Tips and Tricks for Getting Vista Certified 1-800-COURSES www.globalknowledge.com Expert Reference Series of White Papers Introduction This white paper will explain the new certification streams for Windows Vista offered by Microsoft and the launch of an exciting new Boot Camp offered by Global Knowledge: the Microsoft Certified IT Professional: Enterprise Support Technician Boot Camp. It will describe the Boot Camp in detail—what areas of the Windows Vista operating system you need to know in order to pass the exams, and what exams are required for certification. Most importantly we are also going to tell you how to have success when attending a Boot Camp, what tips and tricks you need to know to properly prepare, attend, and pass. But first, a little back- ground information. Before the MCITP Certification The first specialized certification designed for client support personnel started a few years after Windows XP was released and was called the Microsoft Certified Desktop Support Technician. The overall goal of this certifi- cation stream was to certify desktop technicians could properly support Windows XP end users. This overall skill set included the knowledge to run Windows XP with a good understanding of the core features plus the ability to troubleshoot the Windows XP operating system and the bundled core applications such as Outlook Express and Internet Explorer. You were required to pass two exams in order to become an MCDST. The first exam, Supporting Users and Troubleshooting a Microsoft Windows XP Operating System Exam (70-271), dealt with the operating system installation, maintenance and troubleshooting. The second exam, Supporting Users and Troubleshooting Desktop Applications on a Microsoft Windows XP Operating System Exam (70-272), tested you on overall con- figuration and setup. Passing these two exams made you a Microsoft Certified Desktop Support Technician as well as a Microsoft Certified Professional; (passing just one certification exam awards you the MCP designation.) Note: And you can still become an MCDST for Windows XP as these two exams are not going to be retired. Microsoft will continue to support the MCDST; in fact Windows XP is due to be supported for a few more years; even if you can’t purchase Windows XP, support will be around for five years or so. MCITP vs. MCDST:What’s Changed? Microsoft has had a credibility problem for a number of years with the certification streams that they offer. (You may have heard of the term “Paper MCSE.”) Credibility was a valid point in the certification industry. There are, and continue to be, web sites that will supply you with the real exam questions and answers for a nominal fee, typically 50 to 75 dollars for exam. Therefore you can hunker down with a large cup of Joe and Mark B. Wilkins, MCSE, MCT, MS Certified IT Pro: Enterprise Tech Tips and Tricks for Getting Vista Certified Copyright ©2007 Global Knowledge Training LLC. All rights reserved. Page 2 start memorizing answers. After a few days, you, too, can become a Microsoft Certified Professional in any des- ignation as practically all certification exams can be found on the Internet. That is, up until now. Microsoft is aggressively going after these web sites and has already put several of them out of business. And the older MCDST and MCSE (Microsoft Certified System Engineer) certifications, while still being supported by Microsoft and the computer industry have reached their end of life. Late 2006, Microsoft confirmed that a new certificate model was going to be launched in 2007. The new certi- fications specialize in specific technology areas; for example Exchange 2007, Windows Vista, and SharePoint all have the new certification streams as a Certified IT Professional or Specialist. Windows Server 2008 certifica- tions have just been announced, and they follow the same specialized path. Microsoft is moving away from the older model of a Microsoft Certified System Engineer, based on the current server operating system version, to a specialized model. Well, it is true that you may take more tests if you want to be certified, for example, in Windows Vista, Exchange 2007, and Windows Server 2008. It’s also true that each of the specialized products has become incredibly complicated. It’s just not possible to use the former model of certification, (where one master certification, such as the MCSE, along with several exam electives, cover all of the knowledge that you need to know) to properly demonstrate both to Microsoft and to potential clients that you know what you’re talking about. New Windows Vista Certifications For Windows Vista, there are three new certifications streams being offered: 1. Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS): Windows Vista, Configuration 2. Microsoft Certified IT Professional (MCITP): Consumer Support Technician 3. MCITP: Enterprise Support Technician Note: For the purpose of this white paper, we’re not going to discuss the consumer support technician certifi- cation. Instead, we’re primarily going to focus on the MCITP: Enterprise Support Technician. We’re also going to discuss the single exam that you can take that allows you to become a Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist, a great starting point certification to get started with Windows Vista if, after reading this white paper, you discover your skill set and experience might be better suited to this certification. Regardless of what certification stream you choose, the Windows Vista certification exams are testing both your book knowledge and, most importantly, your real-world experience with Windows Vista. In a nutshell, you must demonstrate your expertise in deployment and maintenance of Windows Vista in either the consumer or corporate world, depending on the certification you wish to achieve. MCITP: Enterprise Support Technician The global knowledge enterprise support technician Boot Camp is expecting two types of students; some stu- dents will already be certified in Windows XP Professional, and will just require one exam, that’s the 70-621 exam. Other students will have good knowledge of Windows XP Professional but won’t have the MCDST certi- fication; in this case, it will be necessary to take the exam, 70-622. Copyright ©2007 Global Knowledge Training LLC. All rights reserved. Page 3 Don’t have your MCDST? Start with 70- 622 If you haven’t taken the MCDST certification, then your starting point is exam 70-622 Pro: Microsoft Desktop Support – Enterprise. Once you pass this exam you will be an MCITP. The types of technical professionals focusing on this exam have worked for a number of years in an enterprise environment that already uses Windows Vista. Microsoft expects that you will also have experience with previous ver- sions of Windows clients and also have some background and experience in Windows Server operating systems. The questions are designed to test your experience with deploying Windows Vista, managing the many security features, and troubleshooting network-related issues. Therefore, the questions will not be as straightforward as you may like; they’re relying on your experience as a support technician to be able to work through the prob- lems presented on this test. When you pass Exam 70-622 PRO: Microsoft Desktop Support - Enterprise, you complete the requirements for the following certification: Microsoft Certified IT Professional: Enterprise Support Technician. The 70-622 exam tests your knowledge on the following topics: Deploying Windows Vista – understand the different deployment scenarios they can be used for installing, both local, upgrade, and across the network. A basic understanding of SMS 2003 and Windows imaging would also be quite helpful. Concepts like answer files, WIM images, WIN PE, and Windows System Image Manager may also be discussed. Managing Windows Vista Security – Internet Explorer security configuration, troubleshoot and configure Windows Firewall and Windows Defender. You will need to know about applying security patches and updates, configure and support user account control. Managing and Maintaining Skills – a good knowledge of Group Policy, using the Task Scheduler, under- stand the concept of Event Forwarding Configuring and Troubleshooting Networking – troubleshoot network protocols, network services, remote access connectivity issues, wireless networking, and access to network Resources Supporting and maintaining desktop applications – demonstrate a general awareness of supporting installed applications using built in troubleshooting tools, and software restrictions. Additional features you need to understand The features listed below are part of the new feature set of Windows Vista in the corporate realm; namely, Windows Vista Business and Windows Business Ultimate. You are expected to know how to configure and troubleshoot all of these components: Copyright ©2007 Global Knowledge Training LLC. All rights reserved. Page 4 •How to properly prepare a Windows 2000 / XP system for a clean installation or upgrade •Deploy Windows Vista from a custom image •Troubleshoot Windows Firewall, Windows Defender, and security issues as they arise •How to security patches and updates •Troubleshoot and configure user account control •The new Event Viewer, and event forwarding •Configure and troubleshoot network protocols, connectivity issues, wireless networking, and network security •Software restriction policy configuration and setup •Windows imaging •Upgrading your certification from MCDST to MCITP Enterprise Support Microsoft anticipates that the technical audience for this exam will have experience with Windows XP; after all, you already have a certification indicating this skill set. It is also assumed that you have experience with Windows XP clients that are connected to a Windows Server, or Active Directory operating system. Combined with this background you should have real experience deploying Windows Vista, configuring and setting up security, and troubleshooting network connectivity issues. Microsoft also expects that since you have several years’ experience working as a Tier -2 level, or perhaps a lead desktop support technician role, that you won’t be rattled by a variety of troubleshooting questions of the various levels of complexity. Expect the focus of this exam to be the ability to solve problems and not just knowing where to start troubleshooting. I’m an MCDST: Upgrade your MCDST Certification to MCITP Enterprise If you hold the MCDST certification, then passing the upgrade exam 70-621 PRO grants you the MCITP Enterprise certification. Note: If you work in an environment where it may be handy to have both the MCDST and the MCITP, then you could first choose to take the two exams for the MCDST (Supporting Users and Troubleshooting a Microsoft Windows XP Operating System Exam (70-271), Supporting Users and Troubleshooting Desktop appli- cations on a Microsoft Windows XP Operating System Exam (70-272)), and then take the upgrade exam to receive your MCITP enterprise certification The 70-621 upgrade exam tests your knowledge on the following topics • Installing Windows Vista • Configuring and troubleshoot after installation issues • Managing Windows Vista security • Setup and troubleshoot networking • Setup and troubleshoot bundled applications • Managing and maintaining security policy, the task scheduler, event viewer • Applying and troubleshooting updates • Setup and support mobile computing features Copyright ©2007 Global Knowledge Training LLC. All rights reserved. Page 5 Additional features you need to understand The features listed below are part of the new feature set of Windows Vista in the corporate realm; namely Windows Vista Business and Windows Business Ultimate. It is expected you will know how to configure and troubleshoot all of these components: • Installing and upgrading to Windows Vista • Deploying a custom image • Configuring Windows Aero, Parental Controls, and IE7 • Configuring and troubleshooting User Account Control, and Windows Defender • Setup Dynamic Security for IE7 • Configuring BitLocker • Configuring network protocols • Using the Services console • Troubleshooting Remote Access and Remote Assistance • Configuring wireless, and wired network components • Windows Meeting Space • The Task scheduler • Troubleshooting performance and reliability • Configuring tablet PC software • Configuring power options The Other Certification: MCTS:Windows Vista, Configuration This certification proves that you have the knowledge and skill set to properly install, manage, and configure Windows Vista security, network, and application features. To earn this certification, you must pass the exam Microsoft Windows Vista Client, Configuring Exam (70-620). Once you successfully complete the Global Knowledge Enterprise Boot Camp, you will actually have both the enterprise (MCITP: Enterprise) and the con- figuration (MCTS) certifications. 70-620 TS:Windows Vista Client Configuration This exam is meant for a support technician who is fairly new to the IT field with approximately one year of experience. Your job is to provide phone support at the tier one or two level. You should feel very comfortable solving computer problems on the phone that consist of network connectivity problems, problems operating Windows Vista, and basic security problems. Additional scenarios can include login problems, resetting pass- words, and walking users through and usage of the built-in applications that are bundled with Windows Vista. At first glance this might seem to be an easier exam, however, most of the questions are not asking you to completely solve problems. The correct answer in many cases is merely the starting point to solving the prob- lem. You also have to be able to visualize the Windows Vista operating system, so you have to have plenty of hands-on experience. This task is made much harder as most of us can visualize Windows XP because the operating system has been around for over six years. Windows Vista, on the other hand, doesn’t look anything like Windows XP. The major problem most of us face is remembering where components have been moved. Copyright ©2007 Global Knowledge Training LLC. All rights reserved. Page 6 The 70-620 exam tests your knowledge on the following topics: Installing and upgrading to Windows Vista – understand how to do a clean install, or how to upgrade both Windows XP and Windows 2000 professional clients. Minimum and maximum hardware requirements are also a must. Configuring and troubleshooting post-installation system settings – after installation, how to set up the windows firewall, create new user accounts, and solve any hardware issues or driver updates that are required. Configuring windows security – there’s a ton of new security settings, including, user account control, Internet Explorer 7 security (phishing filter, protected mode, Internet Explorer -no add-ons, and many more advanced security settings.) Network connectivity – wired and wireless connectivity, public private and domain categories. Supporting and configuring bundled applications – see below for a more complete list of new applications Maintaining and optimizing the operating system – many new troubleshooting tools found in the Control Panel Configuring and troubleshooting a mobile Vista computer system – this may include knowing how to set up a tablet PC, and we’ll definitely include power management, the mobility center, and BitLocker con- figuration. Additional features you need to understand The features listed below are part of the new feature set of Windows Vista, regardless of the version. You are expected to know how to configure and troubleshoot all of these components at a basic level and where they’re located in the operating system. • Windows Aero graphics • Internet Explorer 7 • User Account Control • Windows Defender • Windows Firewall • Network and Sharing Center • Remote Access • Remote Assistance • The built-in applications: Windows Mail, Windows Meeting Space, Windows Calendar and Windows Media Center • Windows Sidebar • Windows Fax and Scan • Power Options • Reliability Monitor • Windows update • Performance Information and Tools Copyright ©2007 Global Knowledge Training LLC. All rights reserved. Page 7 Preparing for a Boot Camp Class If you haven’t taken a Boot Camp before, please read carefully I’m not making any of this up. Be prepared to spend the entire time, 24/7, eating, breathing, and absorbing Windows Vista information. A Boot Camp is not meant to completely learn about the topic. It is assumed that you already have a good understanding of the topic before you sign up. The purpose of the Boot Camp is to teach you how to prepare for the exams, how to read exam questions, and fill-in any gaps of your knowledge that may be missing. Global Knowledge Boot Camps Global knowledge has been an industry leader, offering Boot Camps for nearly 10 years. The pass rate for students attending a Global Knowledge Boot Camp is over 90%. The instructors who teach Boot Camps love teaching in this stressful envi- ronment. In fact, they thrive on it. They’ve had years of experience in deploying real networks, and are happy to pass on tips and tricks to increase your knowledge and understanding of Windows Vista. Each instructor who leads a Global Knowledge Boot Camp is certified in the topic they are presenting. That is to say, they’ve taken the exact same test that you’re about to take and have passed, usually with flying colors. In addition, instructors are also Microsoft-certified instructors. One of the advantages of being an MCT is the ability to take beta exams and then be directly involved in the creation of exam questions. All this background and knowledge helps you do your best when you attend a Global Knowledge Boot Camp. Boot Camp Course Materials The course materials that you will be using in this Boot Camp have been designed specifically by Microsoft to teach you the concepts and knowledge that you need to successfully pass the certification exams. The Boot Camp has been customized using the following modules, which are relevant to the Boot Camps needs from official Microsoft learning materials. Microsoft Certified IT Professional: Enterprise Support Technician Boot Camp The following modules make up your course of study in the Enterprise Boot Camp. 1. Installing and Upgrading Windows Vista 2. Configuring and Troubleshooting Post-Installation System Settings 3. Configuring Windows Security Features 4. Configuring Network Connectivity 5. Configuring Applications Included with Windows Vista 6. Maintaining and Optimizing Systems that Run Windows Vista 7. Configuring and Troubleshooting Mobile Computing 8. Deploying Windows Vista 9. Managing Windows Vista Security 10. Managing and Maintaining Systems that Run Windows Vista 11. Configuring and Troubleshooting Networking Copyright ©2007 Global Knowledge Training LLC. All rights reserved. Page 8 Course 5105: Deploying Windows Vista Business Desktops This material trains you on the utilities and tools that you’ll use to deploy Windows Vista desktops. The busi- ness desktop deployment BDD 2007 will be fully covered, including details on planning Windows Vista deploy- ments, volume activation licensing options, and relevant troubleshooting skills. Topics include: • Inventory, analyze, and mitigate application compatibility when planning a Windows Vista desktop deployment. • Capture and restore user state information during a workstation deployment task. • Use automated installation technologies to create, customize, and deploy a computer image based upon a Windows Vista desktop. • Deploy Windows Vista using the Business Desktop Deployment (BDD) 2007 tool. • Deploy Windows Vista using Zero Touch Installation. Course 5118: Maintaining and Troubleshooting Windows Vista Computers This course teaches you the knowledge and skill set required to maintain and troubleshoot Windows Vista. Knowledge of troubleshooting tools, maintenance tools, and monitoring and optimization of Windows Vista will be covered. Topics include: • The best method for troubleshooting Windows Vista computers • Identifying Windows Vista tools that can be used in troubleshooting • Identifying the maintenance tools that can be used for monitoring and optimization of Windows Vista C C o o u u r r s s e e 5 5 1 1 1 1 9 9 : : Supporting Windows Vista Computers with Desktop Images and Application Packages This course provides the knowledge and skill set to deploy Windows Vista images and application packages. Concepts will cover new installations, single computer migrations, and reinstallation, and Windows Vista recov- ery steps. Topics include: Identify the most appropriate method to support Windows Vista recovery on site. Identify the components of the Windows Vista user state and safely backup and restore user and system data. Utilize Windows Vista application packaging using the BDD 2007. Troubleshoot Windows Vista application package installations Boot Camp Testing Materials Global Knowledge uses Microsoft-certified Transcender testing materials for all of their certi- fication Boot Camps. If you can pass the Transcender test, you can pass the Microsoft exams! Visit their web site (http://www.transcen- der.com) and try out some sample questions. What do you need to know before attend- ing this Boot Camp? There are a lot of very important steps that you should do to prepare for a Boot Camp so you hit the ground running. At this point, you should have a pretty good idea of the knowledge and skill set that you will need to be successful when attending the Global Knowledge MCITP Boot Camp. You should also have a pretty good idea that if you get through this Boot Camp, you will have a very high Copyright ©2007 Global Knowledge Training LLC. All rights reserved. Page 9 level of Windows Vista computer skills that are currently in very short supply. Most companies are looking at deploying Windows Vista but are hold- ing off to the end of 2007 or early 2008, when the first service pack for Windows Vista is due to be delivered. One Month before A good month before you attend the MCITP Boot Camp its a great idea to start taking some sample tests, to get a feel of the testing process that you will undertake during the Boot Camp. Although there are sample Windows Vista tests at several websites, notably http://www.trancender.com and http://www.measureup.com, it’s a good idea to first take some sample tests on operating system that you real- ly familiar with, such as Windows XP. The goal of taking a sample tests to get used to reading and “playing the game;” that is, what is the correct answer among all of these answers that mostly seem to be correct. It’s a lot easier to introduce yourself to electronic testing using material that you know. Then move on to Windows Vista; taking sample tests is a great way to also gauge your knowledge level. Please don’t get discouraged if you get a lot of answers wrong. Everybody gets a lot of answers wrong, no matter how well they know the topic, if they haven’t experienced electronic testing before. (You should see my first sample test results; now that was scary!) The Week before Start getting your rest; you’re going to need all the reserve you can muster to get through the Boot Camp week. Take some time to play with Windows Vista using this white paper and the topics discussed for the exam to do a little detective work on some features and utilities that you may need brushing up on. Make notes on concepts and test questions that were tricky or hard to understand so you can query your instructor and classmates about them. The Night before If you are traveling to the Boot Camp, make sure you get to your hotel room in the early evening so you can get a good night’s sleep. Try to get a hotel room as close to the training center as possible. You could be at the training center till midnight, so it’s handy to have a hotel room close by. After you check into your hotel room, relax, and lights out. The First Day A Global Knowledge Boot Camp will start at 8:30 am sharp. Get there early, say 8:00, and introduce yourself to the instructor, then take a seat that helps you, depending on how you learn. If you learn by jotting things down, make sure you have pen and paper handy. If you easily get distracted, sit up close to the front. Where you sit can have a great bearing on how your class goes. Participating in Class Make sure to introduce yourself to all your classmates, paying close attention to people who you seem to instantly get along with and who may be at the same level that you are. You may be able to benefit from studying with other classmates. if that’s your style of learning. Copyright ©2007 Global Knowledge Training LLC. All rights reserved. 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Desktop Implementing and Maintaining Windows Vista Microsoft Certified IT Professional Enterprise Support Tech Boot Camp You can also access the web seminar: Tips and Tricks on Getting Vista Certified For more information or to register, visit www.globalknowledge.com or call 1-800-COURSES to speak with a sales representative Our courses and enhanced, hands-on labs offer practical skills and tips that you... case study examples, and troubleshooting labs Detailed explanations for right and wrong answers—including pointers back to the book for further study are also included Join the MCITP User Group Make sure you join the MCITP user group by going to the URL below There you can converse with other people that are trying to get certified and learn their tips and tricks There is a user group for every Microsoft... question!” Using the Test Prep Software The test prep software will have many questions for you to answer The questions, for the most part, will be in multiple choice format usually A,,B,,C,,D format, and sometimes ranging up to F Here's how the question and answer format works: Some questions require one right answer, and other questions may require one or more answers to be completely correct Most questions... As one of the early Windows Vista beta testers, he has extensive experience in the testing, deployment, and troubleshooting of Windows Vista Current fieldwork includes ongoing consulting services for many corporate customers throughout North America including: Ernst and Young, Bell Canada, SaskTel, and Telsat Canada He is the course director for Configuring Active Directory for Global Knowledge Mark’s... going to hurt you when you take a test and get questions about that very feature! Trust me, it will happen Remember, the certification tests are testing your knowledge of all Windows Vista features Classroom learning format The typical Boot Camp format will be based on the specific concepts of the test, with the instructor providing the knowledge, including tips and tricks about the tests themselves That... fire up your browser and join today http://www.microsoft.com/communities/newsgroups/en-us/default.aspx The Technet Web Site Technet has an enormous amount of detail about Windows Vista This is a completely free resource, and you should utilize it extensively There are many white papers on topics about Windows Vista, and even virtual labs that you can take to understand most Windows Vista concepts Copyright... about the tests themselves That is how questions are structured, and you need to be prepared for that After the concepts for the first tests have been presented, and discussed, you will next move into the testing mode by using testing software with sample tests to get ready for the real exam Make sure you ask questions if you don't understand the concept; the instructor expects you to ask questions As... to cheat etc Then the testing official will log you into a Computer System, and start the exam for you You'll also have a plastic pad and marker to use in the test You may be nervous at the start of the test, and that's understandable, but pay careful attention to the commentary at the start of the test It is also quite common for Microsoft to have beta questions in the test that you are taking The answers... can use to get ready for your Boot Camp These are the current resources available; more resources will be available as time goes on Self-Paced Training MCITP Self-Paced Training Kit (Exam 70-622): Supporting and Troubleshooting Applications on a Windows Vista Client for Enterprise Support Technicians Your 2-in-1 Self-Paced Training Kit features official exam prep and practice for the skills measured... tests on CD There are 425 practice and review questions on the CD, featuring multiple, customizable testing options to help you assess your skills It comes packed with the tools and features exam candidates want most—including in-depth, self-paced training based on final exam content; rigorous, objective-by-objective review; exam tips from expert, exam -certified authors; and customizable testing options . Therefore you can hunker down with a large cup of Joe and Mark B. Wilkins, MCSE, MCT, MS Certified IT Pro: Enterprise Tech Tips and Tricks for Getting Vista. Windows Vista Microsoft Certified IT Professional Enterprise Support Tech Boot Camp You can also access the web seminar: Tips and Tricks on Getting Vista Certified