Control Panel Options Unique to Windows 7

 

The following Control Panel options are unique to Windows 7:

 

HomeGroup—Easy and secure home networking for networks with only Windows 7 sys-tems.

 

Action Center—One-stop shop for security and maintenance issues.

 

Remote Applications (RemoteApp) and Desktop Applications—Access desktop pro-grams via a URL.

 

Devices and Printers—Access to properties sheets and common tasks for devices andprinters (see Figure 6-10).

 

Unified Troubleshooting Folder—Troubleshooters for programs, hardware and sound, net-work and Internet, appearance and personalization, and system and security all in a single folder.


Chapter 6: Operating Systems 121

 

 

Figure 6-10 The Devices and Printers dialog in Windows 7.

 

Windows Client Networking

 

Nearly all PCs technicians will encounter are part of a network, whether connected to the Internet via broadband or as a workstation on a corporate network. The following sections provide a review of key issues involved in Windows networking.

 

Windows Network Types

 

Windows XP, Windows Vista, and Windows 7 support workgroup and domain-based networking. Windows 7 also supports homegroup networking. The differences between these network types are summarized in Table 6-11.

 

Table 6-11 Workgroup, Domain, and Homegroup Networking Comparison

  Workgroup Domain Homegroup
       
Workstations share fold- Yes No Yes
ers and printers      
       
Centralized management No Yes No
of users, groups, and      
resource access      
       

122 CompTIA A+ Quick Reference

 

Table 6-11 Continued

  Workgroup Domain Homegroup
       
Supports mixture of Yes Yes No
Windows versions on      
network      
       
Available only on No No Yes
Windows 7 systems      
       
Network location setting Any Any Home
       
Password-protected Optional (requires dis- Yes (per user) Yes (single pass-
  abling of Simple File   word)
  Sharing in Windows XP    
  Professional to enable)    
       
Resource sharing method By folder, by device By folder, by By content type,
    device by device category
       
How network members Common workgroup By domain Using homegroup
are identified name on each PC controller password on each
    user listing PC
       

 

 

Although Windows XP, Windows Vista, and Windows 7 can all use workgroup and domain net-working, they vary in how network settings are managed. Table 6-12 reviews these differences.