CSC103 How Computers Work
Exercise 3: Windows Operating System Info

I: DOS Command Window.

1. In windows explorer (not internet explorer!) view the list of folders and files in the C: folder/directory
2. Look for the file autoexec.bat and view its contents if you find it
   • You could view the contents of this text file in Wordpad, MS Word or Notepad
3. Change to a different folder/directory and view the contents
4. Select: Start / Programs/ Accessories / Command Prompt
5. Get a listing of the files in the top level directory (C:) by typing either dir or ls
6. View the contents of the file autoexec.bat by typing cat autoexec.bat or more autoexec.bat
7. change to a different directory (folder) and get the file listing of that directory by using the command cd (for change directory) followed by the new directory name

II: Windows System Information.

1. Select: Start / Programs/ Accessories / System Tools / System Information
2. Read through the list of top level system information (in the right-hand frame)
3. Near the bottom of the list are five types of memory
   • Where is information on the RAM on this computer?
   • What do you think the 'physical memory' is?
   • What is virtual memory?
   • What is page file space?
   • Where is the information on the hard disk for this computer?
4. What printers are available to this computer?

III: Process Monitoring.

1. Simultaneously Hold Keys: Control-Alt-Delete
2. Select Task List
3. View the information on the different tabs
4. While viewing the 'Applications,' start a new application.
5. Close this application by using the 'End Task' button
   • When might you use this function?
6. In the 'Processes' tab, click the 'CPU' column until 'System Idle Process' is at the top
7. Try to do anything that will beat 'System Idle Process' for the top slot
8. Changing to the 'Performance' tab, repeat what you did above, watching the CPU usage change
9. Was anyone able to find a task that took more than 50% of the processor's time for more than a few seconds?

IV: Disk Defragmentation - no time now - try this afternoon

1. Select: Start / Programs/ Accessories / System Tools / Disk Deframenation
2. OR
   • Double click the 'My Computer' icon, Right-select the drive listed under 'Hard Disk Drives' and select properties in the pop-up menu
   • Select the 'Tools' tab, and go to 'Defragment Now...'
3. Goto the 'Action' menu and select 'Analyze'
   • What do these results tell you?
4. DO NOT select 'Defragment' - this will take forever!
   • Why would you want to defragment a disk?