Exam Essential For MCST 70-680 Win 7
Chapter 1: Installing Windows 7:
Understand the Windows 7 hardware requirements. The minimum hardware
requirements to run Windows 7 properly are a CPU (processor) of at least 1 GHz (32 - bit or
64 - bit processor), at least 1 GB of memory (RAM), hard disk with 16 GB of available disk
space, video adapter, support for DirectX 9 graphics with 128 MB memory (to enable the
Aero theme), DVD - R/W drive, and a compatible network interface card.
Understand the Hardware Compatibility List. The Hardware Compatibility List (HCL)
is an extensive list of computers and peripheral hardware that have been tested with the
Windows 7 operating system. The hardware and supported drivers on the HCL have
been put through rigorous tests to ensure their compatibility with Windows 7. Microsoft
guarantees that the items on the list meet the requirements for Windows 7 and do not have
any incompatibilities that could affect the stability of the operating system.
Understand how to complete a clean install. If your machine meets the minimum
hardware requirements, you can install Windows 7. There are a few different ways to install
Windows 7 onto a computer. You can install Windows 7 using the installation disk, over a
network, or from an image (see Chapter 2, “ Automating the Windows 7 Installation ” ).
Understand how to complete an upgrade. You can upgrade a Windows Vista machine to
Windows 7. To complete an upgrade on a Windows Vista machine, insert the Windows 7
DVD into the Vista machine or connect to the Windows 7 fi les over the network and
complete an upgrade on the computer.
You can ’ t upgrade a Windows XP machine to Windows 7. If the machine is running
Windows XP, you have to use a migration tool to migrate all the user data from Windows XP
to a Windows 7 machine.
Understand how to migrate a user to Windows 7. If you can ’ t perform an upgrade on the
computer, you can choose to migrate your fi les and settings from an existing installation.
In this case, you can use the Windows Easy Transfer utility or the User State Migration
Tool (USMT).
Chapter 2: Automating The Windows 7 Installation:
Know the difference between unattended installation methods. Understand the various
options available for unattended installations of Windows 7 and when it is appropriate to
use each installation method.
Understand how to use unattended installations for Windows 7 deployment. Know when
it is appropriate to use unattended installations for Windows 7 deployment.
Understand the features and uses of WDS. Know when it is appropriate to use
WDS to manage unattended installations. Be able to list the requirements for setting
up WDS servers and WDS clients. Be able to complete an unattended installation using
WDS.
Be able to use disk images for unattended installations. Know how to perform
unattended installations of Windows 7 using the System Preparation Tool and
disk images.
Know how to use Windows System Image Manager to create and edit answer files.
Understand how to access and use Windows System Image Manager to create answer fi les.
Be able to edit the answer fi les and know the basic options that can be confi gured for them.
Understand the Microsoft Deployment Toolkit (MDT) 2010. Know that the MDT
is a way of automating desktop and server deployment. Understand that the MDT
allows an administrator to deploy desktops and servers through the use of a common
console.
Chapter 3: Managing Disks:
Understand the different file format options. There are two ways to format a hard
disk in Windows 7: FAT32 and NTFS. Understand that NTFS offers many benefi ts over
FAT32, including security, encryption, compression, and disk quotas.
Understand the different hard disk storage types. Windows 7 supports three types of
disk storage: basic, dynamic, and GUID partition table (GPT). Basic storage is backward
compatible with other operating systems and can be confi gured to support up to four
partitions. Dynamic storage is supported by Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows
Server 2003, Windows Vista, and Windows 7 and allows storage to be confi gured as
volumes. GPT storage allows you to confi gure volume sizes larger than 2 TB and up to 128
primary partitions.
Know the disk management utilities. Microsoft Windows 7 includes a few utilities that
you can run to help keep your system running effi ciently. These utilities include the Disk
Defragmenter, Disk Cleanup, and Check Disk.
Chapter 4: Managing The Windows 7 Environment:
Be able to configure Desktop settings. Understand how to customize and confi gure the
Windows 7 Desktop settings, including confi guring Windows Aero, adding gadgets to
the Desktop, creating shortcuts, and confi guring the Taskbar and Start menu.
Be able to support mobile computers through power management features. Understand
the new power features that are available in Windows 7 and be able to confi gure a laptop
computer to use them.
Understand Remote Connections. Know how to confi gure and connect to machines
through remote connections. You can use Remote Assistance, Remote Desktop, and a
VPN.
Know how to configure services. Understand how to stop, start, monitor, pause, and
confi gure services on the Windows 7 operating system. Know how to confi gure the
different properties available through services.
Chapter 5: Configuring Hardware & Applications:
Know how to verify if drivers are signed. Be sure to understand that Microsoft provides a
utility for users to verify whether their drivers are signed on their machine called Sigverif
.exe . Sigverif.exe is an application that is included with Windows 7: it will scan your
machine and verify that all drivers are properly signed. If they are not signed, Sigverif
.exe will show you which drivers are not signed.
Be able to associate file extensions. Understand how to associate a fi le to a particular
application. For example, you may want all fi les with the .asx fi lename extension to be
played through Windows Media Player. Know that you can set these fi le extension associations
in Default Programs in Control Panel.
Know how to configure devices and drivers. Understand how to confi gure devices and
drivers
in Device Manager. Know how to roll back drivers and how to update drivers when newer
versions are released. Know Device Staging and how to add devices in Device Manager.
Know how older applications can work in Windows 7. Understand how to allow
older applications to work with Windows 7. You can run applications in XP Mode or
compatibility mode or use shims that are created by Microsoft.
Be able to configure privacy settings in IE8. Know how to enable and disable cookies. Know
when it is useful to use cookies and when cookies should be blocked. Cookies are fi les that are
placed on your system. Not having fi les placed on your system increases security. Know how
to
set an InPrivate session to verify that nothing is saved during an internet session.
Know how to configure and manage IE8. Know how to enable and disable add - ons and
how to boot IE8 without add - ons. Know how to grant a site the ability to display pop - ups
and how to enable and disable Pop - up Blocker. Know how to enable and disable Phishing
Filter and how to confi gure the web Content Filter. Be able to edit the Allow and Block lists.
Chapter 6: Managing Users, Groups & Security:
Be able to create and manage user accounts. When creating user accounts, be aware of
the requirements for doing so. Understand User Account Control. Know how to rename
and delete user accounts. Be able to manage all user properties.
Know how to configure and manage local user authentication. Understand the options
that can be confi gured to manage local user authentication and when these options
would be used to create a more secure environment. Be able to specify where local user
authentication options are confi gured.
Know how to manage local groups. Understand the local groups that are created on
Windows 7 computers by default, and be familiar with the rights each group has. Know
how to create and manage new groups.
Know how to set local group policies. Understand the purpose of account policies
and local policies. Know the purpose and implementation of account policies for
managing password policies and account lockout policies. Understand the purpose and
implementation of local policies and how they can be applied to users and groups for audit
policies, user rights assignments, and security options.
Understand User Account Control. Understand the purpose and features of User Account
Control. Be familiar with Registry and fi le virtualization. Understand privilege escalation.
Know the basics of the new UAC Group Policy settings.
Know how to use Windows Security Center. Be able to use Windows Security Center to
monitor and confi gure the settings for Windows Firewall, Automatic Updating, Malware
Protection, and Other Security Settings.
Know how to use Windows Defender. Be able to confi gure and use Windows Defender.
Understand how Quarantine works. Know the purpose of Microsoft SpyNet.
Know how to use BitLocker Drive Encryption. Understand the purpose and requirements
of BitLocker Drive Encryption. Know which editions of Windows 7 (Enterprise and
Ultimate) include BitLocker.
Understand NTFS and share permissions. Be able to confi gure security permissions and
know the difference between NTFS and share permissions.
Chapter 7: Configuring Network Connectivity:
Understand IPv4 and IPv6. Know and understand IPv4 and IPv6. Understand how
to confi gure and maintain both IPv4 and IPv6 networks. Know how to subnet an IPv4
network. Understand that APIPA will automatically assign an IP address to a Windows 7
machine if DHCP is not available.
Understand how to configure network settings. Know how to install and confi gure both
wired and wireless networks. Understand how Windows 7 has built - in wireless network
support. Know how to set up your preferred wireless network.
Know how to configure Windows Firewall. Know how to set up and maintain Windows
Firewall with Advanced Security. Know that you can set up inbound and outbound rules
by using Windows Firewall. Know how to allow or deny applications by using Windows
Firewall.
Understand the different remote management tools. Know the different remote
management tools such as the Windows Remote Management (WinRM) utility and
Windows PowerShell. Know how to confi gure these tools for remote management.
Understand BranchCache. Understand that BranchCache helps remote locations
access resources without using excessive bandwidth. Know the difference between
distributed cache mode and hosted mode. Know what the network requirements are to use
BranchCache and how to confi gure BranchCache.
Understand DirectAccess. Understand that DirectAccess allows remote users to connect
to an organization ’ s network without the need of using a VPN. Know that DirectAccess
needs to run on Windows Server 2008 R2 and understand the different infrastructure
requirements to run DirectAccess.
Know Windows 7 virtualization. Know how to turn a Windows 7 operating system into
a virtual machine. Understand that you must confi gure the bcdedit fi le to boot a machine
into a Windows 7 virtual machine. Know that you can use both Microsoft Hyper - V and
Windows Virtual PC to run a Windows 7 virtual machine.
Chapter 8: Monitoring & Maintaining Windows 7
Be able to monitor and troubleshoot Windows 7 performance. Know which utilities can
be used to track Windows 7 performance events and issues. Know how to track and identify
performance problems related to memory, the processor, the disk subsystem, and the
network subsystem. Be able to correct system bottlenecks when they are identifi ed.
Know how to use Task Scheduler to automate system tasks. Understand the purpose of
Task Scheduler. Be able to confi gure Task Scheduler and identify problems that would keep
it from running properly.
Understand how to configure monitoring tools. Know how to troubleshoot by using Task
Manager, Event Viewer, System Information, Performance Information and Tools, and
Problem Reports and Solutions.
Chapter 9: Configuring Backups & Recovery
Understand the different options for managing system recovery. Know how to use the
Startup Repair tool, System Restore, and the Backup and Restore Center, and when it is
appropriate to use each option.
Be able to perform file recovery with the Backup and Restore Center and shadow
copies. Understand the options that are supported through the Backup and Restore
Center and the fi les that are backed up using this tool. Know how to manually create a
shadow copy and how to keep only the last shadow copy versions.
Know how to troubleshoot using Advanced Boot Options. Be able to list the options that
can be accessed through Advanced Boot Options, and know when it is appropriate to use
each option. Know the difference between Last Known Good Confi guration, Safe mode,
Debugging mode, and VGA mode.