Disk management using Windows
Windows operating system provides the user with tools that help him/her to manage storage devices and media.It is important to have a routine check of all the storage devices otherwise one may end up losing very vital data and programs.
Warning:Do not attempt these operations on disks without the guidance of the teacher.It is preferable to use the floppy disk rather than the hard disk to perform these operations because some of them can easily lead to loss of data and information stored on the hard disk.
Formatting disks
Before using a floppy disk,it must be formatted.Formatting is the process of preparing a new disk for use by imprinting empty sectors and tracks on the surface of the disk so that the operating system can recognize and be able to access it.Most diskettes today are sold readily formatted.Each operating system has its own special way of formatting a disk that may make the disk not to be read by another operating system.To format a new floppy disk proceed as follows:
1.Put a new un-formatted disk into the floppy drive.
2.Double click my computer icon.
3.Right click the icon labeled 31/2-floppy(A:) then select:Format.
4.Select the disk capacity e.g.1.44 MB,format type i.e. either quick erase or full
5.Give the diskettes an internal name(label).
6.Click start to begin formatting.
7.Once the process is over,click Close.
Scanning a storage device for problems
Windows has a disk management tool called the scan disk that helps the user check up and repair minor storage problems,such as lost storage locations,or damaged surface.To scan a storage device the following is done:
1.Double click my computer icon to display the storage devices installed on the computer.
2.Right click a drive icon e.g.31/2-floppy disk(A:).
3.From the shortcut menu,click properties then click Tools tab,to display a dialog box
4.Click the check now button
5.A prompt appears requesting the user to specify scan disk options like whether errors found should be corrected automatically.
6.Once scan disk is complete,Windows will give a summary statistics on errors encountered if any.
Using disk defragmenter to rearrange storage media content
Disk defragmenter is a tool that is used to rearrange scattered folders and files on a storage media in order to speed up access to files and folders.This enables the read/write head not to waste time looking for the same item all over the disk.
To start disk defragmentation proceed as follows:
1.Double click my computer icon to display the storage devices installed on the computer.
2.Right click a drive icon e.g.31/2-floppy disk(A:).
3.From the shortcut menu,click properties then click tools tab
4.From the dialog box displayed,defragment now button
5.From the dialog box displayed,click defragment a process status bar is displayed.
6.Wait for the process to complete then close the defragmenter.
Compressing the storage media
Windows provides the user with two compression tools namely,compression agent and Drive Space.Compressing storage media contents to fit in smaller space helps to create more free space on the media.
Drive Space can use the frees pace on an uncompressed drive to create.anew,empty compressed drive called a host.To compress a disk proceed as follows:
1.Double click my computer icon to display the storage devices installed on the computer.
2.Right click a drive icon e.g.31/2-floppy disk(A:)
3.From the short cut menu,properties If you are using windows XP select the Compress drive to save disk space,check box then click OK
4.In confirm attribute changes,select the option,you want
NB: If you are using Windows 95/98, click the start button, point to programs accessories, then system tools and select compression agent or Drive Space. From the compress dialog box, click drive then compress
Scanning for viruses
A computer virus is a program written by malicious persons aimed at conducting unwanted operations like damaging disks and data.Severe virus attack can result in system failure.There are literally thousands of these evil programs that can get into a computer via infected floppies or even via electronic mail and the Internet.
Cleaning infected storage devices
To guard a computer against virus attack,special programs called antivirus software such as Norton Antivirus, McAfee should be installed on the computer.These programs can check your system for thousands of known viruses and eradicate them.To scan for viruses the following is done:
1.Double click my computer
2.Right click a drive icon.
3.From the shortcut menu displayed,select the name of the anti-virus program e.g.Scan with Norton Antivirus.
4.Follow the instructions displayed by the anti-virus program to start scanning.
Backing up Data
Windows comes with a utility called backup.It enables the user to create copies of data and programs(on separate storage device)to avoid losing important data and program files in case the storage device or the computer fails.It is good practice to keep back ups away from the computer room to ensure security of the information in case of a calamity such as fire.To create a back up proceed as follows:
1.Click the start-button,point to programs,accessories,system tools then click back up
2.If a welcome to Microsoft Backup dialog box appears,click ok to close it.
3.In the Microsoft Backup dialog box,select the files and/or folders you want to backup by placing check marks next to their names.When all the files in a folder are selected,it will appear gray.
4.Follow the on screen instructions to accomplish the operation.
Restoring backed up data
To restore backed up data proceed as follows:
1.In the main backup window,choose the restore tab.
2.Select the back up files to restore,choose next step and follow the Instructions on the screen.The backed up data will be restored.
The startup (Boot up)disk
Suppose the hard disk is seriously damaged,and the computer cannot start Windows.The only other option available would be to start the computer using a start up disk that has booting instructions.The startup disk is usually a floppy disk that was created using the operating system.
To create a start up disk
1.Double click my computer:icon,then the control panel
2.In the control panel double click add/remove programs.
3.In the Add/Remove programs dialog box,click start up disk,then create disk.
4.The start up disk creation progress will be displayed.
To boot up a computer using the start up disk insert it in the floppy drive then switch on the computer.The computer reads the boot up instructions from the diskette then displays a command prompt such as A:>-that enables the user to type commands.The commands help the user diagnose the problems that might have led to boot failure.
Partitioning a disk
Partitioning a disk refers to the process of dividing a large physical disk into two or more partitions called logical drives.A logical drive is a drive that can be accessed as if it is a separate disk but in actual sense,it is a partition of one large physical disk.
Reasons for partitioning a disk
1.When the user intends to install more than one operating systems on the same disk.Install each on a separate partition.
2.For purposes of backup on the same disk but different partitions so that if one partition fails,the other will still be working.