Windows Preventitive Maintenance

Question 1

Scheduled Backups

Answer 1

• Regularly scheduled backups
  
  • Hours , daily , weekely
• Determine what to backup
  
  • All files
  • Just changed files
  • Image devices
• Onsite & offsite
  
  • Or in the cloud with OneDrive

Question 2

Scheduled Disk Maintenance

Answer 2

• Avoid hardware failure
  
  • Look for warning signs
• S.M.A.R.T. (Self Monitoring Analysis & Reporting Technology)
  
  • Use third-party utilities
• Logical & Physical disk check
  
  • Windows Operating System
  • Error checking (chkdsk)
  • Logical = File System / Physical = Every sector

Question 3

-Scheduled Defragmentation

Answer 3

• Moves file fragments so they’re contiguous
  
  • Improves read / write times
  • Not necessary on a SSD
• Graphical version in the drive properties
  
  • defrag (command line)
• Setup a weekly schedule
  
  • Control Panel / Administrative Tools / Task Scheduler

Question 4

Windows Update

Answer 4

• Keep the Operating System Updated
  
  • Security patches
  • New Features
  • Driver Updates
• Automated
  
  • Download & install
  • Download only
  • Notify only
  • Disable (not recommended)

Question 5

Patch Management

Answer 5

-A well-documented process

• Controlling change
  
  • Not every update is a good one
• Many different patches
  
  • Operating system , applications , device drivers
• Testing , scheduling , implementing , fallback
  
  • A small change can have a huge impact

Question 6

Driver / Firmware Updates

Answer 6

• Drivers aren’t often updated
  
  • Solve nagging problems
• Some drivers updated more often then others
  
  • i.e. video drivers
• Many drivers updated through Windows updated
  
  • Not all

-Use device manager to manage updates

Question 7

Anti-virus Updates

Answer 7

• The bad guys are good at this
  
  • Constant stream of malware
• Keep your signatures updated
  
  • Anti-virus & Anti-spyware
• Daily schedule
  
  • Or hourly
  • May already be automatic