Mcts windows dan 7 configuring
Patrick Regan
MCTS 70-680 Exam Cram: Microsoft Windows 7, Configuring
Copyright © 2011 by Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this book shall be reproduced, stored in a
retrieval system, or transmitted by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without written permission from the publisher. No patent liability is assumed with respect to the use of the information contained herein. Although every precaution has been taken in the preparation of this book, the publisher and author assume no responsibility for errors or omissions. Nor is any liability assumed for damages resulting from the use of the information contained herein.
ISBN-13: 978-0-7897-4734-1 ISBN-10: 0-7897-4734-0
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication data is on file. Printed in the United States of America First Printing: March 2011
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Contents at a Glance
Introduction 1 CHAPTER 1 Introduction to Windows 7
23 CHAPTER 2 Installing, Upgrading, and Migrating to Windows 7
59 CHAPTER 3 System Management
107 CHAPTER 4 Disk Management
157 CHAPTER 5 Configuring Windows Networking
193 CHAPTER 6 Configuring Advanced Windows Networking
223 CHAPTER 7 Configuring Windows Firewall and Windows Defender
255 CHAPTER 8 User Management
281 CHAPTER 9 Managing Files and Folders
319 CHAPTER 10 Sharing Files and Folders
363 CHAPTER 11 Managing and Sharing Printers
391 CHAPTER 12 Working with Applications
419 CHAPTER 13 Working with Internet Explorer 8.0
445 CHAPTER 14 Mobile Computers and Remote Management
475 CHAPTER 15 Optimizing Windows 7 Systems
515 CHAPTER 16 Backups and System Recovery
535 Practice Exam
573 Index
591
About the Author
Patrick Regan has been a PC technician, network administrator/engineer, design architect, and security analyst for the past 17 years since graduating with a bachelor’s degree in physics from the University of Akron. He has taught many computer and network classes at Sacramento local colleges (Heald Colleges and MTI Colleges) and participated in and led many projects (Heald Colleges, Intel Corporation, Miles Consulting Corporation, and Pacific Coast Companies). For his teaching accomplishments, he received the Teacher of the Year award from Heald Colleges, and he has received several recognition awards from Intel. Previously, he worked as a product support engineer for the Intel Corporation Customer Service, a senior network engi- neer for Virtual Alert supporting the BioTerrorism Readiness suite and as a senior design architect/engineer and training coordinator for Miles Consulting Corporation (MCC), a premiere Microsoft Gold partner and consulting firm. He is currently a senior network engineer supporting a large enterprise net- work at Pacific Coast Companies.
He holds many certifications including the Microsoft MCSE, MCSA, MCT; CompTIA’s A+, Network+, Server+, Linux+, Security+ and CTT+; Cisco CCNA; and Novell’s CNE and CWNP Certified Wireless Network Administrator (CWNA).
Over the last several years, he has written several textbooks for Prentice Hall, including Troubleshooting the PC, Networking with Windows 2000 and 2003, Linux, Local Area Networks, Wide Area Networks, and the Acing Series (Acing the A+, Acing the Network+, Acing the Security+, and Acing the Linux+). He has also co-authored the MCSA/MCSE 70-290 Exam Cram: Managing and Maintaining
a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Environment, Second Edition and has written several Exam Cram books for the Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 certification exams.
You can write with questions and comments to the author at [email protected]. (Because of the high volume of mail, every mes- sage might not receive a reply.)
Dedication
I dedicate this book to the most beautiful woman and most wonderful person, Lidia.
She is the best there is.
About the Technical Reviewer
Christopher A. Crayton is an author, technical editor, technical consultant, security consultant, trainer, and SkillsUSA state-level technology competition judge. Formerly, he worked as a computer and networking instructor at Keiser College (2001 Teacher of the Year); as network administrator for Protocol, a global electronic customer relationship management (eCRM) company; and at Eastman Kodak Headquarters as a computer and network specialist. Chris has authored several print and online books, including The A+ Exams Guide, Second Edition (Cengage Learning, 2008), Microsoft Windows Vista 70-620 Exam Guide Short Cut (O’Reilly, 2007), CompTIA A+ Essentials 220-601 Exam Guide Short Cut (O’Reilly, 2007), The A+ Exams Guide, The A+ Certification and PC Repair Handbook (Charles River Media, 2005), The Security+ Exam Guide (Charles River Media, 2003), and A+ Adaptive Exams (Charles River Media, 2002). He is also co-author of How to Cheat at Securing Your Network (Syngress, 2007). As an experienced technical editor, Chris has provided many technical edits/reviews for several major publishing companies, including Pearson Education, McGraw-Hill, Cengage Learning, Wiley, O’Reilly, Syngress, and Apress. He holds MCSE, A+, and Network+ certifications.
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Introduction
Welcome to MCTS 70-680 Exam Cram: Microsoft Windows 7, Configuring! Whether this book is your first or your fifteenth Exam Cram series book, you’ll find information here that will help ensure your success as you pursue knowledge, experience, and certification. This book aims to help you get ready to take and pass the Microsoft certification exam “TS: Windows 7, Configuring” (Exam 70-680). After you pass this exam, you will earn the Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist: Windows 7, Configuration certification.
This introduction explains Microsoft’s certification programs in general and talks about how the Exam Cram series can help you prepare for Microsoft’s latest certification exams. Chapters 1 through 16 are designed to remind you of everything you need to know to pass the 70-680 certification exam. At the beginning and end of each main section, you see Cram Saver and Cram Exam questions to review the material. Then, at the end of each chapter, you find 10 review questions, and at the end of the book, you find a practice exam. Read the book, understand the material, and you stand a very good chance of pass- ing the real test.
Based on what you learn from the self-assessment, you might decide to begin your studies with classroom training or some background reading. On the other hand, you might decide to pick up and read one of the many study guides available from Microsoft or third-party vendors. We also recommend that you supplement your study program with visits to http://examcram.com to receive additional practice questions, get advice, and track the Windows certification programs.
The Value of Certification
It is an established fact that computers and networking is a fast-paced envi- ronment. Therefore, employees who work in Information Technology (IT) must learn to keep up with the ever-changing technology and have the ability to learn new technology. It is said that a person in IT must be able to learn or retrain him- or herself every 1 to 1 1/2 years.
MCTS 70-680 Exam Cram: Microsoft Windows 7, Configuring
According to Certification Magazine (http://www.certmag.com), the successful IT worker must
. Be proficient in two or more technical specialties. . Be able to wear multiple hats. . Be more business-oriented because hiring managers look for employees
who see the big picture of profit, loss, competitive advantage, and customer retention and understand that IT fits into this picture.
. Be able to work easily with non-technical personnel. . Have soft skills of good listening, problem-solving, and effective written
and verbal communication. In addition, there is a demand for those who can demonstrate expertise in IT
project management. Those moving to a mid- to high-level position have a mix of academic credentials and industry certifications, as well as increasing levels of responsibility.
Today, technical certifications are highly valuable. Depending on which certi- fication or certifications an individual has, a user can begin as an entry-level technician or administrator. Certifications also demonstrate the knowledge and capabilities of a current technician or administrator. Technical companies see some technical certifications are as valuable as a college degree and non- technical companies see them just a little less than a college degree.
In 2001, researchers from Gartner Consulting surveyed nearly 18,000 IT man- agers, certified professionals, and certification candidates. They reported that
. IT professionals seek certification to increase compensation, find employment, or boost productivity.
. Of those certified, 66% of certified professionals received an increase in salary after becoming certified, and 83% reported that certification helped them gain a new position.
. Although most certification candidates combine several study methods, printed materials designed for self-study and instructor-led training were reported as the most useful preparation methods.
From the employer’s perspective, although many managers (42%) feared that certified employees would move on to another organization, 71% of IT pro- fessionals gaining certification stay put. IT managers cited a higher level of
Introduction
service, competitive advantage, and increased productivity as key benefits of having certified staff. Of course, the drawbacks include cost of training and testing.
So as you can see, many people in IT see certification as a valuable tool. You can see that certification is
A demonstration of specific areas of competence with particular technologies.
A credential desired or required by an increasing number of employers.
A tool people use successfully to challenge themselves. .
A road map for continuing education. .
A potential bridge to a new specialty. . Evidence that you are self-motivated and actively working to stay
current. On the other hand, certification is not a substitute for extensive hands-on
experience, and it is not a career cure-all. Lastly, usually a little bit of work and discipline is required to pass these exams.
The Microsoft Certification Program Microsoft currently offers multiple certification titles, each of which boasts its
own special abbreviation. (As a certification candidate and computer profes- sional, you need to have a high tolerance for acronyms.)
Certifications for end-users are . Microsoft Office Specialists: Recognized for demonstrating advanced
skills with Microsoft desktop software (including Microsoft Office). The older certifications associated with the Windows Server 2003 operating
system and related network infrastructure are as follows: . Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP): For professionals who
have the skills to successfully implement a Microsoft product (such as Windows XP or Windows Server 2003) or technology as part of a business solution in an organization.
MCTS 70-680 Exam Cram: Microsoft Windows 7, Configuring
. Microsoft Certified Desktop Support Technician (MCDST): For professionals who have the technical and customer service skills to trou- bleshoot hardware and software operation issues in Microsoft Windows environments.
. Microsoft Certified Systems Administrators (MCSAs): For profes- sionals who administer network and systems environments based on the Microsoft Windows operating systems. Specializations include MCSA: Messaging and MCSA: Security.
. Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE): For professionals who design and implement an infrastructure solution that is based on the Windows operating system and Microsoft Windows Server System software. Specializations include MCSE: Messaging and MCSE: Security.
The newer certification base on Windows Vista and related server products are . Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS): For professionals
who target specific technologies and to distinguish themselves by demonstrating in-depth knowledge and expertise in the various Microsoft specialized technologies. The MCTS is a replacement for the MCP program.
. Microsoft Certified IT Professional (MCITP): For professionals who demonstrate comprehensive skills in planning, deploying, supporting, maintaining, and optimizing IT infrastructures. The MCITP is a replacement for the MCSA and MCSE programs.
. Microsoft Certified Architect (MCA): For professionals who are identified as top industry experts in IT architecture that use multiple technologies to solve business problems and provide business metrics and measurements. Candidates for the MCA program are required to present to a review board—consisting of previously certified architects— to earn the certification.
For database professionals: . Microsoft Certified Database Administrators (MCDBAs): For
professionals who design, implement, and administer Microsoft SQL Server databases.
Introduction
For developers and programmers: . Microsoft Certified Professional Developer (MCPD): Professionals
who are recognized as expert Windows Application Developer, Web Application Developer, or Enterprise Applications Developer. They demonstrate that you can build rich applications that target a variety of platforms, such as the Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0.
. Microsoft Certified Application Developers (MCADs): For professionals who use Microsoft technologies to develop and maintain department-level applications, components, Web or desktop clients, or back-end data services.
For trainers and curriculum developers, there is the . Microsoft Certified Trainer (MCT): For qualified instructors who are
certified by Microsoft to deliver Microsoft training courses to IT profes- sionals and developers.
. Microsoft Certified Learning Consultant (MCLC): For recognized MCTs whose job roles have grown to include frequent consultative engagements with their customers and who are experts in delivering cus- tomized learning solutions that positively affect customer return on investment (ROI).
The best place to keep tabs on all Microsoft certifications is the following website:
http://www.microsoft.com/learning/default.mspx Because Microsoft changes the website often and this URL might not work in
the future, you should use the Search tool on Microsoft’s site to find more information on a particular certification.
Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist
Technology Specialist certifications enable professionals to target specific technologies and to distinguish themselves by demonstrating in-depth knowl- edge and expertise in their specialized technologies. Microsoft Technology Specialists are consistently capable of implementing, building, troubleshoot- ing, and debugging a particular Microsoft technology.
MCTS 70-680 Exam Cram: Microsoft Windows 7, Configuring
Microsoft Certified IT Professional
The new Microsoft Certified IT Professional (MCITP) credential lets you highlight your specific area of expertise. Now you can easily distinguish your- self as an expert in database administration, database development, business intelligence, or support. Some of the Microsoft Certified IT Professional cer- tifications are
. IT Professional: Database Developer . IT Professional: Database Administrator . IT Professional: Business Intelligence Developer . IT Professional: Enterprise Support Technician
At the time of this writing, details are just starting to be revealed on the Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS) on Windows Server 2008/Windows Server 2008 R2. The MCTS on Windows Server 2008 helps you and your organization take advantage of advanced server technology with the power to increase the flexibility of your server infrastructure, save time, and reduce costs. Transition certifications are available today for Windows Server 2003 certified professionals to Windows Server 2008 Windows Server 2008 R2 product release. For more details about these certifications, visit the following website:
http://www.microsoft.com/learning/mcp/windowsserver2008/default.mspx If the URL is no longer available, don’t forget to search for MCTS and
Windows Server 2008 using the Microsoft search tool found on the Microsoft website.
Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist: Windows 7 Configuration The Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist certifications enable profes-
sionals to target specific technologies and distinguish themselves by demon- strating in-depth knowledge and expertise in their specialized technologies. A
Introduction
Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist in Windows 7, Configuration possesses the knowledge and skills to configure Windows 7 for optimal per- formance on the desktop, including installing, managing, and configuring the new security, network, and application features in Windows 7.
To earn the Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist: Windows 7, Configuration, you must pass one exam that focuses on supporting end-user issues about network connectivity, security, and applications installation and compatibility, and logon problems that include account issues and password resets:
Exam 70-680 TS: Windows 7, Configuration If you decide to take Microsoft recognized class, you would take several
classes to cover all of the material found on this exam. The preparation guide (including exam objectives) for Exam 70-680 TS: Windows 7, Configuration can be found at
http://tinyurl.com/ye8mjce Table I.1 outlines the major topic areas, individual exam objectives, and which
chapters in the book cover these objectives.
TABLE I.1 MCTS 70-680 Exam Outline
Chapter (Percentage
Exam Topic Area Exam Objective
Exam Objective
Covering of Exam)
Description
Exam Objective
Installing,
Perform a clean
This objective might
Chapter 2
Upgrading, and
installation
include but is not limited
Migrating to
to identifying hardware
Windows 7
requirements; setting up
(14 percent)
as the sole operating system; setting up as dual boot; installation methods; boot from the source of installation, preparing the installation source: USB, CD, network share, WDS.
Upgrade to
Chapter 2 Windows 7 from
This objective might
include but is not limited
previous versions
to upgrading from
of Windows
Windows Vista; migrating from Windows XP; upgrading from one edition of Windows 7 to another edition of Windows 7.
MCTS 70-680 Exam Cram: Microsoft Windows 7, Configuring
TABLE I.1 Continued
Exam Topic Area Exam Objective
Chapter (Percentage
Exam Objective
Covering of Exam)
Description
Exam Objective
Migrate user
Chapter 2 profiles
This objective might
include but is not limited to migrating from one machine to another; migrating from previous versions of Windows; side-by-side versus. wipe and load.
Deploying
Capture a
This objective might
Chapter 2
Windows 7
system image
include but is not
(13 percent)
limited to preparing system for capture; creating a WIM file; automated capture; manual capture.
Chapter 2 image for
Prepare a system
This objective might
include but is not
deployment
limited to inserting an application into a system image; inserting a driver into a system image; inserting an update into
a system image; configuring tasks to run after deployment.
Deploy a system
Chapter 2 image
This objective might
include but is not limited to automated deployment methods; manually deploying a customized image.
Configure a VHD
This objective might
Chapter 2
include but is not limited to creating, deploying, booting, mounting, and updating VHDs; offline updates; offline servicing.
Configuring
Configure devices This objective might Chapter 3
Hardware and
include but is not limited
Applications
to updating, disabling,
(14 percent)
and uninstalling drivers; signed drivers; conflicts between drivers; configuring driver settings; resolving problem device drivers.
Introduction
TABLE I.1 Continued
Exam Topic Area Exam Objective
Chapter (Percentage
Exam Objective
Covering of Exam)
Description
Exam Objective
Chapters 12 application
Configure
This objective might
include but is not limited and 13 compatibility
to setting compatibility mode; implementing shims; compatibility issues with Internet Explorer.
Configure
Chapter 12 application
This objective might
include but is not limited
restrictions
to setting software restriction policies; setting application control policies; setting through group policy or local security policy.
Configure Internet This objective might Chapter 13 Explorer
include but is not limited to configuring compatibility view; configuring security settings; configuring providers; managing add-ons; controlling InPrivate mode; certificates for secure websites.
Configuring
Configure IPv4
This objective might
Chapter 5
Network
network settings
include but is not limited
Connectivity
to connecting to a
(14 percent)
network; configuring name resolution; setting up a connection for a network; network locations; resolving connectivity issues; APIPA.
Configure IPv6
Chapter 5 network settings
This objective might
include but is not limited to configuring name resolution; connecting to
a network; setting up a connection for a network; network locations; resolving connectivity issues; link local multicast name resolution.
MCTS 70-680 Exam Cram: Microsoft Windows 7, Configuring
TABLE I.1 Continued
Exam Topic Area Exam Objective
Chapter (Percentage
Exam Objective
Covering of Exam)
Description
Exam Objective
Chapters 5 and networking
Configure
This objective might
include but is not limited 6
settings
to adding a physically connected (wired) or wireless device; connecting to a wireless network; configuring security settings on the client; setting preferred wireless networks; configuring network adapters; configuring location-aware printing.
Configure
Chapter 7 Windows Firewall
This objective might
include but is not limited to configuring rules for multiple profiles; allowing or denying an application; network-profile-specific rules; configuring notifications; configuring authenticated exceptions.
Chapter 14 management
Configure remote
This objective might
include but is not limited to remote management methods; configuring remote management tools; executing PowerShell commands.
Configuring
Configure shared
This objective might
Chapters 10
Access to
resources include but is not limited and 11
Resources
to folder virtualization;
(13 percent)
shared folder permissions; printers and queues; configuring Homegroup settings.
Configure file
Chapters 9 and and folder
This objective might
include but is not limited 10
access.
to encrypting files and folders by using EFS; configuring NTFS permissions; resolving effective permissions issues; copying files versus moving files.
Introduction
TABLE I.1 Continued
Exam Topic Area Exam Objective
Chapter (Percentage
Exam Objective
Covering of Exam)
Description
Exam Objective
Chapter 8 account control
Configure user
This objective might
include but is not limited
(UAC)
to configuring local security policy; configuring admin versus standard UAC prompt behaviors; configuring Secure Desktop.
Configure
Chapter 8 authentication and include but is not limited authorization
This objective might
to resolving authentication issues; configuring rights; managing credentials; managing certificates; smart cards with PIV; elevating user privileges; multifactor authentication.
Chapter 10 BranchCache
Configure
This objective might
include but is not limited to distributed cache mode versus hosted mode; network infrastructure requirements; configuring settings; certificate management.
Configuring
Configure
This objective might
Chapter 9
Mobile
BitLocker and
include but is not limited
Computing
BitLocker To Go
to configuring BitLocker
(10 percent)
and BitLocker To Go policies; managing Trusted Platform Module (TPM) PINs; configuring startup key storage; data recovery agent support.
Configure
Chapter 6 DirectAccess
This objective might
include but is not limited to configuring client side; configuring authentication; network infrastructure requirements.
MCTS 70-680 Exam Cram: Microsoft Windows 7, Configuring
TABLE I.1 Continued
Exam Topic Area Exam Objective
Chapter (Percentage
Exam Objective
Covering of Exam)
Description
Exam Objective
Configure mobility This objective might Chapter 14 options
include but is not limited to configuring offline file policies; transparent caching; creating and migrating power policy.
Configure remote
Chapters 6, 8, connections
This objective might
include but is not limited and 14 to establishing VPN connections and authentication; enabling a VPN reconnect; advanced security auditing; NAP quarantine remediation; dial-up connections; remote desktop; published apps.
Monitoring and
Configure updates This objective might Chapter 2
Maintaining
to Windows 7
include but is not limited
Systems That Run
to configuring update
Windows 7
settings; determining
(11 percent)
source of updates; configuring Windows Update policies; reviewing update history; checking for new updates; rolling back updates.
Manage disks
This objective might
Chapter 4
include but is not limited to managing disk volumes; managing file system fragmentation; RAID; removable device policies.
Monitor systems
This objective might
Chapters 15 include but is not limited and 16 to configuring event logging; filtering event logs; event subscriptions; data collector sets; generating a system diagnostics report.
Introduction
TABLE I.1 Continued
Exam Topic Area Exam Objective
Chapter (Percentage
Exam Objective
Covering of Exam)
Description
Exam Objective
Chapter 15 performance
Configure
This objective might
include but is not limited
settings
to configuring page files; configuring hard drive cache; updated drivers; configuring networking performance; configuring power plans; configuring processor scheduling; configuring desktop environment; configuring services and programs to resolve performance issues; mobile computing performance issues; configuring power.
Configuring
Configure backup
This objective might
Chapter 16
Backup and
include but is not limited
Recovery
to creating a system
Options
recovery disk; backing up
(11 percent)
files, folders, or full system; scheduling backups.
Configure system
Chapters 3 and recovery options
This objective might
include but is not limited 16 to configuring system restore points; restoring system settings; last known good configuration; complete restore; driver rollback.
Configure file
Chapter 16 recovery options
This objective might
include but is not limited to configuring file restore points; restoring previous versions of files and folders; restoring damaged or deleted files by using shadow copies; restoring user profiles.
MCTS 70-680 Exam Cram: Microsoft Windows 7, Configuring
Taking a Certification Exam
After you prepare for your exam, you need to register with a testing center. At the time of this writing, the cost to take Exam 70-680 is (U.S.) $125, and if you don’t pass, you can take each again for an additional (U.S.) $125 for each attempt. In the United States and Canada, tests are administered by Prometric. Here’s how you can contact them:
. Prometric: You can sign up for a test through the company’s website, http://www.2test.com or http://www.prometric.com. Within the United States and Canada, you can register by phone at 800-755-3926. If you live outside this region, you should check the Prometric website for the appropriate phone number.
To sign up for a test, you must possess a valid credit card or contact either Prometric for mailing instructions to send a check (in the U.S.). Only when payment is verified, or a check has cleared, can you actually register for a test.
To schedule an exam, you need to call the appropriate phone number or visit the Prometric websites at least one day in advance of the test date. To cancel or reschedule an exam in the United States or Canada, you must call before 3 p.m. Eastern time the day before the scheduled test time (or you might be charged, even if you don’t show up to take the test). When you want to sched- ule a test, you should have the following information ready:
. Your name, organization, and mailing address. . Your Microsoft test ID. (In the United States, this means your Social
Security number; citizens of other countries should call ahead to find out what type of identification number is required to register for a test.)
. The name and number of the exam you want to take. .
A method of payment. (As mentioned previously, a credit card is the most convenient method, but alternate means can be arranged in advance, if necessary.)
After you sign up for a test, you are told when and where the test is scheduled. You should arrive at least 15 minutes early. You must supply two forms of identification, one of which must be a photo ID, to be admitted into the test- ing room.
Introduction
How to Prepare for an Exam
Preparing for any Microsoft certification test (including Exam 70-680) requires that you obtain and study materials designed to provide comprehen- sive information about the product and its capabilities that will appear on the specific exam for which you are preparing. The following list of materials can help you study and prepare:
. The Windows 7 product DVD-ROM. This disk includes comprehensive online documentation and related materials; it should be one of your primary resources when you are preparing for the test. Currently, you can download a Windows 7 Enterprise 90-day trial from the following website:
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/evalcenter/cc442495.aspx . The exam preparation materials, practice tests, and self-assessment
exams on the Microsoft Training and Certification site, at http://www.microsoft.com/learning/default.mspx. The Exam Resources link offers samples of the new question types on the Windows Server 2003/2008 Microsoft Certification track series of exams. You should find the materials, download them, and use them!
. The exam preparation advice, practice tests, questions of the day, and forums at http://www.examcram.com.
In addition, you might find any or all of the following materials useful in your quest for Windows 7 expertise:
. Microsoft training kits: Microsoft Learning offers a training kit that specifically targets Exam 70-680. For more information, visit http://www.microsoft.com/learning/books/. This training kit contains information that you will find useful in preparing for the test.
. Microsoft TechNet CD or DVD and website: This monthly CD- or DVD-based publication delivers numerous electronic titles that include coverage of Windows Server 2003 and Windows Server 2008 and relat-
ed topics on the Technical Information (TechNet) series on CD or DVD. Its offerings include product facts, technical notes, tools and utili- ties, and information on how to access the Seminars Online training materials for Windows Server 2003/2008 and the Windows Server System line of products. Visit http://technet.microsoft.com and check out the information for TechNet subscriptions. You can utilize a large portion of the TechNet website at no charge.
MCTS 70-680 Exam Cram: Microsoft Windows 7, Configuring
. Study guides: Several publishers—including Pearson—offer Windows Server 2008, Windows Server 2003, Windows 7, Windows Vista, and Windows XP study guides. Pearson offers the following:
. The Exam Cram series: These books give you the insights about the material that you need to know to successfully pass the certifi- cation tests.
. Pearson Certification Guides: These books provide a greater level of detail than the Exam Cram books and are designed to teach you everything you need to know about the subject covered by an exam. Each book comes with a CD-ROM that contains interactive practice exams in a variety of testing formats.
Together, these two series make a perfect pair if you are new to Windows.
. Classroom training: CTECs, online partners, and third-party training companies (such as Wave Technologies, New Horizons, and Global Knowledge) offer classroom training on Windows Server 2008, Windows Server 2003, Windows 7, Windows Vista, and Windows XP. These companies aim to help you prepare to pass Exam 70-680 as well as several others. Although this type of training tends to be pricey, most of the individuals lucky enough to attend find this training to be quite worthwhile.
Although many websites offer information on what to study for a particular exam, few sites offer how you should study for an exam. The study process can be broken down into various stages. However, key to all of these stages is the ability to concentrate. Concentration, or the lack of, plays a big part in the study process.
To be able to concentrate, you must remove all distractions. You should plan for study breaks, but it is the unplanned breaks caused by distractions that do not allow you to concentrate on what you need to learn. Therefore, first, you need to create an environment that’s conducive to studying or seek out an existing environment that meets these criteria, such as a library.
First, do not study with the TV on and do not have other people in the room. It is easy for the TV to break your concentration and grab your attention. In addition, if you have people in the room, you have to pretend that you are not there and that they are not causing distractions, including talking with other people. Lastly, there are varying opinions on whether it is better to study with
Introduction
or without music playing. Although some people need to have a little white noise in the background to study, if you do choose to have music, you should keep the volume on a low level and you should listen to music without vocals in it.
After you find a place to study, you must schedule the time to study. You should take into consideration not studying on an empty stomach. You should also not study on a full stomach because it tends to make people drowsy. You might also consider having a glass of water near to sip on.
In addition, make sure that you well rested so that you don’t start dozing off when you start. Next, make sure that you find a position that is comfortable and that the furniture that you are using is also comfortable. Lastly, make sure that your study area is well lit. Natural light is best for fighting fatigue.
The first thing that you should do when you study is to clear your mind of distractions. So take a minute or two, close your eyes, and empty your mind.
When you prepare for an exam, the best place to start is to take the list of exam objectives and study them carefully. You can then organize your study keeping these objectives in mind. This narrows down your focus area to indi- vidual topics or subtopics. In addition, you need to understand and visualize the process as a whole. This helps in addressing practical problems in real environments as well as some unsuspected questions.
In a multiple-choice type exam, you do have one advantage: The answer or answers are already there, and you have to simply choose the correct ones. Because the answers are already there, you can start eliminating the incorrect answers by using your knowledge and some logical thinking. One common mistake is to select the first obvious-looking answers without checking the other options, so always examine all the options, think, and choose the right answer. Of course, with multiple-choice questions, you have to be exact and should be able to differentiate between very similar answers. This is where a peaceful place of study without distractions helps so that you can read between the lines and so that you don’t miss key points.
Day of the Exam
Before you take an exam, eat something light, even if you have no appetite. If your stomach is actively upset, try mild foods such as toast or crackers. Plain saltine crackers are great for settling a cranky stomach. Keep your caffeine and nicotine consumption to a minimum; excessive stimulants aren’t exactly
MCTS 70-680 Exam Cram: Microsoft Windows 7, Configuring
conducive to reducing stress. Plan to take a bottle of water or some hard can- dies, such as lozenges, with you to combat dry mouth. Also, make sure to dress comfortably.
Arrive at the testing center early. If you have never been to the testing center before, make sure that you know where it is. You might even consider taking a test drive. If you arrive between 15 and 30 minutes early for any certification exam, it gives you
. Ample time for prayer, meditation, and/or breathing. . Time to scan glossary terms and quick access tables before taking the
exam so that you can get the intellectual juices flowing and build a little confidence.
. Time to practice physical relaxation techniques. . Time to visit the washroom.
But don’t arrive too early. When you are escorted into the testing chamber, you are usually given two
sheets of paper (or laminated paper) with a pen (or wet erase pen). As soon as you hear the door close behind you, immediately unload bits of exam infor- mation that you need to quickly recall onto the paper. Then throughout the exam, you can refer to this information easily without thinking about it. This way, you can focus on answering the questions and using this information as reference. Before you actually start the exam, close your eyes and take deep breath to clear your mind of distractions.
Typically, the testing room is furnished with anywhere from one to six com- puters, and each workstation is separated from the others by dividers designed to keep anyone from seeing what’s happening on someone else’s computer screen. Most testing rooms feature a wall with a large picture window. This layout permits the exam coordinator to monitor the room, to prevent exam takers from talking to one another, and to observe anything out of the ordi- nary that might go on. The exam coordinator will have preloaded the appro- priate Microsoft certification exam—for this book, that’s Exam 70-680 MCTS: Windows 7, Configuring—and you are permitted to start as soon as you’re seated in front of the computer.
Introduction
ExamAlert
Always remember that the testing center’s test coordinator is there to assist you in case you encounter some unusual problems, such as a malfunctioning test comput- er. If you need some assistance not related to the content of the exam itself, feel free to notify one of the test coordinators—after all, they are there to make your exam-taking experience as pleasant as possible.
All exams are completely closed book. In fact, you are not permitted to take anything with you into the testing area, but you receive a blank sheet of paper and a pen or, in some cases, an erasable plastic sheet and an erasable pen. We suggest that you immediately write down on that sheet of paper all the infor- mation you’ve memorized for the test. In Exam Cram books, this information appears on the tear-out sheet (Cram Sheet) inside the front cover of each book. You are given some time to compose yourself, record this information, and take a sample orientation exam before you begin the real thing. We sug- gest that you take the orientation test before taking your first exam, but because all the certification exams are more or less identical in layout, behav- ior, and controls, you probably don’t need to do so more than once.
All Microsoft certification exams allow a certain maximum amount of testing time. (This time is indicated on the exam by an onscreen timer clock, so you can check the time remaining whenever you like.) All Microsoft certification exams are computer generated. In addition to multiple choice, most exams contain select–and-place (drag-and-drop), create-a-tree (categorization and prioritization), drag-and-connect, and build-list-and-reorder (list prioritiza- tion) types of questions. Although this format might sound quite simple, the questions are constructed not only to check your mastery of basic facts and figures about Windows Vista, but also to require you to evaluate one or more sets of circumstances or requirements. Often, you are asked to give more than one answer to a question. Likewise, you might be asked to select the best or most effective solution to a problem from a range of choices—all of which are technically correct. Taking the exam is quite an adventure, and it involves real thinking and concentration. This book shows you what to expect and how to deal with the potential problems, puzzles, and predicaments.
MCTS 70-680 Exam Cram: Microsoft Windows 7, Configuring
Dealing with Test Anxiety
Because a certification exam costs money to take and time to prepare for the exam and failing an exam can be a blow to your self-confidence, most people feel a certain amount of anxiety when they are about to take a certification exam. It is no wonder that most of us are a little sweaty in the palms when tak- ing the exam. However, certain levels of stress can actually help you to raise your level of performance when taking an exam. This anxiety usually serves to help you focus your concentration and think clearly through a problem.
But for some individuals, exam anxiety is more than just a nuisance. For these people, exam anxiety is a debilitating condition that affects their performance with a negative impact on the exam results.
Exam anxiety reduction begins with the preparation process. The first thing that you should think of is if you know the material, there should not be any- thing that you should be nervous over. It goes without saying that the better prepared you are for an exam, the less stress you will experience when taking it. Always give yourself plenty of time to prepare for an exam; don’t place yourself under unreasonable deadlines. But again, make goals and make every effort to meet those goals. Procrastination and making excuses can be just as bad.
There is not hard and fast rule for how long it takes to prepare for an exam. The time required varies from student to student and is dependent on a num- ber of different factors including reading speed, access to study materials, per- sonal commitments, and so on. In addition, don’t compare yourself to peers, especially if doing so has a negative effect on your confidence.
For many students, practice exams are a great way to shed some of the fears that arise in the test center. Practice exams are best used near the end of the exam preparation. Be sure to use them as an assessment of your current knowledge, not as a method to try to memorize key concepts. When review- ing these questions, be sure you understand the question and understand all answers (right and wrong). Lastly, set time limits on the practice exams.
If you know the material, don’t plan on studying the day of your exam. You should end your studying the evening before the exam. In addition, don’t make it a late night so that you can get a full good night’s rest. Of course, you should be studying on a regular basis for at least a few weeks prior to the evening of the exam so that you should not need the last-minute cramming.
Introduction
Additional Resources
A good source of information about Microsoft certification exams comes from Microsoft itself. Because its products and technologies—and the exams that go with them—change frequently, the best place to go for exam-related informa- tion is online.
Microsoft offers training, certification, and other learning-related information and links at the http://www.microsoft.com/learning web address. If you haven’t already visited the Microsoft Training and Certification website, you should do so right now. Microsoft’s Training and Certification home page resides at http://www.microsoft.com/learning/default.mspx.
Coping with Change on the Web Sooner or later, all the information we’ve shared with you about the Microsoft Certified
Professional pages and the other Web-based resources mentioned throughout the rest of this book will go stale or be replaced by newer information. In some cases, the URLs you find here might lead you to their replacements; in other cases, the URLs will go nowhere, leaving you with the dreaded “404 File not found” error message. When that happens, don’t give up.
There’s always a way to find what you want on the Web if you’re willing to invest some time and energy. Most large or complex websites—and Microsoft’s qualifies on both counts—offer search engines. All of Microsoft’s web pages have a Search button at the top edge of the page. As long as you can get to Microsoft’s site (it should stay at http://www.microsoft.com for a long time), you can use the Search button to find what you need.
The more focused (or specific) you can make a search request, the more likely the results will include information you can use. For example, you can search for the string
“training and certification” to produce a lot of data about the subject in general, but if you’re looking for the
preparation guide for Exam 70-680: Windows 7, Configuring, you’ll be more likely to get there quickly if you use a search string similar to the following:
“Exam 70-680” AND “preparation guide” Likewise, if you want to find the Training and Certification downloads, you should try a
search string such as this: “training and certification” AND “download page”
MCTS 70-680 Exam Cram: Microsoft Windows 7, Configuring
Finally, you should feel free to use general search tools—such as http://www.google.com, http://www.yahoo.com, http://www.excite.com, and http://www.bing.com—to look for related information. Although Microsoft offers great information about its certification exams online, there are plenty of third-party sources of information and assistance that need not follow Microsoft’s party line. Therefore, if you can’t find something where the book says it lives, you should intensify your search.
Thanks for making this Exam Cram book a pivotal part of your certification study plan. Best of luck on becoming certified!
CHAPTER 1
Introduction to Windows 7
This chapter covers the following 70-680 Objectives: . Supplemental Objective : List and describe the main differences
between Windows 7, Windows Vista, and Windows XP. . Supplemental Objective : List the different editions of Windows 7. . Supplemental Objective : Describe the difference between the
32-bit and 64-bit versions of Windows 7. . Supplemental Objectives : List and describe the main
components that make up the graphical user interface used in Windows 7.
Before discussing the exact objectives found in the 70-680 exam, you need to understand how Windows 7 came about and what is different between Windows 7 and older versions of Windows, specifically Windows XP and Windows Vista. Before you decide to install Windows 7, you need to know which editions and versions are available so that you can choose the correct version for you.
Furthermore, if you are new to Windows 7, you will notice the Windows graphical user interface is significantly different than Windows XP and, to