Windows Desktop Interview Questions and Answers

>How to Enable or Disable the Firewall in Windows XP ?

Enabling the Windows XP firewall

1. Click Start, Settings, Control Panel and open Network Connections.

2. Within the Network Connections window, right-click the Local Area Connection and
select properties.
3. Within the Local Area Connection Properties window, click the Advanced tab.
4. Finally, check the Protect my computer and network by limiting or preventing access
to this computer from the Internet option.

>Disabling the Windows XP firewall ?

1. Click Start, Settings, Control Paneland open Network Connections.

2. Within the Network Connections window, right-click the Local Area Connection and
select Properties.
3. Within the Local Area Connection Properties window, click the Advanced tab.
4. Finally, uncheck the Protect my computer and network by limiting or preventing
access to this computer from the Internet option.

> How would you Start or Stop a Windows Service ?

Logon to Windows with Administrator rights.
Click Start > Control Panel.
Double-click Administrative Tools.
Double-click the Services icon.
Double-click the service that you want to stop or start.
When the Service Properties window appears, do one of the following:

* If the service is running, click Stop the service.

* If the service is not running, click Start the service.
Click OK.

> How can you check the IP address of your computer ?

IPCONFIG /ALL

> How to access the Windows System Registry ?

Follow the steps to access registry on XP computer.
* Click Start
* Click Run
* Type REGEDIT
* Click OK
* The Registry Editor will now open .

> Where are the Temp files located and how would you remove them ?
There are three different places that you can find temporary files on your computer. They are
located in different place in Windows Vista and Windows Xp. In Windows Vista there are three
file paths below to follow to view the temporary files.
C:\Users\Username\AppData\Local\Temp (%temp)
C:\Windows\Temp (temp)
C:\Users\Username\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Temporary Internet Files

> Name some difference between Windows XP and Windows Vista. What are their System
Requirements ?
The major Differences between Windows Xp & Vista are :

Windows Vista & Windows XP

1. Bitlocker Option available Windows XP has . No Bitlocker option

- Bitlocker drive encryption, Bitlocker on volume Prevents hard drive from hackers.

2. Windows Vista has Windows Defender tool Windows XP has No Windows Defender tool
available - prevents from spyware & unwanted S/W installing on computer.

3. Windows Vista has Parental control Feature Windows XP has No Parental control Feature -
This option enables parents to restrict Children’s which sites, games .software to use & not .

> What is Safe Mode ?

Safe mode is an alternate boot method for Windows operating systems that makes it easier to
diagnose problems. The only startup programs loaded are the operating systemand drivers for the
mouse, keyboard, and display modes display. It is often possible to get a system to start in safe
mode when it won't start normally. To start in safe mode, press the F8 key while the system is
booting and select "safe mode" (or the safe mode option you want) from the menu that appears.

>What is Last Known Good Configuration ?

The Last Known Good configuration" is one of the methods which are used to repair our
computer system. In this method a restore of data from the backup is not required. This "last
known good configuration" is a backup replica of the existing configuration which is stored on
the registry key "HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet". This registry key is always updated
whenever the system is shut down by the user after successfully and effectively logging on. Our
system can be repaired by restoring information from this updated registry key. For instance in
case when we install some driver which causes our operating system not to be loaded, this type
of repair is helpful and useful.
So it is a very good practice to repair our system without any loss. So whenever we see our
operating systemfails to load, simply press F8 and when the message "please select the operating
system to start" appears, just select the Last Known Good Configuration. This option can be seen
under the "Windows Advanced Options Menu". The Last Known Good Configuration is only
useful in the case if we have not logged on yet. Whenever we logon and then shut down or even
restart, all of the current configurations always become the "Last Known Good Configuration".
>What is windows Device Manager ?
Device Manager is an extension of the Microsoft Management Console that provides a central
and organized view of all the Microsoft Windows recognized hardware installed in a computer.
Device Manager is used to manage the hardware devices installed in a computer like hard disk
drives, keyboards, sound cards, USB devices, and more.

>What is MSConfig ?
msconfig.exe is a file which helps to edit and administer text configuration files such as win.ini
and autoexec.bat.
Msconfig is used to control what programs and services start with your computer. Its very
helpful in troubleshooting startup problems as well as poor performance and getting rid of
spyware and viruses.

>What is the Blue Screen of Death and what could be it's causes ?
Sometimes bad or flaky memory (RAM memory, not your hard drive) can cause seemingly
random system crashes. If you have just the right combination of programs open and system
memory in use, and your computer tries to access a "bad spot" on a RAM chip, the results can be
unpredictable. Or they can be the Blue Screen of Death. You can try replacing your RAM sticks
one at a time to see if the problem goes away. This involves opening up the system unit and
looking at scary wires and stuff, so for some people just living with the problem may be a
workable option.
More likely, you have a software problem. Some programs just don't get along... they trample on
each other's memory spaces and confusion (or the BSOD) results. And it seems that Windows
just gets old and cranky the longer you have it installed. You may solve the problem by using the
System File Checker, or if all else fails, by
re-installing the Windows operating system and/or your software packages. If the problem seems
to be limited to one particular program, try re-installing just that one first.
Spyware or a computer virus can also make strange things happen.

> What is Cold Boot and Warm Boot ?

A cold boot means turning it on from a powered-down state. A warm boot is
pressing the restart button when the computer is already on.

> What is Disk Cleanup?

Disk Cleanup is a feature of Windows that enables a user to delete system /
junk files safely.
For example, by using the disk cleanup feature, you can free up a
considerable amount of space on your pc, like getting rid of TIF (Temporary
Internet Files) and other 'useless', and not required, files.

> What is Disk Defragmentation?

Disk defragmentation describes the process of consolidating fragmented files on your computer's
hard disk.
Fragmentation happens to a hard disk over time as you save, change, or delete files. The changes
that you save to a file are often stored at a location on the hard disk that's different from the
original file. Additional changes are saved to even more locations. Over time, both the file and
the hard disk itself become fragmented, and your computer slows down as it has to look in many
different places to open a file.
Disk Defragmenter is a tool that rearranges the data on your hard disk and reunites fragmented
files so your computer can run more efficiently. In this version of Windows, Disk Defragmenter
runs on a schedule so you don't have to remember to run it, although you can still run it manually
or change the schedule it uses.

> What would you do if a PC is not turning on ?First Check the Power cables and power
supply.

> What is the latest Operating System ?

Windows 7.

> What is a Heat Sink ?

A component designed to lower the temperature of an electronic device by dissipating heat into
the surrounding air. All modern CPUs require a heat sink. Some also require a fan. A heat sink
without a fan is called a passive heat sink; a heat sink with a fan is called an active heat sink.
Heat sinks are generally made of an aluminum alloy and often have fins.

> What is the difference between SATA and PATA Hard-Disk Drives?
Serial ATA and Parallel ATA are both specialized interface and data transfer devices, that are
used in computers to connect peripheral storage devices. Both serve the same purpose of data
transfer but differ in their basic technology, speed of performance and therefore their niche
applications these days.

> What would you do if your system is running slow ?

1.Empty Recycle Bin.
2.Empty Windows Temp folder.
3.Run Scandisk.
4.Run Defragmenter.
5.Full System Virus scan.

> What are Plug & Play devices ?

They are peices of computer hardware that already have the software for them in you system.
simply put, you just have to plug it in and you computer does the rest.

> What are Device Drivers?

Device drivers are small files that act like “liaisons” between hardware in a computer system and
the operating system (OS). Hardware requires device drivers so that the OS can “see” the devices
and handle them effectively and efficiently.

> Difference between IE6 & IE7 ?

ie 6-security issuse are less
ie 7-security issuse are more.
ie 6-tabbed browsing is not there
ie 7-tabbed browsing is available.
ie 6-no advanced printing.
ie 7- advanced printing.
ie 6-no phishing filter.
ie 7-phishing filter available.
ie 6-no tool bar search box.
ie 7- tool bar search box.
ie 6-no advanced delete history.
ie 7-advanced delete browing history option.
ie 6-no page zoom.
ie 7-page zoom.
ie 6-no add-ons disable mode
ie 7-add-ons disable mode.
> What is the difference between a Serial and a Parallel Port ?
Basically a serial port sends and receives data 1 'bit' at a time over a single wire, while a parallel
port sends the data a 'byte' at a time over several wires simultaneously.
> Explain the Windows XP Boot Process ?
1.First is the POST, this stands for Power On Self Test, for the computer. This process tests
memory as well as a number of other subsystems. You can usually monitor this as it runs each
test. After that is complete the system will run POST for any device that has a BIOS (Basic
Input-Output System). An AGP has its own BIOS, as do some network cards and various other
devices.
2.Once the POST is complete and the BIOS is sure that everything is working properly, the
BIOS will then attempt to read the MBR (Master Boot Record). This is the first sector of the first
hard drive (called the Master or HD0). When the MBR takes over it means that Windows is now
in control.
3.The MBR looks at the BOOT SECTOR (the first sector of the active partition). That is where
NTLDR is located, NTLDR is the BOOT LOADER for Windows XP. NTLDR will allow
memory addressing, initiate the file system, read the boot.ini and load the boot menu. NTLDR
has to be in the root of the active partition as do NTDETECT.COM, BOOT.INI,
BOOTSECT.DOS (for multi-OS booting) and NTBOOTDD.SYS (if you have SCSI adapters)
4.Once XP is selected from the Boot Menu, NTLDR will run NTDETECT.COM, BOOT.INI and
BOOTSECT.DOS to get the proper OS selected and loaded. The system starts in 16-bit real
mode and then moves into 32-bit protected mode.
5.NTLDR will then load NTOSKRNL.EXE and HAL.DLL. Effectively, these two files are
windows XP. They must be located in %SystemRoot%System32.
6.NTLDR reads the registry, chooses a hardware profile and authorizes device drivers, in that
exact order.
7.At this point NTOSKRNL.EXE takes over. It starts WINLOGON.EXE that in turn starts
LSASS.EXE, this is the program that display the Logon screen so that you can logon.
> What do you know about the PING Command ?
Pinging is a command which tells you if the connection between your computer and a particular
domain is working correctly.
Eg : C:\Administrator\>Ping 192.168.1.100 or Ping server.domain.com