Table 6-3 Windows Features

Feature How Used Windows XP Windows Windows 7
      Vista  
         
Aero 3D desktop, No Yes Yes
  transparent win-      
  dow edges, hard-      
  ware accelerated      
  display      
         
Gadgets Small programs Yes Sidebar Anywhere on
  displayed on     desktop
  desktop      
         
User Account Asks user to No Yes Yes, improved
Control (UAC) confirm poten-     functionality
  tially harmful      
  changes to sys-      
  tem      
         

Chapter 6: Operating Systems 101

 

 

Feature How Used Windows XP Windows Windows 7
      Vista  
         
BitLocker Full disk No Yes: system Yes: any local
  encryption   drive only hard disk or
        removable
        drive
         
Shadow Copy Backs up open Yes Yes; also backs Yes; also
  files for system   up open files backs up open
  restore   during backup files during
        backup
         
System Returns com- Yes Yes; can be run Yes; can be
Restore puter to previous   from System run from sys-
  system state   Repair CD tem repair CD
  (programs, driv-     and displays
  ers) without loss     changes
  of data      
         
ReadyBoost Uses fast USB No Yes Yes
  flash memory      
  drives and cards      
  to improve      
  memory access      
  on systems      
  that don’t have      
  enough system      
  RAM      
         
Sidebar Gadgets run on No Yes Removed;
  the side of the     gadgets can
  desktop     run anywhere
        on desktop
         
Compatibility Run program in Yes Yes Yes
mode a mode emulat-      
  ing selected      
  older Windows      
  version (color      
  depth, themes,      
  display resolu-      
  tion, and so on)      
         

102 CompTIA A+ Quick Reference

 

Table 6-3 Continued

Feature How Used Windows XP Windows Windows 7
      Vista  
         
XP Mode Runs older No No Yes;
  program in a     Professional,
  Windows XP     Ultimate,
  virtual machine     Enterprise;
  (VM)     requires
        download
        of Windows
        Virtual PC
        and XP VM
         
Windows Easy Transfers data No; uses Files Yes Yes
Transfer files and pro- and Settings    
  gram settings Transfer    
  from old to new Wizard    
  computer      
         
Administrative Computer man- Yes Yes Yes
Tools agement, Event      
  Viewer, services,      
  Performance      
  Monitor, and      
  other tools      
         
Windows Antispyware Yes; must be Yes Yes
Defender detection and downloaded    
  removal tool from Microsoft    
    website    
         
Windows Blocks inbound Yes Yes Yes
Firewall network traffic      
  from unauthor-      
  ized computers      
         
Security Centralized Yes (SP2 and Yes Replaced by
Center management SP3)   Action Center
  for antispyware,      
  antivirus, and      
  firewall      
         
Event Viewer Displays secu- Yes Yes Yes
  rity, software,      
  hardware, and      
  other system      
  logs      
         

Chapter 6: Operating Systems 103

 

 

Feature How Used Windows XP Windows Windows 7
      Vista  
         
Control Panel Individual icons Classic, Classic, Control Small icons,
options or groups of Category Panel Home large icons,
  icons     Category
         
Default user Where user files C:\Documents C:\Users\your C:\Users\
file locations are normally and Settings\ username\ your
  stored username\My (Documents, username\
    Documents  
    Photos, (Documents,
     
    (My Videos, Videos, Music, Photos,
    My Music, My Downloads, Videos,
    Pictures are and so on are in Music,
    subfolders.) subfolders.) Downloads,
        and so on are
        in subfolders.)
         
Libraries Possible to No No Yes
  combine mul-      
  tiple folders      
  for documents,      
  photos, videos,      
  and music into      
  a single logical      
  folder