Course: MS5115 Installing and Configuring the Windows Vista Operating System

This three-day instructor-led course provides students with the knowledge and skills to install and configure Windows Vista desktops.
It will focus on four main areas: installing, securing, networking, and browsing. By the end of the course, the student will have installed and configured a Windows Vista desktop that is secure, on the network, and ready for browsing.
This is the first course in the Windows Vista curriculum and will serve as the entry point for other Windows Vista Technology Specialist courses.

The primary audience for this course is IT Professionals wishing to become technology specialists. A Windows Vista technology specialist is defined as a technology specialist interested in learning about, assessing skills, using reference products, or taking exams to prove his or her knowledge/skills/experience related to Microsoft’s Windows Vista technologies.
Technology specialists:

Value and may be working toward an extensive, deep technical knowledge in a particular technology.
Are interested in learning about Windows Vista technologies in greater detail.
Want to learn or test that they know and can apply existing concepts, practices, procedures, policies, and guidelines.
Work in roles where most questions have clear right and wrong answers.
Focus primarily on the “how to” associated with Windows Vista technologies.
On the job, work from functional specifications, defined polices/conventions/standards, and documented operational procedures received from superiors.

Windows Vista technology specialists may work for an enterprise, a medium-sized organization, a small organization, or a retail organization.

After completing this course, students will be able to:

Install Windows Vista.
Upgrade to Windows Vista Ultimate Edition.
Configure post-installation system settings.
Configure basic networking.
Configure advanced networking.
Configure user account security.
Configure network security.
Configure Microsoft® Internet Explorer® 7.0.

Before attending this course, students must have:

Familiarity with computer hardware and devices, such as the ability to look into device manager and look for unsupported devices.
Basic TCP/IP knowledge, such as knowing why you need to have a valid IP address.
Basic Microsoft Windows® and Active Directory® knowledge, such as knowledge about domain user accounts, domain vs. local user accounts, user profiles, and group membership.
Experience with mapping network file shares, such as being familiar with UNC paths and mapping local resources to server/share.
Experience with running commands from a command window, such as the DOS command prompt.
Experience with reviewing BIOS settings.

In addition, it is recommended, but not required, that students have completed:

First Look Clinic 5056 - First Look: Getting Started with Windows Vista for IT Professionals.
Hands-on-Lab 5057 - First Look: Getting Started with Windows Vista for IT Professionals.

Course Materials and Software

The student kit includes a comprehensive workbook and other necessary materials for this class.

Module 1: Installing Windows Vista

This module describes the new features of the Windows Vista operating system and then explains how to perform a clean installation. This module also explains how to install and configure Windows Vista device drivers. 

Lessons 

Introduction to Windows Vista
Performing a Clean Installation of Windows Vista
Installing and Configuring Windows Vista Device Drivers

Lab: Installing Windows Vista 

Verifying Hardware Requirements
Installing Windows Vista from DVD
Managing Device Drivers

After completing this module, students will be able to:

Describe the Windows Vista operating system.
Perform a clean installation of Windows Vista.
Install and configure Windows Vista device drivers.

Module 2: Upgrading and Migrating to Windows Vista Ultimate Edition

This module explains how to upgrade and migrate to Windows Vista Ultimate edition from previous versions of Windows and from other Windows Vista editions.

Lessons 

Upgrading and Migrating to Windows Vista from a Previous Version of Windows
Upgrading Between Windows Vista Editions

Lab: Upgrading and Migrating to Windows Vista Ultimate Edition 

Running USMT to Scan a User’s Settings
Upgrading from Windows XP to Windows Vista Ultimate
Upgrading from Windows Vista Business to Windows Vista Ultimate
Running USMT to Load a User’s Settings

After completing this module, students will be able to:

Upgrade or migrate to Windows Vista from a previous version of Microsoft Windows.

Upgrade or migrate between Windows Vista editions.

Module 3: Configuring Post-Installation System Settings

This module explains how to configure the Windows Aero™ Experience and the Accessibility features of Windows Vista. This module also explains how to configure Parental Controls.

 Lessons 

Configuring the Windows Aero Experience
Configuring Accessibility Features
Configuring Parental Controls

Lab: Configuring Post-Installation Options
Configuring Aero
Configuring Accessibility Features

After completing this module, students will be able to:

Configure the Windows Aero experience.
Configure the accessibility features of the Windows Vista operating system.
Configure Windows Vista Parental Controls. 

Module 4: Sharing Files by Using Windows Vista

This module explains how to use Windows Vista to share files with others and also describes how to manage the various file types that Windows Vista supports.

Lessons 

Sharing Data with Others
Managing Windows Vista Files

Lab: Sharing Files by Using Windows Vista 

Sharing Data with Others
Managing Files

After completing this module, students will be able to:

Share data with others.
Manage Windows Vista files.

Module 5: Configuring Advanced Networking

This module explains how to connect Windows Vista to a network, and also explains how to configure and troubleshooting the Remote Access features of Windows Vista.

Lessons

Configuring Network Connectivity
Configuring Remote Access

Lab: Configuring Advanced Networking 

Troubleshooting Network Connectivity
Configuring Remote Access
Troubleshooting Remote Access Connections

After completing this module, students will be able to:

Configure network connectivity.
Configure Remote Access.

Module 6: Configuring User Account Security

This module explains how to configure and troubleshoot User Account Control in Windows Vista.

Lessons

Configuring User Account Control
Troubleshooting User Account Control

Lab: Configuring User Account Security 

Requesting an Application to Run Elevated One Time
Making an Application to Always Run Elevated
Configuring User Account Control Panel

After completing this module, students will be able to:

Configure Windows Vista User Account Control.
Troubleshoot User Account Control.

Module 7: Configuring Network Security

This module explains how to configure the Windows Defender and Windows Firewall applications in Windows Vista.

Lessons 
Configuring Windows Defender in Windows Vista
Configuring Windows Firewall Settings

Lab: Configuring Network Security

Configuring Windows Defender
Configuring Windows Firewall

After completing this module, students will be able to:

Configure Windows Defender in Windows Vista.
Configure the Windows Firewall settings in Windows Vista.

Module 8: Configuring Internet Explorer 7.0

This module explains how to configure the Internet Explorer 7.0 options and explains how to configure the dynamic security settings.

Lessons

Configuring Internet Explorer 7.0
Configuring Dynamic Security for Internet Explorer 7.0

Lab: Configuring Internet Explorer 7.0

Customizing Internet Explorer 7.0
Troubleshooting Internet Explorer Security Settings

After completing this module, students will be able to:

Configure Internet Explorer 7.0.
Configure dynamic security for Internet Explorer 7.0.