Computer Operating Systems

1 . Discuss Chapter 8 (hard disk) concepts:

    Number of partitions that can be created on a physical disk

    The partitioning tools provided with MS DOS and Windows 9.x
     allow you to create a maximum of ___ primary partition(s) and
     ____ extended partition(s) on a physical hard disk.

     If you create an extended partition on a physical disk, you can use
     it to create a maximum of 26 __________  labeled C through Z.
     If the hard disk has one primary partition, and the computer has
      one CD-ROM drive, the extended partition can contain a maximum

      of  ___     _______ drives (assuming the primary partition is not hidden
      by third-party software and the CD-ROM drive is not disabled).

     - - -

     If you use partitioning tools from Windows XP/2000 or NT4, you
     can create a maximum of ___ partitions on a disk  Only __ partition(s)
     can be an extended partition.

     In most cases, Windows 9.x can recognize additional primary partitions
     created in the FAT16 or FAT32 format if you use partitioning tools from other
     operating systems. The active partition becomes drive C, and other primary
     partitions in an OS-compatible format are listed as D, E, or F.
     MS DOS can't do this. If there is more than one primary partition on the disk,
    only the active partition will be accessible.

     Practical Application of this Principle

Suppose you create a dual-boot system by installing Windows 98
on a primary FAT32 partition that takes up half of a physical disk.
Then you install Windows 2000 by creating a second primary FAT 32
partition that takes up the rest of the disk (The Windows 2000
installation CD will allow you to do this.)

If both partitions are FAT32, you should be able to switch the active
partition by using either FDISK or the Windows XP/2000 Disk Manager.

Which operating system will start up and appear as drive C if the first (Win9.x)

partition is set active? (.)   _____.     Will you be able to view the W2K OS

and its files listed on a partition labeled drive D? _____.

Which operating system will start up and appear as drive C if the
second (W2K) partition is set active? _____ Will you be able to

view the Win 9.x OS and its files listed on a partition labeled drive D? _____.

Suppose you press F8, with the Win 9.x partition set active, and boot
the computer to an MS-DOS prompt.  Will you be able to view the W2K

OS and its files on a partition labeled drive D? ________

- - -

The operating system may impose additional limitations on storage size for IDE
disk partitions (besides the ones imposed by the BIOS and IDE controller).

   Are the FAT16 limitations under Windows XP/2000 the same as
    under Windows 9.x? _____ 

    Are the FAT32 limitations under Windows 2000/XP the same as
    under Windows 9.x? ____

   With Service Pack 4 or higher installed NTFS under Windows NT4 has
    the same size limitation as under Windows 2000/XP. See this link
    for more information.

Read the warning about DOS FDISK for drives larger than 64GB
on A+ in Depth, p., 326.

2. Chapter 8 Team Contest

3. Intro to A+ in Depth, Ch. 10 -- Supporting I/O Devices

3. Lab Work

Finish Meyers Labs 8.2 and 8.3 using a second physical hard drive

List three steps you would follow to add a new hardware device to Windows 98

a) ___________________________________________________


b) ___________________________________________________


c) ____________________________________________________

Read A+ in Depth, pp. 404-407

Serial Port Minilab

Go into Windows 98 Device Manager. Examine settings for your computer's serial port(s),
then remove them and reboot the machine. The ports should be redetected automatically.

Remove both serial ports from Device Manager again. Reboot, go into
the machine's CMOS and disable the second serial port. Change the
settings on the first serial port to use IRQ3 and Address 2F8. Save the settings
and reboot into Windows 98.

Examine Device Manager under the Ports section. What do you see? _______________

____________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________

Delete the serial port entry from Device Manager, reboot the computer,
go into the CMOS settings and restore the default settings for COM1 and

COM2. (COM 1 IRQ ____, Address _____, COM2 IRQ ____, Address ____

Reboot into Windows 98 and check Device Manager. Both serial ports should be
redetected automatically again.   See if you can create an IRQ or Address conflict by
going to the resources for the second serial port and changing the automatic settings.

If you successfully create a resource conflict, how can you resolve it? _____________

__________________________________________________________________


- - -

Parallel Ports

Read A+ in Depth p. 411-414, Do Meyers Lab 19.1 on parallel ports on Meyers p.212

The three common settings/types for parallel ports are   ____,   _____,    _____

Video Card installation (See A+ in Depth, Ch. 10, p. 432 - 438)
Open Device Manager and remove the listing for your Windows 98 Display Adapter
Reboot the computer and see whether you can reinstall the driver. (It may be detected automatically)

Homework

Study for midterm on Thursday, which will include material through Andrews, Ch. 8 on hard drives.

Work on research projects

Read A+ in Depth Chapter 10, and write out answers to
questions 1-21 on p. 449-451