MCTS 70-620 Exam Prep: Microsoft Windows Vista, Configuring is designed for network administrators, network engineers, and consultants who are pursuing the Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS) or Microsoft Certified IT Professional (MCITP) certifications for Windows Vista. This book covers the “TS: Microsoft Windows Vista, Configuring” exam (70-620), which earns you the Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist: Windows Vista, Configuration certification. The exam is designed to measure your skill and ability to implement, administer, and troubleshoot computers running all editions of Windows Vista. Microsoft not only tests you on your knowledge of the desktop operating system, but it has purposefully developed questions on the exam to force you to problem-solve in the same way that you would when presented with a real-life error. Passing this exam demonstrates your competency in administration.
This book covers all the objectives that Microsoft has established for exam 70-620. It doesn’t offer end-to-end coverage of the Windows Vista system; instead, it helps you develop the specific core competencies that you need to master as a desktop support specialist. You should be able to pass the exam by learning the material in this book, without taking a class.
When anyone embarks on a certification track, the first thought is to get certified, put some letters after your name, strengthen your resume, and move on to the next step. Selecting a method of study for that certification often is a choice between a hands-on laboratory class of a few days or a self-study method pieced together with books and your own lab environment that is not bound by any time limits. Your choice depends on how you study best and what type of reference material you want available to you after you have passed the exam.
This book gives you a self-guided tour of all the areas that are covered by the “TS: Microsoft Windows Vista, Configuring” exam. The goal is to teach you the specific skills you need to achieve your MCTS certification. You’ll also find helpful hints, tips, examples, exercises, and references to additional study materials.
This book is organized around the individual objectives from Microsoft’s preparation guide for the “TS: Microsoft Windows Vista, Configuring” exam. Every objective is covered in this book. The objectives are not covered in exactly the same order in which you’ll find them in the official preparation guide (which you can download from www.microsoft.com/learning/exams/70-620.asp), but they are reorganized for more logical teaching. We have also tried to make the information more accessible in several ways:
This introduction includes the full list of exam topics and objectives.
The “Study and Exam Preparation Tips” section helps you develop study strategies. It also provides you with valuable exam-day tips and information. You should read it early on.
Each chapter starts with a list of objectives that are covered in that chapter.
Each chapter also begins with an outline that provides an overview of the material for that chapter as well as the page numbers where specific topics can be found.
Each objective is repeated in the text, where it is covered in detail.
This book is designed to provide you with multiple ways to learn and reinforce the exam material. Here are some of the instructional features you’ll find inside:
Objective explanations—. As mentioned previously, each chapter begins with a list of the objectives covered in the chapter. In addition, immediately following each objective is a detailed explanation that puts the objective in the context of the product.
Study strategies—. Each chapter offers a selected list of study strategies: exercises to try or additional material to read that will help you learn and retain the material in the chapter.
Exam alerts—. Exam alerts appear in the chapters and provide specific exam-related advice. Exam alerts address what material is likely to be covered (or not covered) on the exam, how to remember it, or particular exam quirks.
Review breaks and chapter summaries—. Crucial information is summarized at various points in the book, in lists of key points you need to remember. Each chapter ends with an overall summary of the material covered in that chapter as well.
Challenge exercises—. Challenge exercises offer additional opportunities to practice the material within a chapter and to learn additional facets of the topic at hand.
Key terms—. A list of key terms appears at the end of each chapter.
Step by Steps—. These are hands-on, tutorial instructions that lead you through a particular task or function related to the exam objectives.
Exercises—. Found at the end of each chapter in the “Apply Your Knowledge” section, the exercises include additional tutorial material and more chances to practice the skills that you learned in the chapter.
The book provides numerous opportunities for you to assess your knowledge and practice for the exam. The practice options include the following:
Exam questions—. These questions appear in the “Apply Your Knowledge” section. They reflect the kinds of multiple-choice questions that appear on the Microsoft exams. You should use them to practice for the exam and to help determine what you know and what you might need to review or study further. Answers and explanations are provided later in the section.
Practice Exam—. The “Final Review” section includes a complete exam that you can use to practice for the real thing. The “Final Review” and the Practice Exam are discussed in more detail in the next section.
MeasureUp—. The MeasureUp software included on the CD-ROM provides additional practice questions.
The “Final Review” section of the book provides two valuable tools for preparing for the exam:
Fast Facts—. This condensed version of the information contained in the book is extremely useful for last-minute review.
Practice Exam—. A full practice test for the exam is included in this book. Questions are written in the style and format used on the actual exams. You should use the Practice Exam to assess your readiness for the real thing.
Appendix A includes details about the content of the CD-ROM, and a glossary defines terms used throughout the book.
These and all the other book features mentioned previously will provide you with thorough preparation for the exam.
For more information about the exam or the certification process, you should contact Microsoft directly:
By email: [email protected]
By regular mail, telephone, or fax, contact the Microsoft Regional Service Center (RSC) nearest you. You can find lists of RSCs at www.microsoft.com/learning/support/northamerica.asp (for North America) and www.microsoft.com/learning/support/worldsites.mspx (worldwide).
On the Internet: www.microsoft.com/learning/default.asp
Tip: There’s no substitute for experience
The single best study tip that anyone can give you is to actually work with the product that you’re learning! Even if you could become a “paper MCSE” simply by reading books, you wouldn’t get the real-world skills that you need to experience success with Windows Vista.