Startup sequence for Windows 7

The normal start up sequence for Windows 7 is:

1. Power-on self test (POST) phase.
    As soon as you turn on a computer

2. Initial start up phase.
   After the POST, the settings that are stored in the nonvolatile memory, such as boot order,
   determine the devices that the computer can use to start an operating system.

3. Windows Boot Manager phase.

• For computers that have a single operating system, Windows Boot Manager never displays a message It wait for a few moments to allow the user to press a key to display the standard boot menu or to press F8 (Advanced Boot Options) If the user does not press a key Windows Boot Manager starts the Windows Boot Loader.
• For computers with multiple operating systems, Windows Boot Manager displays a menu of operating system choices at start up. Depending on what you choose, Windows Boot Manager will start:
  
  
  • If you choose Windows Vista or Windows 7, Windows Boot Manager starts the Windows Boot Loader to open Windows.
  • If you choose Earlier Version Of Windows, for example Windows XP, Windows Boot Manager starts Ntldr, which then proceeds with the hardware detection phase.

4. Windows Boot Loader phase.
    The Windows Boot Loader does the following:

• Loads the operating system kernel, Ntoskrnl.exe.
• Loads the Hardware Abstraction Layer (HAL), Hal.dll
• Loads the system registry into memory.
• Scans for device drivers and loads all drivers that are configured for the boot class into memory.
• Enables paging. 
• Passes control to the operating system kernel, which starts the next phase

5.  Kernel loading phase.
The Windows Boot Loader is responsible for loading the Windows kernel (Ntoskrnl.exe) and the HAL into memory. Together, the kernel and the HAL initialize a group of software features that are called the Windows executive.

6. Logon phase.
The Windows subsystem starts Winlogon.exe, a system service that enables you to log on and
log off. Winlogon.exe then does the following:

• Starts the Services subsystem (Services.exe), also known as the SCM
• Starts the Local Security Authority (LSA) process (Lsass.exe).
• Parses the Ctrl+Alt+Delete key combination at the Begin Logon prompt (if the computer is part of an AD DS domain).

This sequence will vary if the computer is resuming from hibernation or if a non–Windows 7
option is selected during the Windows Boot Manager phase.

Windows 7 Privilege elevation

All users of clients running Windows 7 run with rights of a standard user. When a user attempts to do something that requires administrative privileges, for example add printer driver, her rights need to be raised from a standard user to an administrative user. This increase of rights is called privilege elevation. User Account Control is a gateway for privilege elevation. It allows users who are members of the local Administrators group to access administrative rights.

Link

Windows Servicing Store

When installing a service pack for Windows 7, or Windows Server 2008 R2, you might get an "Installation was not successful" error message. The most common causes of this problem are:

• An inconsistency in the Windows Servicing Store. The Windows Servicing Store is a feature that is required to successfully install the service packs.
• A program on your computer, such as an antivirus or antispyware program, is interfering with the installation of the service pack.

 

What is the System Update Readiness Tool?

The System Update Readiness Tool can help fix problems that might prevent Windows updates and service packs from installing. For example, an update might not install if a damaged system file prevents the update from recognizing the version of Windows that's running on your computer.

If your computer is having problems installing an update or a service pack, download and install the tool, which runs automatically. Then, try installing the update or service pack again. 

Link

Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 Service Pack 1

Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 Service Pack 1 is an important update that includes previously released security, performance, and stability updates for Windows 7 + 2008 R2. SP1 also includes new improvements to features and services in Windows 7, such as improved reliability when connecting to HDMI audio devices, printing using the XPS Viewer, and restoring previous folders in Windows Explorer after restarting.

Link

Windows 7 Compatibility Center

The Compatibility Center lists thousands of the most popular devices and software programs to help you easily identify what will or won't work with the Windows 7 operating system.

Link

Windows 7 Family Pack

Link

DISM tool

DISM is a command line tool that applies updates, drivers, and language packs to a Windows image.
Here is an example of how to add Off-line drivers and Windows Update packages on a .wim File, on windows 7

a) We have a wim file on for example c:\install.wim
b) We Have a c:\secupdate folder with Windows6.1-KB979309-x86.msu update file
c We Have a c:\intel folder with intel drivers
d) We need to mount the install.wim on c:\123
e) Then we can add with dism.exe command Intel drivers and Windows Update file on the mounted wim file

1) Mount c:\install.wim
dism /mount-wim /wimfile:c:\install.wim /index:1 /mountdir:c:\123

2) Display Drivers
dism /image:c:\123 /get-drivers /all

3) AddDriver from C:\intel\WIN7\IntelCP2.inf
dism /image:c:\123 /add-driver:C:\intel\WIN7\IntelCP2.inf

4) To Add multiple drivers from the same folder
dism /image:c:\123 /add-driver /driver:c:\intel\win7

5) to Get information about application patches to a mounted image do the following
1st. dism /image:c:\123 /get-apps (for Applications)
2nd. dism /image:c:\123 /get-apppatches (For Application Patches)

6) to compare an online images (running operating system) with an offline-mounted images
a. dism /online /get-packages > c:\onlinepackages.txt

b. dism /image:c:\123 /get-packages > c:\offlinepackages.txt

This enables you to compare this 2 lists...

7) To install Windows6.1-KB979309-x86.msu update date for windows 7

dism /image:c:\123 /add-package /packagepath:c:\secupdate\Windows6.1-KB979309-x86.msu

8) When you finished you can apply all the changes and to unmount the image.

dism /Unmount-Wim /MountDir:c:\123 /commit

If you don’t want to apply the changes, you can use the /discard parameter instead of /commit.

9)If you want to check the windows update package which you install before you need to mount again the install.wim file and then run again
dism /image:c:\123 /get-packages (for windows Update packages)

Deploy Windows 7 from a USB Flash Drive

Η  παρακάτω διαδικασία θα προετοιμάσει το USB flash drive (min. 4GB) σας, για τα αρχεία των Windows 7, μέσω του οποίου μπορείτε να κάνετε εγκατάσταση του λειτουργικού συστήματος Win7 στον Η/Υ σας.  Προσοχή: Η διαδικασία θα διαγράψει όλα τα δεδομένα στο USB flash drive, οπότε κρατήστε αντίγραφα ασφαλείας πριν συνεχίσετε.

Ανοίγουμε command prompt

1. Diskpart
2. Η εντολή list disk θα μας εμφανίσει όλους τους συνδεδεμένους δίσκους του Η/Υ μας και το μέγεθός τους.
3. Ας υποθέσουμε ότι το USB flash drive έχει το γράμμα x
4. Γράφουμε την ακόλουθη εντολή: (Προσοχή στο drive letter που θα επιλέξετε. Στην περίπτωση μας x)

a.     select disk x

b.    clean

c.     create partition primary

d.    select partition 1

e.     active

f.     format fs=fat32

g.    assign

h.     exit

Μόλις τελειώσει το Format, κάνουμε copy όλα τα αρχεία από το DVD Windows 7 στο USB flash drive. Με το συγκεκριμένο USB flash drive μπορούμε να κάνουμε εγκατάσταση του λειτουργικού συστήματος win7 εφόσον επιλέξετε στο BIOS του Η/Υ σας, να κάνει boot από το USB drive.

Windows 7 Commands

Add/Remove Programs = appwiz.cpl
Administrative Tools = control admintools
Authorization Manager= azman.msc
Calculator = calc
Certificate Manager = certmgr.msc
Character Map = charmap
Check Disk Utility = chkdsk
Command Prompt = cmd.exe
Component Services = dcomcnfg
Computer Management = compmgmt.msc
Control Panel = control
Date and Time Properties = timedate.cpl
Defragment User Interface = dfrgui
Device Manager = devmgmt.msc
Direct X Troubleshooter = dxdiag
Disk Cleanup Utility = cleanmgr
Disk Management = diskmgmt.msc
Disk Parmelonion Manager = diskpart
Display Properties = control desktop or, alternatively desk.cpl
Ditilizer Calibration Tool = tabcal
Downloads = Downloads
DPI Scaling = dpiscaling
Driver Package Installer = dpinst
Driver Verifier Utility = verifier
DVD Player = dvdplay
Encryption File System = rekeywiz
Event Viewer = eventvwr.msc
Fax Cover Sheet Editor = fxscover
File Signature Verification Tool = sigverif
Folders Properties = control folders
Fonts = control fonts
Free Cell Card Game = freecell
Group Policy Editor = gpedit.msc
Iexpress Wizard = iexpress
Internet Explorer = iexplore
Internet Properties = inetcpl.cpl
IP Configuration = ipconfig.exe
iSCSI Initiator = iscsicpl
Keyboard Properties = control keyboard
Local Security Settings = secpol.msc
Local Users and Groups = lusrmgr.msc
Logs You Out Of Windows = logoff
Microsoft Paint = mspaint.exe
Microsoft Support Diagnostic Tool = msdt
Mouse Properties = control mouse
Mouse Properties = main.cpl
Network Connections = control netconnections
Network Connections = ncpa.cpl
Notepad = notepad
ODBC Data Source Administrator = odbcad32
Optional Features Manager = optionalfeatures
Performance Monitor = perfmon.msc
Phone and Modem Options = telephon.cpl
Power Configuration = powercfg.cpl
Printer Migration = PrintBrmUi
Printers and Faxes = control printers
Private Character Editor = eudcedit
Regional Settings = intl.cpl
Registry Editor = regedit.exe
Remote Desktop = mstsc
Resultant Set of Policy = rsop.msc
Scheduled Tasks = control schedtasks
Security Center = wscui.cpl
Services = services.msc
Shared Folders/MMC = fsmgmt.msc
Shuts Down Windows = shutdown
Snipping Tool = snippingtool
Sound Recorder = soundrecorder
Sound Volume = sndvol
Sounds and Audio = mmsys.cpl
Spider Solitare Card Game = spider
SQL Client Configuration = cliconfg
Sticky Note = StikyNot
Stored User Names and Passwords = credwiz
System Configuration Editor = sysedit
System Configuration Utility = msconfig
System File Checker Utility = sfc
System Information = msinfo32
Task Manager = taskmgr
Trusted Platform Module = TpmInit
User Accounts = netplwiz or, alternatively control userpasswords2
Utility Manager = utilman
Windows Activation = slui
Windows Backup Utility = sdclt
Windows Fax and Scan = wfs
Windows Firewall = firewall.cpl
Windows Firewall with Advanced Security = wf.msc
Windows Image Acquisition = wiaacmgr
Windows Magnifier = magnify
Windows Management Infrastructure = wmimgmt.msc
Windows Media Player = wmplayer
Windows Share Creation Wizard = shrpubw
Windows Standalong Update Manager = wusa
Windows System Security Tool = syskey
Windows Update App Manager = wuapp

Step by step guide on how to make Windows PE boot disk for Windows 7

1. Εγκαταστήστε το Windows AIK tools στον Υπολογιστή σας.

2. Στην συνέχεια από το ALL Programs\Windows AIK τρέξτε το Deployment Tools Command Prompt

3. Θα πρέπει να δημιουργήσουμε ένα directory όπου θα αποθηκευτούν προσωρινά τα αρχεία του Windows PE.  π.χ. c:\winpe_amd64

4. Από το Deployment Tools Command Prompt τρέχουμε copype.cmd
όπου  είναι x86 για Windows 32-bit αρχιτεκτονική και amd64 για 64-bit αρχιτεκτονική. Τέλος είναι το path που θα αποθηκευτούν τα αρχεία μας. π.χ. c:\winpe_amd64 
Commands
Copype.cmd x86 c:\winpe_x86 για 32bit
Copype.cmd amd64 c:\winpe_amd64 για 64bit

5. Μετά το Copype.cmd πηγαίνουμε στο Directory c:\winpe_amd64 και αντιγράφουμε το αρχείο (Winpe.wim) στον φάκελο c:\Winpe_amd64\ISO\sources και το μετονομάζουμε σε Boot.wim  
Π.χ.copy c:\winpe_amd64\winpe.wim  c:\winpe_amd64\ISO\sources\boot.wim

6. Αντιγράφουμε το αρχείο ImageX στον φάκελο c:\winpe_amd64\iso\
Π.χ.  copy "C:\Program Files\Windows AIK\Tools\amd64\imagex.exe" c:\winpe_amd64\iso\

7. Δημιουργούμε το Windows PE image (.iso) κάνοντας χρήση της εντολής Oscdimg.exe
Π.χ.: oscdimg -n -bc:\winpe_amd64\etfsboot.com c:\winpe_amd64\ISO  c:\winpe_amd64\winpe_amd64.iso

8. Τέλος κάψτε το image αρχείο που δημιουργήσατε  (Winpe_amd64.iso) σε ένα CD- DVD-ROM

Download Windows Automated Installation Toolkit

Remote Server Administration Tools for Windows 7

Με το Remote Server Administration Tools για Windows 7 μπορούμε να διαχειριστούμε εναν Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows Server 2008, ή Windows Server 2003 μέσα από τα Windows 7. Αφού κατεβάσετε την έκδοση που θέλετε (x86 ή 64) και την εγκαταστήσετε στο μηχανημα σας απο το Control Panel επιλέγετε....

• Programs and Features
• Turn Windows features on or off
• Server Administration Tools 

Download