MCTS Certification Blog

Exam 70-620: Troubleshooting Post-Installation System Settings

Administrator — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 19:03:26 +0000

Although you can usually resolve all problems with a computer during or just after performing an installation, some problems become apparent only after you have used the new operating system for a few days. The same applies to purchasing a car. A problem that you might not notice when you drive around the block with the salesperson might become obvious after you have driven the car for a week. Post-installation troubleshooting is about finding the initial quirks that you missed and personalizing the computer so that it best meets your needs. Primarily, this is going to be ensuring that all hardware that is installed on the computer is actually working and that the computer’s display settings suit the person using the computer rather than the person who set up the computer. In this chapter, we also examine Microsoft Windows Aero. Aero makes Windows Vista look significantly different from earlier versions of Windows. If you are working in a job trying to sell new computers to customers, you can underline the difference between the new and the old by demonstrating some of Windows Aero’s functionality. Finally, this chapter looks at the Windows Product Activation and Windows Genuine Advantage processes.

70-620 Exam objectives in this topic:

Troubleshoot post-installation configuration issues.
Configure and troubleshoot Windows Aero.

Additional 70-620 Resources:

Exam 70-620: Windows Vista Upgrades and Migrations

Administrator — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 19:01:06 +0000

Although consumers start buying and using a new operating system from the day it appears, most large organizations take their time moving to the new technology. A consumer who upgrades a PC to Windows Vista is already enthusiastic about learning the new ways to do old things and exploring the limits of the new features. Organizations move slower than consumers, and many will not get around to adopting Windows Vista until it has been available for several years. When large organizations move to a new operating system, they rarely replace their existing hardware. This means that information technology (IT) pros who support desktop operating systems need to be conversant with moving people from Microsoft Windows XP to Windows Vista. The first lesson in this chapter explores the two processes by which this is achieved: migration and upgrade.

Unlike several years ago, when a computer had to be upgraded or replaced every few years to remain capable of running the latest productivity software, today’s computers are powerful enough that they are likely to be capable of running the latest productivity software well into the next decade. With this in mind, it is likely that the needs that lead a person to choose a specific edition of Windows Vista at the beginning of their computer’s life cycle might have expanded as that person becomes more familiar with the operating system’s capabilities. The second lesson in this chapter explores the process of moving from one edition of Windows Vista to another.

Unfortunately, not all installations and upgrades will complete successfully. Sometimes this is because the person performing the upgrade forgets an important fact; sometimes it is due to an event beyond your control, such as a power failure during the installation. The chapter’s final lesson examines methods that can be used to troubleshoot the Windows Vista upgrade and installation process.

70-620 Exam objectives in this topic:

Upgrade to Windows Vista from previous versions of Windows.
Upgrade from one edition of Windows Vista to another edition.
Troubleshoot Windows Vista installation issues.

Exam 70-620: Installing Windows Vista Client

Administrator — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 18:56:26 +0000

Exam 70-620, "Configuring Windows Vista Client," is aimed at information technology (IT) professionals who will be installing and supporting the Windows Vista client operating system. The first thing you should recognize is that the installation process is a critical task in a computer’s life cycle. How you configure a Windows Vista client computer has significant ramifications for how it is used throughout its lifetime. Today, with more reliable hardware and software, few people will need to have their operating system reinstalled from scratch. It is likely that the configuration decisions you make during the installation of Windows Vista will remain in effect until the computer on which you install it is retired from service.

As an IT pro, you are responsible for making configuration decisions for people who have placed their trust in you. These people might be customers, work colleagues, family members, or friends. These people have given you this responsibility because they lack your expertise and training. They need you to decide whether their current hardware is capable of running Windows Vista. Do you recommend that they upgrade components? Should they purchase a new computer entirely? Will they be best served by dual booting, or should they upgrade from Windows XP to Windows Vista? Which edition of Windows Vista will best suit their needs? What sort of post-installation configuration of device drivers will be necessary?

70-620 exam objectives in this topic:

Identify hardware requirements.
Perform a clean installation.
Install and configure Windows Vista drivers.