Chapter 2: The Visible Computer

Charles Babbage, father of the computer

Charles Babbage didn't set out to change the world. He just wanted to do math without worrying about human error, something all too common in his day. Babbage was a mathematician in the nineteenth century, When he worked on complex math, the best "computers" were people who computed by hand. They solved equations using pen or pencil and paper. Babbage thought of making machines that would do calculations mechanically, so the numbers would always be right. Although his ideas were ahead of his time, inventors in the mid-twentieth century picked up the concepts and created huge calculating machines that they called computers.

Win 7 Command Line

Command Line The Windows command-line interface (CLI) is a throwback to how Microsoft operating systems worked a long, long time ago when text commands were entered at a command prompt. Figure 2-43 shows the command prompt from DOS, the first operating system commonly used in PCs.

Win 8 Command Line

Command Line The command-line interface retains its place as a go-to tool for techs. Windows 8/8.1 offer several ways to access it:

Win 7 Control Panel

Control Panel The Control Panel handles most of the maintenance, upgrade, and configuration aspects of Windows. As such, the Control Panel is the first set of tools for every tech to explore. You can find the Control Panel by clicking the Start button and choosing Control Panel from the Start menu.

Win 10 accessing Control Panel

Control Panel To get to the Control Panel, click the Start button, start typing control panel, and select Control Panel from the Search results.

Q6. 32-bit programs are installed into which folder by default in a 64-bit edition of Windows? C:\Program Files C:\Program Files (x32) C:\Program Files\Wins\Old C:\Program Files (x86)

D. By default, 32-bit applications install into the C:\Program Files (x86) folder.

Q2 Which Windows 8 feature did Microsoft not include in Windows 10? Metro/Modern UI Start button Control Panel Charms bar

D. Microsoft did not include the Charms bar in Windows 10. Bye!

Q3. What macOS feature is essentially multiple Desktops? Charms Desktop Mission Control Spaces

D. Spaces is the term Apple uses for multiple Desktops in macOS.

Breaking it down (TO BE A GREAT TECH)

Here are nine steps that apply to most computers and computing devices when you want to get something done: 1. Power up. Computers run on electricity. 2. Processing parts prepare for action. 3. You provide input. 4. Processing parts process your command. 5. Processing parts send output information to your output devices. 6. Output devices show or play the results to you. 7. Repeat Steps 3-6 until you're satisfied with the outcome. 8. Save your work. 9. Power down the computer.

WIN 8 note:::

Microsoft dropped the "Metro UI" moniker just before releasing Windows 8 due to legal concerns, replacing it with "Modern UI." A lot of techs and IT industry pros continue to refer to the unique Windows interface as "Metro."

Windows 8/8.1

Microsoft made significant changes to the Windows interface with the introduction of Windows 8. They borrowed from tablet operating systems, such as Windows Phone, to create a graphical set of tiles for full-screen programs, called apps. Note that the screen shows pinned apps—the default programs and programs selected by the user—and not all the applications installed on the computer.

MacOS Mission Control Button

Pressing the Mission Control button on an Apple keyboard brings up a utility, called Mission Control, that enables you to switch between open applications, windows,

Linux

An essential tool in Linux for techs is the command line, called Terminal. You can get there in most distros by pressing CTRL-ALT-T. Other launch points vary from distro to distro. Here are the locations of the launch points for common desktop environments

macOS accessing the System Preference

System Preferences To access System Preferences, click the Apple icon (top-left corner of screen). Select System Preferences from the permanent Apple menu to open the app (see Figure 2-53). From System Preferences you have access to almost all settings you will need to administer a macOS system.

WIN 7

The open applications demonstrate transparency, where the edges of the applications show blurred background images. This feature is called Aero, or Aero Glass. Click the Start button to get access to applications, tools, files, and folders. The pinned programs enable you to launch a program with a single left-click. The taskbar shows running programs. The notification area shows programs running in the background. Many techs also call it the system tray. Note The context menu offers options specific to the icon you right-click. Right-clicking a file, for example, gives you a context menu that differs greatly from when you right-click an application.

File Structures and Paths- WINDOWS

Windows Windows has important folders that help organize programs and documents. They sit in the root directory—where the operating system is installed Most users and techs access folders and files in Windows with a tool called: Windows Explorer in Windows 7 and File Explorer in Windows 8/8.1/10

The Tech Launch Points: Windows 7 Windows 7 has three tech launch points: the Control Panel, System Tools, and the command-line interface.

Windows 7 has three tech launch points: the Control Panel, System Tools, and the command-line interface.

The Tech Launch Points: Windows 8/8.1 Windows 8/8.1 have three tech tool starting points, but they differ a little from the big three in Windows 7. The newer versions feature the Control Panel, Administrative Tools, and the command-line interface.

Windows 8/8.1 have three tech tool starting points, but they differ a little from the big three in Windows 7. The newer versions feature the Control Panel, Administrative Tools, and the command-line interface.

WIn 8 Control Panel

You can access the Control Panel in several ways: 1. Click the down arrow on the lower right of the Start screen and scroll all the way to the right in the list of Apps. In the Windows System category, click Control Panel (see Figure 2-45). That's the slow way, but you should know it for the exams. You can also start typing control panel in the Search field in the Apps list. Control Panel will quickly appear as the best option to select.

File Structures and Paths-macOS

macOS Finder holds the keys to files and folders in macOS

macOS

macOS macOS has two key launch points for techs: the System Preferences app and the Utilities folder. You can access both quickly.

Control Panel The Control Panel in Windows 8/8.1

serves the same function as in previous versions of Windows—the go-to source for tech tools. You can access the Control Panel in several ways: Click the down arrow on the lower right of the Start screen and scroll all the way to the right in the list of Apps. In the Windows System category, click Control Panel (see Figure 2-45). That's the slow way, but you should know it for the exams. You can also start typing control panel in the Search field in the Apps list. Control Panel will quickly appear as the best option to select.

The Windows 8 interface, code-named Metro UI

the Windows 8 interface, code-named Metro UI, works great for touch-enabled devices. The PC becomes in essence a giant tablet. Touch an app to load, drag your finger across the screen to see other apps, and have fun. Figure 2-19 shows the default Windows 8 interface, called the Start screen, with various elements called out.

Q7 Which macOS feature is functionally equivalent to Windows File Explorer? Finder Dock Quartz File Manager

A. Finder is the equivalent of File Explorer.

Q4. What KDE feature is essentially the Start button? Metro UI Kickoff Terminal GNOME 3

B. Kickoff functions like a Start button for KDE desktops.

Q1 Which version of Windows introduced the Metro UI? Windows 7 Windows 8 Windows 8.1 Windows 10

B. Microsoft introduced Metro UI with Windows 8.

Win 8 Administrative Tools Accessing (way 2)

Begin typing administrative tools in the Start screen and Administrative Tools will quickly appear as an option in the Search charm (see Figure 2-49). Select it to open.

File Structures and Paths-LINUX

Linux Ready to be shocked? Not surprisingly, Linux uses pretty much the same structure for user organization Linux uses the Home folder, rather than the Users folder.

Win 8 Administrative Tools Accessing (way 3)

Right-click the Start button (or press WINDOWS LOGO KEY + X) and select Control Panel from the context menu. In the Control Panel, select Administrative Tools to open.

Win 8 Control Panel (the 3rd way and 4th Way)

Right-click the Start button and select Control Panel from the menu You can bring up the same menu by pressing WINDOWS LOGO KEY + X. I call this menu Tech Essentials because it gives you very quick access not only to the Control Panel and its collection of tools but also to specific tools that every tech relies on heavily, like the Task Manager (for forcing frozen programs to close, among other things).

Win 7 System Tools

The Start menu in Windows 7 offers a variety of tech utilities collected in one place: System Tools. In the System Tools menu, you'll find commonly accessed tools such as System Information and Disk Defragmenter

charms .

The Windows Charms is a feature of Windows 8 which provides access to Windows Search, Sharing, Start menu, Devices, and Settings. In Windows 8 and 8.1, tools located in the hidden Charms bar, such as a search function, a sharing tool, a settings tool, and more.

EXAM TIP

The exam objectives use "Apple Macintosh OS" and "Mac OS" to refer to Apple's workstation OS. Apple changed the branding from "Mac OS X" to "macOS" in 2016. All these terms refer to the same OS.

EXAM TIP

The first release of Windows 8 had no visible Start button on the Desktop (except in the Charms bar). Microsoft added it to the Desktop in later patches.

Charms bar

The location in Windows 8 and 8.1 of the charms tools. Accessed by moving the cursor to the upper-right corner of the screen

Linux distributions (distros)

The many different versions or distributions (distros)

Note:

There's no Start menu in Windows 8 and 8.1, but there are charms

Windows 8 Start screen scrolled to the right

Using a keyboard and mouse with Windows 8 bothered a lot of users making the jump from Windows 7. Scrolling with the mouse wheel, for example, scrolls right to left rather than up and down (see Figure 2-21).

macOS accessing the Utilities Folder

Utilities Folder The second launch point is the Utilities folder, located neatly in the Applications folder. Because of its importance, Apple provides a quick shortcut to access it. With the Finder in focus, click Go on the menu bar and select Utilities (see Figure 2-54). Alternatively, use the hot-key combination: COMMAND-SHIFT-U. This gives you access to the tools you need to perform services on a Mac beyond what's included in System Preferences, including Activity Monitor and Terminal. The latter is the command-line interface for macOS, a very powerful tool for techs that we explore in detail in Chapter 15.

Win 8 Accessing Command Line (3 ways)

click the down arrow on the lower right of the Start screen and scroll all the way to the right in the list of Apps. In the Windows System category, click Command Prompt to open the utility. You can also start typing command prompt in the Search field in the Apps list. Command Prompt will quickly appear as the best option to select. Right-click the Start button (or press WINDOWS LOGO KEY + X) and select Command Prompt from the context menu to open the command-line interface. In the Start screen, start typing cmd or command prompt and Command Prompt will appear in the Search charm. Click on it to open it.

computing process:

input, processing, output

WIN 8 START SCREEN

windows 8 also features a more classic Desktop, but one with the noticeable absence of a visible Start button (see Figure 2-20). You access this screen by pressing the Windows logo key on a standard keyboard.

Modern computing devices almost always have two other stages:

Data storage Network connection

macOS

DoDock, the bar that runs along the bottom of the Desktop by defaultck, the bar that runs along the bottom of the Desktop by default

MacOS Dock

Dock, the bar that runs along the bottom of the Desktop by default

EXAM TIP

The 1002 exam will test you on specific paths to specific tools. Be prepared for several multiple-choice and scenario-based questions on the topic.

1002—Computing Software

The CompTIA A+ 1002 exam covers a lot of software, though mostly operating system tools rather than specific applications. The exam explores three workstation operating systems, Microsoft Windows, Apple Macintosh OS, and Linux. The exam covers Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, and Windows 10. The current Apple workstation OS is macOS, which is how the book refers to it throughout. The exam covers common Linux features, but not distribution-specific features. The book follows this pattern as well.

NOTE

The Control Panel enables you to access Device Manager, a critically important tool for techs and troubleshooting every device on a PC. With Device Manager, you can examine all of the hardware and drivers in a Windows computer. As you might suspect from that description, every tech spends a lot of time with this tool. You'll work with Device Manager many more times during the course of this book and your career as a PC tech.

Win 7 applets

Many programs, called applets, populate the Control Panel.

EXAM TIP

Memorize the names of the components, connectors, and terms discussed and displayed in this section. You'll see them in future chapters, in the real world, and on the CompTIA A+ 1001 exam.

Windows 10

Microsoft created an OS that blends the traditional Windows 7-style Desktop experience with some of the more progressive features of the Windows 8.x Metro/Modern UI

Label the mobo

Pink is for the microphone

Q9 What feature of macOS is the equivalent of the command-line interface in Windows? Dock Spaces Terminal Unity

C. Terminal is the equivalent of the Windows command-line interface.

Q5. The user Mike has downloaded files with his Web browser. Where will they be stored by default? C:\Downloads C:\Mike\Desktop\Downloads C:\Users\Mike\Downloads C:\Users\Mike\Desktop\Downloads

C. The default download location in Windows is C:\Users\<user name>\Downloads.

Linux KDE Plasma Desktop

Choice!" could be the unofficial motto of Linux, and when you are working on a KDE-based distro, you are certainly spoiled for choices. The downside to this abundance is that the configuration utilities can vary among the different KDE-based distros.

Windows 8/8.1 offer lots of hidden interface components that activate when you place the cursor in certain places on the screen. Dropping the cursor to the bottom left corner, for example, activates the Start button (see Figure 2-24) when in the Start screen.

Figure 2-24: Start button magically appears

Placing the cursor in the top- or bottom-right corner of the screen reveals the Charms bar, a location for tools called charms. See the right side of Figure 2-25. Charms include a robust Search tool that enables a search of the computer or even the Internet in one location. There's a Share charm for sharing photos, e-mail messages, and more. We'll revisit the charms later in this chapter when exploring how to access tech tools.

Figure 2-25: Charms accessed by cursor in upper- or lower-right corner

IN ADDITION :

In addition to the workstation operating systems, the CompTIA A+ 1002 exam covers four smartphone/tablet operating systems: Microsoft Windows, Google Android, Apple iOS, and Google Chrome OS. Android and iOS utterly dominate the market, with 98%+ market share, which makes including Windows and Chrome OS odd at best.

Win 8 Administrative Tools Accessing (way 1)

In the Start screen, click the down arrow to open the Apps list. Scroll a little to the right and you'll see the list of Administrative Tools (see Figure 2-48). Select the specific tool you want to open.

Win 8 Control Panel (the 5th Way)

In the Start screen, start typing control panel; the Control Panel will show up as the top option in the Search charm (see Figure 2-47). Select it to open.

Labeling the Motherboard

J. LPT1 Port. This is used for printer connections. K: DVI-D Port. This is used for LCD monitor connections. L: D-Sub Port. This is used for CRT monitor connections.

WINDOWS 7: applets

Many programs, called applets, populate the Control Panel.

accessing Win 7 System Tools

To access System Tools in Windows 7, go to Start | All Programs | Accessories | System Tools. Each version of Windows shares many of the same tools, but each includes its own utilities as well.

Win 10 accessing the Settings

To access the Setting app, press the WINDOWS LOGO KEY to access the Start menu. Select Settings from the lower left to open the tool

WIn 10 and the Windows Logo Key

When you press the WINDOWS LOGO KEY on the keyboard, Windows 10 brings up the Start menu with useful tools and your most used apps on the left and pinned apps on the right

MacOS supports Spaces:

essentially multiple Desktops—that can have different backgrounds and programs, but keep the same Dock

Win 8 Administrative Tools

**Microsoft beefed up Administrative Tools starting in Windows 8, adding some of the tools found in the System Tools menu in previous versions of Windows.** Administrative Tools enables you to set up hard drives, manage devices, test system performance, and much more. This is a go-to set of tools for every tech, and one that we will access many times for scenarios in this book.

Q10. What Windows app in Windows 10 combines many utilities into a unified tool? Settings Control Command Center Control Center

A. The Settings app in Windows 10 offers many utilities in a unified interface.

labeling the motherboard

A: PS/2 Connection. This is where you can plug in your mouse if you have a PS/2 mouse. Keep in mind that most mice today use a USB connection. As a result, you may see motherboards that have zero, or one PS/2 connection. B: PS/2 Connection. This is the connection for your keyboard. Again, like the mice, most keyboards come with USB connectors. C: Optical S/PDIF Out Connection. This connection provides digital audio out to an external audio system that supports digital optical audio. D: USB Connections. The number of these will vary on the motherboard, usually from 4-8. Here you can see 8 of them. E: 6 Channel Sound. Depending on the chipset that you get, this can have anywhere from 3 to 6 connections. Refer to your motherboard manual for what goes in each connection. This will be for your computer's speakers and microphone; if you have one. F: Ethernet connections. This is where you will plug in your internet connection. This will come from your modem, either Cable, DSL, Phone Line, or Fiber Optic. G: 4 Pin Firewire Connection. This is usually used for external hard drive connections or other high speed devices. H: 6 Pin Firewire Connection. This is also usually used for external hard drive connections or other high speed devices. I. Coaxial S/PDIF Output Connection. This connection provides digital audio out to an external audio system that supports digital coaxial audio.

Windows 8.1 makes it very easy to pin apps to the Start screen. Selecting the arrow at the bottom left brings up the Apps pane where you can sort and select apps and utilities (see Figure 2-23). Right-click an icon to pin it to the Start screen.

APPS SORTED BY NAME

Q8 Which of the following paths would open Administrative Tools in Windows 8.1? Right-click the taskbar and select Administrative Tools from the context menu. Right-click the Start button and select Administrative Tools from the context menu. Right-click anywhere on the Desktop and select Administrative Tools from the context menu. Press the WINDOWS KEY-L combination to open Administrative Tools.

B. To open Administrative Tools, right-click the Start button and select Administrative Tools. Easy!

The final version of Windows 8.1 uses the Desktop rather than the Start screen as the default interface. The Start button is visible in the bottom left (see Figure 2-26). You can still access the charms using the cursor and the upper- and lower-right corners of the screen.

Figure 2-26: Windows 8.1 Desktop

Linux to access other system utilities

For other system utilities such as System Monitor or Terminal, click the Activities button on the far left of the menu bar. From here you can search for the utility from the box at the top. This will open a menu showing all installed applications, and within this list is a folder for Utilities.

Linux accessing GNOME3

GNOME 3 The first launch point in a GNOME 3 DE is the All Settings application. To access All Settings, click the down arrow icon on the far right of the menu bar and select the wrench and screwdriver icon

Win 10 Settings

Settings Settings in Windows 10 combines many otherwise disparate utilities, apps, and tools traditionally spread out all over your computer into one fairly unified, handy Windows app (see Figure 2-51). Since the Settings app was introduced in Windows 8, it has taken over more and more tasks from the Control Panel. Expect Settings to grow as Windows 10 matures. Larger View

Linux desktop environments (DEs)

The many different versions or distributions (distros) of Linux offer a variety of user interfaces, called desktop environments (DEs). They offer similar functions to those in Windows or macOS

Linux accessing the Kickoff menu

The one thing that is the same in all the KDE-based distros is that everything you need to work on the system is accessible from the Kickoff menu on the far left of the Panel (see Figure 2-56). The Kickoff menu looks and works a lot like the Start menu in Windows 7, so it should be relatively easy to navigate. Once in the Kickoff menu, you can search for a needed utility or select the Applications tab at the bottom. From here, most distros have a Utilities or System menu that holds all the key system configuration and maintenance applications.