finish, depending
on the size and degree of fragmentation of your hard disk. You can still use your
computer during the defragmentation process.

Activity 4B

Activity outcome: Disk Clean-up

If you want to reduce the number of unnecessary files on your hard disk to free up disk
space and help your computer run faster, use Disk Cleanup. It removes temporary files,
empties the Recycle Bin, and removes a variety of system files and other items that you no
longer need. For more information about deleting files from the Recycle Bin.
1. Open Disk Cleanup by clicking the Start button .

2. In the search box, type Disk Cleanup, and then, in the list of results, click Disk
Cleanup.

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3. In the Drives list, click the hard disk drive that you want to clean up, and then
click OK.

4. In the Disk Cleanup dialog box, on the Disk Cleanup tab, select the check boxes for
the file types that you want to delete, and then click OK.

5. In the message that appears, click Delete files.

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 DFC2063: OPERATING SYSTEM
PRACTICAL TASK 3

INSTRUCTION: ANSWER ALL QUESTIONS ACCORDINGLY. SHOW THE

COMMANDS AND SCREENSHOT INVOLVED FOR EACH QUESTION. [40 Marks]

[CLO2]

1. Run disk check using command line. Display status report of the drive. [2 Marks]

2. Change virtual memory of any drive to custom size of 256MB (initial) [7 Marks]
and 512MB (Maximum).

3. Set up a backup of your files. Choose the files that you want to backup. [7 Marks]
(Dont use the Lets Windows choose option)

4. Demonstrate on how to create backup on system image? [4 Marks]

5. a. What is shadow copies in Windows 7? [2 Marks]

b. Demonstrate how to cleanup shadow copies. [5 Marks]

6. a. What is system restore in Windows 7? [2 Marks]

System Restore is a way to roll back hardware and software

settings of Windowsto an earlier point. It does not affect personal
data and files, such as email, documents, or
photos. Windows XP, Vista and 7 will automatically create copies
of vital system settings, configuration details and hardware
settings.

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b. Demonstrate how to use system restore [5 Marks]

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7. Demonstrate the use of System Maintenance tools in Windows 7. [4 Marks]

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8. Name TWO (2) external applications used to troubleshoot Windows 7. [2 Marks]

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