1. Operating Systems,
Computing Networks
1. Windows Tools
I´m going to explain you how to get to the system tools or applications of the Windows
XP OS.
First, once we are in Windows XP we click on START MENU, this star menu serves as
the central launching point for applications. It provides a customizable, nested list of
programs for the user to launch, as well as a list of most recently opened documents, a
way to find files and get help, and access to the system settings. By default, the Start
Button is visible at all times in the lower left-hand corner of the screen.
Then you click on ALL PROGRAMS and select ACCESSORIES. Once you are in
ACCESSORIES you click on SYSTEM TOOLS and you choose what ever you need.
Forexample, I have chosen five of them, and I´m going to explain for what are they
used to.

2. Security Center: This component is useful from a security point of
view as it provides information about the status of the antivirus
software and firewall. It also gives an automatic update status.
Alternatively Windows Security Centre can be disabled, but that has
its risks. One must be absolutely confident about the firewall of the
system before opting for this method.
Uses:
 Firewall: A firewall can help prevent hackers or malicious software
(such as worms) from gaining access to your computer through a
network or the Internet. A firewall can also help stop your computer
from sending malicious software to other computers.
To turn on Windows Firewall: Click Firewall, and then click Turn on
now. If you are prompted for an administrator password or
confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.
 Automatic updating: Windows can routinely check for updates for
your computer and install them automatically.

3. To turn on automatic updating: Click Automatic updating, and then
click Turn on now. If you are prompted for an administrator
password or confirmation, type the password or provide
confirmation.
 Malicious software protection: Malicious software (malware)
protection can help protect your computer against viruses, spyware,
and other security threats.
To install or update your anti-malware software: Click Malware
protection, click the button under Virus protection or Spyware and
other malware protection, and then choose the option that you want.
 Disk Defragmenter: It is a utility in Microsoft Windows designed
to increase access speed by rearranging files stored on a disk to
occupy contiguous storage locations, a technique called
defragmentation. Defragmenting a disk minimizes head travel,
which reduces the time it takes to read files from and write files
to the disk. Beginning with Windows XP, Disk Defragmenter also
reduces system startup times

4. How to use it?
1. Select the drive you want to clean and click OK.
Note: Most cases this would be C:.
2. Click Analyze.
3. Click Close or Defragment.
 Character map: You can use Character Map to copy and paste
special characters into your documents, such as the trademark
symbol, special mathematical characters, or a character from the

5.  Disk Cleanup for: It is a computer maintenance utility included in
Microsoft Windows designed to free up disk space on a computer's
hard drive. The utility first searches and analyzes the hard drive for
files that are no longer of any use, and then removes the
unnecessary files. There are a number of different file categories
that Disk Cleanup targets when performing the initial disk analysis:
How to use it?
1. In the Disk Cleanup dialog box, click the More Options tab.
2. Click the Disk Cleanup tab.
3. Place check marks by all items you want to remove
4. Click the OK button
5. Click the Yes button to begin the cleanup process

6.  System restore: System Restore is a feature of Windows XP that
allows you to restore your computer to a previous known
working state in the event of a problem. This is done without
loss of personal files or data such as word processing
documents, spreadsheets, music, images, etc. This feature is
enabled by default and runs in the background making backups
after certain events happen on your computer. System restore
functions are only available to an administrator of the computer,
therefore if you are not an administrator, you will not be able to
follow this tutorial.
System Restore protects your computer by creating backups of vital
system configurations and files.
How to use it?
1. Select "Restore my computer to an earlier time."
2. A calendar should appear with dates; select a date that
has a bold number with your mouse. Make sure the date
is before you made the mistake on your computer. Click
"next" and close all open programs to ensure a safe
restore. The keep clicking "Next," and the computer will

7. then gather some information and restart your computer
to the restore point.
3. When your computer is restarted, a similar window will be
presented. It will tell you if the restore was successful and
if any files were renamed in the process.
4. Computer network
A computer network is a communications network that connects a
collection of different or similar types of computers and networks to allow
communication and data exchange between systems, software
applications, and users.

8.  List Of all necessary components for the network hardware
 A network card: It is designed to allow your computer to have
communications with other computers.
 Cables and connectors
 Switch: It´s an electrical component that can break an
electrical circuit, interrupting the current or diverting it from
one conductor to another
 Router: It´s a device that forwards data packets between
computer networks, creating an overlay internetwork
 Telephone socket

9.  Scheme of the equipment and devices connections

10. We have to assemble and install a network composed by 7
computers sharing an internet connection and a printer.
First we need a switch in the middle, this is the component to which
all other components will be attached. Then we have the seven
computers that are connected to it through a scheme cable and a
RJ45 connector. Then we have a network printer that it´s also
connected to the switch with a scheme cable and a network card.
And to finish, we have the router connected to the switch with a
scheme cable and a RJ45 connector and at the same time it´s
connected through a telephone cable to a telephone socket.
 Network software settings and protocols
o Name and Workgroup
First, open the Control Panel from the 'Start' menu and double-click on
the 'System' icon or you can also get to it with a right -click on the My
PC icon and click in properties.

11. Once you´re inside it you can make changes.
1. On the 'Computer Name' tab described above there is a 'Change'
button to allow you to alter the name or workgroup of your
computer.
Clicking this opens the 'Computer Name Changes' window.

12. 2. Edit the computer name if required. Each computer on the
network must have a unique name.
3. Edit the Workgroup name to be identical to that of the other
computers on the network. The workgroup name is displayed in
upper case regardless of how it was entered.
4. Click 'OK'. You will receive a "Welcome to the 'xyz' workgroup"
message
5. Click 'OK', you will receive a "You must restart this computer for
the changes to take effect." message.
6. Click 'OK' to return to the 'System Properties' window. There will
now be a warning message at the bottom looking like this
7. Click 'OK' and then exit the Control Panel
8. The computer will need to be rebooted for the changes to take
effect

13. o IP address and other information
Every device connected to the public Internet is assigned a unique
number known as an Internet Protocol (IP) address. IP addresses
consist of four numbers separated by periods.
An IP address can often be used to identify the region or country from
which a computer is connecting to the Internet. An IP address can
sometimes be used to show the user's general location.
How to get the IP address of my computer?
First click on START menu and click on Control Panel. Then once you´re
in Control Panel double click on Network connections.
After that, right click correct Local Area Connection by identifying
correct network card and click Properties.

14. At the end, select Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) and Click on Properties.

15. Now that you are inside Internet Protocol Properties, you have to
select “Use the following IP address”
After that, type the number of your computer except for one, that it´s
the IP address of your computer and it must be unique.

16. 5. MSDOS commands
DOS uses a command line, or text-based interface, that allows the user to
type commands. By typing simple instructions such as pwd (print working
directory) and cd (change directory), the user can browse the files on the
hard drive, open files, and run programs. While the commands are simple to
type, the user must know the basic commands in order to use DOS effectively
(similar to Unix). This made the operating system difficult for novices to use,
which is why Microsoft later bundled the graphic-based Windows operating
system with DOS.
Now, it´s time to learn commands!
Fisrt of all, you have to click on Start menu and doble click on RUN. Then it
will appear and in where it puts Open you have to type CMD. And after that
click on OK.

17. Then it will appear something like this
With this we are going to learn something about two of many commands:
 About ping
Helps in determining TCP/IP Networks IP address as well as determine
issues with the network and assists in resolving them. See
the ping definition for a full description.
After that you have to type ping space and your IP address separating by
dots and then click on enter

18. Once you have do this, you have to try again, but this time you will invent the
IP address and you can prove that it doesn´t exist and it will appear like this.
 Aboutipconfig
Ipconfig is a DOS utility that can be used from MS-DOS and a MS-DOS
shell to display the network settings currently assigned and given by a
network. This command can be utilized to verify a network connection
as well as to verify your network settings.
Now you are going to do the same but instead of typing ping, type
Ipconfig and it will appear like this

19. 6. Security Problems
In this part of the proyect I´m going to explain the possible causes, how I
can prevent before happening and provide a possible solution to two
computer problems.
 My computer runs very slowly and I am not very good with
computers. I installed an antivirus program and the virus says
“some files could not be scanned”. After that the computer is
still running too slow. What can I do?
Causes: Slow Computer problems occur when important operating
system files become misconfigured, deleted or damaged. This is a
common problem with computers that don't get maintained regularly.
Eventually the system becomes overloaded with problems and begins
to crash and display errors.
Solution 1: I recommend you to download a repair tool. It is designed
to diagnose problems on your computer and fix them in just a few
minutes with only a few mouse clicks.
Instructions to diagnose and fix Slow Computer problems: Please
follow the following 3 steps to diagnose and fix your problem:
STEP 1: Download Slow Computer Repair Tool and install it.
STEP 2: Open the Tool, and click the "SCAN" button.
STEP 3: Click the "FIX ALL" to fix the problems.
Solution 2: What you should do is to go to AVAST option and select
BOOT SCAN. Reboot computer and AVAST will scan all the files before
logging onto windows. Once it finishes, it will boot to windows and you
won't need to scan anymore. It will fix any files that are cross-linked.
When AVAST finds a file that is infected, it will ask you what to do.
SELECT DELETE ALL. Let it finish the scan.

20.  When I start my computer up I always find a blue star and a
message from Microsoft “Windows Genuine Advantage” to buy
the Windows Original as long as mine, like many users, is not,
or at least I do not remember having bought. Let me know how
I can delete the notice and how I can prevent myself from
getting it again.
Windows Genuine Advantage (WGA) notifications occur when your
computer hasn't passed the validation test. The validation test can
be failed because you installed a pirated non-genuine copy of XP, or
because you have changed your XP product key to a software-
generated key, or sometimes it just happens for no reason at all.
Here's how to get rid of the annoying notifications.
How can I remove Windows Genuine Advantage notifications?
One of many ways of removing this is by using system tools:
1. Open System32 by either of the following methods:
o Click Start, then Run. Type "system32" (without quotes),
and click OK.
o Find system32 manually by clicking Start, My Computer,
(C:) (or whatever your drive letter is), WINDOWS, then
system32.
2. Hide extensions. In system32, go to Tools, then Folder
options. Click on the tab, View, and uncheck "Hide extensions
for known file types" if it is not already.
3. Check to make sure the window that comes up has a full
screen of various files. The files are in alphabetical order,
which makes it easier to locate the specific file.
4. Find WgaLogon.dll. Rename it "WgaLogon.dll.bak" (without
quotes).
5. Create an empty copy of WgaLogon.dll.
6. Immediately open Task Manager.
7. Click on the process tab and select WgaTray.exe. Click on End
Process.
8. Restart your computer when finished. All the notification
messages should be gone.