Windows Task Manager

Task Manager on Windows XP.

Windows Task Manager is a task manager application included with Microsoft

Windows NT family of operating systems that provides detailed information
about computer performance and running applications, processes and CPU
usage, commit charge and memory information, network activity and statistics,
logged-in users, and system services. The Task Manager can also be used to set
process priorities, processor affinity, forcibly terminate processes, and shut
down, restart, hibernate or log off from WindowsThe task list was capable of
listing currently running processes and killing them, or creating a new process.

How to start Task Manager

To start Task Manager, take any of the following actions:

Press CTRL+ALT+DELETE, and then click Task Manager.

Press CTRL+SHIFT+ESC.
Right-click an empty area of the taskbar, and then click Task Manager
2) Safe Mode Boot options in Windows XP

To use a Safe Boot option, follow these steps:

1. Restart your computer and start pressing the F8 key on your keyboard. On a computer
that is configured for booting to multiple operating systems, you can press the F8 key
when the Boot Menu appears.
2. Select an option when the Windows Advanced Options menu appears, and then
press ENTER.
3. When the Boot menu appears again, and the words "Safe Mode" appear in blue at the
bottom, select the installation that you want to start, and then press ENTER.

Description of Safe Boot options

Safe Mode (SAFEBOOT_OPTION=Minimal): This option uses a minimal

set of device drivers and services to start Windows.
Safe Mode with Networking (SAFEBOOT_OPTION=Network): This option
uses a minimal set of device drivers and services to start Windows
together with the drivers that you must have to load networking.
Safe Mode with Command Prompt
(SAFEBOOT_OPTION=Minimal(AlternateShell)): This option is the same as
Safe mode, except that Cmd.exe starts instead of Windows Explorer.
Enable VGA Mode: This option starts Windows in 640 x 480 mode by using
the current video driver (not Vga.sys). This mode is useful if the display is
configured for a setting that the monitor cannot display.
 Note Safe mode and Safe mode with Networking load the Vga.sys driver
instead.
Last Known Good Configuration: This option starts Windows by using the
previous good configuration.
Directory Service Restore Mode: This mode is valid only for Windows-
based domain controllers. This mode performs a directory service repair.
Debugging Mode: This option turns on debug mode in Windows.
Debugging information can be sent across a serial cable to another
computer that is running a debugger. This mode is configured to use
COM2.
Enable Boot Logging: This option turns on logging when the computer is
started with any of the Safe Boot options except Last Known Good
Configuration. The Boot Logging text is recorded in the Ntbtlog.txt file in
the %SystemRoot% folder.
Starts Windows Normally: This option starts Windows in its normal mode.
Reboot: This option restarts the computer.
Return to OS Choices Menu: On a computer that is configured to starting
to more than one operating system, this option returns to the Boot menu.

WHAT IS VIRUS?

A computer virus is a computer program that can copy itself and infect a computer. The
term "virus" is also commonly but erroneously used to refer to other types of malware,
adware, and spyware programs that do not have the reproductive ability. A true virus can
only spread from one computer to another (in some form of executable code) when its host is
taken to the target computer; for instance because a user sent it over a network or the Internet,
or carried it on a removable medium such as a floppy disk, CD, DVD, or USB drive. Viruses
can increase their chances of spreading to other computers by infecting files on a network file
system or a file system that is accessed by another computer.[1][2]

The term "computer virus" is sometimes used as a catch-all phrase to include all types of
malware. Malware includes computer viruses, worms, trojans, most rootkits, spyware,
dishonest adware, crimeware, and other malicious and unwanted software, including true
viruses. Viruses are sometimes confused with computer worms and Trojan horses, which are
technically different. A worm can exploit security vulnerabilities to spread itself to other
computers without needing to be transferred as part of a host, and a Trojan horse is a program
that appears harmless but has a hidden agenda. Worms and Trojans, like viruses, may cause
harm to either a computer system's hosted data, functional performance, or networking
throughput, when they are executed. Some viruses and other malware have symptoms
noticeable to the computer user, but many are surreptitious or go unnoticed.

WHAT IS Registry?

A database used by the Windows operating system (Windows 95 and NT ) to store

configuration information. The Registry consists of the following major sections:
HKEY_Classes_Root - fileassociations and OLE information
HKEY_Current_User - all preferences set for current user
HKEY_User - all the current user information for each user of the system
HKEY_Local_Machine - settings for hardware, operating system, and installed
applications
HKEY_Current_Configuration - settings for the display and printers
HKEY_Dyn_Data - performance data

Most Windows applications write data to the Registry, at least during installation. You can
edit the Registry directly by using the Registry Editor (regedit.exe) provided with the
operating system. However, you must take great care because errors in the Registry could
disable your computer.
How to Open the Windows Registry Editor

1. Step 1

Click the Start menu.

2. Step 2

Click Run.

3. Step 3

Type "regedit" and click OK.

5) What is Command Prompt ? (CMD)

A command prompt is a non-graphical interface that allows you to interact with your
operating system. At the command prompt, you enter commands by typing their names
followed by options and arguments. Most modern computers use a graphical user interface
(GUI), which allows users to more intuitively access programs and documents. However,
some programs and commands are still only available only through a command prompt. To
access the command prompt, follow the instructions appropriate to your operating system.
Windows :- To access the command prompt in Windows, from the Start menu, select
Run... . In the "Open:" field, enter CMD
6) What is System Restore?
System Restore helps you restore your computer's system files to an earlier point in time. It's
a way to undo system changes to your computer without affecting your personal files, such as
e-mail, documents, or photos.

Sometimes, the installation of a program or a driver can cause an unexpected change to your
computer or cause Windows to behave unpredictably. Usually, uninstalling the program or
driver corrects the problem. If uninstalling does not fix the problem, you can try restoring
your computer's system to an earlier date when everything worked correctly.
System Restore uses a feature called System Protection to regularly create and save restore
points on your computer. These restore points contain information about registry settings and
other system information that Windows uses. You can also create restore points manually.

System Restore is not intended for backing up personal files, so it cannot help you recover a
personal file that has been deleted or damaged. You should regularly back up your personal
files and important data using a backup program.

Open System Restore by clicking the Start button , clicking All Programs, clicking
Accessories, clicking System Tools, and then clicking System Restore. If you are
prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or
provide confirmation.

7) what is Folder Options ?

With Folder Options, you can specify how your folders function and how content is
displayed.

For example, you can indicate that you want your folders to display hyperlinks to common
tasks, other storage locations, and detailed file information. You can also choose to open
items with either a single or a double click.

You can change the program that opens a file type. You can also change the items that appear
on your desktop

To change folder options settings, open Folder Options in Control Panel. Or, to open Folder
Options from a folder window, click Tools, and then click Folder Options.
8) What is Control Panel?
The Control Panel centralises access to Windows' multitudinous settings. From the Control
Panel you can adjust and tweak Windows' appearance, performance, network connections,
hardware settings and a whole lot more.

While many of the settings in the Control Panel are also accessible in other ways for
instance, you can change the desktop appearance by right-clicking the desktop and choosing
Properties from the pop-up menu or by opening the Display applet in the Control Panel the
Control Panel makes it easy to keep tabs on all your Windows settings.

You open the Control Panel by clicking Start -> Control Panel. If it's not on your Start Menu

How to change an installed program

You can use this feature to change the installation of Windows Installer-based
programs such as Microsoft Office XP. Windows Installer-based programs include
a Maintenance Mode option. With this option, you can add or remove features,
change the installation state of the program or of individual components, or
repair and restore the installation.

To change a program, follow these steps:

1. Click Start, click Control Panel, and then double-click Add or Remove
Programs.
2. In the Currently installed programs box, click the program that you
want to remove, and then click Change or Change/Remove.
3. Follow the instructions that appear on the screen to make the changes
that you want.

How to remove an installed program

To remove a program that is installed on your computer, follow these steps:

1. Click Start, click Control Panel, and then double-click Add or Remove
Programs.
2. In the Currently installed programs box, click the program that you
want to remove, and then click Remove.
3. If you are prompted to confirm the removal of the program, click Yes.

Troubleshooting

Make sure that the program that you click in the Add or Remove
Programs tool is the program that you want to remove from your
computer. Some programs may not prompt you to confirm the removal
before the program is removed from the computer.
You can only remove a program with the Add or Remove Programs tool if
the program is written for Windows. If you do not see the program that
you want to remove in the Currently installed programs box, view the
program documentation for instructions about how to remove it.
9) What is an operating system (OS) ?

The most important program that runs on a computer. Every general-purpose computer must
have an operating system to run other programs. Operating systems perform basic tasks, such
as recognizing input from the keyboard, sending output to the display screen, keeping track of
files and directories on the disk, and controlling peripheral devices such as disk drives and
printers.

For large systems, the operating system has even greater responsibilities and powers. It is like
a traffic cop -- it makes sure that different programs and users running at the same time do
not interfere with each other. The operating system is also responsible for security, ensuring
that unauthorized users do not access the system.

Operating systems can be classified as follows:

multi-user : Allows two or more users to run programs at the same time. Some
operating systems permit hundreds or even thousands of concurrent users.
multiprocessing : Supports running a program on more than one CPU.
multitasking : Allows more than one program to run concurrently.
 multithreading : Allows different parts of a single program to run concurrently.
real time: Responds to input instantly. General-purpose operating systems, such
as DOS and UNIX, are not real-time.

Operating systems provide a software platform on top of which other programs, called
application programs, can run. The application programs must be written to run on top of a
particular operating system. Your choice of operating system, therefore, determines to a great
extent the applications you can run. For PCs, the most popular operating systems are DOS,
OS/2, and Windows, but others are available, such as Linux.

As a user, you normally interact with the operating system through a set of commands. For
example, the DOS operating system contains commands such as COPY and RENAME for
copying files and changing the names of files, respectively. The commands are accepted and
executed by a part of the operating system called the command processor or command line
interpreter. Graphical user interfaces allow you to enter commands by pointing and clicking
at objects that appear on the screen.

Different types of Operating systems

Windows 2000
Windows 2003
Windows 95
Windows 98
Windows CE
Windows ME
Windows NT
Windows 7
Windows Vista
Windows XP

MAC OS X
Sun Solaris
Linux
AmigaOS

10) General keyboard shortcuts

CTRL+C (Copy)
CTRL+X (Cut)
CTRL+V (Paste)
CTRL+Z (Undo)
DELETE (Delete)
SHIFT+DELETE (Delete the selected item permanently without placing the item in
the Recycle Bin)
CTRL while dragging an item (Copy the selected item)
CTRL+SHIFT while dragging an item (Create a shortcut to the selected item)
F2 key (Rename the selected item)
CTRL+RIGHT ARROW (Move the insertion point to the beginning of the next word)
CTRL+LEFT ARROW (Move the insertion point to the beginning of the previous
word)
 CTRL+DOWN ARROW (Move the insertion point to the beginning of the next
paragraph)
CTRL+UP ARROW (Move the insertion point to the beginning of the previous
paragraph)
CTRL+SHIFT with any of the arrow keys (Highlight a block of text)
SHIFT with any of the arrow keys (Select more than one item in a window or on the
desktop, or select text in a document)
CTRL+A (Select all)
F3 key (Search for a file or a folder)
ALT+ENTER (View the properties for the selected item)
ALT+F4 (Close the active item, or quit the active program)
ALT+ENTER (Display the properties of the selected object)
ALT+SPACEBAR (Open the shortcut menu for the active window)
CTRL+F4 (Close the active document in programs that enable you to have multiple
documents open simultaneously)
ALT+TAB (Switch between the open items)
ALT+ESC (Cycle through items in the order that they had been opened)
F6 key (Cycle through the screen elements in a window or on the desktop)
F4 key (Display the Address bar list in My Computer or Windows Explorer)
SHIFT+F10 (Display the shortcut menu for the selected item)
ALT+SPACEBAR (Display the System menu for the active window)
CTRL+ESC (Display the Start menu)
ALT+Underlined letter in a menu name (Display the corresponding menu)
Underlined letter in a command name on an open menu (Perform the corresponding
command)
F10 key (Activate the menu bar in the active program)
RIGHT ARROW (Open the next menu to the right, or open a submenu)
LEFT ARROW (Open the next menu to the left, or close a submenu)
F5 key (Update the active window)
BACKSPACE (View the folder one level up in My Computer or Windows Explorer)
ESC (Cancel the current task)
SHIFT when you insert a CD-ROM into the CD-ROM drive (Prevent the CD-ROM
from automatically playing)
CTRL+SHIFT+ESC (Open Task Manager)

Dialog box keyboard shortcuts

If you press SHIFT+F8 in extended selection list boxes, you enable extended
selection mode. In this mode, you can use an arrow key to move a cursor without
changing the selection. You can press CTRL+SPACEBAR or SHIFT+SPACEBAR to
adjust the selection. To cancel extended selection mode, press SHIFT+F8 again.
Extended selection mode cancels itself when you move the focus to another
control.

CTRL+TAB (Move forward through the tabs)

CTRL+SHIFT+TAB (Move backward through the tabs)
TAB (Move forward through the options)
SHIFT+TAB (Move backward through the options)
ALT+Underlined letter (Perform the corresponding command or select the
corresponding option)
ENTER (Perform the command for the active option or button)
 SPACEBAR (Select or clear the check box if the active option is a check
box)
Arrow keys (Select a button if the active option is a group of option
buttons)
F1 key (Display Help)
F4 key (Display the items in the active list)
BACKSPACE (Open a folder one level up if a folder is selected in the Save
As or Open dialog box)

Microsoft natural keyboard shortcuts

Windows Logo (Display or hide the Start menu)

Windows Logo+BREAK (Display the System Properties dialog box)
Windows Logo+D (Display the desktop)
Windows Logo+M (Minimize all of the windows)
Windows Logo+SHIFT+M (Restore the minimized windows)
Windows Logo+E (Open My Computer)
Windows Logo+F (Search for a file or a folder)
CTRL+Windows Logo+F (Search for computers)
Windows Logo+F1 (Display Windows Help)
Windows Logo+ L (Lock the keyboard)
Windows Logo+R (Open the Run dialog box)
Windows Logo+U (Open Utility Manager)

Accessibility keyboard shortcuts

Right SHIFT for eight seconds (Switch FilterKeys either on or off)

Left ALT+left SHIFT+PRINT SCREEN (Switch High Contrast either on or off)
Left ALT+left SHIFT+NUM LOCK (Switch the MouseKeys either on or off)
SHIFT five times (Switch the StickyKeys either on or off)
NUM LOCK for five seconds (Switch the ToggleKeys either on or off)
Windows Logo +U (Open Utility Manager)

Windows Explorer keyboard shortcuts

END (Display the bottom of the active window)

HOME (Display the top of the active window)
NUM LOCK+Asterisk sign (*) (Display all of the subfolders that are under
the selected folder)
NUM LOCK+Plus sign (+) (Display the contents of the selected folder)
NUM LOCK+Minus sign (-) (Collapse the selected folder)
LEFT ARROW (Collapse the current selection if it is expanded, or select the
parent folder)
RIGHT ARROW (Display the current selection if it is collapsed, or select the
first subfolder)

Shortcut keys for Character Map

After you double-click a character on the grid of characters, you can move
through the grid by using the keyboard shortcuts:

RIGHT ARROW (Move to the right or to the beginning of the next line)
LEFT ARROW (Move to the left or to the end of the previous line)
UP ARROW (Move up one row)
 DOWN ARROW (Move down one row)
PAGE UP (Move up one screen at a time)
PAGE DOWN (Move down one screen at a time)
HOME (Move to the beginning of the line)
END (Move to the end of the line)
CTRL+HOME (Move to the first character)
CTRL+END (Move to the last character)
SPACEBAR (Switch between Enlarged and Normal mode when a character
is selected)

Microsoft Management Console (MMC) main window keyboard shortcuts

CTRL+O (Open a saved console)

CTRL+N (Open a new console)
CTRL+S (Save the open console)
CTRL+M (Add or remove a console item)
CTRL+W (Open a new window)
F5 key (Update the content of all console windows)
ALT+SPACEBAR (Display the MMC window menu)
ALT+F4 (Close the console)
ALT+A (Display the Action menu)
ALT+V (Display the View menu)
ALT+F (Display the File menu)
ALT+O (Display the Favorites menu)

MMC console window keyboard shortcuts

CTRL+P (Print the current page or active pane)

ALT+Minus sign (-) (Display the window menu for the active console
window)
SHIFT+F10 (Display the Action shortcut menu for the selected item)
F1 key (Open the Help topic, if any, for the selected item)
F5 key (Update the content of all console windows)
CTRL+F10 (Maximize the active console window)
CTRL+F5 (Restore the active console window)
ALT+ENTER (Display the Properties dialog box, if any, for the selected
item)
F2 key (Rename the selected item)
CTRL+F4 (Close the active console window. When a console has only one
console window, this shortcut closes the console)

Remote desktop connection navigation

CTRL+ALT+END (Open the Microsoft Windows NT Security dialog box)

ALT+PAGE UP (Switch between programs from left to right)
ALT+PAGE DOWN (Switch between programs from right to left)
ALT+INSERT (Cycle through the programs in most recently used order)
ALT+HOME (Display the Start menu)
CTRL+ALT+BREAK (Switch the client computer between a window and a
full screen)
ALT+DELETE (Display the Windows menu)
 CTRL+ALT+Minus sign (-) (Place a snapshot of the entire client window
area on the Terminal server clipboard and provide the same functionality
as pressing ALT+PRINT SCREEN on a local computer.)
CTRL+ALT+Plus sign (+) (Place a snapshot of the active window in the
client on the Terminal server clipboard and provide the same functionality
as pressing PRINT SCREEN on a local computer.)

Microsoft Internet Explorer navigation

CTRL+B (Open the Organize Favorites dialog box)

CTRL+E (Open the Search bar)
CTRL+F (Start the Find utility)
CTRL+H (Open the History bar)
CTRL+I (Open the Favorites bar)
CTRL+L (Open the Open dialog box)
CTRL+N (Start another instance of the browser with the same Web
address)
CTRL+O (Open the Open dialog box, the same as CTRL+L)
CTRL+P (Open the Print dialog box)
CTRL+R (Update the current Web page)
CTRL+W (Close the current window)