MS5119 Supporting the Windows Vista Operating System and Applications

Experienced enterprise level IT Professionals who focus on a broad range of desktop operating system, desktop application, mobile device, networking, and hardware support issues. As working professionals, students must combine technical expertise with problem solving and decision making skills and a deep understanding of their business and technical environments to quickly resolve support issues. They consider all variables, justify resolutions with a logical troubleshooting approach, and relate tradeoffs to business and technical requirements and constraints.

Students will have used Windows XP-SP2 and may have experience with Windows server operating systems. Their job requires them to stay knowledgeable and skilled on new versions and updates of technology as defined by the business environment.

This course provides students with the knowledge and skills to use a Windows Vista operating system image and application package deployment infrastructure to minimise the downtime at the Windows Vista client. The desktop support technicians can use this infrastructure to improve the support experience in the following scenarios:

• New installations
 
• Single computer migrations
 
• Single computer reinstallations
 

The course also provides guidance on how to install application packages on Windows Vista computers for support scenarios that require application updates or reinstalls.

This course will be most useful to people who intend to use their new skills and knowledge on the job immediately after training.

After completing this course, students will be able to:

• Describe how the Windows Vista deployment options can be used to improve the support experience at the desktop.
 
• 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 that data.
 
• Utilize Windows Vista application packages to improve the process of application installation and maintenance at the Windows Vista client computer.
 
• Explain how to troubleshoot Windows Vista application package installations.

Before attending this course, students must:

• Be familiar with PC hardware and devices. For example, ability to look into device manager and look for unsupported devices.
 
• Have basic Windows and Active Directory knowledge. For example, domain user accounts, domain vs. local user accounts, user profiles, and group membership.
 
• Familiarity with the 2007 Microsoft Office System; specifically Microsoft Word 2007 and Microsoft Excel® 2007.
 
• Be able to map network file shares. For example, familiar with UNC paths, mapping local resources to server/share.
 
• Have experience installing applications from media (CD/DVD)
 
• Have experience working from a command window. For example, authoring and editing batch files
 
• Be able to burn or creating boot media. For example, ISO.
 
• Have experience configuring BIOS options. For example, boot order.
 
• Be familiar with reviewing support logs. Know that there is a chronology, sequential order, severity, etc..
 

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

• 5115A: Installing and Configuring the Windows Vista Operating System.
 
• 5116A: Configuring Windows Vista Mobile Computing and Applications.

Module 1: Windows Vista Desktop Deployment Infrastructure

Module 2: Preparing to Apply Desktop Images

Module 3: Supporting Computers with Desktop Images

Module 4: Installing Applications

Module 5: Restoring and Validating User State

Module 6: Troubleshooting Desktop and Application Installations

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