REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES

PHILIPPINE STATE COLLEGE OF AERONAUTICS

PICCIO GARDEN, VILLAMOR, PASAY CITY

Mirano, Kenjie Matthew

BsAIT 4-1 Module 3

Assignment: System Startup and Shutdown Tasks

Instructions: In this assignment, you will explore various aspects of system startup and shutdown,
gaining practical experience in key tasks. Choose one task from each category and complete it.
Summarize your actions and any challenges you faced during the process. Be prepared to discuss your
findings in class.

Bootstrapping

Task: Firmware Updates

 Research how to check for firmware updates for your computer's BIOS or UEFI.

 If updates are available, follow the instructions to apply them.

No updates available

 Document the update process and any changes you observe in system behavior.

No changes since no updates

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 REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES

PHILIPPINE STATE COLLEGE OF AERONAUTICS

PICCIO GARDEN, VILLAMOR, PASAY CITY

Booting PCs

Task: Boot Time Optimization

 Analyze the startup time of your personal computer.

 Identify unnecessary startup programs and disable them to optimize boot time.

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 REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES

PHILIPPINE STATE COLLEGE OF AERONAUTICS

PICCIO GARDEN, VILLAMOR, PASAY CITY

 Measure the improvement in boot time and document the changes made.

Boot Loaders

Task: Boot Loader Configuration

 If you have a multi-boot system (e.g., dual-boot with Linux and Windows), access your boot
loader's configuration.
 Change the default operating system and adjust the timeout settings.
 Test the changes by rebooting and verifying that the boot options work as expected.

I have set up a guide on how to do this and follow this toward everything

1. Access the Boot Loader Configuration:

 For Windows/Linux dual-boot with GRUB bootloader:

 Boot into your Linux system.

 Open a terminal.

 Edit the GRUB configuration file. In most cases, this file is located at
/etc/default/grub. You can use a text editor like Nano or Vim to edit it.

 Make changes to the GRUB_DEFAULT and GRUB_TIMEOUT values.

 Save the file and exit the text editor.

 Update GRUB by running sudo update-grub or a similar command specific to

your Linux distribution.

 For Windows/Linux dual-boot with Windows Boot Manager:

 Boot into your Windows system.

 Open the System Configuration utility by typing msconfig in the Run dialog box
(Win + R).

 Go to the "Boot" tab.

 Select the operating system you want to set as default and adjust the timeout.

 Apply the changes.

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 REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES

PHILIPPINE STATE COLLEGE OF AERONAUTICS

PICCIO GARDEN, VILLAMOR, PASAY CITY

2. Change Default OS and Adjust Timeout Settings:

 In the GRUB configuration, GRUB_DEFAULT specifies which entry is booted by default. It

uses a numerical index (0 for the first entry).

 GRUB_TIMEOUT sets the time (in seconds) that the GRUB menu is displayed before
automatically booting the default option.

 In Windows Boot Manager, you can change the default OS and adjust timeout settings
directly from the System Configuration utility.

3. Test Changes by Rebooting:

 After saving the changes in the bootloader configuration, reboot your computer.

 You should see the updated settings in action during the boot process.

 Make sure to verify that the boot options work as expected.

Booting into Single-User Mode

Task: Accessing Single-User Mode

 Research how to access single-user mode on your specific operating system (e.g., Linux, macOS,
Windows).

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 REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES

PHILIPPINE STATE COLLEGE OF AERONAUTICS

PICCIO GARDEN, VILLAMOR, PASAY CITY

 Boot your computer or virtual machine into single-user mode.

 Perform a basic system maintenance task (e.g., resetting a password) and document the
process.

Startup Scripts

Task: Custom Startup Script

 Create a simple custom startup script (e.g., a shell script or batch file) that performs a specific
task during system startup (e.g., create a log file, start a custom service).
 Place the script in the appropriate startup script directory on your operating system.
 Test the script by rebooting the system and confirm that it executes during startup.

Rebooting and Shutting Down

Task: Emergency Shutdown

 Research and document the emergency shutdown procedures for your computer or server.
 Simulate an emergency shutdown by abruptly cutting power to your computer (if safe to do so).
 Describe any issues or data loss that occurred due to the abrupt shutdown.

My laptop cannot handle simulation towards computers and servers but I have researched on
steps on how to do it and here’s what I've found

1. Windows Operating System:

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 REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES

PHILIPPINE STATE COLLEGE OF AERONAUTICS

PICCIO GARDEN, VILLAMOR, PASAY CITY

 Click on the Start menu.

 Select the power icon.

 Choose "Shut down" from the options. In some cases, you might need to press and hold
the power button for a few seconds if the system is unresponsive.

2. Linux Operating System:

 Open a terminal.

 Use the shutdown command. For example, to shut down immediately, you would use
sudo shutdown -h now.

3. Server:

 If you're using a server, it's important to follow the manufacturer's guidelines for
emergency shutdown procedures, as they can vary depending on the specific hardware.

Simulating an Emergency Shutdown:

If it's safe to do so, you can simulate an emergency shutdown by:

1. Desktop Computer:

 Unplug the power cord or, if applicable, turn off the power strip or surge protector.

2. Server:

 Follow the manufacturer's guidelines for performing an emergency shutdown. This

might involve using a specific hardware switch or button.

Issues or Data Loss Due to Abrupt Shutdown:

Abruptly cutting power to a computer or server can result in several potential issues:

1. Data Loss or Corruption:

 Any unsaved data or data in the process of being written to storage may be lost or
corrupted.

2. File System Damage:

 The abrupt shutdown can lead to file system errors or damage, which may require a file
system check (e.g., chkdsk in Windows or fsck in Linux) on the next boot.

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 REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES

PHILIPPINE STATE COLLEGE OF AERONAUTICS

PICCIO GARDEN, VILLAMOR, PASAY CITY

3. Incomplete Processes:

 Processes that were running at the time of the shutdown may not have had a chance to
complete their tasks. This can lead to inconsistencies or errors.

4. Potential Hardware Damage:

 While modern hardware is designed to handle sudden power cuts, there's still a slight
risk of hardware damage, especially in older systems.

5. System Instability:

 The system may become unstable or fail to boot properly due to the unexpected
shutdown.

Process Management

Task: Process Monitoring

 Use system tools (e.g., Task Manager on Windows, top on Linux) to monitor running processes
on your computer.

 Identify a resource-intensive process and take action to either prioritize or terminate it.

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 REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES

PHILIPPINE STATE COLLEGE OF AERONAUTICS

PICCIO GARDEN, VILLAMOR, PASAY CITY

Document the process's resource usage before and after your intervention.

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 REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES

PHILIPPINE STATE COLLEGE OF AERONAUTICS

PICCIO GARDEN, VILLAMOR, PASAY CITY

Flashcards/Quiz: System Startup and Shutdown Tasks

1. What happens during the POST phase of booting a PC?

2. How can you optimize the boot time of a PC?
3. What is the primary goal of bootstrapping?
4. What is the role of the bootloader in the bootstrapping process?
5. What is the primary role of a boot loader?
6. How does Secure Boot enhance system security during boot?
7. What is the purpose of booting into single-user mode?
8. What are some common tasks performed in single-user mode?
9. What is the purpose of startup scripts during system boot?
10. Where can you find startup scripts on a Linux system?
11. What is the key difference between rebooting and shutting down a computer?
12. Why is it important to gracefully terminate processes before rebooting or shutting down a
system?
13. What is the role of process management in operating systems?
14. Why is process monitoring important in system administration?

ANSWERS:

1. During the POST (Power-On Self-Test) phase, the computer's hardware components are tested
to ensure they're functioning correctly.
2. Optimizing boot time can be achieved by disabling unnecessary startup programs, upgrading
hardware components, and using SSDs for faster disk access.
3. The primary goal of bootstrapping is to load and initialize the operating system on a computer.
4. The bootloader is responsible for loading and executing the operating system kernel, making it a
crucial part of the bootstrapping process.
5. The primary role of a boot loader is to load and execute the operating system kernel, initiating
the boot process.
6. Secure Boot enhances system security during boot by verifying the digital signature of the
bootloader and other components, ensuring they haven't been tampered with.
7. Booting into single-user mode is for troubleshooting and maintenance, providing a minimal
environment with limited services and user access.
8. Common tasks in single-user mode include system repairs, password resets, and performing
maintenance tasks that require exclusive access to the system.
9. Startup scripts during system boot are used to initialize system services, settings, and
applications required for normal operation.

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 REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES

PHILIPPINE STATE COLLEGE OF AERONAUTICS

PICCIO GARDEN, VILLAMOR, PASAY CITY

10. Startup scripts on a Linux system can be found in the /etc/init.d/ directory or in directories
specific to the init system (e.g., /etc/systemd/system/ for systemd).
11. Rebooting restarts the computer's operating system, while shutting down powers off the system
completely.
12. Gracefully terminating processes before rebooting or shutting down prevents data loss,
corruption, and potential system instability.
13. Process management in operating systems involves tasks like process creation, scheduling,
termination, and resource allocation.
14. Process monitoring is important in system administration to ensure that processes are running
efficiently, identify resource-intensive tasks, and address potential issues before they lead to
system instability.

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