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June 8th,2010    by Thomas

Download 70-270 Exam Questions&Answers for FREE!

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Passing the Microsoft 70-270 exam

August 16th,2010    by Bentley

Passing the Microsoft 70-270 exam has never been faster or easier, now with actual questions and answers, without the messy 70-270 braindumps that are frequently incorrect. ActualTests Unlimited Access Exams are not only the cheaper way to pass without resorting to 70-270 dumps, but at only $99.00 you get access to ALL of the exams from every certification vendor.
Answer sample questions. The CompTIA website also provides a number of sample questions for each certification exam it offers. After filling out a form on the CompTIA website, you will have Enroll in a CompTIA Learning Alliance training center. There are numerous CompTIA Learning Alliance training centers across the United States. Go to the CompTIA website for a list of approved training centers in your area. Such training centers provide the best Security+ certification exam preparation available.

This is more than a Microsoft 70-270 practice exam, this is a compilation of the actual questions and answers from the Installing, Configuring, and Administering Microsoft Windows XP Professional test. You can find and use free legal download free exam papers and do some
free practice exam questions. Where our competitor’s products provide a basic 70-270 practice test to prepare you for what may appear on the exam and prepare you for surprises, the ActualTest 70-270 exam questions and free Microsoft exam questions are complete, comprehensive and guarantees to prepare you for your Microsoft exam.
Answer sample questions. The CompTIA website also provides a number of sample questions for each certification exam it offers. After filling out a form on the CompTIA website, you will have Enroll in a CompTIA Learning Alliance training center. There are numerous CompTIA Learning Alliance training centers across the United States. Go to the CompTIA website for a list of approved training centers in your area. Such training centers provide the best Security+ certification exam preparation available.
Answer sample questions. The CompTIA website also provides a number of sample questions for each certification exam it offers. After filling out a form on the CompTIA website, you will have Enroll in a CompTIA Learning Alliance training center. There are numerous CompTIA Learning Alliance training centers across the United States. Go to the CompTIA website for a list of approved training centers in your area. Such training centers provide the best Security+ certification exam preparation available.

What are the Basics of Microsoft 70-291 Exam

August 9th,2010    by Bentley

Microsoft 70-291 exam called called‘Implementing, Managing and Maintaining a Windows Server 2003 Network Infrastructure’ is preordained for all Microsoft Professionals IT experts. It was instigated on August 14, 2003.

What is importance of this exam for Microsoft professionals? This is since if you overtake this Implementing, Managing and Maintaining a Windows Server 2003 Network Infrastructure exam, you will be capable to be a Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP). It also hand round as the core credit for (MCSA) Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator on Windows Server 2003, Microsoft Certified System Engineer (MCSE) on Windows Server 2003 and Windows Server 2008 and Microsoft Certified Database Administrator (MCDBA) on Microsoft SOL Server 2000 and 2003 certification.

How to pass this exam ? To pass this exam, you should first recognize the main criterion that will be assessed so that it will be easier for you to get ready yourself. The 5 major abilities measured are;

1- Implementing, Managing and Maintaining IP Addressing.

2- Implementing, Managing and Maintaining Name Resolution

3- Implementing, Managing and Maintaining Network Security

4- Implementing, Managing and Maintaining Routing and Remote Access

5- Maintaining a Network Infrastructure.

Now, when you have the basic indulgent, we will now move to the exam tips for this exam. The most imperative thing that you must have is the hands-on practices so that you’refamiliar with the system.

Preparation in Class Rooms

Sign up for courses that are related to your subject for additional information like

Course 2276= Implementing a Windows Server 2003 Network Infrastructure: Network Hosts

Course 2277= Implementing, Managing, and Maintaining a Windows Server 2003 Network Infrastructure: Network Services.

Preparation Software’s

There are a lot of preparation products like selftest engine, practice exams, certification tutorials developed by Exams Experts and exercises published where you can find easily in the bookstores as a self preparation for this Exam 70-291. Make a good research and pick the best practice exams or exam pdf which will really helps you in passing this exam. Do a lot of practices to really recogzine the concept of network infrastructure.

Ask the Certified Exams Expert

Away from each other from self study guides and products, you always have the option to join online forums to seek for leadership from the expert. Talk about in the forum if you’redoubt of amazing related to the subject. Some of them strength provide you some past year questions or tips to pass this exam.

Practice Yourself

You will require a lot of lab practices to be aware of the concept. This is because based on past experience; there will be a lot of reproduction type of questions to test on your capacity. There are some websites with some scenarios which will help you to set up for the exam.

After knowing all these, plan for your exam at least one month to the front. Even though the tips are obliging

Everything you want to know about test 70-270

August 2nd,2010    by Bentley

Q. What is the pre-requisite for taking the test 70-270?

A. The test 70-270 is appropriate for you if you are working or want to work in a typically complex computing environment of medium-to-large organizations. There are no specific prerequisites for this test, although it is recommended that you should have at least one year of experience in implementing and administering any desktop operating system in a network environment.

Q. What certificate does test 70-270 provide?

A. Microsoft’s 70-270 test is designed to measure your ability to implement, administer, and troubleshoot Windows XP as a desktop operating system in any network environment, particularly, medium to very large computing environments. Upon passing this test you will become a Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP).

Q. Which certification does test 70-270 covers?

A. Passing the test 70-270 provides you credit towards achieving the MCSE 2003, MCSA 2003, MCSE 2000, and MCSA 2000 certifications.

Q. How many questions are asked in the 70-270 test?

A. You will be required to attempt approximately 50 questions.

Q. What is the duration of the 70-270 test?

A. Users are required to attempt all questions in 120 minutes.

Q. Which type of the exam is it? (Adaptive/Linear)

A. This test consists of Multiple Choice, Hot Area, Drag and Drop, Build list and reorder, and Build a Tree questions. The test can be adaptive and simulation questions might be asked. There are no Case study type questions.

Q. What is the passing score?

A. To pass, you need a score of 700 out of 1000 to pass the exam.

Q. What is the exam retake policy?

A. If you do not pass test 70-270 the first time, you may retake it at any time. If you do not achieve a passing score the second time, you must wait at least 14 days to retake the test a third time. A 14-day waiting period will be imposed for all subsequent exam retakes. If you have passed an exam, you cannot take it again.

Q. Where to take the test 70-270?

A.Microsoft exams may be taken at Prometric testing facilities.

Q. What is the test 70-270 fee?

A.The net price for taking test 70-270 is US$125. Net price does not include applicable taxes, vouchers, promotions or membership discounts you may have. The exam is subsidized in India and China. The net price for taking test 70-270 in India and China is US$50.

Pratice for MCSA 70-270 Exam

July 12th,2010    by Bentley

MCSA Certification Exam: 70-270

Installing, Configuring and Administering Microsoft Windows XP Professional

After you study your text books it is important to test your newly acquired knowledge and see just how well you have absorbed the material. Practice exams....

* Reinforces what you learnt - fill in the gaps of what you missed
* Gets you used to answering questions to build confidence and familiarity

Here are 10 Multiple choice exams questions for you to practice on:

Question 1# - You are the administrator of a Windows XP Professional computer named computer1. The computer is connected to the Internet. Pro1 provides Internet access to eight other Windows XP Professional computers that are connected to Pro1. You enable Ineternet Connection Sharing (ICS) and Internet Connection Firewall (ICF) on computer1.

You run an application named App1 on computer1. App1 communicates with an online training company on the Internet. In order to display an online seminar, the training company needs to contact the App1 application at port 5800.

You want to ensure that the training company can connect to the App1 application. What should you do?

A. Configure ICF to enable the Internet Control Message Protocol (ICMP) Allow redirect. Then start the App1 application that opens port 5800.

B. Create a new service definition named App1. Use port 5800 as the external and internal port number.

C. Edit the %systemroot&\System32\Drivers\Etc\Services file on Pro1 to include a service definition named App1 for port 5800.

D. Change the TCP/IP settings on computer1 to enable TCP/IP filtering. Permit network traffic on port 5800.

Question 2# - You are the desktop administrator for your company's sales department. The IT manager for the sales department wants to ensure that each Windows XP Professional event log retains approximately 5 MB of data.

He deploys this policy to the computers in the sales department by using Group Policy. You find out that the policy has not been applied consistently. You need to ensure that the policy is applied consistently. Which command should you run?

A. Secedit /refreshpolicy user_policy
B. Secedit /refreshpolicy machine_policy
C. Gpupdate /target:computer
D. Gpupdate /target:user

Question 3# - You are the desktop administrator for Adventure Works. You perform a clean installation of Windows XP Professional on 25 computers. All of these computers are part of a workgroup named Dev. All of the computers in Dev are configured to require a user name and password for logon. Thirty day after the installation, all users in the Dev workgroup report that they cannot log on to their computers. How should you correct this problem?

A. Use the Windows product Activation wizard on all computers to activate Windows XP Professional via the Microsoft Clearing House.

B. On each computer, log on as a local administrator and reset the user password at the next logon.

C. Restart each computer in safe mode, and change the local account policy expiration from 30 days to zero days.

D. Restart each computer in safe mode. Use system restore, specifying the restore point that was created after the clean installation of Windows XP Professional.

Question 4# - You have updated a device driver for a computer running Windows XP Professional, but you now experience system problems. What should you do to correct the problem?

A. Restart the computer

B. Remove the device driver you updated and reinstall it.

C. Roll back the device driver you installed to the previous driver.

D. Using the Add Hardware Wizard, remove and reinstall the hardware with the updated device driver

E. Verify that the device driver was signed by Microsoft and reinstall it

Question 5# - You have enabled files on a user\'s computer for offline use. Which of the following events occur when the user disconnects from the network?

A. The user is prompted to identify whether the system should keep the network version of the file or the user\'s local copy of the file.

B. Changes to the user\'s local copy of the file are overwritten by the network copy.

C. The user begins to work with a local cached copy of the file instead of the network version of the file.

D. The network copy of the file and the local cached copy of the file are synchronized.

E. The local copy of the file replaces the network copy.

Question 6# - A computer that you support has been the target of a hacker. You would like more information about how this user is attempting to gain access to this computer. Which log should you examine?

A. The Security Log.
B. The System Log.
C. The Application Log.
D. The Authentication Log.
E. The Events Log.

Question 7# - You are the help desk support staff for a sports equipment manufacturer. You are configuring your portable computer.

You configure your system such that the start time can be reduced and the complete state of the computer can be saved and then the power turned off. On one instance the system state fails to be restored. What is the likely problem?

A. POST is disabled
B. the hibernation file is corrupted
C. stand-by is disabled
D. energy star is disabled

Question 8# - A remote user would like to make a faster connection to the network. She is limited to using a dial-up connection. Her location does not support DSL or cable modem connections. What, if any, options are available to this user?

A. The user should use v.92 compression routines to increase the amount of data throughput.

B. The user should set up a multilink connection, using two modems to connect to the Internet.

C. The user should investigate the availability of ISDN service.

D. You should investigate establishing a point-to-point wireless link between your location and the user\'s.

E. The user should have a dedicated data line installed by the phone company.

Question 9# - You believe you are experiencing packet loss somewhere on your network. Which tool would be helpful in locatiing a potential source for the loss?

A. ping
B. tracert
C. ipconfig
D. pathping
E. arp

Question 10# - You are troubleshooting a problem with your video driver. You want to make sure you load a basic VGA video driver when you reboot. Using Windows XP Professional, how can you do this?

A. Restart the computer. Windows XP Professional will detect the non-functional driver and select a new one.

B. Roll back the device driver to the most recent version and reboot.

C. Boot into safe mode. Make changes to the driver there and reboot.

D. Add the /basevideo switch to the [operating system] entries in the boot.ini file.

E. Reset your monitor to 640 x 480 resolution in the Display control panel and reboot the computer.

ANSWERS

Question 1# - Correct Answers: B
Question 2# - Correct Answers: C
Question 3# - Correct Answers: A
Question 4# - Correct Answers: C
Question 5# - Correct Answers: C,D
Question 6# - Correct Answers: A
Question 7# - Correct Answers: B
Question 8# - Correct Answers: B
Question 9# - Correct Answers: D
Question 10# - Correct Answers: D

What Are the Exam Objectives of Exam 70-270?

July 7th,2010    by Bentley

Exam 70-270 is one of the examinations of Microsoft certification and the exam name is MCSE windows XP professional. This certification will designed for the candidates who wish to learn and gain knowledge on the ability to administer implement as well as troubleshoot the windows XP in the desktop operating system of any networking environment particularly in the larger level computing environments. By passing examination candidates can become Microsoft certified professionals and also helps the candidates to certify with MCSA 2003 as well as MCSE 2003 certifications.

Requirements for this examination:

For writing this examination there are no special prerequisites required to the candidates but it is recommended to the candidates to have at least 1 year experience in the field of administering and implementation of desktop operating system in any networking environment.

Job roles for this certification:

Candidates can have their varieties of job opportunities after successful completion of this examination. System administrator system engineer system analysts technical consultants network analysts technical support engineers etc are some of the job roles included in this certification.

Exam objectives:

The following are the exam objectives of 70-270 examination and they are:

Installation of windows XP professional

Managing configuration as well as troubleshooting the security

Implementation and conducting administration of resources

Desktop environment configuring and troubleshooting

Optimizing and monitoring the system reliability and its performances

Managing implementing and troubleshooting network protocols and services

Managing implementing monitoring and troubleshooting hardware drivers and devices

Other details:

Examination comprises of 50 multiple choices drag- drop built tree hot area and built list questions. There are no case study type questions and the time duration is approximately 120 minutes. Minimum passing score is 700 out of 1000 (70 %.). Candidates can have language options for writing this examination apart from English. The language options for writing this examination are German Japanese Chinese etc.

Installing, Configuring, and Administering Windows XP Professional-70-270 exam

July 5th,2010    by Bentley

This certification exam measures your ability to implement, administer, and troubleshoot information systems that incorporate Microsoft Windows XP Professional
 
Exam Details
Number of Questions 110
Passing Score Pass/Fail
Time Limit 150 minutes
Difficulty Rating 5/10 - Easy
Certifications MCP, MCSE, MCSA
Official Site http://www.microsoft.com/traincert/exams/70-270.asp
 
 
Recommended Resources:
Official MCSE Books: MCSE Windows XP Professional Study Guide (Exam 70-270)
Real World Reference: Microsoft Windows XP Inside Out
Classroom alternatives: CBT Nuggets or SmartCertify's Computer Based Training
Exam Prep Software Exam Sim or Transcender
 
 
Exam Objectives:
Installing Windows XP Professional
Perform and troubleshoot an attended installation of Windows XP Professional.
Perform and troubleshoot an unattended installation of Windows XP Professional.
Install Windows XP Professional by using Remote Installation Services (RIS).
Install Windows XP Professional by using the System Preparation Tool.
Create unattended answer files by using Setup Manager to automate the installation of Windows XP Professional.
Upgrade from a previous version of Windows to Windows XP Professional.

Prepare a computer to meet upgrade requirements.
Migrate existing user environments to a new installation.
Perform post-installation updates and product activation.
Troubleshoot failed installations.
 
Implementing and Conducting Administration of Resources
Monitor, manage, and troubleshoot access to files and folders.

Configure, manage, and troubleshoot file compression.
Control access to files and folders by using permissions.
Optimize access to files and folders.
Manage and troubleshoot access to shared folders.

Create and remove shared folders.
Control access to shared folders by using permissions.
Manage and troubleshoot Web server resources.
Connect to local and network print devices.

Manage printers and print jobs.
Control access to printers by using permissions.
Connect to an Internet printer.
Connect to a local print device.
Configure and manage file systems.

Convert from one file system to another file system.
Configure NTFS, FAT32, or FAT file systems.
Manage and troubleshoot access to and synchronization of offline files.
 
Implementing, Managing, Monitoring, and Troubleshooting Hardware Devices and Drivers
Implement, manage, and troubleshoot disk devices.

Install, configure, and manage DVD and CD-ROM devices.
Monitor and configure disks.
Monitor, configure, and troubleshoot volumes.
Monitor and configure removable media, such as tape devices.
Implement, manage, and troubleshoot display devices.

Configure multiple-display support.
Install, configure, and troubleshoot a video adapter.
Configure Advanced Configuration Power Interface (ACPI).
Implement, manage, and troubleshoot input and output (I/O) devices.

Monitor, configure, and troubleshoot I/O devices, such as printers, scanners, multimedia devices, mouse, keyboard, and smart card reader.
Monitor, configure, and troubleshoot multimedia hardware, such as cameras.
Install, configure, and manage modems.
Install, configure, and manage Infrared Data Association (IrDA) devices.
Install, configure, and manage wireless devices.
Install, configure, and manage USB devices.
Install, configure, and manage hand held devices.
Install, configure, and manage network adapters.
Manage and troubleshoot drivers and driver signing.
Monitor and configure multiprocessor computers.
 
Monitoring and Optimizing System Performance and Reliability
Monitor, optimize, and troubleshoot performance of the Windows XP Professional desktop.

Optimize and troubleshoot memory performance.
Optimize and troubleshoot processor utilization.
Optimize and troubleshoot disk performance.
Optimize and troubleshoot application performance.
Configure, manage, and troubleshoot Scheduled Tasks.
Manage, monitor, and optimize system performance for mobile users.
Restore and back up the operating system, System State data, and user data.

Recover System State data and user data by using Windows Backup.
Troubleshoot system restoration by starting in safe mode.
Recover System State data and user data by using the Recovery console.
 
 
Configuring and Troubleshooting the Desktop Environment
Configure and manage user profiles and desktop settings.
Configure support for multiple languages or multiple locations.

Enable multiple-language support.
Configure multiple-language support for users.
Configure local settings.
Configure Windows XP Professional for multiple locations.
Manage applications by using Windows Installer packages.
 
Implementing, Managing, and Troubleshooting Network Protocols and Services
Configure and troubleshoot the TCP/IP protocol.
Connect to computers by using dial-up networking.

Connect to computers by using a virtual private network (VPN) connection.
Create a dial-up connection to connect to a remote access server.
Connect to the Internet by using dial-up networking.
Configure and troubleshoot Internet Connection Sharing (ICS).
Connect to resources by using Internet Explorer.
Configure, manage, and implement Internet Information Services (IIS).
Configure, manage, and troubleshoot Remote Desktop and Remote Assistance.
Configure, manage, and troubleshoot an Internet Connection Firewall (ICF).
 
Configuring, Managing, and Troubleshooting Security
Configure, manage, and troubleshoot Encrypting File System (EFS).
Configure, manage, and troubleshoot a security configuration and local security policy.
Configure, manage, and troubleshoot local user and group accounts.
Configure, manage, and troubleshoot auditing.
Configure, manage, and troubleshoot account settings.
Configure, manage, and troubleshoot account policy.
Configure, manage, and troubleshoot user and group rights.
Troubleshoot cache credentials.
Configure, manage, and troubleshoot Internet Explorer security settings.

70-270 Xp Exam TechNotes:Installing Windows XP Professional

July 2nd,2010    by Bentley

Obviously, just to know how to choose best practice tests or materials is not enough for us to grasp XP technologies such as Install, Configure, and Administer Microsoft Windows XP Professional, and so on. To help us get MCSE/MCSA on server 2003 in high rate, here we will share our 70-270 Xp Exam TechNotes(1) for free.

SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS

Before you install Windows XP Professional you should ensure that your hardware meets the system requirements. These may vary based on your system configuration, click here for more details and the complete system requirements listed at Microsoft.com
  CPU Minimum required: 233 MHz
Recommended: 300 Mhz or higher processor
Supports Dual-processor.
RAM 64 MB minimum supported
128 MB or higher recommended
4 GB maximum supported
Disk space 1.5 gigabytes (GB) of available hard disk space
Other
requirements  – SVGA (800×600 or higher) display adapter and monitor
- CD-ROM or DVD drive
- Keyboard and mouse or compatible pointing device

HCL

You should also ensure that you hardware is listed in the Hardware Compatibility List, You can download the HCL in text file format here. When not all your hardware is on the HCL it does not necessarily mean you cannot use it with Windows XP, check the vendor’s web site if they have a XP driver for their device.

THE INSTALLATION     Back to top

A typical installation of Windows XP Professional from a CD-ROM consists of 4 stages described below:

1. Starting Setup

If your computer is able to boot from CD-ROM, the easiest way to start setup is to boot from the Windows XP Professional installation CD. During this stage, which is also known as the text-based portion of setup, a mini Windows XP is loaded on the target computer and starts the setup program. After accepting the license agreement, setup prompts you to create or choose a partition where Windows XP should be installed. If you choose to create a new partition setup formats the new partition as either FAT32 or NTFS, depending on your choice.

If the target computer is not able to boot from CD-ROM, or you want more control over the setup process and parameters, you can start setup manually using winnt32.exe or winnt.exe, both described below.

Winnt32.exe

Performs an installation of, or upgrade to Windows XP. You can run winnt32.exe on Windows 9x, ME, NT, 2000, or XP. The following table lists and describes the available command-line parameters for the winnt32.exe command:

Parameter Purpose
/checkupgradeonly Checks your computer for upgrade compatibility with Windows XP. You can save the results in a file, upgrade.txt in the system root by default.
/cmd:command_line  Instructs Setup to carry out a specific command before the final phase of Setup. This would occur after your computer has restarted and after Setup has collected the necessary configuration information, but before Setup is complete.
/cmdcons Adds the Recovery Console to the startup options. This option can only be used when Windows XP is already installed.
/copydir:{i386|I64}\FolderName Creates an additional folder within the folder in which the Windows XP files are installed. For example use /copydir:i386\corpdrivers to have Setup copy that folder to your newly installed computer, making the new folder location systemroot\corpdrivers. Use /copydir multiple times to create additional folders.
/copysource:FolderName  Creates a temporary additional folder within the folder in which the Windows XP files are installed and is deleted after Setup completes. For example use /copysource:corpdrivers to have Setup copy that folder to your newly installed computer, making the temporary folder location systemroot\corpdrivers. Use /copysource multiple times to create additional folders.
/debug[Level]:[FileName]  Creates a debug log at the level specified, for example, /debug4:InstDbg.log. The default log file is C:\systemroot\Winnt32.log, and the default debug level is 2. Level 0 represents severe errors, 1 errors, 2 warnings, 3 information, and 4 detailed information for debugging.
/dudisable Discussed below in "Post-installation Updates"
/duprepare:pathname Discussed below in "Post-installation Updates" 
/dushare:pathname  Discussed below in "Post-installation Updates"
/m:FolderName Instructs Setup to look for installation files in this alternate location first, instead of using the files from the default location.
/makelocalsource Instructs Setup to copy all installation source files to your local hard disk.
/noreboot  Instructs Setup to not restart the computer after the file copy phase of Setup is completed so that you can run another command.
/s:SourcePath  Specifies the source location of the Windows XP files. You can copy files simultaneously from multiple servers, by using the /s:SourcePath option multiple times (up to a maximum of eight) to specify different source servers.
/syspart:DriveLetter Copies Setup startup files to the hard disk and marks the disk as active. This disk can then be installed into another computer. When you start that computer, it automatically starts with the next phase of Setup. You must always use the /tempdrive parameter with the /syspart parameter. You can start Winnt32 with the /syspart option on an x86-based computer running Windows NT 4.0, 2000, or XP.
/tempdrive:DriveLetter  Specifies a drive letter to place temporary files. (note: for a clean installation, Windows XP will also be installed on the specified partition.)
/unattend[num]:[answer_file] Specifies an answer file for unattended installations, discussed in detail below in "unattended installations"
Num is the number of seconds between the time that Setup finishes copying the files and when it restarts your computer. 
/unattend Discussed below in "unattended installation"
/udf:id [,UDB_file] Specifies an UDB file for unattended installations
Discussed below in "unattended installations"

Winnt.exe

Performs an installation of Windows XP. If your hardware is compatible with Windows XP, you can run winnt.exe at a Windows 3.x or MS-DOS command prompt. The following table lists and describes the available command-line parameters for the winnt.exe command:

Parameter Purpose
/s:SourcePath Specifies the source location of the Windows XP files. The location must be a full path of the form x:\[Path] or \\server\share[\Path]. 
/t:TempDrive  Directs Setup to place temporary files on the specified drive and to install Windows XP on that drive. If you do not specify a location, Setup attempts to locate a drive for you. 
/u:answer file  Discussed below in "unattended installation"
/udf:ID [,UDB_file]  Discussed below in "unattended installation"
/r:folder  Specifies an optional folder to be installed. The folder remains after Setup finishes.
/rx:folder  Specifies an optional folder to be copied. The folder is deleted after Setup finishes.
/e:command  Specifies a command to be carried out just before the final phase of Setup.
/a  Enables accessibility options.
/? Displays the parameters listed above.

2. Setup Wizard

When the first stage of the installation completed, the computer reboots and the GUI portion, known as the Setup Wizard, will start. This will prompt you for regional settings to customize keyboard, language, and locale settings. Information such as your name and organization, the Computer name, Administrator password and time and date is also entered during this stage.

3. Installing Network components

The next stage is Installing Network components, which includes detecting the network interface card. You must also choose to join a Domain or Workgroup during this stage. Typically the following components are installed:
- Client for Microsoft Networks
- File and Print Sharing for Microsoft Networks
- Qos Packet Scheduler
- TCP/IP protocol suite.

4. Completing the installation

During this final stage Setup copies the remaining files, configures the computer, saves the settings, removes temporary installation files, and restarts the computer

UNATTANTED INSTALLATIONS

There are several ways to perform an unattended installation of Windows XP. Unattended means Setup will not require any user input during the installation, although in practice this is not always the case. But it allows you to install multiple computers without actually sitting in front of them.

Setup Manager

The Setup Manager (setupmgr.exe) can be used primarily to create or modify answer files. When you start the Setup Manager, a wizard will take you through all the steps involved, similar to going through a regular Setup. Although answer files can be created manually using a simple text editor, the Setup Manager provides a graphical interface allowing you to easily create complex answer files. For example, answer files with additional commands that run other installation and configuration scripts when Setup is finished. Besides creating the default unattend.txt answer files, you can also use the Setup Manager to create answer files for Sysprep and RIS installations. When a regular unattend.txt answer file is created you can also have Setup Manager create a distribution folder with the installation files. Additional files (applications, drivers, etc.) can be installed in the same folder.
The Setupmgr.exe file must be extracted from the DEPLOY.CAB file located in the \Support\Tools folder on the XP installation CD. Before you enter the the information (the answers) you would normally enter during the installation process, you have to select the User Interaction Level. You can choose from 5 different options:

Provide Defaults
During the installation the user will see the answers provided in the answer file as defaults, the user can accept or change them.

Fully Automated
Fully automated installation.

Hide Pages
During the installation the user will see the answers provided in the answer file as defaults. Pages which answers are completely provided by the answer file are hidden, the user cannot accept or change those.

Read Only
During the installation the user will see the answers provided in the answer file as defaults, but cannot change them.

GUI Attended
This automates only the text-based stage of the installation, the user will have to enter the answers starting from the Setup Wizard.

At some point during the wizard, you need to provide the computer name. If you specify multiple names, Setup Manager will also create Uniqueness Database (UDB) files. The computer or user specific values in these .udf files can be used to override the values provided in the answer file.
If you want to perform an unattended installation from the command prompt on Windows 98, ME, NT, 2000, or XP, use Winnt32.exe, otherwise use winnt.exe. For example to perform an unattended installation on a computer named XPclient1, using unattend.txt as the answer file, and overriding some of the answers with XPclient1 specific values in the unnattend.udf file use the following command:
winnt32 /unattend:unattend.txt /udf:XPclient1,unattend.udf
or
winnt /u:unattend.txt /udf:XPclient1,unattend.udf
You can also use the /unattend parameter without specifying an answer file to upgrade Windows 98, ME, NT 4.0, or 2000 in unattended mode and take all user settings from the ‘previous’ installation. If you use the /udf parameter and do not specify an UDB_file, Setup will prompt to insert a disk that contains the $Unique$.udb file.
When you want to perform an unattended installation by booting from a CD-ROM, you need to rename the answer file to winnt.sif (default is unnattend.txt) and copy it to a floppy disk. When Setup starts, it looks for the winnt.sif file on the floppy disk and uses it to provide the answer during the unattended installation.
Using answer files in combination with winnt32, winnt, or the CD rom/winnt.sif combination is used for standardized deployment of Windows XP Professional in situations where the target clients have many different hardware configurations. If the target clients all have the same or very similar hardware and configuration, RIS or disk duplexing is usually faster to deploy Windows XP to a large number of clients.
Here’s a sample part of an answer file:
[Data]
UnattendedInstall=Yes
MSDosInitiated=No
AutoPartition=1
[Unattended]
UnattendMode = FullUnattended
TargetPath = WinXPpro
FileSystem = LeaveAlone
OemPreinstall = No
OemSkipEula = Yes

[GuiUnattended]
TimeZone = "YourTimeZone"
OemSkipWelcome = 1
OemSkipRegional = 1

[UserData]
ComputerName = *
ProductKey = "Your product key"
[SetupMgr]
ComputerName0=XPclient1
ComputerName1=XPclient2
[Display]
BitsPerPel = 16
XResolution = 800
YResolution = 600
VRefresh = 60

[Components]
iis_common = On
iis_inetmgr = Off
iis_www = Off
iis_ftp = Off
iis_doc = Off
Fp_extensions = On
Indexsrv_system = On
Accessopt = On
Calc = On
Charmap = On
Chat = Off
Clipbook = On
Deskpaper = On
Dialer = On

[TapiLocation]
CountryCode = "1"
Dialing = Pulse
AreaCode = "Your telephone area code"
LongDistanceAccess = 9

[Networking]
InstallDefaultComponents=Yes

[Identification]
JoinDomain = TEcorp.net
DomainAdmin = Administrator
DomainAdminPassword = XEkdf7834H

[URL]
Home_Page = http://www.techexams.net
Search_Page = http://www.google.com
Quick_Link_1 = http://www.techexams.net

[Proxy]
HTTP_Proxy_Server = proxysrv12:80
Use_Same_Proxy = 1
[GuiRunOnce]
Command0=c:\task1.bat

Here’s an example of a simple .udf file, which can be used in combination with the answer file above:
;SetupMgrTag
[UniqueIds]
    1=UserData
    2=UserData
[1:UserData]
    ComputerName=xpclient1
[2:UserData]
    ComputerName=xpclient2

System Preparation Tool

The System Preparation Tool (sysprep.exe) is used to assist in performing a large deployment of Windows XP on clients with identical hardware configurations. This process is fairly simple:
First Windows XP Professional is installed and completely configured on a master disk. Next, an image of the client is created using sysprep.exe (remember that only a single partition can be imaged). This image can be duplicated to other disks using third-party disk duplication software. A duplicate of the master disk is placed in a target machine, and when this computer boots a mini-setup will be performed and a new SID is generated. You can use the Setup Manager Wizard to create a mini-answer file named sysprep.inf. This file must be placed in the Sysprep folder on the root where Windows is installed or saved to a floppy disk, and inserted at the beginning of Mini-Setup. (Click here for more information about using Sysprep with sysprep.inf.)
The Sysprep.exe file must be extracted from the DEPLOY.CAB file located in the \Support\Tools folder on the XP installation CD and supports the following parameters:

Parameter
Purpose

pnp
force Plug and Play enumeration on next restart

quiet
run in Silent mode, with no dialog boxes

nosidgen
do not regenerate security ID on restart (this is useful for creating a backup image of a client)

reboot
automatically restart when the Sysprep.exe tool is finished

mini
Configures Windows XP Professional to use Mini-Setup instead of Windows Welcome. This option has no effect on Windows XP Home Edition, where the first-run experience is always Windows Welcome. This switch also forces SysPrep to recognize the Sysprep.inf file.

Remote Installation Services (RIS)

One of the best additions to Windows introduced in Windows 2000 is RIS. This service allows you to push automate remote installations of Windows 2000 Professional and Windows XP Professional clients.
First Windows XP Professional is installed and configured on a client, including software applications and other settings. Next, an image of the client is created using riprep.exe ( only a single partition can be imaged). The riprep.exe command offers the same parameters as the sysprep.exe tool described earlier. The image is stored on the RIS server. When a target client’s boot order is set to "boot from network" (in the BIOS) it receives basic IP addressing info and a mini-Setup (Client Installation Wizard) starts. Again the answers to this mini-setup can be provided by a special answer file created with Setup Manager. (Click here for more information about using answer files and RIS).
Instead of creating a new preconfigured RIS image, you can also use the default CD-ROM based image. There must be at least one Windows XP CD-ROM based image to allow target clients to request additional installation files if needed.
There are a couple of things you need in a network to be able to install RIS and perform remote installations.
Network in which clients are installed needs:
- a DHCP server
- Active Directory
- a DNS server
Target clients:
Besides enough available disk space for Windows XP and temporary installation files the target clients must have a Network Interface Card equipped with PXE Boot Rom version .99c or greater. If Pre-boot Execution Environment (PXE) is not supported use rbfg.exe (located in the \remoteinstall\admin\i386 folder on the Windows 2000 RIS server) to create a remote boot floppy.
Users:
The user used to perform RIS installations needs the right Create Computer Objects in Active Directory.
Click here for more detailed information in the chapter RIS in the Windows XP Resource Kit.
UPGRADING TO WINDOWS XP
Windows 98, ME, NT 4 Workstation, 2000 Professional can be directly upgraded to Windows XP Professional. If you want to upgrade from Windows 95 you need to upgrade to Windows 98 first, and if you want to upgrade from Windows NT 3.x you need to upgrade to Windows NT 4 first.
Run winnt32.exe with the /checkupgrade only parameter to check if the target machine meets the minimum system requirements. You can save the results in a file, upgrade.txt in the system root by default.
There are several ways to address problems with applications that do not run properly after the upgrade:
- Reinstall the applications after the upgrade.
- Use migration dynamic-link libraries (DLLs)
- Run the application in Compatibility Mode by right-clicking the application, selecting Properties, and then clicking the Compatibility tab.

MIGRATING USER ENVIRONMENTS

Files and Settings Transfer Wizard
This tool allows users who with a new computer to migrate their own files and settings by using a direct cable connection or the network and without the support of an admin. When you run the wizard you’ll have to choose the transportation method, which can be removable media, a direct serial cable connection or the network. Then you can customize which settings and files are included in the migration. This includes display settings, Internet Explorer and Outlook setting, and regional settings.
User State Management Tool (USMT)
The User State Management Tool (USMT) provides the same functionality as the wizard, but on a large scale, targeted at migrating multiple users. USMT gives administrators command line precision in customizing specific settings such as unique modifications to the registry. The User State Migration Tool consists of two executable files, ScanState.exe, LoadState.exe, and four migration rule information files Migapp.inf, Migsys.inf, Miguser.inf, and Sysfiles.inf. These files are located on the Windows XP CD in the \valueadd\msft\usmt\ folder.
A user can run Scanstate.exe on a Windows 95, 98, NT Workstation 4.0, or 2000 Professional computer and it will collect the data and settings based on the information in the migration rule .inf files mentioned above. A local admin can then run Loadstate.exe on the target Windows XP Professional computer to migrate the data and the settings.

POST-INSTALLATION UPDATES   

If you are performing an upgrade to Windows XP Professional on a computer with Internet connectivity, you can have setup uses Dynamic Update to check online for newer versions of the installation files. Instead of using the Internet for each installation, you can also place the updated files on a share in the network.

There are three related parameters for the winnt32.exe command:

/dudisable
Prevents Dynamic Update from running and will disable Dynamic Update even if you use an answer file and specify Dynamic Update options in that file. Setup will only use the original Setup files.

/duprepare:pathname
Prepares an installation share so that it can be used with Dynamic Update files that you downloaded from the Windows Update Web site. This share can then be used for installing Windows XP for multiple clients.

/dushare:pathname
Specifies a share on which you previously downloaded Dynamic Update files (updated files for use with Setup) from the Windows Update Web site, and on which you previously ran /duprepare:pathname. When used on a client, it specifies that the client installation will make use of the updated files on the share specified in pathname.

SERVICE PACKS    

Once in a while Microsoft releases a Service Pack; a combination of all previous updates and hot-fixes and some new ones. A service pack can be installed by using the command:
update.exe

To uninstall a service pack, change to the %systemroot%\$NtservicepackUninstall$\spuninst folder and type: spuninst.exe -u

ACTIVATING WINDOWS XP    

Windows XP introduces a new method to prevent piracy: if you don’t activate your copy of Windows online within 30 days you don’t you won’t be able to use it any longer. An Installation ID is created based on a hardware ID (based on several hardware components) and a Product ID (based on the Product Key) and is send to Microsoft. Replacing several hardware devices might require re-activation. MS does not know the actual hardware configuration, the information is encrypted using a on-way hash, which means it can’t be decrypted.
To activate Windows from the command-prompt type: C:\WINDOWS\system32\oobe>msoobe /a

To activate Windows XP unattended installations, add the following information to the Unattend.txt or Winnt.sif answer file:
In the [Unattended] section: AutoActivate = Yes
In the [UserData] section: ProductID = yourProductID

Windows Product Activation uses ports 80 – HTTP and 443 – HTTPS.

TROUBLESHOOTING INSTALLATIONS    

Installations of Windows XP Professional can fail partly or completely for many different reasons. Some common causes and possible solutions are listed in the following table:

Media errors Check/clean the CD-ROM drive and the installation CD.
Dependency service fails to start This is almost always network related.
SCSI disk not detected Install the drivers by pressing F6 during the text mode portion of setup.

Windows Setup creates several log files during the installation listed in the following table:

SETUPACT.LOG Keeps a record of all actions performed during setup.
SETUPERR.LOG Keeps a record of errors that occurred during setup and their severity. The information in this file will be displayed at the end of setup if any errors occurred.
%windir%\COMSETUP.LOG COM+ components
%windir%\SETUPAPI.LOG Keeps a record of each processed line from an .inf file and related errors. 
%windir%\debug\NETSETUP.LOG Logs the process of joining a domain or workgroup.

What to expect when you are Appearing for the 70-270 test

June 29th,2010    by Bentley

Microsoft’s 70 270 test is all about gauging your aptitude in implementing, administering, and troubleshooting Windows XP like a desktop operating system in whichever network setting, mainly, middle to very big computing environments. Once you pass this exam you will grow to be a MCP (Microsoft Certified Professional). This test is also like a gateway to the MCSA 2003 & MCSE 2003 certifications.

Why you need the Windows XP Professional 70 270 test?

By passing this exam, you get qualified for various high tech job roles, such as network administrator, systems engineer, information systems administrator, systems administrator, tech support engineers, network analysts, technical consultants and systems analysts. For more info about this test you can visit Microsoft’s website.

This exam is suitable for those who are interested in working in a complex and high tech computing setting of medium and large scale organizations. And although you don’t have to pass any prerequisites for taking part, it is still advised that you gather no less than one year’s experience in installing and managing desktop operating systems in a network setting.

The Structure of the 70-270 Exam

The number of questions you have to attempt is approximately 50 in 120 minutes. The passing score is 700. This exam usually comprises of Hot Area, Multiple Choice, Drag and Drop, Build a Tree, build list and reorder type questions. Although there are no case studies here, you should be ready to face unexpected simulation questions.

Preparing for the 70-270 Exam

You can prepare for this exam using 70-270 sample tests and training available on the web. Also, the study materials for the 70-270 Exam are now available at highly affordable costs in various websites that offer certification exam resources. Moreover, these courses are also available as e-learning courses that you can attend online.

Gaze at Microsoft Windows XP exam 70-270

June 23rd,2010    by Bentley

Hold on to your hats, boys and girls, the fun is about to start. Microsoft has prepared another batch of exams that will test your knowledge of its most recent operating system, Windows XP. This Daily Drill Down will show you how exam 70-270 fits into your MCP, MCSA, and MCSE study plans. In addition, I’ll give you a detailed analysis of the exam so you can focus your study efforts to ace it the first time through.

The skinny on exam 70-270
The title of exam 70-270 is Installing, Configuring, and Administering Microsoft Windows XP Professional, and it will thoroughly test your knowledge of Windows XP. This exam has been available for testing since October 23, 2001, and, as with all Microsoft exams, it will cost you $100 to take it. Following the trend of making its certification exams more difficult (and more valuable), Microsoft is raising the bar to a new level this time around. You’ll be given 240 minutes to complete exam 70-270, which will challenge you with 110 form-based questions. Information related to the passing criteria was not available at the time of this writing, but you should not walk into the testing room unprepared.

How this exam fits into the certification picture
If this is the first Microsoft exam you’re taking, you’ll be certified as a Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP) when you pass. Should you want to pursue the Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator (MCSA) or Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE) certifications, exam 70-270 will be one of the first steps you take along those paths. The material covered by this test forms a foundation that other, more technical exams will build upon.

Breaking down Microsoft exam 70-270
Given the length of this exam, you’ll need to be well versed in every facet of Windows XP Professional. I’m going to break exam 70-270 down into several broad categories, including installation, basic administration, hardware devices and drivers, monitoring and optimizing, configuring the desktop environment, network configuration, and security. I’ll cover each of these categories in depth in the following sections.

Installing Windows XP Professional
While you could probably work through a basic CD-ROM installation of Windows XP, to be able to pass exam 70-270 you must be knowledgeable about the other types of installations you can perform, such as network installation and an operating system upgrade. In addition, you must understand the four stages of the installation process and be familiar with the many switches that can be used to customize your installation.

Another type of installation is the unattended variety that employs an answer file created with either a text editor or the Setup Manager Wizard. Ensure that you’re familiar with the five levels of user interaction, as well as with creating a Uniqueness Database File (UDF). This file is used in conjunction with the answer file, allowing you to perform many individual installations with a single answer file.

You’ll be tested on installing Windows XP using the Remote Installation Services (RIS). You should also know the RIS client requirements and understand how to create a Remote Installation Preparation (RIPrep) image.

The final type of automated installation that you’ll be challenged on is the System Preparation Tool, Sysprep.exe. Know the four modes that have been added under Windows XP and be very familiar with the Sysprep switches and their functions.

Other installation topics you might find covered by exam 70-270 include upgrading to Windows XP, uninstalling Windows XP, performing a dynamic update, and configuring dual-boot workstations. Pay special attention to troubleshooting installations and upgrades. Microsoft seems to favor tricky questions along this line.

Basic administration of Windows XP
Once you have installed Windows XP, you must turn your attention to managing the operating system’s basic resources, such as the file system. During the Windows XP installation, you’ll be asked to select the type of file system you want to use. The choices in Windows XP are FAT, FAT32, and NTFS. Know the differences among the file systems and the advantages of each. Also understand how to convert a FAT or FAT32 partition to NTFS.

You must also know how to manage the files and folders that hold your data. You must be well versed with NTFS file and folder permissions for this test. This is a very broad subject, and you can be sure that it will be covered in depth on this exam.

Another topic that falls into the basic administration category is dynamic storage. Familiarize yourself with the differences, advantages, and disadvantages of basic and dynamic storage, as well as the use of the disk management tool, Diskpart.

The final topic here is printing, one of the most important services your users want. You can expect local and network printing to be covered in detail on this exam.

Working with hardware devices and drivers
Because Windows XP can be installed on virtually every type of computer system available, expect to see quite a few questions about hardware devices and drivers on the exam. Even if much of this information seems old hat, spend some time reviewing it.

The hardware management information covered on the exam is fairly straightforward. You must be familiar with hardware installation, Plug and Play, system resources, display configuration, PCMCIA adapters, USB ports, and infrared port configuration. You should also have a good understanding of hardware profiles, power management, power schemes, ACPI configuration, and low-battery alarm settings for laptops.

Be knowledgeable about using peripheral devices such as smart cards, digital cameras, modems, wireless devices, and handheld devices, and know how to install and configure network adapters and multiple CPUs.

Once you have a good handle on the hardware, you can focus on device drivers and the software utilities used to configure and manage your computer system. One of Windows XP’s handiest features is the device driver rollback capability, which allows you to revert to a previously used version of a device driver in case the newly installed one doesn’t work correctly. Because this is a new feature to Windows XP, you’ll undoubtedly see it covered on exam 70-270.

Monitoring and optimizing the operating system
Windows XP provides some excellent tools for monitoring and optimizing the performance of the operating system. They’ll help you tune and troubleshoot the system’s memory, processor utilization, and disk performance. They can also be used to edit the system registry and back up and recover the operating system, file system, and system state data.

After becoming familiar with software products such as the Performance Console, Task Scheduler, Recovery Console, and Disk Defragmenter, you should look at how to interpret certain statistics. For example, if you notice that the pages per second category in the Performance Console shows more than 20 pages per second, you should add more RAM to the system. Microsoft seems to favor problems like these on its exams.

Also understand the system registry. The registry database is made up of five main subtrees: HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT, HKEY_CURRENT_CONFIG, HKEY_CURRENT_USER, HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE, and HKEY_USERS. Be very familiar with what is stored in each of the trees and how to use the registry-editing tool. In previous versions of Windows, you could use Regedit.exe or Regedt32.exe. In Windows XP, the functionality of these tools has been combined. Running either of the programs will take you to the same registry editor.

One of the most critical functions of a network administrator is to ensure that the backup and recovery scheme of the organization is in place and protecting the company’s most critical assets. For this exam, you must understand the differences between incremental, differential, and daily backups. You should also know how to maximize the strengths of each of the types of backup schemes to formulate your own backup and recovery strategy.

Configuring the desktop environment of Windows XP
Windows XP sports a different user interface from previous versions of Windows. While the familiar Start button and Taskbar are still present, the colors have been softened and the Start menu has been reorganized. While the jury is still out on the new look, you should be familiar with the new GUI environment when taking exam 70-270.

Just as with Windows NT and Windows 2000, when a user logs in to a Windows XP workstation, a user profile will be created. This profile stores information about the user, such as his or her desktop and application settings. You should not only understand what is stored in the profile, but also the file structure of the profile and the location where the profile is stored.

Managing the Windows XP desktop includes software management, which can be done using the Group Policy tool. This utility manages software installation and application access, so you can be sure you will see questions relating to it on your test.

The Program Compatibility Wizard (PCW) is new to Windows XP. This tool lets you run software designed to run under Windows 95, 98, or Me. Once configured to run under the PCW, the application will believe that it is being run on a workstation that’s using one of the legacy operating systems.

As a network administrator, you’ll enjoy the new remote control features that are built in to Windows XP. From a remote location, you’ll be able to control another workstation to provide technical or educational support. This is a great new feature in Windows XP, and you can bet that exam 70-270 will have some questions relating to it.

Network configuration in Windows XP
Connecting a computer to a network is a relatively straightforward process. These days, most networks are using the TCP/IP protocol, and even if you’re not, Windows XP should allow you to put the workstation on your network without much fuss.

With more and more networks connecting to the Internet, the demand for integrated networking products is increasing. Microsoft has included products and features in Windows XP such as Internet Connection Sharing, Internet Connection Firewall, Network Bridging, Virtual Private Networks, and Remote Access Services. Be sure that you’re very familiar with these subjects, as well as network protocols such as TCP/IP, NWLink, DLC, AppleTalk, and NetBEUI. Exam 70-270 will definitely present you with some tough networking questions. Though you may think that a subject such as NetBEUI isn’t worth learning, think again. Obscure questions relating to subjects such as this show up quite frequently on Microsoft tests.

Implementing security in Windows XP
Network administrators must always be concerned about security, and you can be certain that the security portion of the exam will be thoroughly covered. The basic topics that you should be very familiar with include configuring, managing, and troubleshooting user and group rights, account policies, account settings, and auditing. Because all of these can be managed using Active Directory (AD), spend some time learning about the concepts, structure, and troubleshooting skills of this directory service product. If you plan to implement AD or pursue your MCSA or MCSE certifications, you’ll need to know a great deal more about it. The more you learn up front, the better off you’ll be.

After mastering the basics, you should turn your attention to the Encrypting File System (EFS). This 128-bit public-key encryption scheme is available for use in Windows XP if your partition or volume is using NTFS. Also be familiar with CIPHER, which is a command-line utility that allows you to manually manage EFS folders and files. As with many command-line utilities, CIPHER has a number of switches that you should be familiar with.

Finally, you must understand how to implement and troubleshoot Internet Protocol Security (IPSec). This protocol is used to provide network-level authentication, encryption, and data integrity as information is passed through insecure networks such as the Internet. IPSec can be implemented in an AD setting or on the local Windows XP workstation. The endorsed authentication methods supported in IPSec are Kerberos v5, Microsoft Certificate Server, and Pre-shared Key.

Conclusion
Microsoft has raised the bar with the Windows XP exams and is attempting to make its certifications much more valuable in the industry. To pass exam 70-270, Installing, Configuring, and Administering Microsoft Windows XP Professional, you must have an in-depth understanding of the broad topics discussed in this Daily Drill Down.

To prepare for this exam, I highly recommend using one of the many practice exam products available, such as the Exam Essentials practice module. While reading a book and getting hands-on experience will serve you well, actually being quizzed by the practice exam will definitely pay off when you’re in the testing room.

Exam 70-270 is on the upper end of the difficulty scale, and you must be well prepared to pass it. It’s not an impossible task, though, so with a good deal of studying and some experience, you’ll soon be walking out of the testing center with a smile on your face because you have met the challenge and passed this exam. Good luck.

Exam 70-270 - Microsoft's MCDST Windows XP Examination Guidelines

June 21st,2010    by Bentley

Exam 70-270 is one of the Microsoft certification examinations and the name of the examination is MCDST Windows XP. This certification is designed for the candidates who wish to gain knowledge and skills in the ability to solve the end user incident request by troubleshooting as well as configuring windows XP operating system. This examination is one of the examinations for certifying MCDST certification. Exam 70-271 is the other examination for certifying with MCDST.

Prerequisites for this examination:
For writing this exam, there are no specific prerequisites required for the candidates but it is recommended to have some basic knowledge about the Windows XP operating system like Windows XP home edition, XP professionals that include with Microsoft office tools as well as Microsoft outlook express.

How to practice for the exam?
Candidates can practice for this exam by reading the following sections and they are:
1) Installation process of windows XP professionals on your computer
2) Configuration of internet connection firewall components (ICF)
3) Configuration as well as testing several TCP/ IP by using commands such as PATCHPING, PING and TRACERT.

Exam objectives:
The following are the examination objectives of 70-270 and they are:
1) Configuring application security
2) Solving issues that is related with usability
3) Troubleshooting as well as configuring applications
4) Solving issues related with customizing applications
5) Troubleshooting as well as configuration connectivity for the applications.

Job roles and other details of the exam:
After successful completion of this examination, candidates can get several job opportunities for several positions in the top companies. Some of the job roles include: PC support specialists, technical support specialists, customer support representatives etc. The exam comprises of 50 multiple choices, drag-drop, built a tree, reorder type questions. Time duration is approximately 90 minutes and the minimum score to pass in this examination is 700 out of 1000 (70%).

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