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Windows OS QA

General Questions

  1. What is the Windows Operating System?

    • It is a series of operating systems developed by Microsoft, offering a graphical interface and designed for personal and enterprise-level use.

  2. What are the key features of Windows OS?

    • GUI-based interface, multitasking, built-in security, compatibility with various software, and support for hardware devices.

  3. What is the difference between a Workgroup and a Domain?

    • Workgroup: Peer-to-peer network for small setups.
      Domain: Centralized network controlled by a domain controller, suitable for larger organizations.

  4. Explain the NTFS file system.

    • NTFS (New Technology File System) supports large files, advanced security, disk quotas, and data recovery.

  5. What is the role of the Windows Registry?

    • A hierarchical database that stores configuration settings and options for the Windows OS and installed software.

Troubleshooting Questions

  1. How would you troubleshoot a system that won’t boot?

    • Check hardware connections, boot to Safe Mode, run Startup Repair, and verify boot order in BIOS.

  2. What is Safe Mode, and how is it used?

    • A diagnostic mode in Windows that loads only essential drivers to troubleshoot issues.

  3. How do you fix a Blue Screen of Death (BSOD)?

    • Analyze error codes, check hardware, update drivers, and scan for malware.

  4. How do you recover a forgotten Windows password?

    • Use a password reset disk, a local administrator account, or recovery tools.

  5. What is CHKDSK?

    • A command-line tool to check and repair disk errors.

Administration Questions

  1. What is Active Directory?

    • A directory service by Microsoft for managing network resources like users, computers, and policies.

  2. What is Group Policy?

    • A feature to control user and computer configurations in an Active Directory environment.

  3. How do you manage user accounts in Windows?

    • Using the Control Panel, Command Prompt, or PowerShell.

  4. What is the purpose of Windows PowerShell?

    • A command-line shell and scripting language for task automation and configuration management.

  5. How do you configure Windows Firewall?

    • Use the Windows Defender Firewall tool or PowerShell to create and manage rules.

Advanced Questions

  1. What is Hyper-V?

    • A virtualization platform by Microsoft for running virtual machines.

  2. What are the differences between Windows 10 Home and Pro editions?

    • Windows 10 Pro offers advanced features like BitLocker, Hyper-V, and domain join, which are unavailable in the Home edition.

  3. Explain the concept of UAC (User Account Control).

    • A security feature that prevents unauthorized changes by requiring admin-level approval.

  4. What is Windows Deployment Services (WDS)?

    • A network-based installation service for deploying Windows operating systems.

  5. What is the Windows Event Viewer?

    • A tool to view system logs, application logs, and security logs for troubleshooting and monitoring.

Command-Line Tools

  1. What is the ipconfig command used for?

    • Displays network configuration and TCP/IP settings.

  2. How is the ping command used?

    • Tests network connectivity to another host.

  3. What does the netstat command do?

    • Displays active network connections and listening ports.

  4. What is the purpose of taskkill?

    • Terminates running processes by ID or name.

  5. Explain the diskpart command.

    • A command-line tool for managing disk partitions.

File and Security

  1. What is BitLocker?

    • A full-disk encryption feature to protect data from unauthorized access.

  2. How does Windows handle file permissions?

    • Through NTFS file system permissions such as Read, Write, Modify, and Full Control.

  3. What is the purpose of Windows Defender?

    • A built-in antivirus and antimalware tool for Windows.

  4. What is a Roaming Profile?

    • A user profile stored on a network share, allowing access from any domain-joined computer.

  5. Explain EFS (Encrypting File System).

    • A feature that provides encryption for individual files and folders on NTFS drives.

Networking

  1. What is the difference between IPv4 and IPv6?

    • IPv4 uses a 32-bit address; IPv6 uses a 128-bit address for a larger address space.

  2. What is the purpose of the nslookup command?

    • Queries DNS records for troubleshooting.

  3. How do you configure a static IP address in Windows?

    • Through Network Properties or PowerShell.

  4. What is Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP)?

    • A protocol for accessing a computer remotely.

  5. What is Windows Server Core?

    • A minimalistic installation option for Windows Server without a GUI.

Others

  1. What is Windows Sandbox?

    • A lightweight virtual environment for running untrusted applications.

  2. What is the purpose of Windows Update?

    • Keeps the OS updated with the latest patches and features.

  3. What are the key differences between FAT32 and NTFS?

    • NTFS supports larger files, encryption, and better security than FAT32.

  4. How do you enable or disable services in Windows?

    • Through the Services console (services.msc) or PowerShell.

  5. What is Sysinternals Suite?

    • A collection of tools for advanced troubleshooting and system diagnostics.

Advanced Troubleshooting

  1. What is a System Restore Point?

    • A feature that allows reverting the system to a previous state without affecting personal files.

  2. How do you analyze memory dumps?

    • Use tools like WinDbg or BlueScreenView to analyze .dmp files.

  3. What is a Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE)?

    • A set of tools for troubleshooting startup issues, repairing OS files, and restoring system images.

  4. How do you troubleshoot slow system performance?

    • Check Task Manager, disable unnecessary startup programs, run Disk Cleanup, and scan for malware.

  5. How do you fix a corrupt Windows system file?

    • Use the sfc /scannow and DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth commands.

Group Policy Management

  1. What is the purpose of Group Policy Preferences?

    • Allows configuring advanced settings like drive mappings and scheduled tasks in Active Directory.

  2. How do you update Group Policy settings manually?

    • Use the gpupdate /force command.

  3. What is the difference between Local and Domain Group Policies?

    • Local applies to a single computer, while Domain policies are managed centrally in an Active Directory environment.

  4. How do you troubleshoot Group Policy issues?

    • Check gpresult output, Event Viewer logs, and Active Directory replication.

  5. What is the precedence order in Group Policy?

    • Local > Site > Domain > Organizational Unit (OU), with the latter having the highest precedence.

Windows Services and Processes

  1. What is a Windows Service?

    • A background process that starts automatically or manually and performs specific tasks.

  2. How do you manage services in Windows?

    • Use the Services console (services.msc) or PowerShell (Get-Service, Start-Service).

  3. What is the purpose of the tasklist command?

    • Displays a list of running processes.

  4. How do you configure startup programs?

    • Through Task Manager or System Configuration (msconfig).

  5. What is the role of the Windows Task Scheduler?

    • Automates tasks by running scripts, launching programs, or sending notifications.

Virtualization and Cloud Integration

  1. What is the role of Virtual Hard Disk (VHD)?

    • A file format that acts as a physical disk for virtual machines.

  2. What is Azure Active Directory?

    • A cloud-based identity and access management service by Microsoft.

  3. How do you enable virtualization in Windows?

    • Enable Intel VT-x or AMD-V in BIOS/UEFI and install Hyper-V.

  4. What is the difference between a Virtual Machine and a Container?

    • VMs emulate hardware and run a full OS; containers share the host OS kernel.

  5. What is Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL)?

    • A compatibility layer for running Linux distributions on Windows.

Disk Management

  1. What is Disk Management?

    • A tool for managing drives, partitions, and volumes.

  2. What is the difference between Basic and Dynamic disks?

    • Basic disks use primary/logical partitions; Dynamic disks support volumes like spanned and striped.

  3. How do you extend a partition?

    • Use Disk Management or the diskpart tool.

  4. What is the purpose of Disk Cleanup?

    • Frees up space by removing temporary files, system files, and other unnecessary data.

  5. How do you convert a drive from FAT32 to NTFS?

    • Use the convert command: convert <drive>: /fs:ntfs.

Performance and Optimization

  1. What is Windows ReadyBoost?

    • Uses a USB flash drive as additional memory to improve performance.

  2. What are Performance Monitor and Resource Monitor?

    • Tools for monitoring and analyzing system performance and resource usage.

  3. How do you check the startup impact of applications?

    • In Task Manager under the "Startup" tab.

  4. What is Superfetch?

    • A feature that preloads frequently used applications into memory for faster access.

  5. How do you disable unnecessary services?

    • Use services.msc or PowerShell to stop or disable services safely.

Security and Permissions

  1. What is the purpose of the Local Security Policy?

    • Configures security-related settings for the local computer.

  2. What is the difference between Share and NTFS permissions?

    • Share permissions apply to network-shared folders; NTFS permissions apply to files and folders locally.

  3. What is a Security Identifier (SID)?

    • A unique identifier for users, groups, and objects in Windows.

  4. How do you secure a Remote Desktop Connection?

    • Use Network Level Authentication (NLA), strong passwords, and RDP Gateway.

  5. What is a firewall exception?

    • A rule that allows or blocks specific programs or ports through the firewall.

Windows Updates and Patching

  1. What is WSUS (Windows Server Update Services)?

    • A server-based system for managing updates in a networked environment.

  2. What is the difference between Feature Updates and Quality Updates?

    • Feature Updates introduce new features; Quality Updates address security and reliability issues.

  3. How do you roll back a Windows update?

    • Use the Settings app under "Update History" or boot into Safe Mode.

  4. What is a Service Pack?

    • A cumulative update that includes fixes and enhancements.

  5. What is the purpose of the Windows Update Troubleshooter?

    • Diagnoses and fixes common issues with Windows Update.

Scripting and Automation

  1. What is a batch file?

    • A script file containing a series of commands executed by the Command Prompt.

  2. How do you run PowerShell scripts?

    • Use the powershell command followed by the script path.

  3. What is Task Automation in Windows?

    • Automating repetitive tasks using scripts or Task Scheduler.

  4. What is a .ps1 file?

    • A PowerShell script file.

  5. What are Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) commands?

    • A set of commands for managing and querying system information.

Miscellaneous

  1. What is the difference between Windows Server and Windows Desktop?

    • Windows Server is designed for server roles, whereas Desktop editions are for end-users.

  2. What is Cortana?

    • A virtual assistant in Windows for voice-activated commands and search.

  3. What is the purpose of Sticky Notes in Windows?

    • A simple app for creating notes and reminders.

  4. What is the purpose of the robocopy command?

    • A robust file copying utility for large datasets.

  5. What is the Windows Compatibility Mode?

    • Allows running older applications by simulating earlier Windows environments.

Wrap-Up Questions

  1. What is the difference between hibernate and sleep modes?

    • Hibernate saves the session to disk and powers off; Sleep keeps the session in RAM.

  2. What is the purpose of msconfig?

    • Configures system startup options, including boot parameters.

  3. What is Windows Hello?

    • A biometric authentication feature in Windows.

  4. What is a Service Host process?

    • A system process that hosts multiple Windows services.

  5. What is the Event Log?

    • A record of system, security, and application events.

  6. What is the difference between 32-bit and 64-bit Windows?

    • 64-bit supports larger memory and is faster for compatible hardware.

  7. What is Windows Defender SmartScreen?

    • A feature that protects against phishing and malware.

  8. What is Microsoft Edge?

    • A web browser included with Windows.

  9. What is Windows Power Automate?

    • A tool for creating automated workflows.

  10. How do you troubleshoot driver issues? - Use Device Manager to update, rollback, or reinstall drivers.

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