DFC2063 OPERATING SYSTEM

CHAPTER 4: WINDOWS OPERATING SYSTEM

Part 1: Explore Windows 7 Operating System

BY: NOR ZURAIDA BT MOHD GAMINAN, PTSS

 Learning Outcome

By the end of this chapter, students should be able to:

1) Identify Windows 7 Version
2) Differentiate between Windows 7 32 bits and 64 bits
3) Manage Windows 7 Desktop
 Windows 7

Windows 7 (codenamed Vienna, formerly Blackcomb) is a personal computer

operating system developed by Microsoft.
It is a part of the Windows NT family of operating systems.
Windows 7 was released to manufacturing on 22 July 2009, and became
generally available on 22 October 2009,less than three years after the release
of its predecessor, Windows Vista.
Windows 7's server counterpart, Windows Server 2008 R2, was released at the
same time.
 Windows 7 Version
Windows 7 boasts six different versions:
1) Starter
2) Home Basic
3) Home Premium
4) Professional
5) Enterprise
6) Ultimate
Each version of Windows 7 is slightly different and offers different options.
The vast majority of consumers will choose Windows 7 Home Premium, and most
businesses will choose Windows 7 Professional.
That being said, it's important to know what is in each version in case consumer need
to purchase something other than the obvious version.
1) Windows 7 Starter
This is the bare-bones, 32-bit only version of Windows 7 intended for users
in developing countries, to serve the most basic computing needs.
Starter is designed for lightweight, portable netbooks, though Microsoft
claims any of its versions will be able to run on netbooks.
Windows Starter 7 will not have the Aero Glass graphical user interface that
is included in all other versions of Windows 7 (except Windows 7 Home
Basic) and can only run three applications at a time.
It will include the revamped taskbar and jump lists, Windows Media Player,
the file-sharing feature Home Group (you can participate in a Home Group
but cannot create one) and other basic features such as Action Center and
Backup and Restore.
Starter will not be available in retail stores, and will only be offered pre-
installed on new PCs by Microsoft OEMs.
2) Windows 7 Home Basic
Home Basic sits somewhere between Starter and Home Premium.
It has all the features of Windows 7 Starter and will also only be available
through OEM partners in developing countries. Also like Starter, it will not
include the Aero Glass GUI.
Some of the features Home Basic has over Starter: the ability to run more
than three applications at once; a 64-bit version; thumbnail previews from
the taskbar; and Mobility Center, which allows you to manage the various
networks that you connect to with your laptop.
Based on what Microsoft has announced about Home Basic (which is not
very much), it shares the same features as Windows 7 Home Premium
except there are no Aero Glass GUI features and other UI tweaks such as
Aero Snap, Aero Peek and multi-touch.
3) Windows 7 Home Premium
Windows 7 Home Premium has all the features of Starter and Home Basic
and many more.
This is the mainstream retail version that nearly all consumers will be using.
Windows 7 Home Premium will be available worldwide to Microsoft OEMs
and sold in retail stores loaded on new PCs.
A step up from Windows Home Basic, Home Premium includes the Aero
Glass GUI and new Windows navigation features such as Aero Glass, Aero
Background, Windows Touch, Home Group creation, Media Center, DVD
playback and creation, premium games and Mobility Center.
4) Windows 7 Professional

Also available worldwide, to OEMs and in retail, Windows 7 Professional has the
features of Home Premium, but with added networking and data protection
features for small businesses and those who frequently work at home.
Demo of notable features for IT admins in Windows 7.
Microsoft may have a hard time convincing customers that Home Premium isn't
good enough for a small business - considering it is bound to be less expensive
than Professional - but if it succeeds it will be by marketing Professional features
such as Domain Join to connect to business networks, Encrypting File System for
data protection and Location Aware Printing to better connect to printers at work
and home.
Windows 7 Professional will not include the more buzzed-about business features
such as DirectAccess and BranchCache. They show up in the Windows 7 Enterprise
version.
5) Windows 7 Enterprise

Windows 7 Enterprise is only available to businesses through volume

licensing. It includes all the features of Windows 7 Professional plus more
security and networking features.
Businesses covered by Microsoft's Software Assurance will get Windows 7
Enterprise at no additional charge. Features that differentiate Enterprise
from Professional are: BitLocker (encrypts data on internal and external
drives); DirectAccess (connectivity to a corporate network without VPN);
AppLocker (prevents unauthorized software from running); and
BranchCache (speeds up the accessing of large remote files at branch
offices).
Windows 7 Enterprise is designed for the corporate world and will only be
used by large businesses. It will not be available at retail or by OEMs for
pre-installation on a new PC.
6) Windows 7 Ultimate
Ultimate, the supersize version of Windows, includes all the features of all
the other versions. Think of it as Windows 7 Enterprise for consumers.
Ultimate will be the most expensive version, so it's doubtful that many
people will use it other than the occasional super-user who wants every
possible feature.
Microsoft is not likely to heavily promote Windows 7 Ultimate. Most regular
users do not need all the security and networking features and there doesn't
appear to be much in Ultimate for businesses that isn't already in Windows 7
Enterprise.
Microsoft has said that OEMs will be able to pre-install Windows 7 Ultimate
on new machines and that there will be limited availability in retail.
Windows 7 32-bit VS Windows 7 64-bit
 Three components of your system. In simple terms they are three layers with the
processor or CPU as the central or lowest layer and the application as the
outermost or highest layer as shown below:

To run a 64-bit operating system you need support from the lower level: the 64-bit
CPU.
To run a 64-bit application you need support from all lower levels: the 64-bit OS
and the 64-bit CPU.
This simplification will be enough for us to look what happens when we mix the
32-bit and 64-bit parts. But if you want to understand the issue more deeply then
you will also need to consider the hardware that supports the CPU and the device
drivers that allow the OS and the applications to interface with the system
hardware.
 The general rule is that 32-bit will run on a lower level 64-bit component but 64-bit
does not run on a lower level 32-bit component:
A 32-bit OS will run on a 32-bit or 64-bit processor without any problem.
A 32-bit application will run on a 32-bit or 64-bit OS without any problem.
But a 64-bit application will only run on a 64-bit OS and a 64-bit OS will only run on a
64-bit processor.
 Windows 7 Desktop
The Desktop is the main Windows 7 screen (see image below).
It is the work area where dialog boxes, windows, icons, and menus appear. Like an
office desk, the Windows 7 desktop contains items you can use to do your job.
For instance, from your desktop, you can perform file-management tasks and run
software applications.
You can customize the appearance of the desktop to suit your preferences.
 Windows 7 Desktop Components/Functions

Components and function:

1) Start Menu
2) Taskbar
3) Windows Explorer
4) Switching between windows
 1) Start Menu
The Start Menu is, appropriately enough, your starting point in Windows 7.
All of your programs, settings, etc. can be accessed here.
To begin using it, click the Windows Icon button in the bottom left corner or press the Windows key on your keyboard.
Here are some common items youll use on the Start Menu:
 2) Taskbar
The bottom of your screen contains various toolbars and icons that allow you to see what programs are running
and what programs you can access easily by clicking its icon.
From the left to right, the areas are: the Start button, the Taskbar and the Notification Area (sometimes called
the system tray).
Sometimes other toolbars can show up, such as an address bar.

1) Display Desktop
This feature will hide all open windows allowing the user to view their full Desktop.
This feature is activated by clicking the tall rectangular object to the right of the system date and time.
Click the object again to restore all of the hidden windows.

2) Notification Area
Displays any programs you have running in the background (such as a virus scanning program) and displays the
time and date.

3) Taskbar
Shows any programs or files you currently have open. You can click the toolbar buttons to go back and forth
between open items.
 3) Windows Explorer
Windows Explorer is the operating system's file and folder manager.
You've probably used Windows Explorer without even realizing it.
The tool's fundamental purpose is to let you view, open, copy, move, and otherwise
manage your files and folders.
As it happens, there are three ways to find the tool:
1. Press Windows-E on your keyboard (definitely one of my favorite shortcuts).
2. Right-click the Start button and then click Explore.
3. Navigate your Programs menu until you find the Accessories folder; Explorer can be found
inside it.
 4) Switching between windows
Windows 7 with Aero themes does provide thumbnails on the taskbar for easy clicking but often a keyboard
shortcut are used. Here are three that work in a variety of systems.

1) Alt + Tab (Task switcher) This old standby dating back to Windows 3.1 works in all current Windows versions from
XP on up. However, there are some differences in its behavior between XP and Vista/7. For example, the order in which
windows are displayed is different. See this MSDN reference for more details on this point. Also, in Vista/7 the exact
behavior may vary depending on your hardware and software setup. In Windows XP or non-Aero Vista/7, Alt+Tab
provides a bar displaying icons for all open windows (and the desktop in Vista/7). Hold down Alt and tap the Tab key to
cycle through the icons. Release Alt to bring a selected window to the forefront. In Windows 7 systems with Aero Peek,
tapping the Tab key may cycle through the open Windows themselves instead of their icons.

2) Alt + Esc Another oldie from way back that still works. It cycles through the icons of open windows on the taskbar.
If a window is open and not minimized, displays the window. The taskbar icons of minimized windows are highlighted
but the window is not displayed. Hold down the Alt key and tap Esc until the desired window is reached. Then release
the Alt key.

3) Windows key + Tab (Flip 3D) This was introduced in Windows Vista and continued in Windows 7. It cycles through
a 3D stack of open windows plus the desktop. Requires an Aero theme and supporting graphics. Hold down the
Windows key and tap Tab until the desired window is displayed. Then release the Windows key.
4) Quick View (Peek)
Quick view, also called Peek, allows you to quickly view glance at all open windows
of any application currently open.
In this example, Peek has allowed the user to quick view four websites currently
opened in Internet Explorer.
The user can simply click the window they want to access and Windows will bring
the website to the foreground. To access Peek, simply place your mouse pointer
over any open application.