Windows Configuration

• eventvwr.msc — Event Viewer
• devmgmt.msc — Device Manager (hardware only)
• diskmgmt.msc — Disk Management
• services.msc — Services
• compmgmt.msc — Computer Management
• gpedit.msc — Group Policy Editor
• msconfig — System Configuration (often launched as msconfig, not a typical .msc exam mix-up).

Device Manager is hardware only: adapters, USB, sound. It is not for apps or services.

• System log: OS, drivers, reboots. Application: app crashes. Security: logons and permission denials. Setup: install events.
• Indexing Options control what Windows Search indexes. File Explorer Options control view settings — different tools.
• Task Scheduler runs maintenance, backups, and utilities on a schedule.

• Five main hives: HKLM, HKCU, HKCR (file associations), HKEY_USERS (all profiles), HKEY_CURRENT_CONFIG (hardware profile).
• MBR: legacy, max 4 primary partitions. GPT: modern, many partitions. UEFI requires GPT.
• Boot partition holds boot files. ESP (EFI System Partition) holds BCD on UEFI. WinRE is recovery.

• Sleep/standby: RAM stays powered, fast wake. Hibernate: RAM written to disk, slower wake, less power. Shutdown: full power off.
• Defragment HDDs. Use TRIM on SSDs (tells the drive which blocks are free). Do not defrag SSDs as a performance habit.