Installing and Upgrading

Client Systems
• Understanding Windows Systems
• Identify Windows operating system editions
• Understand operating system architecture

• Understanding Installation Types

• Identify upgrade paths
• Understand installation types
Understanding Windows Systems

• The client version of Windows is the version that is purchased and

installed on personal computers such as desktop computers, laptops,
workstations, and tablets.
• Windows Server operating systems are purchased and installed on
stand-alone physical servers, blade servers, and virtual machines.
• A user interface (UI) is the part of the operating system, program, or
device that users use to input and receive data, and to tell the
computer what to do.
• For example, to play a video, navigate to the folder where the video
file is located, and double-click the file. Windows typically identifies
the program, opens a video player, and plays the file.
• User interfaces are organized into two types:
• Graphical user interface (GUI): The user performs actions
by clicking and moving buttons, icons, and menus with a
pointing device, such as a mouse or track pad.
• Text user interface (TUI)/command-line interface (CLI):
The user performs actions by using a keyboard to enter
commands.
• Most operating systems have a GUI, as do Windows 10 and Windows
Server 2016.
• These operating systems include a Start menu with program groups, a
taskbar showing the programs currently in use, a desktop, and various
icons and quick-launch icons.
• Early operating systems, such as UNIX and Microsoft DOS, were text
user interface operating systems, in which you would type commands
to perform tasks.
• However, even GUI operating systems include a text user interface
that you can access to perform functions that may or may not also be
available with the GUI.
• For example, when using Windows 10, you can use the command prompt
(which allows you to type commands as you would for Microsoft DOS) or
Windows PowerShell.
• Use the command prompt or Windows PowerShell to create scripts, which
can be used for repetitive tasks or for automation.
• Before installing Windows, you should do a little bit of planning and ask the following questions:
1. What will the computer be used for?
2. What type of environment will the computer run in?
3. Does the computer need to be portable?
• Determining what the computer will be used for will help you determine what hardware you need.
• For example, for a computer-aided design (CAD) system, you need a fast processor, lots of memory, and a fast video
card. In addition, a CAD system would greatly benefit from a solid-state drive.
• Examining the computer’s environment will help you determine if you need special equipment to
keep the computer clean.
• If the computer is in a dusty environment, dust will accumulate, which can cause systems to overheat.
• Today, being mobile brings its own challenges. You want a system that
can give you long battery life as well as sufficient power to perform
the necessary tasks. In addition, your requirements will help
determine what portable hardware you might need.
• For example, does the system need external or high-quality speakers, or do
you need to work with a large screen?
• In some situations, you might only need a smaller computer (such as
a small laptop or notepad) that enables you to check emails, take
notes, write reports, and construct spreadsheets.
• Now that you understand how the computer will be used, you can determine
its form factor, which specifies the size, configuration, and physical
arrangement of a computing device. Common form factors include:
• Desktop PC: The traditional PC that consists of a case of system components that may
be oriented horizontally or vertically.
• Desktop PCs can be inexpensive systems that handle basic office tasks, or they can be very
expensive systems that provide maximum performance for uses such as CAD or video editing.
Because desktop PCs tend to be large, they are not very portable.
• Laptop: A portable computer that provides mobility for traveling users or users who
might work from home. The laptop case incorporates a screen, keyboard, and pointing
device.
• Although laptops tend not to be as powerful as desktop PCs, today’s laptops can provide superior
performance. Laptops can be enhanced with docking stations, external keyboards, mice, and
monitors. Recently, laptop sales have surpassed desktop PC sales.
• Tablet: A smaller version of the laptop, with a screen that makes up
the body of the computer.
• Tablets can be used for reading emails, doing presentations, creating reports,
taking notes, and similar functions.
• Hybrid computer: A laptop that can convert to a tablet.
• These devices typically offer better performance than tablets and include a
keyboard for faster typing.
• Smartphone: A cellular phone with a screen that displays information.
• These devices can be used to read email, keep track of tasks, access calendar
information, manage address books, run a wide range of applications, and
make and receive phone calls over a cellular network.
• Windows 10 has multiple editions and versions. The desktop editions of Windows 10 include:
• Windows 10 Home: The Home edition is designed for consumer-based personal computers and tablets.
• Windows 10 Pro: The Pro edition is designed for personal computers and tablets for small and medium-
sized businesses, and for advanced users. It is similar to Windows 10 Home, but has extra features to meet
the needs of small businesses. It includes BitLocker Drive Encryption, Encrypting File System (EFS), domain
join, and Group Policy management.

• Windows 10 Enterprise: The Enterprise edition is designed for personal computers and tablets for large
enterprises. It builds on Windows 10 Pro by adding advanced features designed to meet the demands of
medium- and large-sized organizations. It includes AppLocker, BranchCache, and DirectAccess. Windows 10
Enterprise is only available to Volume Licensing customers.
• • Windows 10 Education: The Education edition is designed for personal computers and tablets for use in
schools (including staff, administrators, teachers, and students). Windows 10 Education has the same
features as Windows 10 Enterprise. Windows 10 Education is only available through academic Volume
Licensing.
Understanding Processor and Memory
Architecture
• The processor of a Windows computer runs in two different modes:
kernel mode and user mode.
• The kernel mode has complete and unrestricted access to the
underlying hardware, while
• the user mode does not have direct access to the hardware or
reference memory.
• Kernel mode is generally reserved for the most trusted part of the
operating system.
• Code that crashes in the kernel mode will cause catastrophic errors
such as the dreaded Stop error or “blue screen of death.”
• Most programs that you install and use on a daily basis are stored in
the user mode.
• When programs run in user mode, they are isolated from other
programs. Therefore, when a program crashes, it usually only affects
the individual program.
• Windows 10 supports two platforms:
• IA-32 is designed to run on systems with the 32-bit x86 processors. IA-32 can
only access up to 4 GB of memory.
• X86-64 is designed to run on the x86-64 processors. Windows 10 can support
up to 128 GB of memory, while the other desktop editions can support up to
2048 GB of memory
• Windows runs on a desktop computer that has a processor based on
the x86 (32-bit) or x64 (64-bit) architecture.
• The architectures determine how data is processed and how much
memory can be accessed.
• A 64-bit architecture can process larger numbers or larger chunks of
data, allowing for faster processing.
• In addition, a 32-bit processor can access up to 4 GB of memory, while
a 64-bit processor can theoretically access up to 16 exabytes (16
billion gigabytes) of memory, although you will most likely be limited
by the motherboard and software.

• The 32-bit versions of Windows 10 support up to 4 GB of memory.

The 64-bit version of Windows 10 Home supports up to 128 GB of
memory and the 64-bit versions of Windows 10 Pro and Windows 10
Enterprise editions support up to 512 GB.
• To install a 32-bit version of Windows, you can use an x86 or x64 processor. To
install a 64-bit version of Windows, you can use only a 64-bit processor.
• Software written for a 64-bit architecture does not work on a 32-bit
architecture. Most programs designed for 32-bit versions of Windows will work
on a 64-bit version of Windows if you use Windows on Windows 64 (WoW64).
• However, some 32-bit system software, such as antivirus programs, do not
operate on a 64-bit architecture. In addition, 64-bit hardware requires 64-bit
drivers.
• Drivers designed for 32-bit versions of Windows do not run on 64-bit versions
of Windows, and drivers designed for 64-bit versions of Windows do not run
on 32-bit versions of Windows.
• If you want to use 64-bit Windows, keep the following in mind:
• 16-bit applications (applications generally written for Windows 9x) or 32-bit
kernel drivers will fail to start or function properly on a 64-bit edition of
Windows 10.
• Installation of 32-bit kernel drivers will fail on the 64-bit system.
• Installation of 64-bit unsigned drivers will fail by default on the 64-bit system.
• Finally, many computers today have multi-core processors. A 32-bit
version of Windows 10 supports up to 32 processor cores; a 64-bit
version of Windows 10 supports up to 256 processor cores.
DETERMINE WHETHER YOUR PC IS
RUNNING 32-BIT WINDOWS OR 64-
BIT WINDOWS
• Make sure System Summary is selected in the navigation pane on the
left.
• Look at the System Type value in the right pane (see Figure 1-2):
• x86-based PC indicates a 32-bit operating system
• x64-based PC indicates a 64-bit operating system
Understanding Drivers
• A computer is a collection of hardware devices, each of which
requires a piece of software called a device driver in order to function.
• Windows 10 includes a large library of device drivers, but it is still sometimes
necessary to obtain them yourself.
• Drives, keyboards, mice, modems, and printers are all types of
devices. To communicate with the operating system running on the
computer, each device also requires a software element called a
device driver.
• The device driver provides the operating system with information
about a specific device.
• For example, when you use a word-processing application to save a file to
a hard drive, the application issues a generic WriteFile function call to the
operating system.
• The application knows nothing specific about the drive hardware; it just
issues an instruction to store a particular file there. When the operating
system processes the function call, it accesses the device driver for the
hard drive, which provides detailed information about how to
communicate with the drive.
• If the user selects a different target location for the file, the operating
system accesses the device driver for that location, whether it’s a hard
drive, a disc drive, or a USB flash drive, or another type of storage device.
• Device drivers run in the kernel mode or in user mode.
• A driver that runs in user mode provides for a more stable system,
because poorly written user mode device drivers cannot crash the
entire system.
• However, drivers that run in user mode are slower than drivers that
run in kernel mode.
• A driver communicates with the device through the computer bus or
communications subsystem.
• Hardware interrupt requests (IRQs) are used by devices that require
attention from the operating system.
• For example, every time you press a key on a keyboard or move the
mouse, you trigger a hardware interrupt that causes the processor to
read and process the keystroke or mouse position.
• Software manufacturers, including Microsoft, list the system
requirements needed to run their products.
• The specifications are usually minimum requirements; recommended
requirements—which allow for much better performance of the OS
and applications—are often much higher (in the case of memory,
processor speed, or hard drive space) or involve more recent
technology.
Q

• What is the minimum amount of RAM a computer must have in order

to run Windows 10 on a 32-bit processor?
• Which software component allows a hardware component to
interface with the operating system?
• How does a device get the attention of the processor?
Understanding Installation Types
• A clean installation of Windows is when you install Windows where
there is no operating system, data, or programs stored on the hard
drive, or you perform the installation of Windows while reformatting
the current hard drive, so that you are installing Windows on an
empty hard drive.
• An upgrade installation of Windows is when you have a system that
is running Windows 7 or Windows 8/8.1, and you run the Windows
installation program, replacing the Windows 7 or Windows 8/8.1
operating system with Windows 10.
• Microsoft provides many different ways to install Windows 10, from
manual methods like inserting a DVD to fully automated, “non-touch”
installations performed over a network or even via the cloud.
• (The cloud generally refers to the internet or to a server accessible
over the internet.) The method you choose depends mainly on the
number of computers on which you need to install Windows and how
much time you have to devote to the project.
• Installing Windows 10 from removable media is common in smaller
enterprise or home environments. When you think of removable
media, you might think of DVDs, but many installations are performed
from USB drives as well.
• Using a DVD or USB drive is considered a manual method of
installation. If you’re installing Windows on one, two, or even ten
computers, a manual method works well.
• If you must install Windows on many computers, you’ll want to
understand automated methods, in order to save time (and, thus,
money).
Q

• What are the types of removable media installations?

• What is a cloud installation?

• The following are categories that correspond to the level of
interaction required during an installation:
• High Touch Installation (HTI)
• Lite Touch Installation (LTI)
• Zero Touch Installation (ZTI)
• High Touch Installation (HTI) may include retail media or a standard image (ISO file).
Using this method, you use an installation DVD or USB drive and manually install the
operating system on every computer. You must then also manually configure each
system.
• Lite Touch Installation (LTI) requires some human intervention in the early phase of
the installation but is automated (or unattended) from that point on. This installation
method works well in environments with more than 150 computers.
• Zero Touch Installation (ZTI) is a fully automated, “touchless” method of installing
Windows. You need System Center Configuration Manager (SCCM) for ZTIs. You use
SCCM to deploy and update servers, client computers, and all kinds of devices on a
network.
• The ZTI method is geared for environments with more than 500 computers, involves a fairly
steep learning curve, and requires a considerable budget compared to the HTI method.
• The User State Migration Tool (USMT) is a command-line tool that
migrates user data from a previous installation of Windows to a new
installation of Windows. It provides you with the ability to customize
the user-profile migration experience.
• This means you can copy selected user data and exclude any data that
you do not want to migrate. USMT captures user accounts, user files,
operating system settings, and application settings to migrate to your
new Windows installation.
• The USMT includes three command-line tools:
• ScanState.exe scans the source computer, collects the files and settings,
and creates a store that contains the user’s files and settings.
• LoadState.exe loads the files and settings onto the destination computer.
• UsmtUtils.exe deletes hardlink folders in use by applications no longer
removable through normal measures, checks the store file’s consistency,
and restores selected files.
• A hardlink folder provides a way for the New Technology File System
(NTFS) to point to the same file from multiple locations on the same
volume.
• The store file contains the user state migration data. UsmtUtils can be
used to check for corrupted files or a corrupted catalog in the store
file.