How To Pass Odesk Windows XP test Part 1 - updated 2012

I would recommend to you to do some reading on these topics before you sit for the Windows XP odesk test so that you can have a broader understanding about the questions asked in these first twenty questions. In fact it give keeps you well informed about windows XP and help you use it in a more efficient way.

Differences between Windows XP Pro and Windows XP Home edition

There are so many differences, but I have listed for you the most important ones. So, you can do more research.

Dynamic Disk- Dynamic’s disks allow a single disk reference to span more than one physical disk volume. It also allows the disk to be re sized without rebooting (re sized "dynamically"). When formatted as a dynamic disk, the volume does not contain partitions. A regular disk partition is called a "basic" disk, which uses primary partitions, extended partitions, and logical drive to organize data. Windows XP Pro supports dynamic disks whereas Windows Home doesn’t.

Encryption File System- EFS let you encrypt files on an NTFS partition. It is a very useful feature for securing or protecting data with encryption so that nobody except you will be able to access or view the files. Windows XP Pro supports EFS but Windows Pro does not.

Internet Information Service (IIS)- IIS allows to make your machine is a web server. Windows XP Pro supports IIS whereas Window XP Home does not.

Backup- XP Pro has a backup program; XP Home has no backup program

Multiprocessor – XP Pro supports up to two processors but XP Home supports only one processor.

Domain membership- You can join a Windows XP Pro machine to a domain but you cannot join a Windows Home machine to a domain though it can access domain resources.

Group policy- XP Pro supports group policy but XP Home does not

Windows System Key combinations

F1- help

CTRL+ESC – Open Start menu

ALT +TAB – Switch between open programs

ALT+F4 – Quit program

SHIFT+DELETE – Deletes item permanently

Windows Logo+L: locks the computer

CTRL+ESC – Opens Start Menu

CTRL+SHIFT+ESC – Open Windows Task Manager

ALT+TAB- Switches to another running program (hold the ALT key and then press the TAB key to view the task-switching window)

CTRL+ALT+DEL -It is used to bring up the windows security, where you can access shut down , lock computer, change password, task manager and log off. So it can be used to reboot the computer and bring up the task manager. 

Windows most common Commands (CMD)

If you a technical person, you find that you have to know most of the windows commands to be able to do most of the technical stuff. Just get yourself familiar with mostly used windows commands here.

Ping- this the most popular command. It is used to check an IP address and see whether the respective computer is online or responding to ensure that the network communication between your computer and that computer is possible. I use this command every day. Example c:\ping 192.168.0.1 –t. This command gives you a continuous connectivity monitoring of reply requests to the computer with IP address 192.168.0.1.

Ipconfig – This command display your computer IP configuration details like IP address, subnet Mask, Default Gateway and to refresh the Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) and Domain Name System (DNS) settings

Chkdsk – It is a hard-drive utility tool in Windows XP for automatically fixing file system errors or for searching for and attempted recovery of bad sectors. It creates and displays a status report for a disk based on the file system.

Exit – It exits the Cmd.exe program (that is, the command interpreter) and returns to windows.

Tracert- This diagnostic tool determines the path taken to a destination by sending ICMP Echo Request messages with varying Time to Live (TTL) values to the destination.

Msconfig- This utility automates the routine troubleshooting to diagnose system configurations issues. 

Windows Task scheduler

The Task Scheduler enables programs to be scheduled so that they run at a time specified or when a specific event occurs, when it is most convenient for you. It can perform routine tasks on a computer.

Grouping Window Tabs 

A nice feature of Windows XP is that unlike previous versions of windows when the taskbar fills up with window tabs it can consolidate all files/windows within a program into just one window tab, in other words, if you have 2 documents open in Word you will only have one tab on the taskbar (instead of 2), you can then access each document by left clicking on the tab and selecting the file/window you want from the menu that appears. This feature can be switched off by right clicking on the taskbar, clicking on properties and then unchecking the box next to Group similar taskbar buttons. 

Windows XP Icons

Icon – An icon is a small picture or symbol on a Graphical user interface(GUI) that represents a program. File, directory or device.
  ApplicationIcon: Represents an application program in a graphical user interface

Document icon: Represents a file

Folder icon: Represents a directory

Shortcut icon: It has an arrow in its lower-left corner for quick access to the object it represents

Odesk Windows XP Document Icon

Odesk Windows XP Folder Icon

Odesk Windows XP Shortcut Icon

All about the Recycle bin

• Recycle bin  is used as a safety net when deleting files or folder
• Deleted files and folders are placed in the recycle bin
• Files or folders deleted from a floppy disk or a network drive are permanently deleted and aren’t sent to the recycle bin
• Recycle bin its remain until they are permanently deleted
• You can restore any selected files from the Recycle Bin folder by right clicking and then selecting Restore.
• Recycle bin items take up hard disk space, and can be un-deleted or restored to their original location
• When the recycle bin fills up, windows automatically cleans out enough space  in the recycle bin to give space to the most recently deleted files and folders
• You can set the size of the recycle bin to limit the amount of hard disk space it takes up

The Purpose of Mapping a drive

When you map a drive letter to any shared resource on a network, you are able to quickly and easily access the resource by using either the Windows XP user interface or a command prompt. For each mapped drive, an icon appears in My Computer and a listing appears in the left pane of Windows Explorer

Windows five File security levels when browsing

Note that windows only have five files security levels when browsing. They include the following:-

•  Low is designed with the minimum safeguards and prompts. Most content is run or downloaded without any prompts. Active content, such as scripting, runs without prompting you. This setting should probably never be used, it should only be used on sites which are completely trusted.
•  Medium-low is the same as Medium but with less frequent prompts. It is appropriate for your local intranet sites or sites you completely trust.
• Medium is the default security level for the Internet. It is the most functional while preventing things like “unsigned ActiveX controls” from being downloaded.
• High is the security level for restricted sites by default. It prevents most potentially harmful items from being downloaded and provides the least functionality.
• Custom is the security level when you have changed specific security settings in one of the prepackaged security levels

Windows file Extensions

With Windows XP Professional, you can specify that files with certain file name extensions always open in the same program. You can also associate file name extensions with certain file types, or choose to modify an existing file type.

Taskbar Components

• Start menu
• Notification area – shows clock etc
• Quick launch – contains shortcut to most often used programs
• Taskbar button - shows open application using grouping

Windows Themes and visual styles

The Microsoft file format that contains the bitmapped graphics and metadata for the skins used in the three pre-installed Windows XP visual themes is .msstyle.

• A visual style (*.msstyles) is the file that skins the windows, taskbar, start menu, and other elements of the Windows appearance. Visual styles are loaded in the Appearance tab of the display properties dialog.
• A theme (*.theme) is a visual style with saved settings, wallpapers, icons, and so on. Themes are loaded in the Theme tab of the display properties dialog. Themes are loaded in the Theme tab of the display properties dialog.

 

Associating files with Programs when Opening Files

You can tell windows which program to use when opening files with a particular extension.  Do this by right-clicking the file, choosing open with and then choosing the program, and clicking Always use the selected program to open this kind of file check box and click OK.

Roll Back Driver Windows XP Feature

Roll Back Driver feature enables one replace a device driver by using an previously installed version. If you installed a new device driver which caused your computer to be unstable, use roll back driver feature. You can restore all other device driver except printer drivers with Roll back driver feature

Question one

While viewing file names through the Windows Explorer, what happens if you drag and drop a file named letter1.txt on top of another file named letter2.txt lying in the same folder?

a. The contents of letter2.txt will be replaced by the contents of letter1.txt

b. The contents of letter1.txt will be replaced by the contents of letter2.txt. 

c. The contents of letter1.txt will be appended to the contents of letter2.txt. 

d. The contents of letter2.txt will be appended to the contents of letter1.txt. 

e. Nothing will happen

Question two

Some computer in your Local Area Network(LAN) have Windows XP Home Edition installed, whereas the other use Windows XP Professional. Is it possible to utilize the NTFS Encrypting File System(EFS) security feature on those computer in the LAN that have Windows XP Home Edition installed?

a. Yes

b. No 

Question three

Which of the following descriptions about the windows task scheduler is most accurate?

a.  It is a tool that enables you to schedule programs and other utilities’ to run regularly, when it is most

    convenient for you

b. It is a utility available in the Windows Accessories that helps you arrange your daily routine and

    appointments

c. It is a tool that schedules when Windows should save unsaved files automatically

d. It is a windows user interface that allows you to customize the Taskbar

Question four

How can you customize Advanced Start menu options in windows XP operating system.
a. Right click on the Taskbar and click the Customize button

b. Right click on the Taskbar, choose Properties, click on Start Menu, and click the Customize button.

c.  Right click on the Taskbar and choose open all users.

d. Left click on the Taskbar; choose Properties 

Question Five

Which key combination would you use to flip between open windows?
a. Alt+Shift

b. Alt+Tab

c. Ctrl+Tab

d. Ctrl+Alt

Question six

What should you type on the command prompt to return back to Windows?
a. Quit

b. Return

c. Leave

d. Exit

Question seven

Which of the following statements is/are correct regarding the grouping of Windows tabs?
a. Only Windows of the same program can be grouped into one tab

b.  You can group windows of all open programs into one tab.

c. You can group windows of only two programs at a time.

d. There is no option to group tabs in Windows XP.

Question eight

Which statement(s) about the Recycle Bin is/are correct?
a. All deleted files except media files are sent to the Recycle Bin.

b. You can restore any selected files from the Recycle Bin folder by right clicking and then selecting Restore.

c. The Recycle Bin stores files for one month before permanently deleting them.

d. More than one file at a time cannot be restored from the Recycle Bin.

Question nine

What is the main purpose of mapping network drives?

a.  It provides a convenient way of accessing a shared resource such as a folder, file, or printer

b.  It helps to reduce network traffic by automatically making a copy of the shared resource on the user’s

     computer

c.  It speed up processing and memory usage by automatically making a copy of the shared resource on the 

    user’s computer

d. None of the above

Question ten

An icon with an arrow in its lower-left corner, which can be clicked for quick access to the object it represents, is a(n):

a. Application icon

b. Folder (directory) icon

c. Document icon

d. Shortcut icon

Question eleven

The older version of the Windows XP Desktop is called the "Windows Classic" look. One way to get the Windows Classic Desktop from the new default Windows XP Desktop is to:
a. In the System control panel, select Properties from the View menu. Select the Desktop tab and click on

   the Desktop pull-down list and select Windows Classic. Click OK

b. Right-click on the desktop and choose Properties. Select the Themes tab and click on the Theme 

    pull-down list and select Windows Classic. Click OK.

c. In the Display control panel, select Properties. Select the Desktop tab and click on the Theme pull-down  

    list and select Windows Classic. Click OK

d. Right-click on the desktop and choose Themes. Select the Desktops tab and click on the Desktop 

    pull-down list and select Windows Classic. Click OK.

Question twelve

In addition to the Start button, the taskbar in Windos XP is further divided into sections for:

a. Logging out or shutting down the computer

b. Open(running programs

c. Automatically started programs when booting the computer and notification of events.

d. Shortcuts to various applications

Question thirteen

 What is the key combination to Quit a program through Task Manager that is not responding?

a. Alt+Del

b. Ctrl+Alt+Del

c. Ctrl+Del

d. Shift+

Question fourteen

Which of the following statements about the file security levels while browsing is/are correct?
a. Low is designed with the minimum safeguards.

b. Under Low security, active content such as scripting, runs without prompting.

c. Medium-low is the same as Medium but with less frequent prompts.

d. Medium is the default security level for the Internet.

e. All of the above

Question Fifteen

Windows Xp usually retains copies of old drives when newer versions of them are installed or update. If the new drives have problems, the user can return to the previous version. Does this new Windows XP feature work with printer drivers?

a. Yes

b.  No 

Question sixteen

Windows XP includes a new type of view for folders that contain graphics files. This folder view is called _________ and displays small images of all the graphics in the folder in the bottom right-hand pane of Windows Explorer and a large image of a selected picture in the top right-hand pane.
a. Gallery

b. Images

c. Pictures

d. Filmstrip

Question seventeen

The Microsoft file format that contains the bitmapped graphics and metadata for the skins used in the three preinstalled Windows XP visual themes is:

a. .msthemes

b. .msstyles

c. .msskins

d. .msluna 

Question eighteen

State whether the following statement is true or false.
With Windows XP, you cannot specify that files with certain file name extensions should always open in the same program.

a. True

b. False

Question nineteen

The hard-drive utility tool in Windows XP for automatically fixing file system errors or for searching for and attempted recovery of bad sectors is:

a. CheckDisk (CHKDSK)

b. SystemCheck (SYSCHK)

c. DiskFix (DSKFX)

d. DiskScan (DSKSCN)

Question twenty

With Windows XP, the default display resolution is 800x600 in 32-bit true color. With some computers 32-bit video tends to slow down screen redraws. How could you drop the screen depth to 16 bits instead of 32 bits in order to speed up the display in older PCs, especially laptops?
a. In the Colors control panel, set the Colors option to Medium (16 bits).

b. In the Color Management control panel, set the Color depth to Medium (16 bits).

c. In the System control panel, set the Monitor depth to 16 bits.

d. In the Display Properties dialog box, on the Settings page, set the Color quality option to Medium (16 

    bits).

Your comments about my answers are welcome, but I assure you a 10%  mark pass in this odesk test. Good luck

Watch out for the part 2 of Windows XP oDesk test tomorrow by clicking How to Pass Windows XP Part 2