Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE)

Exam 700-270
Installing, Configuring, and Administering Windows XP Professional

Exam news

Exam 70-270 became available on March 4, 2002.

Audience profile

Candidates for this exam operate in medium to very large computing environments that use Windows XP Professional as a desktop operating system. They have a minimum of one year of experience implementing and administering any desktop operating system in a network environment.

Credit toward certification

When you pass the Installing, Configuring, and Administering Windows XP Professional exam, you achieve Microsoft Certified Professional status. You also earn credit toward the following certifications:

• Core credit toward Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer on Windows Server 2003 certification

• Core credit toward Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator on Windows Server 2003 certification

• Core credit toward Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer on Microsoft Windows 2000 certification

• Core credit toward Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator on Microsoft Windows 2000 certification

Skills being measured

This certification exam measures your ability to implement, administer, and troubleshoot information systems that incorporate Microsoft Windows XP Professional. Before taking the exam, you should be proficient in the job skills listed in the following table. The table lists Official Microsoft Learning Products to help you reach competency in the skills being tested in the exam.

• Perform and troubleshoot an attended installation of Windows XP Professional.

• Perform and troubleshoot an unattended installation of Windows XP Professional.

  • Install Windows XP Professional by using Remote Installation Services (RIS).

  • Install Windows XP Professional by using the System Preparation Tool.

  • Create unattended answer files by using Setup Manager to automate the installation of Windows XP Professional.

• Upgrade from a previous version of Windows to Windows XP Professional.

  • Prepare a computer to meet upgrade requirements.

  • Migrate existing user environments to a new installation.  

• Perform post-installation updates and product activation.

• Troubleshoot failed installations.

Implementing and Conducting Administration of Resources

• Monitor, manage, and troubleshoot access to files and folders.

  • Configure, manage, and troubleshoot file compression.

  • Control access to files and folders by using permissions.

  • Optimize access to files and folders.  

• Manage and troubleshoot access to shared folders.

  • Create and remove shared folders.

  • Control access to shared folders by using permissions.

  • Manage and troubleshoot Web server resources.  

• Connect to local and network print devices.

  • Manage printers and print jobs.

  • Control access to printers by using permissions.

  • Connect to an Internet printer.

  • Connect to a local print device.  

• Configure and manage file systems.

  • Convert from one file system to another file system.

  • Configure NTFS, FAT32, or FAT file systems.  

• Manage and troubleshoot access to and synchronization of offline files.

Implementing, Managing, Monitoring, and Troubleshooting Hardware Devices and Drivers

• Implement, manage, and troubleshoot disk devices.

  • Install, configure, and manage DVD and CD-ROM devices.

  • Monitor and configure disks.

  • Monitor, configure, and troubleshoot volumes.

  • Monitor and configure removable media, such as tape devices.

• Implement, manage, and troubleshoot display devices.

  • Configure multiple-display support.

  • Install, configure, and troubleshoot a video adapter.

• Configure Advanced Configuration Power Interface (ACPI).

• Implement, manage, and troubleshoot input and output (I/O) devices.

  • Monitor, configure, and troubleshoot I/O devices, such as printers, scanners, multimedia devices, mouse, keyboard, and smart card reader.

  • Monitor, configure, and troubleshoot multimedia hardware, such as cameras.

  • Install, configure, and manage modems.

  • Install, configure, and manage Infrared Data Association (IrDA) devices.

  • Install, configure, and manage wireless devices.

  • Install, configure, and manage USB devices.

  • Install, configure, and manage hand held devices.

  • Install, configure, and manage network adapters.

• Manage and troubleshoot drivers and driver signing.

• Monitor and configure multiprocessor computers.

Monitoring and Optimizing System Performance and Reliability

• Monitor, optimize, and troubleshoot performance of the Windows XP Professional desktop.

  • Optimize and troubleshoot memory performance.

  • Optimize and troubleshoot processor utilization.

  • Optimize and troubleshoot disk performance.

  • Optimize and troubleshoot application performance.

  • Configure, manage, and troubleshoot Scheduled Tasks.

• Manage, monitor, and optimize system performance for mobile users.

• Restore and back up the operating system, System State data, and user data.

  • Recover System State data and user data by using Windows Backup.

  • Troubleshoot system restoration by starting in safe mode.

  • Recover System State data and user data by using the Recovery console.

Configuring and Troubleshooting the Desktop Environment

• Configure and manage user profiles and desktop settings.

• Configure support for multiple languages or multiple locations.

  • Enable multiple-language support.

  • Configure multiple-language support for users.

  • Configure local settings.

  • Configure Windows XP Professional for multiple locations.

• Manage applications by using Windows Installer packages.

Implementing, Managing, and Troubleshooting Network Protocols and Services

• Configure and troubleshoot the TCP/IP protocol.

• Connect to computers by using dial-up networking.

  • Connect to computers by using a virtual private network (VPN) connection.

  • Create a dial-up connection to connect to a remote access server.

  • Connect to the Internet by using dial-up networking.

  • Configure and troubleshoot Internet Connection Sharing (ICS).

• Connect to resources by using Internet Explorer.

• Configure, manage, and implement Internet Information Services (IIS).

• Configure, manage, and troubleshoot Remote Desktop and Remote Assistance.

• Configure, manage, and troubleshoot an Internet Connection Firewall (ICF).

Configuring, Managing, and Troubleshooting Security

• Configure, manage, and troubleshoot Encrypting File System (EFS).

• Configure, manage, and troubleshoot a security configuration and local security policy.

• Configure, manage, and troubleshoot local user and group accounts.

  • Configure, manage, and troubleshoot auditing.

  • Configure, manage, and troubleshoot account settings.

  • Configure, manage, and troubleshoot account policy.

  • Configure, manage, and troubleshoot user and group rights.

  • Troubleshoot cache credentials.

• Configure, manage, and troubleshoot Internet Explorer security settings.

Note This preparation guide is subject to change at any time without prior notice and at the sole discretion of Microsoft. Microsoft exams might include adaptive testing technology and simulation items. Microsoft does not identify the format in which exams are presented. Please use this preparation guide to prepare for the exam, regardless of its format.