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The Windows file system is large and complex, featuring not only a huge number of essential files and folders for the Windows OS, your software and hardware, but also several different underlying file systems that manage and maintain file integrity on your disks. In this book you´ll learn how to navigate around the Windows file structure (up to Windows 8.1), with what does what and how essential everything is. Additionally we´ll show you how to effectively manage file, folder and security permissions to ensure users get what the access they need, and no more. We´ll also show you how to repair the underlying disk file system should something go horribly wrong.

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Chapter 1: Introducing the Windows File System
Chapter Goal: A deep dive into the structure of Microsoft Windows and how it manages and arranges OS, update and software files and hardware drivers

The Windows File Structure
Critical Windows System Files and Folders
Managing software and apps
Windows hardware driver files and management
Managing updates in Windows Chapter 2: Understanding NTFS, FAT and ReFS File Systems
Chapter Goal: The main Windows disk file systems and structures detailed

Introducing the Windows disk file systems
NTFS
FAT (FAT32 / exFAT)
ReFS Chapter 3: Permissions, Ownership and Auditing
Chapter Goal: A common issue with Windows is managing correct file permissions and ownership, this chapter is a complete guide in managing these effectively

Managing file, folder and disk permissions
Managing file and folder ownership
Successfully auditing Windows files, folders and assets

Chapter 4: Managing File Security
Chapter Goal: Security is essential with PCs in the workplace and at home. This chapter will teach the reader how to effectively secure their Windows OS, software and files

Managing Windows, file, folder and disk security
Managing security for documents and both disk and network assets
Maintaining security best-practice in Windows

Chapter 5: Managing and Troubleshooting Encryption and Compression
Chapter Goal: This chapter will teach the reader how to effectively manage and deploy security and compression on their files, folders and disks

Using and managing Windows file compression
Using and managing EFS in Windows
Using and Managing Bitlocker and Bitlocker To Go Chapter 6: Troubleshooting the Windows File System
Chapter Goal: The disk file system in Windows is also prone to errors, this chapter will get readers started in diagnosing and troubleshooting errors.

How disk file system errors occur
Common disk file system errors
Diagnosing and repairing common disk file system errors Chapter 7: Booting the unbootable – Repairing the Windows Boot System
Chapter Goal: If a PC won´t start it´s likely that the boot system will need to be repaired. This chapter is a complete guide on how to automatically and manually fix this in Windows

Automatically repairing the Windows boot system
Effecting manual repair to the Windows boot system
Rebuilding a corrupt Windows boot system Chapter 8: Restoring Files and Folder Security Settings

Chapter Goal: Sometimes it all goes horribly wrong and users can be locked out of just about everything. This chapter will teach readers how to manually reset the file and folder permissions on all files and documents in a safe and secure way.

When might you need to universally reset permissions?
Using ICACLS to reset file permissions and ownership Chapter 9: Repairing the Windows File System using a Portable OS
Chapter Goal: If Windows is unbootable or the file system corrupt, a portable OS on USB Flash Drive or DVD can still be used to rescue the OS and your files

Linux, an operating system on a disk
Creating a bootable USB Windows installation
Repairing and rescuing documents using a portable OS
Manually repairing the Windows file system using a portable OS
Manually repairing the Windows boot system using a portable OS

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