iti 18 April 2025

πŸ› οΈ Viewing System Properties, Control Panel Details, and Setting Environment Variables

πŸ“˜ Introduction

Understanding the system properties and control panel features is crucial for system configuration and troubleshooting. Environment variables help configure system-wide settings that control the behavior of software and hardware. This practical will guide ITI students on how to view and manage these features in Windows.

πŸ–₯️ Viewing System Properties

βœ… Steps to View System Properties

  1. Right-click on This PC or My Computer on the desktop or in File Explorer.
  2. Select Properties.
  3. The System window will open displaying important information:

πŸ“‹ System Information Includes:

  • Windows Edition: Version of Windows installed.
  • Processor: Details about the CPU.
  • Installed RAM: Total and usable memory.
  • System Type: 32-bit or 64-bit operating system.
  • Computer Name: Name assigned to the computer.
  • Workgroup Settings: Workgroup details if part of a network.
  • Windows Activation Status: Whether Windows is activated or not.

βš™οΈ Exploring the Control Panel

βœ… Accessing Control Panel

  1. Click on the Start Menu.
  2. Type Control Panel in the search bar and click to open it.

πŸ“ Common Control Panel Categories:

  • System and Security: Firewall, Backup, Windows Update.
  • Network and Internet: Network settings and sharing options.
  • Hardware and Sound: Printers, devices, sound settings.
  • Programs: Uninstall or change programs.
  • User Accounts: Manage user accounts and passwords.
  • Appearance and Personalization: Themes, screen savers, display settings.

πŸ” Viewing Detailed Information

Switch View by option to Large Icons or Small Icons to see all individual settings in the Control Panel.

🌐 Viewing and Setting Environment Variables

βœ… What are Environment Variables?

Environment variables are key-value pairs that affect how processes and programs run on the system. Examples include system paths and temporary folders.

βœ… Viewing Environment Variables

  1. Right-click on This PC and select Properties.
  2. Click on Advanced system settings from the left sidebar.
  3. In the System Properties window, click on Environment Variables....

πŸ› οΈ Setting or Modifying Environment Variables

  1. Under User variables or System variables, click New to add a new variable.
  2. To edit an existing variable, select it and click Edit.
  3. Provide a Variable Name and Variable Value.
  4. Click OK to save the changes.

πŸ“‹ Example:

  • Variable Name: PATH
  • Variable Value: C:\Program Files\Java\jdk\bin

Setting the PATH variable allows programs to run Java tools from any command prompt window without navigating to the folder.

πŸ§ͺ Practice Activities for Students

  • View your computer's system properties and note the processor and RAM details.
  • Open the Control Panel and explore different categories.
  • Add a new environment variable named TEST_VARIABLE with value Success.
  • Modify the PATH variable carefully (only under guidance).

πŸ“Œ Summary

  • System Properties provide detailed system information.
  • The Control Panel helps configure and troubleshoot the computer.
  • Environment variables are critical for system and application operations.
  • Proper handling of environment variables is important to maintain system functionality. βš™οΈπŸ–₯️