Introduction xiii
Assessment Test xxiii
Chapter 1 Understanding Operating Systems 1
Operating Systems and Their Roles When Using Computers and Devices 3
What Is Hardware? 3
What Is Software? 4
What Is an Operating System? 4
How Do They All Work Together? 5
Accessing and Locking the Operating System 7
Software and System Updates 10
Working with Files, Folders, and Libraries 15
Accessing Your Files and Folders 16
Understanding File Types 20
Managing Your Files and Folders 22
Customizing Your Computer 30
Customizing the Desktop 30
Understanding User Accounts 43
Summary 49
Exam Essentials 50
Key Terms 50
Review Questions 51
Chapter 2 Understanding Hardware 53
The Internal Hardware Components of a Computer 55
Peripheral Devices That Can Be Connected to a Computer 57
The Most Common Types of Computers and Devices 60
How Information Is Transmitted inside a Computer 63
How to Evaluate the Performance of a Computer or Device 64
Summary 69
Exam Essentials 70
Key Terms 70
Review Questions 72
Chapter 3 Understanding Software 75
The Dependencies between Hardware and Software 77
Installing, Removing, or Reinstalling Software 79
Software Licensing and Its Implications 89
The Most Common Types of Office Applications 94
Using Templates to Get Started with an Application 96
Personal Entertainment Applications 99
Compressing Files to Save Space 99
Optimizing Your Computer's Hard Disk Performance 101
Protecting Yourself from Malware 106
Summary 107
Exam Essentials 108
Key Terms 109
Review Questions 110
Chapter 4 Troubleshooting Problems with Your Computer 113
Dealing with Problems Caused by Software 115
Dealing with Incompatibilities between the Operating System Version and Your Applications 116
Dealing with Unresponsive Applications 119
Dealing with Applications That Consume Too Many Resources 122
Dealing with Malware Infections 124
Using Safe Mode to Fix Problems with Windows 127
Finding Help Online 129
Dealing with Problems Caused by Hardware 130
Dealing with Problems Caused by Cables and Connectors 130
Upgrading the Firmware for Your Computer's Components and Peripherals 131
Dealing with Drivers for Your Computer's Hardware 133
Creating Your Own Backup System 138
Backing Up Your Data with Backup and Restore 138
Restoring Your Data with Backup and Restore 143
Backing Up Your Data to the Cloud with OneDrive 148
Summary 154
Exam Essentials 154
Key Terms 155
Review Questions 156
Appendix A Answers to Review Questions 159
Appendix B Using the Practice Files 165
Index 167
