Lesson 1: Configuring Windows

• Control Panel


  Contains a number of utilities that are useful for end users and for administrators
• Control Panel views


  • Default category view
  • View by small icons
  • View by large icons
• Customizing internet options


  1. General tab

  2. Security tab

  3. Privacy tab

  4. Content tab

  5. Connections tab

  6. Programs tab

  7. Advanced tab
• Devices and Printers applet

  Graphical view of all the different devices on the network
• Programs and Features applet

  Modify or remove installed applications
• Network and Sharing Center

  Add, modify, or remove network adapters
• System applet


  View system information and modify advanced system settings
• Windows Defender Firewall


  Prevent unauthorized access to the system
• Mail applet


  Configure email account settings
• Sound applet


  Modify audio device configurations
• User Accounts applet


  Manage local user accounts
• Device Manager applet


  View and manage device drivers
• Indexing Options applet


  Control what information is indexed for search
• File Explorer Options applet


  Customize file explorer settings
• Administrative Tools


  Access system troubleshooting and management tools
• Power Options applet


  Configure power management settings
• Ease of Access Center

  Customize accessibility features
• Settings app


  An app in Windows 10 and 11 that provides access to many system settings, unlike the older Control Panel
• Settings app


  • Designed to make things easier to configure and find
  • Includes options for system, devices, phone, network and internet, and other areas
• Accessing the Settings app


  Can be found in the Windows menu, either by searching or in the list of applications
• The Settings app looks very different from the older Control Panel
• Time and language settings


  Where you can set the time, time zone, and language options in Windows
• Automatic time setting


  1. Windows tries to set the time automatically from time servers on the network or internet

  2. Important for synchronization with Active Directory
• The time setting needs to be synchronized within 5 minutes for Active Directory environments
• Update and security settings


  Where you can manage Windows Update and security patches
• Configuring Windows Update


  You can modify when updates are applied, e.g. after work hours
• Personalization settings


  Where you can customize the user interface, including colors, fonts, themes, and more
• Apps settings


  Where you can manage installed applications, uninstall them, and modify Windows features
• Privacy settings


  Where you can configure privacy options like advertising ID, language sharing, app tracking, and speech recognition
• System settings


  Where you can manage display, audio, notifications, and other system-level configurations
• Devices settings


  Where you can configure connected devices like mice, keyboards, and styluses
• Network and internet settings

  Where you can manage network connectivity and IP address configurations
• Gaming settings


  Where you can enable the Xbox Game Bar and other gaming-related features
• Accounts settings


  Where you can manage login options like passwords, PINs, and security keys
• An enthusiastic computer user wants to test out the new Windows 11 desktop. Which of the following has become more easily accessible using Windows 11?

  Mulitple Desktops
• A user is curious about the low-level data the system stored about their profile and wants to explore the file which contains it. In Windows, where does the user look?

  NTUSER.DAT
• A security-conscious user limits what usage data Windows permits to collect and what device functions it enables and for which apps. Where does the user accomplish this?

  Privacy Settings
• The receptionist at a record label company connects a phone to a computer so the songs already downloaded on the phone will play. Where does the receptionist set this up?

  Device Settings
• A user is experimenting with the fast startup option to see if it really makes booting faster. What should they expect?

  The computer will boot faster after being restarted
• An administrator is configuring a user's computer and is currently utilizing the User Accounts applet in the Control Panel. What is the administrator doing?

  Changing UAC Settings