Windows XP Professional: Introduction

Course Overview

Business is increasingly computer-driven. Users and support staff need greater ease of use and improved productivity. Microsoft's Windows XP Professional operating system offers a simplified interface, integrated Web technologies and enhanced networking for Internet-connected environments. Its features and utilities allow easier installation, customisation and management of the desktop work environment.

In this course, you gain the knowledge and skills to successfully install, configure and manage Windows XP Professional in your organisation.

Audience

This course is valuable for PC technicians and support staff, help desk personnel, systems administrators, consultants and managers. Prior experience with a Windows graphical user interface is assumed.

Skills Gained

• Install, manage and support Windows XP Professional
• Prepare and perform an XP installation
• Construct personalised environments for multiple users
• Operate within an enterprise network environment
• Share resources across a Windows XP network
• Maintain, troubleshoot and restore the operating system

Course Outline

Introduction to Windows XP

• Hardware and software support
• Seamless access to resources
• Differences between XP editions
• Purchasing Methods
• Licensing and activating Windows XP

Setting Up a Windows XP Professional Workstation

Preparing for installation

• Migrating user settings
• Evaluating hardware compatibility
• Choosing between a clean install and an upgrade

Performing a Sysprep installation

• Installing the operating system
• Configuring multi-lingual internationalisation
• Working with the Setup Wizard

Structuring Windows XP for Multiple Users

Providing personalised user environments

• Creating local users and groups
• Managing user profiles

Implementing local security

• Enabling account security
• Setting file permissions
• Securing data with Encrypting File System (EFS)
• Creating a local EFS Data Recovery Agent

Operating within Domain Environments

Enterprise networking concepts

• Small business vs. corporate networks
• Remotely controlling XP Professional
• Using Windows 2003 Terminal Services

Functioning within an enterprise infrastructure

• Joining a Windows domain
• Locating resources with a directory service

Sharing and Securing Resources

Hosting shared resources

• Sharing files and printers with other Windows users
• Making resources available via the Web with Internet Information Server (IIS)
• Setting permissions on network resources

Building a Windows XP network

• Configuring protocols and clients
• Bridging networks
• Enabling Internet Connection Sharing (ICS)
• Protecting Windows XP with the Internet Connection Firewall

Managing the Operating System and Its Applications

Installing and configuring devices

• Plug and Play concepts
• USB
• Universal Plug and Play
• Devices
• Code signing
• Auto Update options
• Windows File Protection
• Wizards
• ACPI power management
• Hardware management

Adding and troubleshooting software

• Installing user applications with the Windows Installer Service
• Overcoming compatibility problems
• Creating custom file associations
• Customising compatibility with the Application Compatibility Toolkit

Maintaining and recovering the system

• Editing the Registry
• Recovering with System Restore points
• Restoring the system with Automated System Recovery (ASR)
• Evaluating and installing Service Packs and hotfixes

Evaluating new Service Pack 2 features

• Working with the Security Center
• Configuring the Windows Firewall
• Locating and connecting to wireless networks
• Blocking Internet pop-ups
• Preventing unsafe data execution
• Detecting and blocking spyware