Configuration and Maintenance
| Component | Description | Introduced | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Control Panel | ||||
| Control Panel | Allows users to view and manipulate basic system settings and controls, such as adding hardware, adding and removing software, controlling user accounts, changing accessibility options, and so on. | Windows 1.0 | ||
| Device Manager | Allows the user to display and control the hardware attached to the computer, and control what device drivers are used. | Windows 95 | ||
| Windows Mobility Center | Centralizes the most relevant information related to mobile computing. | Windows Vista | ||
| Windows Action Center | Centralizes and reports on the status of anti-virus, Automatic Updates, Windows Firewall, and other security-related components of the operating system. | Windows XP SP2 | ||
| Administrative Tools | ||||
| Microsoft Management Console | Provides system administrators and advanced users with a flexible interface through which they may configure and monitor the system. | Windows NT 4.0 Option Pack | ||
| Windows System Assessment Tool | A built-in benchmarking tool that analyzes the different subsystems (graphics, memory, etc.), and uses the results to allow for comparison to other Windows Vista systems, and for software optimizations. It rates the computer's performance using the Windows Experience Index. | Windows Vista | ||
| System Restore | Allows for the rolling back of system files, registry keys, installed programs, etc., to a previous state in the event of a system failure. | Windows Me | ||
| Windows Recovery Environment | Helps diagnose and recover from serious errors which may be preventing Windows from booting successfully, or restore the computer to a previous state using System Restore or a backup image. | Windows Vista | ||
| Windows Disk Defragmenter | Rearranges files stored on a hard disk to occupy contiguous storage locations in order to optimize computer performance. | Windows 95, Windows 2000 | ||
| Event Viewer | Lets administrators and users view the event logs on a local or remote machine. | Windows NT 3.1 | ||
| Resource Monitor (or Reliability and Performance Monitor) | Lets administrators view current system reliability and performance trends over time. | Windows Vista | ||
| Logical Disk Manager | A logical volume manager developed by Microsoft in conjunction with Veritas Software. | Windows NT 4.0 (as a separate Tool) 2000 (integrated in the Management Console) | ||
| Registry Editor | Allows users to browse and edit the Windows registry. | Windows 3.1 | ||
| Task Scheduler | Allows users to script tasks for running during scheduled intervals. | Microsoft Plus! for Windows 95 | ||
| Software installation and deployment | ||||
| Windows Update | An online service which provides critical updates, service packs, device drivers, and other updates. A variation called Microsoft Update also provides software updates for several Microsoft products. | Windows 98 | ||
| Windows Installer | An engine for the management of software installation. Includes a GUI framework, automatic generation of the uninstallation sequence and deployment capabilities for corporate networks. | Windows 2000 | ||
| ClickOnce | Technology for deploying .NET Framework-based software via web pages, with automatic update capabilities. Intended for per-user only applications. | .NET Framework 2.0 | ||
Read more about this topic: Windows Components
Famous quotes containing the word maintenance:
“It is an injustice that an old, broken, half-dead father should enjoy alone, in a corner of his hearth, possessions that would suffice for the advancement and maintenance of many children.”
—Michel de Montaigne (1533–1592)