problems. You may need to click Send Information to send additional information to the Microsoft Error Reporting Service.
Configuring Advanced Management Tools
Windows 10 contains several additional tools that you can use to manage your computer's performance. These include the System Configuration Utility, the Action Center, and the Services console.
Microsoft Management Console (MMC)
As with previous versions of Windows, the Microsoft Management Console (MMC) is still a powerful tool used by administrators to manage local and remote servers including Server Core installations. Custom read-only MMC consoles can be created with specific snap-ins containing only those tools required for the specific delegate function. Windows 10 includes version 3.0
of the MMC, which has been around since Windows XP SP3 and Windows Server 2003 SP2, and includes the following features:
• Action pane: The Action pane is located on the right side of the console. It lists all actions available to users.
• Improved dialog boxes: The Add/Remove snap-in dialog has been updated to allow for better snap-in organization.
• Improved error handling: This version of MMC provides additional error- handling notices and provides the ability to take specific actions when the errors occur.
The Microsoft Management Console is available and can be accessed by launching the MMC.exe application. If you are using a client workstation such as Windows 10, a wide array of MMC snap-ins are installed as part of the Remote Server Administration Tools package.
MMC Options for Delegation
MMC 3.0 provides the capability to create custom or limited views for the specific MMC snap-ins. After snap-ins have been configured and added to the console, the console can be saved as an .MSC file, which you can use to reload your view of administrative tools or distribute to other administrators and users.
MMC offers the following console configuration modes and options:
• Author Mode: Grants users full access to all MMC functionality, which includes the ability to add or remove snap-ins, create new windows, create taskpad views and tasks, and view all areas of the console tree. This is the mode that is enabled by default for all new consoles. Typically, consoles are set up by an administrator and then locked down by changing the mode to one of the user access modes.
• User Mode–Full Access: Prevents users from adding or removing snap-ins or changing snap-in properties. Users have full access to the tree.
• User Mode–Limited Access, Multiple Window: Prevents users from accessing areas of the tree that are not visible in the snap-in console windows.
• User Mode–Limited Access, Single Window: Opens the snap-in console in single-window mode and prevents users from accessing areas of the tree that are not visible in the single snap-in console window.
• Do Not Save Changes to This Console: Regardless of what is changed, the console is not saved. Changes will be lost the next time it opens.
• Allow the User to Customize Views: When checked, this option allows the user to customize console views, including enabling filters.
You can configure Console Options via the Options menu item of the MMC File menu, as shown in Figure 19-24.
Figure 19-24. MMC Console Options
After you create a custom MMC console, you can lock it down using the appropriate console option and/or filters using the View menu; save the console as an .MSC file and distribute it accordingly. Delegates will be able to manage local or remote servers assuming the following criteria have been met:
• Delegates have been granted proper access to the server or resources.
• Windows Firewall has been configured to accept MMC connections.
Windows Services
Windows services run in the background and enable significant and
important functions on your computer—in fact, nearly all actions performed on the computer depend upon one or more services. Many applications install their own services when you install them. Many services are configured to start automatically at system startup; although many of these are essential to proper computer operation, having nonessential services starting can degrade computer performance noticeably.
You can configure service startup and properties from the Services snap-in.
This tool is a component of the Computer Management snap-in and can also be accessed in its own console by right-clicking the Start button and
selecting Computer Management. You have seen this console before; for example, in Chapter 9, “Managing User Data,” you used the Disk
Management tool to configure storage and disks. The Computer Management console, shown in Figure 19-25, lists all services installed on the computer and indicates their status and startup type. You can also access the services console as a standalone by accessing the Search bar or Cortana, typing in services, and clicking Services from the list.
Figure 19-25. Services Console Enabling You to Observe the Status of Services Running on Your Computer
You can modify the properties of any service, including its startup type as required. Right-click the desired service and choose Properties to bring up its Properties dialog box shown in Figure 19-26. This allows you to configure the following properties of each service:
• General tab: You can set the startup type to Automatic, Automatic (Delayed Start), Manual, or Disabled. By disabling services that consume extra computer resources on startup, you can sometimes improve computer
performance. Certain services should also be disabled for improving computer security. However, you must ensure that all essential services remain set to Automatic. Set nonessential services that perform useful tasks to Manual startup.
Figure 19-26. Configuring Service Properties from Each Service's Properties Dialog Box
• Log On tab: Enables you to change the account used by services when logging on. In nearly all cases, you should leave this set to its default Local System Account.
• Recovery tab: Enables you to specify actions to be taken if the service fails, such as restarting the service, restarting the computer, running a program, or taking no action.
• Dependencies tab: Lists the services that this service depends on as well as the system components that depend on this service running properly. There are no configurable options on this tab, but the information displayed can be useful in troubleshooting failures.
System Configuration Utility
System Configuration Utility enables you to disable common services and startup programs to selectively troubleshoot which items are preventing a normal startup.
To start the System Configuration Utility, type msconfig into the taskbar Search bar or Cortana field, then click System Configuration in the list. If you receive a UAC prompt, click Yes or supply administrative credentials.
You receive the dialog box shown in Figure 19-27.
Figure 19-27. System Configuration Utility Enabling You to Troubleshoot Problems That Prevent Windows from Starting Normally
The sections that follow describe the functions available on each tab.
General Tab
The General tab allows you to choose Normal Startup, which loads all drivers and services configured to start automatically; Diagnostic Startup, which loads basic drivers and services; or Selective Startup, which enables you to select the following options:
• Load System Services: Starts all services that are configured for automatic startup.
• Load Startup Items: Starts applications that have been configured to start at boot or logon time.
• Use Original Boot Configuration: Remains selected unless you modify default settings on the Boot tab.
Boot Tab
The Boot tab provides several boot options that are useful if you encounter problems starting your computer normally. The following boot options are
available:
• Safe Boot: Provides four options for booting your computer into Safe Mode. The Minimal option brings up the Windows GUI with only critical system services loaded, and networking disabled. The Alternate Shell option boots to the command prompt and disables both the GUI and networking.
The Active Directory Repair option boots to the GUI and runs Active
Directory as well as critical system services. The Network option boots to the Windows GUI with only critical services loaded, and enables networking.
• No GUI Boot: Starts Windows without displaying the Windows splash screen.
• Boot Log: Boots according to the other options selected and logs information from the boot procedure to %systemroot%\Ntbtlog.txt.
• Base Video: Uses standard VGA drivers to load the Windows GUI in minimal VGA mode.
• OS Boot Information: Displays driver names as the boot process loads them.
On a multiboot computer, the display window contains entries for the
different operating systems present. To choose which operating system boots by default, select the desired entry and click Set as Default. Use the Timeout setting to specify the number of seconds that the boot menu is displayed on a multiboot computer. In addition, the Make All Boot Settings Permanent
option disables tracking of changes made in the System Configuration Utility.
This option disables the ability to roll back changes by selecting the Normal Startup option from the General tab.
Services Tab
The Services tab lists all Windows services available on the computer,
including those installed by other applications running on the computer. You can enable or disable individual services at boot time when you think that running services might be causing boot problems. Clear the check box for those services you want to disable for the next boot, or click the Disable All
command button to disable all non-essential services.
To show only services installed by non-Microsoft programs, select the Hide All Microsoft Services check box. This enables you to more rapidly locate non-Microsoft services that might be contributing to boot problems.
Caution
Ensure that you do not disable essential services. You might encounter system stability problems or other malfunctions if you disable too many
services. Ensure that services you disable are not essential to your computer’s operation. The Disable All option does not disable secure Microsoft services required at boot time.
Startup Tab
In previous Windows versions, the Startup tab listed all applications that are configured to start automatically when the computer starts up. In Windows 10 this option has been removed and replaced with a link to Task Manager;
clicking this link opens the advanced version of Task Manager to the Startup tab.
Tools Tab
Shown in Figure 19-28, the Tools tab enumerates all diagnostic applications and other available tools. It provides a convenient location from which you can start a program; to do so, select the desired program and click Launch.
Figure 19-28. Tools Tab Enabling You to Start a Program from a Comprehensive List of Windows Diagnostic Utilities
Note
For more information on using System Configuration in Windows 10 , refer to "MSConfig the System Configuration Tool" at
https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wiki/windows_10-
update/msconfig-the-system-configuration-tool/273dea8e-4cbe-47e9-8489- f400e879ce17.
Configuring Indexing Options
Windows 10 helps you locate information on your computer by building an index of all the most commonly used file types on your computer. By default, Windows indexes all folders included in libraries, email, and offline files.
Data that you're not likely to search, such as program files and system files, are not indexed.
Use the following procedure to configure indexing options: