2.1.6. Configure Microsoft Windows settings. (Obj. 1.6)

💡 First Principle: A technician must know how to navigate and configure core Windows settings to customize the user experience and optimize system performance.

Beyond the deep system tools, a technician spends a significant amount of time in the standard Windows settings interfaces, configuring the system to meet user needs and corporate policies. In modern Windows (10/11), these settings are split between the new Settings app and the legacy Control Panel. While Microsoft is moving more options to the Settings app, many advanced configurations still reside in the Control Panel, and you must be comfortable with both. These settings control everything from the visual appearance to power management and network identity.

Key areas you must master include:

• System Settings: This is a broad category. Here you can change the computer name (essential for identifying it on a network), configure Remote Desktop and Remote Assistance, and manage Power & Sleep settings.
• Power Options (Control Panel): This is a critical area for managing performance and energy use, especially on laptops. You can create and customize power plans (e.g., Balanced, Power Saver, High Performance). A key function here is defining what happens when the power button is pressed or the laptop lid is closed (e.g., Sleep, Hibernate, Shut down, Do nothing).
• Devices and Printers: Manage installed hardware like printers, scanners, and Bluetooth devices. This is where you set the default printer.
• Programs and Features (Control Panel - appwiz.cpl): The primary location for uninstalling desktop applications.
• Network and Sharing Center (Control Panel): The hub for managing network adapters, setting up new connections, and configuring sharing options.
• User Accounts: Manage local user accounts, change account types (Standard User vs. Administrator), and configure User Account Control (UAC) settings. The principle of least privilege dictates that users should run as a Standard User for daily tasks.
• File Explorer Options: Customize the look and feel of File Explorer. Critically, this is where you can check the box to "Show hidden files, folders, and drives" and uncheck "Hide extensions for known file types", two essential steps for advanced troubleshooting and malware identification.

Technician's Action Plan: Scenario: A user who frequently gives presentations has a new laptop. They are frustrated because every time they close the lid to move from their desk to the conference room, the laptop goes to sleep, and they have to wait for it to wake up and reconnect to the projector. They want it to stay on when the lid is closed, as long as it's plugged into power.

1. Identify the Correct Tool: Recognize this is a power management setting. The most direct way to access it is through the Control Panel's Power Options.
2. Navigate to the Setting: Guide the user to open the Control Panel. They can do this by searching for "Control Panel" in the Start Menu.
3. Locate Power Options: Tell them to find and click on "Power Options".
4. Find the Lid Close Action: On the left-hand side of the Power Options window, there is a link that says "Choose what closing the lid does". Have them click it.
5. Configure the Desired Behavior: The next screen shows options for "On battery" and "Plugged in". Instruct the user to find the row for "When I close the lid" and change the dropdown menu in the "Plugged in" column from "Sleep" to "Do nothing".
6. Save and Verify: Have them click "Save changes". Now, ask them to plug in the laptop, close the lid for a few seconds, and then open it again. They will see that the screen is still on and active, confirming the setting has been applied correctly. Explain that it will still go to sleep on battery power to preserve the charge.

Reflection Question: Why is it a best practice for users to operate their Windows PCs with a "Standard User" account for daily tasks, rather than an "Administrator" account?