Storing Programs and Data

In 1945, John von Neumann of the Institute for Advanced Study at Princeton University in Princeton, New Jersey wrote a paper, the result of conversations he had with others regarding computer design, entitled "First Draft of a Report on Edvac," which was the ENIAC computer’s successor. (ENIAC was the first electronic digital computer.) This now-famous paper set forth the precepts for computer operations that have dominated the way computers are built since. To the computer, instructions and data are indistinguishable; without knowing which was which, the computer would manipulate either. The paper explained how the computer instructions would be stored, and what to do separately with the data. This idea became known as the stored-program concept, and is still the prevailing theory for serial-processing computers today.

The four basic Disk Management tasks are shown on page 295:

• Managing the three types of volumes: simple, spanned, and striped.
• Installing additional disk drives.
• Viewing information about disks and configurations.
• Managing disk devices remotely across the network.

A. Installing, Configuring, and Managing Devices

The Device Manager (Figure 6-2 on page 296) utility is used to perform this work. The "error message" of the large question mark that Windows 2000 displays to signal a problem. Note also that the yellow question mark next to a document page on the MMC menu bar is context-sensitive Help, and provides some good information about Disk Management.

Microsoft offers a utility called the Readiness Analyzer that helps determine hardware (and software) compatibility. You can learn more about this utility at

www.microsoft.com/windows2000/upgrade/compat/ready.asp

Microsoft describes it on the web site this way:

The Windows 2000 Readiness Analyzer tool analyzes your system and reports potentially incompatible hardware devices and software applications. The tool compares the devices and applications on your system against a list of known issues. Although this check also occurs during Windows 2000 Setup, you can download and run the tool before installing Windows 2000 to help ensure your installation will succeed.

1. Basic Disks Versus Dynamic Disks

Be sure students understand the difference between basic disks and dynamic disks. A Windows 2000 computer can have its single hard drive as either, but basic is probably preferable. Converting a dynamic to basic wipes out the disk contents. Discuss the requirements for dynamic disks and volumes on page 301 for a clearer understanding of their use.

The On the Job box on page 302 is an interesting example of basic vs. dynamic.Walk through Exercise 6-1 on page 300 (all on one page) to show how to install a new disk drive; note that rebooting is not necessary in Windows 2000.

Exercise 6-2 on page 303 walks through an upgrade from basic to dynamic.

1. Volumes

Know the differences between the three types of volumes. If you wish to expand on the types of volumes, click Index and then type the search word "volume" in the search box, or each type of volume (e.g. "striped volume").

There are two exercises for creating volumes in this section:

• Exercise 6-3 on page 304 shows how to create a simple volume.
• Exercise 6-4 on page 310 creates a striped volume.

Be sure to note the Exam Watch on page 309 regarding spanned and simple volumes. Figures 6-4 and 6-5 on pages 307 and 308 display information and properties of the drives.

2. Setting Disk Quotas

• Disk quotas can be set on NTFS volumes only.

• Disk quotas are set on a per-user basis.

• Disk quotas cannot be set on files and folders.

• Disk quotas set on a volume apply only to that volume.

• The file size calculated is based on the size of the uncompressed files.

Review the 5 steps for setting disk quotas on page 311.

3. Disk Defragmentation

It is not as much of a problem with Windows 2000 as it was with earlier versions of Windows. However, it is good to know how to defrag a disk, so walk through Exercise 6-5 on page 312. The On the Job on page 314 is useful.

Review the Scenario & Solution on page 314.

4. Managing Remote Disks

Exercise 6-6 on page 315 walks through remote disk management. Be sure that you know you must log on as administrator, and must have the same username and password on the other computer as well.

5. Troubleshooting Disks and Volumes

Page 316 contains an important topic. Review the most common problems with:

• Master Boot Record

• Viruses

• Cables and connectors

Be sure to review the Exam Watch and On the Job at the bottom of 316 regarding troubleshooting.

D. Monitoring and Configuring Removable Media

Display changes can be made on the fly, and that users can make their own changes, such as:

• Display adapter and driver
• Screen resolution
• Color schemes
• Display configuration
• Configuring more than one monitor
• Video adapter installation, configuration, troubleshooting

ZDNet has a list of Windows 2000-compatible monitors at this web site:

http://computershopper.zdnet.com/texis/windows2000/showcat.html?catid=C0000013

A. Configuring Display Properties

LCD flat-panel displays are increasingly popular. Prices are falling and size is increasing, up to 18". ZDNet reviewed a wide range of LCD monitors in May, 2000, at:

www.zdnet.com/products/filter/guide/0,7267,6010159,00.html

For example, a good value is the Hewlett Packard L1500, a 15" monitor with a small footprint, basic features, and a reasonable price.

B. Configuring Multiple-Display Support

This is a new feature in Windows 2000; one computer can support up to ten screens. One monitor is the primary, and all others are secondary and must have their own drivers. Walk through Exercises 6-8 and 6-9 on pages 220 and 221 to demonstrate how multiple monitors are installed and configured.

C. Installing, Configuring, and Troubleshooting a Video Adapter

Installing video adapters, once a difficult task, has been made easier in Windows 2000 through the enhancements of Plug and Play. Show students how to check the video adapter in Display Properties (under Advanced).

Review the three most common problems with video adapters:

• Video adapter not supported; check HCL.
• Wrong Driver; check documentation or HCL for update.
• Video mode not supported by driver; try 640x480 screen resolution and 16-bit color depth.