Windows 7 on the 2009 A+ Exams

CompTIAs2009A+examswillincludeWindows7beginningJanuary,2011.TherevisedA+
2009objectivesshowingadditionalcontentonWindows7areavailableatCompTIA'sWebsite
(www.comptia.org).
BelowisalistofthoseobjectivesthatincludenewWindows7objectives:

A+ 220-701 Essentials Exam

Object
ive
Numb
er
3.0

3.1

3.2
3.3

4.1

Objective

New Windows 7
Objective

Operating Systems and Software

Unless otherwise noted, operating
systems referred to within include
Microsoft Windows 2000, Windows
XP Professional, XP Home, XP
MediaCenter, Windows Vista
Home, Home Premium, Business
and Ultimate, Windows 7 Starter,
Home Premium, Professional and
Ultimate
Compare and contrast the different
Windows Operating Systems and
their features

Windows 7 Starter, Home

Premium, Professional, and
Ultimate

Given a scenario, demonstrate

proper use of user interfaces
Explain the process and steps to
install and configure the Windows
OS
Summarize the basics of
networking fundamentals,
including technologies, devices,
and protocols

Windows 7 32-bit vs. 64-bit

Windows OS Upgrade
Advisor
Microsoft Assessment and
Planning Toolkit
Libraries in Windows 7
User data migration User
State Migration Tool (USMT)
IPv6 vs. IPv4
Address length
differences
Address conventions

A+ 220-702 Practical Application Exam

Object
ive
Numb
er
2.0

2.2

2.3

4.2

Objective

New Windows 7
Objective

Operating Systems unless

otherwise noted, operating
systems referred to within include
Microsoft Windows 2000, Windows
XP Professional, XP Home, XP
MediaCenter, Windows Vista
Home, Home Premium, Business
and Ultimate, Windows 7 Starter,
Home Premium, Professional and
Ultimate
Differentiate between Windows
Operating System directory
structures
User file locations
User profile and program
files
System file locations
Fonts
Temporary files
Program files
Offline files and folders
Given a scenario, select and use
system utilities/tools and evaluate
the results

Windows 7 Starter, Home

Premium, Professional, and
Ultimate

Implement security and

troubleshoot common issues
Operating systems

Windows 7 directory
structure

Disk Manager:
FAT64 (exFAT)
External hard drives
Flash drives
Vista/Windows 7 User
Account Control (UAC)

Inthefollowingsections,youwilllearnwhatyouneedtoknowaboutWindows7tocoverthe
newWindows7objectivesontheA+exams.

A+ 220-701 Essentials Exam

Editions of Windows 7

Object
ive
Numb
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3.0

Objective

New Windows 7
Objective

Operating Systems and Software

Unless otherwise noted, operating
systems referred to within include
Microsoft Windows 2000, Windows
XP Professional, XP Home, XP
MediaCenter, Windows Vista
Home, Home Premium, Business
and Ultimate, Windows 7 Starter,
Home Premium, Professional and
Ultimate

Windows 7 Starter, Home

Premium, Professional, and
Ultimate

MicrosofthasproducedseveraleditionsofWindows7designedtosatisfyavarietyofconsumer
needs:

Windows 7 Starterhasthemostlimitedfeaturesandisintendedtobeusedonnetbooks
orindevelopingnations.Itcanonlybeobtainedpreinstalledbythemanufactureronanew
computer.Windows7Startercomesonlyinthe32bitversion.Allothereditionsof
Windows7areavailableineitherthe32bitversionor64bitversion.

Windows 7 Home Basic isdesignedforlowcosthomesystemsthatdontrequirefull

securityandnetworkingfeatures.ItdoesnotuseallthefeaturesoftheAerouserinterface.

Windows 7 Home PremiumissimilartoWindows7HomeBasic,butincludes

additionalfeaturessuchastheAerouserinterfaceandWindowsDVDMaker.Computers
usingalleditionsupthroughWindows7HomePremiumcannotjoinadomain.

Windows 7 ProfessionalisintendedforbusinessusersandissimilartoWindowsVista
Business.Computerscanjoinadomain,supportGroupPolicy,andusetheEncryptedFile
Systemforbettersecurity.Youcanalsopurchasemultiplesitelicenses(alsocalledvolume
licensing)usingthisedition.

Windows 7 EnterpriseincludesadditionalfeaturesoverWindows7Professional.The
majoradditionalfeaturesareBitLockerDriveEncryptionandsupportformultiplelanguages.
TheeditiondoesnotincludeWindowsDVDMaker.Multiplesitelicensingisavailable.

Windows 7 UltimateincludeseveryWindows7feature.Youcannotpurchasemultiple
licensingwiththisedition.

ThemajorfeaturesforalleditionsarelistedinTable1.
Feature

Starte

Home

Home

Basic

Premium

Professional Enterprise Ultimate

Aerouserinterface

Create

homegroups
Scheduled

backups
Backupto
network
Systemimage

BitLockerDrive
Encryption
X

EncryptingFile
System(EFS)
X

Joinadomain

GroupPolicy

RemoteDesktop

WindowsDVD

Maker
WindowsMedia
Center

host
Multiple
languages
WindowsXP
Mode
Processor:32bit
or64bit

Table 1

Windows 7 editions and their features

32-bit or 64-bit Versions

Object
ive
Numb
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3.1

Objective

New Windows 7
Objective

Compare and contrast the different

Windows Operating Systems and
their features

Windows 7 32-bit vs. 64-bit

Anoperatingsystemisbuiltusingeither32bitor64bitcode.Usea64bitversionofWindows
7ifyouneedincreasedperformanceandyoursystemhasenoughresourcestosupporta64bit
OS.AWindows7setupDVDcomeswitheither32bitsoftwareor64bitsoftwareinstalled.
WhenyoubuyaboxedretailversionofWindows7,both32bitand64bitDVDsareincluded.
NOTES
JustaswithVistaandXP,a64bitinstallationofWindows7installs64bitprogramsinthe
\ProgramFilesfolderandinstalls32bitprogramsinthe\ProgramFiles(x86)folder.Alsokeep
inmindthat64bitinstallationsofWindowsrequire64bitdevicedrivers.
A64bitinstallationofWindowsgenerallyrunsfasterthana32bitinstallationandcan
supportmoreRAM.Table2showshowmuchRAMeacheditionandversionofWindows7
cansupport.Anotheradvantageof64bitinstallationsofWindowsistheycansupport64bit
applications,whichrunfasterthan32bitapplications.Eventhoughyoucaninstall32bit
applicationsina64bitOS,forbestperformance,alwayschoose64bitapplications.
OperatingSystem

32bitVersion

64bitVersion

Windows7Ultimate

4GB

192GB

Windows7Enterprise

4GB

192GB

Windows7Professional

4GB

192GB

Windows7HomePremium

4GB

16GB

Windows7HomeBasic

4GB

8GB

Windows7Starter

2GB

NA

Table 2 Maximum memory supported by Windows 7 editions and versions

Upgrade Advisor and Hardware Compatibility

Object
ive
Numb
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3.1

Objective

New Windows 7
Objective

Compare and contrast the different

Windows Operating Systems and
their features

Windows OS Upgrade
Advisor

ManyhardwaremanufacturershavechosentonotproduceWindows7driversfortheirolder
devices,soitsimportanttofindoutifyourhardwarewillbecompatiblewithWindows7.The
simplestwaytodothatistodownload,install,andruntheWindows 7 Upgrade Advisoron
yourcomputerbeforeyouupgradetoWindows7.Youcanfindthesoftwareandinstructionson
howtouseitatwindows.microsoft.com/enus/windows/downloads/upgradeadvisor.
MicrosoftalsoofferstheWindows7CompatibilityCenterat
www.microsoft.com/windows/compatibility.Youcansearchunderbothsoftwareandhardwaretofind
outiftheyarecompatiblewithWindows7.Thesitesometimesofferslinkstopatchesorfixesfora
programordevicesothatitwillworkwithWindows7.

Microsoft Assessment and Planning Toolkit

Object
ive
Numb
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3.1

Objective

New Windows 7
Objective

Compare and contrast the different

Windows Operating Systems and
their features

Microsoft Assessment and

Planning Toolkit

WheninstallingWindowsonafewcomputers,atechnicianusuallysitsinfrontofeachcomputer
andmanuallystepsthroughtheprocess.Ontheotherhand,systemadministratorsand

techniciansresponsibleforinstallingWindowsonseveralhundredPCsinalargecorporation
requirelesstimeconsumingmethods.Thesemethodsarecalleddeploymentstrategies.A
deploymentstrategyisaproceduretoinstallWindows,devicedrivers,andapplicationsona
computerandcanincludetheprocesstotransferusersettings,applicationsettings,anduserdata
filesfromanoldinstallationtothenewinstallation.
Microsoftsuggestsseveraldeploymentstrategies;theonechosendependsonthenumberof
computerstobedeployedanddeterminestheamountoftimeyoumustsitinfrontofan
individualcomputerasWindowsisinstalledonit(thistimeiscalledthetouchtime).AsaPC
supporttechnicianinalargecorporation,mostlikelyyouwouldnotbeinvolvedinchoosingor
settingupthedeploymentstrategy.Butyouneedtobeawareofthedifferentstrategiessothat
youhaveageneralideaofwhatwillbeexpectedofyouwhenyouareaskedtoprovidedeskside
orhelpdesksupportasWindowsisbeingdeployedinyourorganization.
ForhightouchstrategiesinstallingWindowsonafewcomputers,atechnicianwouldnormally
sitatacomputerandusetheWindows7UpgradeAdvisortodetermineifthesystemqualifies
forWindows7beforeWindows7isinstalled.Usingotherstrategiesdesignedforhigher
volumesofcomputers,amoreautomatedmethodofqualifyingacomputerispreferred.The
Microsoft Assessment and Planning (MAP) Toolkitcanbeusedbyasystem
administratorfromanetworklocationtoqueryhundredsofcomputersinasinglescan.The
softwareautomaticallyexamineshardwareandapplicationsoneachcomputertoverify
compatibilitywithWindows7.TheMAPsoftwaremightalsobeusedbythesystem
administratorbeforedecidingtodeployanewOStodeterminewhatcomputerhardware
upgradesorapplicationsoftwareupgradesarerequiredthatmustbeincludedintheoverall
deploymentbudget.

Windows 7 Libraries
Object
ive
Numb
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3.2

Objective

New Windows 7
Objective

Given a scenario, demonstrate

Libraries in Windows 7

proper use of user interfaces

AWindows7libraryisagroupingofoneormorefolders.Thelibraryworkslikeafolderthat
cancontainfilesandotherfoldersandcanbethoughtofasavirtualfolder.Thefilesandfolders
inalibrarycanbelocatedinanystoragemediaonthelocalcomputeroronthenetwork.A
libraryisaconvenientwaytoaccessseveralfoldersindifferentlocationsfromonecentral
location.WhenWindowsisinstalled,itcreatesfourdefaultlibraries:Documents,Music,
Pictures,andVideos.Bydefault,thefirstthreelibrariescanbeaccessedfromtheStartmenu.In
addition,youcanusetheComputerwindoworWindowsExplorertoaccessalllibraries
includingthefourdefaultonesandanylibrariesyoucreate.ToopenWindowsExplorer,click
theyellowfolderinthetaskbar.TheleftsideofFigure1showsthefourdefaultlibrarieslistedin
WindowsExplorer.UsealibrarysPropertiesboxtofindoutthelocationsthatarecontainedin
thelibrary.Forexample,rightclicktheDocumentslibraryandthenselectPropertiesfromthe
shortcutmenu.ThePropertiesboxshownontherightsideofFigure1appears.Theboxshows
thattheDocumentslibrarycontainstwofolders,theusersMyDocumentsfolderandthePublic
Documentsfolder.

Figure 1 Windows 7 includes four default libraries

Whenyouaddanewfoldertoalibrary,thefilesinthatfolderappearasthoughtheyare
inthelibraryeventhoughtheycontinuetobestoredintheoriginallocation.Whenyou
addafiletothelibrary,itisstoredinthelibrarysdefaultsavelocationfolder.Which
folderisthat?ItstheonecheckedasthesavelocationinthelibrarysPropertiesbox.For
example,inthePropertiesboxshowinginFigure1,youcanseethecheckbesidetheMy
Documentsfolder,indicatingitisthesavelocationfolder.Tochangethedefaultsave
locationfolder,selectanotherfolderinthelibraryandclickSetsavelocation.

User State Migration Tool (USMT)

Object
ive
Numb
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Objective

New Windows 7
Objective

3.3

Explain the process and steps to

install and configure the Windows
OS

User data migration User

State Migration Tool (USMT)

AfterWindowsisinstalled,youcantransferusersettings,applicationsettings,anduserdatafiles
tothenewinstallation.Microsoftprovidestwotoolsforthejob:WindowsEasyTransfer(a
manualprocessthatiseasytouse)ortheUserStateMigrationTool(moreautomatedandmore
difficulttosetupanduse).WindowsEasyTransferispartofWindows7.TheUser State
Migration Tool (USMT)isincludedintheWindowsAutomatedInstallationKit(AIK)that
canbedownloadedfromtheMicrosoftWebsite.Thekitcontainsthesoftwaretoolsneededto
setupdeploymentstrategiesforhighvolumedeploymentsofWindowsandapplications.
TheWindows7versionofUSMTisversion4.0,ismuchimprovedoverearlierversions,andis
includedintheWindowsAIKsoftware.TopreparetouseUSMT,asystemadministratormust
firstinstalltheAIKsoftwareonhiscomputer.InMicrosoftdocumentation,thiscomputeris
calledthetechniciancomputer.Thesourcecomputeristhecomputerfromwhichtheuser
settings,applicationsettings,anduserdatafilesaretaken.Thedestinationcomputeristhe
computerthatistoreceivethisdata.Sometimesthesourcecomputerandthedestination
computerarethesamecomputer.Anexampleiswhenyouperformacleaninstallationof
Windows7onacomputerthathasWindowsXPinstalledandyouwanttotransferuserfilesand
settingsfromtheXPinstallationtotheWindows7installation.
NOTES
USMT4.0isthefirstversionofUSMTtousehardlinkmigrationofuserfilesandsettings.
Hardlinkmigrationdoesnotactuallycopyfilesandsettings,butleavesthemontheharddrive
withoutcopying.ThismethodmakesUSMTextremelyfastwhenthesourcecomputerisalsothe
destinationcomputerandtheharddriveisnotformattedduringtheWindowsinstallation.
TheUSMTsoftwareusestwocommands:ScanStatemigratessettingsandfilesfromthesource
computertoasafelocation,andLoadStateappliesthesesettingsandfilestothedestination
computer.HerearethegeneralstepstouseUSMT:
1. DownloadandinstalltheAIKsoftwareonthetechniciancomputer.
2. CopytheUSMTprogramfilesfromthetechniciancomputertothesourcecomputer.

3. RuntheScanStatecommandonthesourcecomputertocopyuserfilesandsettingstoa
fileserverorothersafelocation.
4. InstallWindows7,devicedrivers,andapplicationsonthedestinationcomputer.
5. RuntheLoadStatecommandtoapplyuserfilesandsettingsfromthefileservertothe
destinationcomputer.
ThedetailsoftheparametersfortheScanStateandLoadStatecommandsarenotcoveredhere.
AskthesystemadministratorresponsibleforsettingupUSMTforthespecificcommandlines
usedbyyourorganization.
NOTES
FordetailedinstructionsonusingUSMTthatasystemadministratormightuse,goto
technet.microsoft.comandsearchonusingUSMTforITprofessionals.

IPv6 Addresses
Object
ive
Numb
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4.1

Objective

New Windows 7
Objective

Summarize the basics of

networking fundamentals,
including technologies, devices,
and protocols

IPv6 vs. IPv4

Address length
differences
Address conventions

ManyenterpriseorganizationsareconvertingfromIPv4toIPv6.Inaddition,aportionofthe
InternethasalreadyconvertedtoIPv6.Asatechnicianinanenterprise,youneedtobeawareof
howIPaddressesusingIPv6arereadandaddressconventions.
AnIPaddressisaseriesofnumbersthatuniquelyidentifiesanodeonaTCP/IPnetwork
includingtheInternetandanintranet.ThestandardthatdeterminesanIPaddresswith32bitsis
calledtheIPv4(InternetProtocolversion4)standard.PartlybecauseofpotentialshortagesofIP
addressesandpartlybecauseoftheneedforincreasedsecurityontheInternet,theIPv6(IP
version6)standardhasbeenintroduced.IPv6uses128bitsforanIPaddress.Allversionsof
WindowssinceWindowsXPwithServicePack2supportIPv6.

HereareafewfactsaboutwritinganddisplayingIPv6addresses:

AnIPv6addresshas128bitsthatarewrittenas8blocksofhexadecimalnumbers
separatedbycolons,likethis:2001:0000:0B80:0000:0000:00D3:9C5A:00CC.

Eachblockis16bits.Forexample,thefirstblockintheaddressaboveis2001inhex,
whichcanbewrittenas0010000000000001inbinary.

Leadingzerosina4characterhexblockcanbeeliminated.ForexampletheIPaddress
abovecanbewrittenas2001:0000:B80:0000:0000:D3:9C5A:CC.

Ifblockscontainallzeroes,theycanbewrittenasdoublecolons(::).TheIPaddress
abovecanbewrittentwoways:
o 2001::B80:0000:0000:D3:9C5A:CC
o 2001:0000:B80::D3:9C5A:CC
Toavoidconfusion,onlyonesetofdoublecolonsareusedinanIPaddress.Inthis
example,thepreferredmethodisthesecondone:2001:0000:B80::D3:9C5A:CC

HereareafewtermsusedintheIPv6standards:

Alink,sometimescalledthelocal link,isalocalareanetwork(LAN)orwidearea
network(WAN)boundedbyrouters.

Asubnetisoneormorelinksthathavethesame64bitsinthefirstpartoftheIP
address(calledtheprefix).RecallthatwhenusingIPv4,thesubnetcouldbeidentifiedby
anynumberofbitsatthebeginningoftheIPaddress.UsingIPv6,thesubnetisalmost
alwaysidentifiedusingthefirst64bits.
TOLEARNMORE
TolearnmoreaboutsubnetsandsubnetmasksseePages881through882inChapter17
ofA+GuidetoManagingandMaintainingYourPCorPages389through390in
Chapter8ofA+GuidetoSoftware.

Neighborsaretwoormorenodesonthesamelink.

Aninterfaceisanodesattachmenttoalink.Theattachmentcanbeaphysical
attachmentusinganetworkadapterorwirelessconnectionoralogicalattachmentsuch
aswhenatunnelingprotocolisusedtoconnectthenodetoaserver.

Thelast64bitsor4blocksofanIPaddressidentifytheinterfaceandarecalledthe
interface IDorinterfaceidentifier.These64bitsuniquelyidentifyaninterfaceonthe
locallink.

IPv6doesnotuseclassesofaddressesasdoesIPv4.InsteaditsupportsthesethreetypesofIP
addresses:

Usingaunicast address,packetsaredeliveredtoasinglenodeonanetwork.

Usingamulticast address,packetsaredeliveredtoallnodesonanetwork.

Ananycast addressisusedbyrouters.Theaddressidentifiesmultipledestinations
andpacketsaredeliveredtotheclosestdestination.

Aunicastaddressidentifiesasingleinterfaceonanetwork.Threetypesofunicastaddressesare:

Aglobal unicast addresscanberoutedontheInternet.Theseaddressesaresimilar

toIPv4publicIPaddresses.

Alink-local unicast addresscanbeusedforcommunicatingwithnodesinthesame

link.TheseaddressesaresimilartoIPv4privateIPaddressesandaresometimescalled
linklocaladdresses.

Aunique local unicast addresscanworkonmultiplelinkswithinthesame

organization.Theaddressisahybridbetweenaglobalunicastaddressthatworksonthe
Internetandalinklocalunicastaddressthatworksononlyonelink.

Table3showsthecurrentlyusedaddressprefixesforthesetypesofIPaddresses.Inthefuture,
wecanexpectmoreprefixestobeassignedastheyareneeded.
IPAddressType

AddressPrefix

Globalunicast

2000::

Linklocalunicast

FE80::

Uniquelocalunicast

FC00::andFD00::

Multicast

FF00::

Table 3 Address prefixes for types of IPv6 addresses

A+ 220-702 Practical Application Exam

Directory Structures in Windows 7
Object
ive
Numb
er
2.0

2.2

Objective

New Windows 7
Objective

Operating Systems unless

otherwise noted, operating
systems referred to within include
Microsoft Windows 2000, Windows
XP Professional, XP Home, XP
MediaCenter, Windows Vista
Home, Home Premium, Business
and Ultimate, Windows 7 Starter,
Home Premium, Professional and
Ultimate
Differentiate between Windows
Operating System directory
structures
User file locations
User profile and program
files
System file locations
Fonts
Temporary files
Program files
Offline files and folders

Windows 7 Starter, Home

Premium, Professional, and
Ultimate

Windows 7 directory
structure

ThedirectorystructureofWindows7foldersandfilesforuserfiles,systemfiles,programfiles,
fonts,temporaryfiles,andofflinefilesandfoldersarethesameasthoseforVista.Inaddition,

startupfolderlocationsarethesameinWindows7astheyareinWindowsVista.Thesestartup
foldersare:

Forindividualusers:C:\Users\username\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start
Menu\Programs\Startup

Forallusers:C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\StartMenu\Programs\Startup

TOLEARNMORE
ToseeacompletelistofdirectorystructuresinVistathatalsoapplytoWindows7,seePages
642to644inChapter13ofA+GuidetoManagingandMaintainingYourPCorPages174to
176inChapter4ofA+GuidetoSoftware.

The FAT64 or exFAT Files System

Object
ive
Numb
er
2.3

Objective

New Windows 7
Objective

Given a scenario, select and use

system utilities/tools and evaluate
the results

Disk Manager:
FAT64 (exFAT)
External hard drives
Flash drives

OnewayWindows7hasimprovedperformanceoverXPandVistaisthatitisengineeredto
makefewerreadsandwritestotheharddrive.Windows7isalsodesignedtoperformbetter
usingsolidstatedrives(SSDs).And,ifyouwanttogetevenbetterperformancewithWindows
7,considerinstallingWindows7onanSSDratherthanaharddrive.AnSSDperformsinthe
rangeof11MB/secto130MB/sec.Atraditionalmagneticharddriveperformsintherangeof
0.8MB/secto2MB/sec.PerformanceforanSSDisaboutthesamewhenreadingandwriting
sectorsrandomlyorwhenreadingandwritingcontiguoussectors.Becauseofthisfact,Windows
7disablesdefragmentationfortheseSSDs.
ForUSBflashdrives,considerusingtheexFATfilesystem.TheexFATfilesystem,alsocalled
theFAT64filesystem,isstructuredthesameastheolderFAT32filesystem.Itusesa64bit
wide,onecolumnfileallocationtable(FAT)thattrackseachclusteronthevolume.exFATdoes
notuseasmuchoverheadastheNTFSfilesystemandisdesignedtohandleverylargefiles,

suchasthoseusedformultimediastorage.Itiscompatiblewithflashmediadevicessuchas
smartcardsandUSBflashdrives,andisdesignedtoworkwithotheroperatingsystemsand
devices.Forexample,youcanuseasmartcardformattedwithexFATinaMacorLinux
computerorinadigitalcamcorder,camera,orsmartphone.
WhenyouformataninternaldriveusingDiskManagement,thepartitioningandformatting
wizardofferstheoptiontousetheexFATortheNTFSfilesystem.UseNTFSforverylarge
harddrivesordrivesthatwillcontaintheWindowsinstallation.WhenDiskManagement
formatsaremovablestoragedevice,itofferstheoptiontouseexFAT,FAT16,FAT32,orNTFS.
UseexFATforUSBflashdrivesandotherremovableflashmedia.

User Account Control (UAC) Box

Object
ive
Numb
er
4.2

Objective

New Windows 7
Objective

Implement security and

troubleshoot common issues
Operating systems

Vista/Windows 7 User
Account Control (UAC)

TheWindows7ActionCenterreplacestheVistaSecurityCenter.Itisacentralizedlocationthat
alertstheusertoissuesthatmightneedaddressingandincludesthesecurityissuesaswellas
otherissuessuchasaproblemwithascheduledbackup.TheActionCenterflagiconappearsin
thenotificationareaofthetaskbar.Clicktheicontoseeasummaryofissues.ToopentheAction
Center,clickOpenActionCenter.YoucanalsoopentheActionCenterfromtheControlPanel.
Figure2showstheActionCenter.

Figure2UsetheActionCentertofindasolutiontoaproblemortochangeWindowssettings

YoucaneasilyaccesssupporttoolsfromlinksintheleftpaneoftheActionCenterwindowand
atthebottomofthewindow.Forexample,whenyouclickChangeUserAccountControl
settingsintheleftpaneoftheActionCenterwindow,youcanchangehowtheUACboxworks
(seeFigure3).

Figure 3 Control how the UAC box works in Windows 7

NOTES
TheUAC(UserAccountControl)boxinWindows7doesnotappearasoftenasitdoesinVista.
Forexample,eveniftheUACboxisturnedon,anadministratorcanchangethesystemdateor
timeandastandardusercaninstallWindowsupdateswithouttheUACboxappearing.
Windows7offersmorecontrolovertheUACboxthandoesVista.InVista,anadministratorcan
onlyturntheUACboxofforon.InWindows7,theUACboxcanbecontrolledusingthe
followingfouroptionsshowninFigure3:

Alwaysnotifymewhenprogramsaretryingtoinstallsoftwareormakeother
changestothecomputerandwhenIammakingchangestoWindowssettings.
(ThisistheVistadefaultoption.)

Notifymewhenprogramsaretryingtomakechanges,butdontnotifymewhenI
amchangingWindowssettings.(ThisoptionisnewtoWindows7andcausesthe
UACboxtobelessannoying.)

Sameasthesecondoptionabovebut,inaddition,donotdimtheWindows
desktop.DimmingtheWindowsdesktopcanalarmauserandtakeupresources.
(InVista,aGroupPolicysettingcanbeusedtodisabledimmingthedesktop.)

NevernotifymewhenaprogramistryingtochangethecomputerorIam
changingit.(ThisoptionisalsoavailableinVista.)