The Windows file system is large and complex, featuring not only a huge number of essential files and folders for the Windows OS, your software and hardware, but also several different underlying file systems that manage and maintain file integrity on your disks. In this book you’ll learn how to navigate around the Windows file structure (up to Windows 8.1), with what does what and how essential everything is. Additionally we’ll show you how to effectively manage file, folder and security permissions to ensure users get what the access they need, and no more. We’ll also show you how to repair the underlying disk file system should something go horribly wrong.

Andrew Bettany is a Microsoft Most Valuable Professional (MVP), recognized for his Windows expertise, and a member of the Microsoft Springboard Technical Expert Panel.As leader of the IT Academy at the University of York, UK and Microsoft Certified Trainer, Andrew delivers learning and consultancy to businesses on a number of technical areas including Windows deployment and troubleshooting. He has created and manages the "IT Masterclasses" series of short intensive technical courses, www.itmasterclasses.com, run through his own training company Deliver IT Training Ltd.Passionate about learning and helping others he frequently donates his time to work with Microsoft. He is a frequent speaker and proctor at TechEd conferences worldwide. In 2011 he delivered a "train the trainer" class in earthquake-hit Haiti to help the community rebuild their technology skills and returned again in November 2013 to deliver a second bootcamp.Very active on social media, Andrew can be found on LinkedIn Facebook and Twitter. He lives in a village just outside of the beautiful city of York in Yorkshire (UK).

Chapter 1: Introducing the Windows File System

Chapter Goal: A deep dive into the structure of Microsoft Windows and how it manages and arranges OS, update and software files and hardware drivers

The Windows File StructureCritical Windows System Files and FoldersManaging software and appsWindows hardware driver files and managementManaging updates in WindowsChapter 2: Understanding NTFS, FAT and ReFS File Systems

Chapter Goal: The main Windows disk file systems and structures detailed

Introducing the Windows disk file systemsNTFSFAT (FAT32 / exFAT)ReFSChapter 3: Permissions, Ownership and Auditing

Chapter Goal: A common issue with Windows is managing correct file permissions and ownership, this chapter is a complete guide in managing these effectively

Managing file, folder and disk permissionsManaging file and folder ownershipSuccessfully auditing Windows files, folders and assets

Chapter 4: Managing File Security

Chapter Goal: Security is essential with PCs in the workplace and at home. This chapter will teach the reader how to effectively secure their Windows OS, software and files

Managing Windows, file, folder and disk securityManaging security for documents and both disk and network assetsMaintaining security best-practice in Windows

Chapter 5: Managing and Troubleshooting Encryption and Compression

Chapter Goal: This chapter will teach the reader how to effectively manage and deploy security and compression on their files, folders and disks

Using and managing Windows file compressionUsing and managing EFS in WindowsUsing and Managing Bitlocker and Bitlocker To GoChapter 6: Troubleshooting the Windows File System

Chapter Goal: The disk file system in Windows is also prone to errors, this chapter will get readers started in diagnosing and troubleshooting errors.

How disk file system errors occurCommon disk file system errorsDiagnosing and repairing common disk file system errorsChapter 7: Booting the unbootable– Repairing the Windows Boot System

Chapter Goal: If a PC won’t start it’s likely that the boot system will need to be repaired. This chapter is a complete guide on how to automatically and manually fix this in Windows

Automatically repairing the Windows boot systemEffecting manual repair to the Windows boot systemRebuilding a corrupt Windows boot systemChapter 8: Restoring Files and Folder Security Settings

Chapter Goal: Sometimes it all goes horribly wrong and users can be locked out of just about everything. This chapter will teach readers how to manually reset the file and folder permissions on all files and documents in a safe and secure way.

When might you need to universally reset permissions?Using ICACLS to reset file permissions and ownershipChapter 9: Repairing the Windows File System using a Portable OS

Chapter Goal: If Windows is unbootable or the file system corrupt, a portable OS on USB Flash Drive or DVD can still be used to rescue the OS and your files

Linux, an operating system on a diskCreating a bootable USB Windows installationRepairing and rescuing documents using a portable OSManually repairing the Windows file system using a portable OSManually repairing the Windows boot system using a portable OS