What is Microsoft |  | by Alan Proctor |
Do you know what it is?
Do you know how it's different from and similar
to Windows 3.x?
Do you know that Windows NT can change the way your work
is done?
These questions are answered below.
Microsoft NT Workstation is an operating system (OS) that allows many applications to run simultaneously. Yes, with Windows 3.x several applications could all be "running" and minimized on the desktop. The difference is with NT you can have a number crunching macro running in a spreadsheet, a word processor printing a memo, two batch files running in two separate DOS boxes, all while you're surfing the Net. This is possible because of the 32-bit multithreaded nature of NT. Translated, different processes all access the CPU simultaneously. Granted, fewer processes running means that they get more processor attention, and consequently run "faster."
On first use, NT seems much "slower" than Windows 3.x. Actually, it is. It starts slower, the applications load slower, and sometimes even the processes (depending on how many you have running) appear slow. This is due to the fact that all the programs and services running on NT access the CPU together (whereas in Windows 3.x the programs take turns accessing the processor). However, the appearance of speed also has a lot to do with what type of PC you have, 486 or Pentium, the speed of that PC, 33MHz to 120MHz, and the quantity of RAM. In any case, waiting will be involved.
Therefore, to avoid wasting any time waiting for the application to finish its process, another kind of multitasking becomes a necessity. When you first start NT and load e-mail, a spreadsheet, a database, a word processor, and run batch files to search log files, you can organize your day, get coffee, etc. While the log file search is printing, answer your e-mail. I think you get the idea. True multitasking calls for overall multitasking and, hence, more efficient use of time. Otherwise you'll suffer retinal burnout staring at the monitor waiting for everything to finish. However, sometimes the task you started never finishes.
Yes, applications can still lock up in NT. The difference is thatunlike Windows 3.xcrashed programs do not also (generally) crash the operating system. This is achieved by forcing 16-bit applications to reside in their own separate memory space and terminating the stalled application. For example, let's say that your word processor, for whatever reason, quits responding to your keyboard commands. Hold down the control key and press the escape key. That will bring up a dialog box entitled Task List. This list will display all the currently running applications. Simply click on the application that has frozen and choose the End Task button. Done. You can now continue on with what you were doing by restarting the application from the icon. To aid in NT's ability to keep 16-bit applications from hosing the entire OS, there is an option that can be turned on from the icon's properties. Single click on an icon in a group box and choose File Properties, or Alt-Enter. At the bottom of the properties dialog box for that icon there is a box that can be checked labeled with "Run in separate memory space." Clicking on that box, which fills in the "X," forces that program to run in its own 16-bit memory space. This is but one example of how NT can be personally customized in ways Windows 3.x never could.
For instance, both the cursor and the DOS shell can be tailored to personal preference. In the Main group box, double click on the Control Panel icon and choose the Cursors icon. The Cursor Schemes dialog box gives different examples of icon groups for the cursor that can be chosen. Similar changes can be made to the DOS shell by clicking on the Console icon from within Control Panel. At the Console Windows Properties dialog box, changes can be made from the General Settings, Font Selection, Screen Style and Position, or Screen Colors tabs. However, your NT Workstation is not the only resource available.
Using File Manager, you can attach to other people's PCs (assuming they give you access) and vice versa for data and application sharing. There are two main ways to connect to other workstations. The first is to click on the button which is right in the middle and underneath the pull down menus Options and Security. The second method is to choose Disk from the pull down menu, then Connect Network Drive. Both of these means will go to the Connect Network Drive dialog box. From there you double click on the Microsoft Windows Network to display all of the available PCs (this is analogous to Novell's map command). If someone is sharing a hard drive or CD, etc., then you can access the files and programs located there. To give other users similar access to your PCfrom File Managerclick on one of your drives (A:, C:, or the CD), choose Disk, Share As, and the Shared Directory dialog box pops up. Here you can give access to your PC's drives and in the Permissions button you can further restrict who has access or who doesn't.
Some other administrative details include password protection and locking the NT Workstation. Holding down the control, alt, and delete keys simultaneously brings up the Windows NT Security dialog box. When you leave your workstation, it is suggested that you click on the Lock Workstation button. Doing so requires any one sitting down at your PC to log on as you or the administrator of your workstation. Additionally, when your passwords on Novell servers expire, you will need to shell out to DOS, type setpass, change your passwords, and then choose the Change Password button from the Windows NT Security dialog box to enable password synchronization (which occurs when your NT password matches that of your Novell passwords).
I hope I answered the questions to your satisfaction. Please keep in mind that the examples, illustrations, and descriptions above by no means begin to encompass NT's vast functions and features. However, for the new user, it's a great starting point.
Alan Proctor is a HAL-PC member and Certified Novell Administrator.
E-mail me at webmaster@hal-pc.org with any comments you have and tell me what you want to see here.
Back to the User Journal Home Page