Product Description

The MCSA/MCSE 70-270 Exam Prep 2: Windows XP Professional is the most comprehensive, accurate study guide for this popular MCSE exam. Updated with Service Pack 2 information, this in-depth approach to the exam objectives also explains the core concepts of the technology to help you pass the exam. Organized by exam objective, you will be able to quickly and easily assess your understanding of key exam topics. The real-world examples, extensive hands-on exercises and end-of-chapter exercises support exam objectives and reinforce learning. Notes, tips, warnings, key terms, study strategies, fast facts and self-assessment opportunities will also help you score better on the exam. Additional practice questions are included on a test-engine CD, provided by MeasureUp. With all of these great features and proven study methods, MCSA/MCSE 70-270 Exam Prep 2: Windows XP Professional is your smartest way to get certified.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1394471 in Books
• Published on: 2005-05-02
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 744 pages

About the Author

Melissa Craft (CCNA, MCNE, MCSE, Network+, CNE-3, CNE-4, CNE-5, CCA) is a vice president of Dane Holdings, Inc., a small financial services corporation in Arizona. During her career, she has consulted on deployment solutions for enterprise applications, operating systems, and infrastructure for companies ranging from small to global Fortune 100 corporations. Melissa has focused her expertise on developing enterprise-wide technology solutions and methodologies. These technology solutions touch every part of a system's life cycle, from assessing the need, determining the return on investment, network design, testing, and implementation, to operational management and strategic planning.

In 1997, Melissa began writing magazine articles on the subjects of computer networking and the information technology industry. Since then, Melissa has acted as both author and technical editor for books about various technology and certification subjects. A few of the many books that Melissa has co-authored include MCSE Exam 70-296 Study Guide and DVD Training System: Planning, Implementing, and Maintaining a Windows Server 2003 Environment for an MCSE Certified on Windows 2000 (Syngress, 2003) and MCSE Self-Paced Training Kit (Exam 70-294): Planning, Implementing, and Maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Active Directory Infrastructure (Microsoft Press, 2003).

Melissa holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Michigan and is a member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), the Society of Women Engineers, and American MENSA, Ltd. Melissa currently resides in Glendale, Arizona with her family, Dan, Justine, and Taylor.

Don Poulton (A+, Network+, Security+, MCSA, MCSE) is an independent consultant who has been involved with computers since the days of 80-column punch cards. After a career of more than 20 years in environmental science, Don switched careers and trained as a Windows NT 4.0 MCSE. He has been involved in consulting with a couple of small training providers as a technical writer, during which time he wrote training and exam prep materials for Windows NT 4.0, Windows 2000, and Windows XP. Don has written or contributed to several titles, including MCSE 70-294 Training Guide: Planning, Implementing, and Maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Active Directory Infrastructure (Que, 2003) and MCSA/MCSE 70-299 Exam Cram 2: Implementing and Administering Security in a Windows 2003 Network (Exam Cram 2) (Que, 2004).

In addition, he has worked on programming projects, both in his days as an environmental scientist and, more recently, with Visual Basic to update an older statistical package used for multivariate analysis of sediment contaminants. When not working on computers, Don is an avid amateur photographer who has had his photos displayed in international competitions and published in magazines such as Michigan Natural Resources Magazine and National Geographic Traveler. Don also enjoys traveling and keeping fit.

Don lives in Burlington, Ontario with his wife Terry.

© Copyright Pearson Education. All rights reserved.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

Introduction

MCSA/MCSE Windows XP Professional Exam Prep (Exam 70-270) is designed for network administrators, network engineers, and consultants who are pursuing the Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator (MCSA) or Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE) certifications for Windows XP Professional. This book covers the "Installing, Configuring, and Administering Microsoft Windows XP Professional" exam (70-270), a core exam for the MCSA and MCSE certifications. The exam is designed to measure your skill and ability to implement, administer, and troubleshoot computers running Windows XP Professional. 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 70-270. It doesn't offer end-to-end coverage of the Windows XP operating system; rather, it helps you develop the specific core competencies that you need to master as a network administrator. Also, this book has been updated to include coverage of the SP2 release. In the book, you will see special SP2 icons by the new SP2 material the 70-270 exam covers. You should be able to pass the exam by learning the material in this book, without taking a class.

How This Book Helps You

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.

People study in a combination of different ways—by doing, by seeing, and by hearing/writing. This book's design fulfills all three of these study methods. For the kinesthetic, there are hands-on study strategies listed at the beginning of each chapter. You will also discover Challenge exercises and Step by Step instructions that walk you through the skills you need to master in Windows XP Professional. The visual learner can find plenty of screen shots explaining the concepts described in the text. The auditory learner can reinforce skills by reading out loud and copying down key concepts and exam tips scattered throughout the book. Finally, the Fast Facts section enables everyone to brush up on the essentials and be wholly prepared when walking into the test center to take the exam. While reading this book, you will realize that it stands the test of time. You will be able to turn to it over and over again.

This book gives you a self-guided tour of all the areas that are covered by the "Installing, Configuring, and Administering Microsoft Windows XP Professional" exam. The goal is to teach you the specific skills you need to achieve your MCSA or MCSE certification. You'll also find helpful hints, tips, examples, exercises, and references to additional study materials.

Organization

This book is organized around the individual objectives from Microsoft's preparation guide for the "Installing, Configuring, and Administering Microsoft Windows XP Professional" 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 http://www.microsoft.com/learning/exams/70-270.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 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.

Instructional Features

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.

• Notes—Notes appear in the margins and contain various kinds of useful information, such as tips on technology, historical background, side commentary, or where to go for more detailed coverage of a particular topic.

• Cautions—When you use sophisticated computing technology, there is always a possibility of mistakes or even catastrophes. Cautions appear in the margins and alert you of such potential problems, whether they're in following along with the text or in implementing Windows XP Professional in a production environment.

• 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.

Extensive Practice Test Options

The book provides numerous opportunities for you to assess your knowledge and practice for the exam. The practice options include the following:

• Review questions—These open-ended questions appear in the "Apply Your Knowledge" section at the end of each chapter. They allow you to quickly assess your comprehension of what you just read in the chapter. The answers are provided later in the section.

• 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 section and the Practice Exam are discussed in more detail later in this chapter.

• MeasureUp—The MeasureUp software included on the CD-ROM provides additional practice questions.

Final Review

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.

This book includes a valuable appendix, which includes details about the content of the CD-ROM (Appendix A), and a glossary of terms and definitions 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: mcphelp@microsoft.com

By regular mail, telephone, or fax, contact the Microsoft Regional Service Center (RSC) nearest you. You can find lists of RSCs at http://www.microsoft.com/learning/support/northamerica.asp (for North America) and http://www.microsoft.com/learning/support/worldsites.asp (worldwide).

On the Internet: http://www.microsoft.com/learning/default.asp

What the 70-270 Exam Covers

The "Installing, Configuring, and Administ...

Customer Reviews

This book is all you need
Over about 4 weeks I read this book and took the practice exam in the back. I also used the questions on the CD to drill. I did not read any other books. I passed the test with a 905. I will agree that this book covers more material than you need, but it goes quick and it is very informative.

If you want a valuable certification, go for a newer product.
I think this book is useful, if you want to learn to support Windows XP. However, if you are looking to get a valuable computer certification, you really need to focus on a newer product. Honestly, the certification isn't really that relevant to the issues you will face with XP today and XP won't be around much longer. The book is way more relevant to actually supporting Windows XP than the exam. There lies the issue, this book is better than the exam. You could miss exam questions and still know what you are doing. So, is the problem with this book or with the exam? My opinion is with the exam. Is this book good for passing the exam? Probably about 3 stars worth, hence my rating, which to me means that you could certainly fail the exam if all you do is read this book.

Not bad, but not good
The book was not bad, but I think it focused on a lot of material that was not on the test. I knew the material from the book's test and CD practice test, but it didn't help me when it wasn't on the actualy exam.