System configuration in Windows involves adjusting various settings to optimize performance, enhance security, and ensure that the system operates according to user preferences. This guide will walk you through several key aspects of system configuration using built-in Windows tools and commands.

Examples:

1. Configuring System Properties via Control Panel

The Control Panel is a traditional tool in Windows for accessing system settings.

• Accessing System Properties:
  1. Press Win + R to open the Run dialog.
  2. Type control and press Enter to open the Control Panel.
  3. Navigate to System and Security > System.
  4. Here, you can view and modify system properties such as computer name, domain settings, and hardware configurations.

2. Using Command Prompt (CMD) for System Configuration

The Command Prompt provides a powerful interface for configuring system settings.

• 
  

  Changing the Computer Name:

  
  

  WMIC computersystem where name="%COMPUTERNAME%" call rename name="NewComputerName"

  
  

  Replace NewComputerName with the desired name for your computer. You will need to restart your computer for the changes to take effect.

  
  


• 
  

  Viewing IP Configuration:

  
  

  ipconfig /all

  
  

  This command displays all current TCP/IP network configuration values and refreshes DHCP and DNS settings.

  
  

3. Configuring System Settings via PowerShell

PowerShell offers more advanced scripting capabilities compared to CMD.

• 
  

  Checking for Windows Updates:

  
  

  Get-WindowsUpdateLog

  
  

  This command retrieves the Windows Update log, which can be useful for troubleshooting update issues.

  
  


• 
  

  Changing Power Plan Settings:

  
  

  powercfg /list
  
  powercfg /setactive SCHEME_MIN

  
  

  The first command lists all available power schemes, and the second command sets the active power plan to the "Power saver" scheme.

  
  

4. Managing Startup Programs

Startup programs can be managed to improve boot times and system performance.

• 
  

  Using Task Manager:
  1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
  2. Navigate to the Startup tab.
  3. Right-click on any program to disable or enable it at startup.

  
  


• 
  

  Using PowerShell:

  
  

  Get-CimInstance Win32_StartupCommand | Select-Object Name, Command, Location

  
  

  This command lists all startup programs, providing details about their names, command lines, and locations.

  
  

5. Configuring User Accounts

User account settings can be adjusted to control access and permissions.

• Creating a New User Account via CMD:
  

  net user NewUsername NewPassword /add

  
  

  Replace NewUsername and NewPassword with the desired username and password. This command creates a new user account on the system.