Interacting with Operating Systems

In the following sections, we will look at the Microsoft GUI from the ground up. In Chapter 12, “Operating System Basics,” we took a detailed look at its key components, and we will build on that with an exploration of basic tasks common across Windows 7, Vista, and XP. The following general topics will be covered:

  • Control Panel
  • The command prompt
  • The Windows Registry
  • Virtual memory

Control Panel

Although for the most part the Windows system is functional from the time it is installed, Microsoft realized that if someone were going to use computers regularly, they would probably want to be able to customize their environment so it would be better suited to their needs—or at least more fun to use. As a result, ...

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