Configuring Windows

A user may want to change system settings for various reasons such as personalization, troubleshooting, optimization, etc. In this section, we will explore how to achieve these.

Settings and Control Panel

In Windows, Settings and Control Panel are two interfaces used to adjust various system configurations, but they have differences:

Settings:

• The currently used tool

• Provides ease of use with submenus

• Offers quick access

• Continues to receive new features and functions

Control Panel:

• Represents the old way of configuring Windows

• Uses a classic folder structure with various applications

• Offers a more detailed level of control

• Appeals to experienced users who might need access to advanced options

• Is gradually being phased out and replaced by Settings (In Windows 11, some items in Control Panel directly open the equivalent menu in Settings.)

System Configuration (MSConfig)

It is a system configuration tool used in the Windows operating system. This tool is used to configure and manage system startup and system configuration settings. It is typically used by a system administrator or advanced users.

When you run the program, a window opens with the following tabs:

General

In the General tab, we can select which devices and services should be loaded during Windows boot. Options:

• Normal

• Diagnostic

• Selective

Boot

In the Boot tab, we can define boot options such as Safeboot.

Services

In the Services tab, we can view all services. We can enable or disable services.

Startup

Microsoft recommends using Task Manager to enable/disable startup items. The following message is displayed in the Startup tab:

"To manage startup items, use the Startup section in Task Manager"

Tools

The Tools tab in Msconfig lists various utilities that can help you configure the operating system more thoroughly. Short explanations are available to understand the function of each program.

The selected command section will change for each tool.

Registry Editor (Regedit)

The Registry is a database that contains configuration data and system settings for Windows. This database hosts the manner in which Windows operates and many system and application settings.

There are various methods to view/edit the registry. One of them is using the Registry Editor.

The Registry Editor allows users to edit and adjust the Registry. It is useful for changing the behavior of the computer or customizing system settings.

However, making incorrect changes in the Registry can adversely affect the stability or proper functioning of the system, so caution is advised when making such changes.

Local Group Policy

It is a Windows tool used to manage a single computer. This tool allows you to manage your computer's security settings, user rights, and other configuration options.

GPO (Group Policy Object) is centrally managed through a domain controller to manage multiple computers in a network environment.

But the local group policy is used to manage a single computer. It cannot be managed centrally.