Elements and Performance Criteria

The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below. Essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) may also be included.

OS may include:
Mac OS X
Linux:
Debian
Fedora
Google Chrome OS
Kubuntu
Linux Mint
Red Hat
Ubuntu
Microsoft Windows:
Windows 2000
Windows 7 (32 bit versus 64 bit)
Windows Vista (32 bit versus 64 bit)
Windows XP (32 bit versus 64 bit)
mobile OS:
Android
Blackberry
iPhone
Palm
Symbian
Windows Phone 7 series.
OS features may include:
configure power management:
hibernate
sleep timers
standby
suspend
wake on local area network (LAN)
device manager:
driver signing
install and update device drivers
verify
demonstrate safe removal of peripherals
directory structures:
create folders
navigation of directory structures
disk preparation order:
format drive
partition
start installation
files:
attributes
creation
extensions
permissions
file systems:
FAT32 versus new technology file system (NTFS)
installation methods:
boot media, such as DVD, CD, floppy or universal serial bus (USB)
factory recovery partition
install from image
network installation
recover CD
operating system installation options:
file system type
network configuration
repair install
user data migration, such as user state migration tool (USMT)
verification of hardware compatibility and minimum requirements
virtual memory.
Appropriate person may include:
authorised business representative
client
supervisor.
Boot utility options may include:
boot options:
boot to restore point
recovery options
safe mode:
automated system recovery (ASR)
emergency repair disk (ERD)
recovery console
disk boot order or device priority:
types of boot devices, such as disk, network and USB.
OS user interface may include:
based on Windows (adopt interface to undertake similar tasks with chosen operating system):
administrative tools:
performance monitor, event viewer, services, and computer management
command prompt utilities:
ipconfig
Ping
Telnet
control panel
location of basic network settings between OS versions
my computer
my network places or home group
MMC
run line utilities:
cmd
direct diagnostics (DXdiag)
msconfig
MSINFO32
REGEDIT
start menu
task bar or systray
task manager
Windows Explorer, such as libraries in Windows 7.
Directory structures may include:
fonts
offline files and folders
program files
system file locations
temporary files
user file locations
user profile and program files
virtual directories.
Organisational requirements may include:
availability of system to be optimised
client support documentation
in-house or vendor; contracting arrangements relating to IT purchasing
IT policy and procedures relating to service levels and installation
level of complexity of technical manuals.
Command line options may include:
CHKDSK (/f /r)
COPY (/a /v /y)
DIR
EDIT
FORMAT
GREP
IPCONFIG (/all /release /renew)
LS
MD / CD / RD
MKDIR
MSCONFIG
NET
NSLOOKUP
PING (-t -l)
RMDIR
SFC
Tracert
XCOPY.
System tools may include:
administrative tools:
computer management
event viewer
performance monitor
services
device manager
disk management tools:
Check Disk
DEFRAG
NTBACKUP
disk manager:
active unallocated
active, primary, extended and logical partitions
drive status
dynamic
external hard drives
failed
FAT32, NTFS, FAT64 (exFAT)
flash drives
foreign drive
formatting
healthy
mount points
mounting a drive
offline
online
enable:
disable
indicators
warnings
regional settings and language settings
remote desktop protocol (remote desktop or remote assistance)
system information
system monitor
system restore
task manager:
process list
process priority
resource usage
termination
task scheduler.
Common operating system issues based on Windows (adopt interface to undertake similar tasks with chosen operating system):
error messages and conditions:
aero settings:
background processes
indexing settings
side bar settings
start-up file maintenance
UAC
boot:
inaccessible boot drive
invalid boot disk
missing NTLDR
event viewer (errors in the event log)
start-up:
device or program in registry not found
device or service failed to start
system performance and optimisation
operational problems:
application install, start or load failure
auto-restart errors
bluescreen error
devices drivers failure (input and output devices)
service fails to start
system lock-up
Windows-specific printing problems:
incorrect or incompatible driver or form printing
print spool stalled.
Client may include:
department within the organisation
person with special needs
person within a department
third party.
Feedback mechanism may include:
interview
meeting
questionnaire
survey.

The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge, range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package.

Overview of assessment

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit
Evidence of the ability to:
identify requirements of different OS
install, configure and test an OS to improve system performance with minimum disruption to clients
identify faults and rectify with utilities and tools.
Context of and specific resources for assessment
Assessment must ensure access to:
PC where installation may be performed
OS software and technical documentation are available
organisational documentation
appropriate learning and assessment support when required
modified equipment for people with special needs.
Method of assessment
A range of assessment methods should be used to assess practical skills and knowledge. The following examples are appropriate for this unit:
direct observation of candidate:
questioning team members, supervisors and clients
installing and testing an OS
identifying and rectifying OS faults
evaluation of candidate’s reports demonstrating applicants ability to use and optimise an OS
verbal or written questioning to assess candidate’s knowledge of OS installation and troubleshooting.
Guidance information for assessment
Holistic assessment with other units relevant to the industry sector, workplace and job role is recommended, where appropriate.
Assessment processes and techniques must be culturally appropriate, and suitable to the communication skill level, language, literacy and numeracy capacity of the candidate and the work being performed.
Indigenous people and other people from a non-English speaking background may need additional support.
In cases where practical assessment is used it should be combined with targeted questioning to assess required knowledge.