1. The Physical Layer describes the physical properties of the various communications media, as well as the electrical properties and interpretation of the exchanged signals. Ex: this layer defines the size of Ethernet coaxial cable, the type of BNC connector used, and the termination method.
2. The Data Link Layer describes the logical organization of data bits transmitted on a particular medium. Ex: this layer defines the framing, addressing and check summing of Ethernet packets.
3. The Network Layer describes how a series of exchanges over various data links can deliver data between any two nodes in a network. Ex: this layer defines the addressing and routing structure of the Internet.
4. The Transport Layer describes the quality and nature of the data delivery. Ex: this layer defines if and how retransmissions will be used to ensure data delivery.
5. The Session Layer describes the organization of data sequences larger than the packets handled by lower layers. Ex: this layer describes how request and reply packets are paired in a remote procedure call.
6. The Presentation Layer describes the syntax of data being transferred. Ex: this layer describes how floating point numbers can be exchanged between hosts with different math formats.

The Application Layer describes how real work actually gets done. Ex: this layer would implement file system operations.

Scheduling backups is one way to make sure it gets done.

One of the best ways to guarantee you’ll remember to create regular backups is to schedule them. In this case, you want to create a schedule for the saved job just created, which you named Media. Scheduling backups is achieved using a wizard, and the wizard walks you through all required steps.

To use the wizard to create a scheduled backup for the latest job, Media:

1. Open the Backup Utility, located in the All Programs | Accessories |

System Tools list. By default, it opens in Wizard Mode. As in

the prior section, for the purposes of creating the type of media

backup you want to create here, start the program in Advanced

Mode. If a wizard starts, close it.

2. Once in Advanced Mode, choose the Backup tab.

3. Click Job | Media.bks, the job created in the last section. If you did

not create a job, select the folders that contain media to back up.

4. Click the Schedule Jobs tab.

5. Select Add Job, and click Yes to use the files currently open.

6. Click Next to start the wizard, and click Next again to accept the

selected files and folders. Choose a place to save your backup and

create a name for it. Click Browse to choose a location, and click

Open when you have found the location. Click Next.

7. On the Type Of Backup page, select Normal. Click Next. (For

more information about types of backups, see the Help files.)

8. On the How To Back Up page, check Verify Data After Backup.

Leave the other boxes unchecked. Click Next.

9. On the Backup Options page, choose to append the data to an

existing backup or create a new backup and replace the old one.

I prefer the latter. Click Next.

10. On the When To Back Up page, select Later, name the job, and

click Set Schedule.

11. Set the desired schedule.

12. Click OK and input an administrator name and password. Click OK.

13. Verify the information is correct, finish the wizard, and click Close.

The Backup Utility will now run automatically and back up your data on

a schedule.

Now that you’ve gotten your system and media performance in tiptop shape, it’s time to move forward and learn exactly how to be a true administrator. Administrative tasks, if you’re one to tweak, can be quite interesting. In the next chapter you’ll learn some of my favorites, including setting up auditing of events, managing users and groups, configuring a local security policy, and viewing in-depth system information. These tasks can really get your computer secure and keep it that way—and that’s security from your kids, unintentional harm from visitors, and even from your spouse!

The Backup Utility can be used to create various types of backups, including one just for media.

While full backups can be quite useful, sometimes you just need to back up your media files. When creating this type of backup, you browse to all of your media files, no matter where they are stored, and select them for

backup. The files don’t have to be on only one drive, and they can be backed up from Network Places. Once you configure the backup, you can schedule it to run at a time that’s convenient for you.

To create a backup for media only:

1. Open the Backup Utility, located in the All Programs | Accessories |

System Tools list. By default, it opens in Wizard Mode. For the

purposes of creating the type of media backup you want to create

here, you should start the program in Advanced Mode. If a wizard

starts, close it.

2. Once in Advanced Mode, choose the Backup tab. From here, you

can create a backup that is specific only to the media stored on your

computer. Expand each drive and locate and check all folders that

contain media.

3. For the Backup Media Or File Name box located at the bottom of

the Backup tab, click Browse and locate a place to permanently or

temporarily store the backup. Later, you can drag and drop the file

to another drive or to a CD or DVD.

4. Click Start Backup, read the choices, and click Start Backup again.

You’ll need to make a choice about the type of backup based on

whether you prefer to create a new backup each time or append the

data to the old backup. I prefer to create a new backup each time,

but it takes longer.

5. Once the backup is created, you can save it as a job for future use.

Click Job | Save Selection As. Name the selection Media.

The next time you want to run the job manually, click Job | Media.bks, the saved selection

in Step 5.

Keeping your backups on an external hard drive is a pretty safe way to keep them. That is, until there’s a fire or flood, in which case having saved them to a CD and put them in another room or home may avoid some additional anguish. To burn to a CD, simply locate the backup and drag and drop it to your CD-R or DVD burner. If there’s ever a disaster, you’ll be glad you did.

If you have Windows XP Home, you’re probably wondering where the Backup Utility is; follow the steps here to install it.

The Backup Utility that is native to Windows XP Professional isn’t included by default in Windows XP Home Edition. If you have the Home Edition, you’ll have to take some steps to install it manually.

If you have Windows XP Home and the Windows XP Home Edition CD-ROM (not a restore CD):

1. Place the Windows XP Home Edition CD-ROM into the CD-ROM

drive.

2. When the program opens, click Exit.

3. Open My Computer and locate the CD drive.

4. Right-click the drive’s icon and click Explore.

5. Open the VALUEADD folder.

6. Open the MSFT folder, and then NTBACKUP.

7. Double-click the Ntbackup.msi file and work through the wizard.

When complete, click Finish.

Backing up data is extremely important. You know you should back up your important files regularly, and that includes your pictures, music, and videos. Many people simply drag and drop the folders to an external drive or use CD burning software to burn their data to CDs. Unfortunately, this way of backing up leaves you wide open for procrastinating, and many times, the job simply isn’t done.

Windows XP Professional contains a backup utility that can help you in your quest for regular backups. Windows Backup Utility helps you back up automatically, and on a schedule. And, although it doesn’t let you burn to CDs, there are ways around that, making the Backup Utility the perfect option for those who need a little reminder every week. If you have Windows XP

Home, you can still use the Backup Utility, you just have to install it.

Don’t let your identity go unprotected.

Windows Media Player is pretty secure as is, and before you start worrying about online identity theft, I want to clarify that the Media Player never sends anyone any personally identifiable information about you to any web sites it visits. However, some information is sent out to the Internet when you’re logged on and using Windows Media Player, and you should know what it is.

When playing CDs and DVDs while online, Windows Media Player connects to the Internet and returns information about the media you’re playing, such as the songs included on the CD, album cover art, artist information, DVD information, and more. However, Microsoft doesn’t know what music you listen to or what videos you download and watch. For those who are not completely reassured by that statement and want to feel even more secure, I’ve included this section. You can configure the options to be a little stricter than those set by default. Doing so will allow you to have a say in exactly what (if any) information is sent to Microsoft or any third-party music sites. To see your privacy options and perhaps change them:

1. Open Windows Media Player, right-click the title bar, and choose

Tools | Options.

2. Click the Privacy tab. One of the options

is Send Unique Player ID To Content

Providers. Information it sends isn’t

personally identifiable, but it may send

information about connection time,

IP address, OS version, Media Player

version, player identification number, date,

protocol, and so forth. The purpose of

this, of course, is to provide your content

provider with information that will help

it serve you better and give you a better

experience and higher-quality output.

However, if sending this information seems

intrusive, you can disable it.

3. Another option that you can disable is

Update Music Files By Retrieving Media

Info From The Internet. When this is checked,

and it is by default, the Media Player will attempt

to obtain information about your CDs and DVDs from

WindowsMedia.com, including artist name, track name,

and similar data. Information about your music will be

gathered and sent to a database, for the purpose of enhancing your

musical experience. If you do not want to share information about

your CDs and DVDs, and you do not want to obtain information

from WindowsMedia.com, uncheck this box.

4. If you ever want to clear Media Player’s History, click Clear History

on the Privacy tab.

5. To clear caches for CDs, DVDs, and devices, click Clear Caches.