comptia-a-plus-core2/notes/OS-3-windows-admin-tools.md

OS-3: Windows Administrative Tools

Status: not started

Domain:

• 1.0 Operating Systems

What You Need To Know

The exam often describes a problem and expects you to pick the right Windows tool.

Core tools:

• Task Manager: view running apps/processes, resource use, startup apps, and end unresponsive tasks.
• Services: start, stop, restart, disable, or change startup type for Windows services.
• Event Viewer: read logs for errors, warnings, failed services, application crashes, security events, and system events.
• Device Manager: manage hardware devices, drivers, disabled devices, and driver rollback.
• Disk Management: create, format, extend, shrink, and assign drive letters to partitions/volumes.
• System Configuration (msconfig): troubleshooting startup configuration and boot options.
• Local Users and Groups: manage local users and local group membership.
• Performance Monitor: collect detailed performance counters over time.
• Resource Monitor: live view of CPU, memory, disk, and network activity.
• Task Scheduler: run programs or scripts automatically based on time or events.

Memory Tricks

Use the problem wording:

• "What happened?" = Event Viewer
• "What hardware/driver?" = Device Manager
• "What starts with Windows?" = Task Manager or System Configuration
• "What service is stopped?" = Services
• "What partition/drive letter?" = Disk Management
• "What account/group?" = Local Users and Groups
• "What is slow right now?" = Resource Monitor
• "What is slow over time?" = Performance Monitor
• "Run this automatically" = Task Scheduler

Commands To Enter

Enter these on Windows PowerShell or Command Prompt:

taskmgr

What it does:

• Opens Task Manager.
• Use it to view processes, performance, startup apps, and signed-in users.

services.msc

What it does:

• Opens the Services console.
• Use it to start, stop, restart, disable, or change startup type for services.

eventvwr.msc

What it does:

• Opens Event Viewer.
• Use it to investigate system, application, setup, and security logs.

devmgmt.msc

What it does:

• Opens Device Manager.
• Use it to check hardware status and manage drivers.

diskmgmt.msc

What it does:

• Opens Disk Management.
• Use it to manage partitions, volumes, and drive letters.

msconfig

What it does:

• Opens System Configuration.
• Use it for boot and startup troubleshooting.

lusrmgr.msc

What it does:

• Opens Local Users and Groups on supported Windows editions.
• Use it to manage local accounts and group membership.
• This is not available on all Home editions.

perfmon

What it does:

• Opens Performance Monitor.
• Use it for detailed performance counters and longer-term monitoring.

resmon

What it does:

• Opens Resource Monitor.
• Use it for live CPU, memory, disk, and network activity.

taskschd.msc

What it does:

• Opens Task Scheduler.
• Use it to create, view, and troubleshoot scheduled tasks.

Linux comparison commands:

ps aux

What it does:

• Lists running processes.

top

What it does:

• Shows live process and resource usage.

systemctl status

What it does:

• Shows systemd service manager status.
• You can also check a specific service, such as systemctl status ssh.

journalctl -p err

What it does:

• Shows systemd journal entries with error priority.

lsblk

What it does:

• Lists disks and partitions.

Mini Lab

Goal:

• Match tools to symptoms and practice safe viewing commands.

Windows:

1. Open Task Manager with taskmgr.
2. Open Event Viewer with eventvwr.msc.
3. In Event Viewer, view Windows Logs > System.
4. Open Device Manager with devmgmt.msc.
5. Open Disk Management with diskmgmt.msc.
6. Open Resource Monitor with resmon.
7. Record which tool you would use for:
   • Failed service startup:
   • Missing driver:
   • Drive letter change:
   • Slow disk right now:
   • Long-term CPU tracking:

Linux:

1. Run ps aux.
2. Run top, then press q to quit.
3. Run systemctl status.
4. Run journalctl -p err.
5. Run lsblk.
6. Record the Linux command closest to:
   • Task Manager:
   • Event Viewer:
   • Services:
   • Disk Management:

Quick Check Before Quiz

You are ready for the OS-3 quiz when you can answer these without looking:

• Which tool shows Windows logs?
• Which tool manages drivers?
• Which tool manages partitions and drive letters?
• Which tool shows live resource usage?
• Which tool runs jobs automatically?