Name of Course:  
Windows Operating Systems  

Prerequisites: CS 105 

I. Course Description 

The first in the series of three courses required to prepare the student for the Microsoft MCP certification. Topics covered in this semester include all aspects of the Windows OS including OS architecture, OS Administration of Resources, Hardware Devices/Drivers & the OS, Optimizing OS Performance and Reliability, OS Security and troubleshooting. 

II  Course Objectives

By the end of the course the student will be able to: 

INSTALLATION OF THE OPERATING SYSTEM 

Perform an attended installation of an OS.
Perform an unattended installation of OS.

• Install an OS by using a server Remote Installation Services (RIS).
• Install an OS by using the System Preparation Tool.
• Create unattended answer files by using Setup Manager to automate the installation of  the OS.

Upgrade an OS.

• Apply update packs to installed software applications.
• Prepare a computer to meet upgrade requirements.

Deploy service packs.
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 file systems by using NTFS, FAT32, or FAT.

IMPLEMENTING, MANAGING, 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.

Implement, manage, and troubleshoot mobile computer hardware.

• Configure Advanced Power Management (APM).
• Configure and manage card services.

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.

Update drivers.
Monitor and configure multiple processing units.
Install, configure, and troubleshoot network adapters. 

MONITORING AND OPTIMIZING SYSTEM PERFORMANCE AND RELIABILITY 

Manage and troubleshoot driver signing.
Configure, manage, and troubleshoot the Task Scheduler.
Manage and troubleshoot the use and synchronization of offline files.
Optimize and troubleshoot performance of the Windows desktop.

• Optimize and troubleshoot memory performance.
• Optimize and troubleshoot processor utilization.
• Optimize and troubleshoot disk performance.
• Optimize and troubleshoot network performance.
• Optimize and troubleshoot application performance.

Manage hardware profiles.
Recover systems and user data.

• Recover systems and user data by using Windows Backup.
• Troubleshoot system restoration by using Safe Mode.
• Recover systems and user data by using the Recovery Console.

CONFIGURING AND TROUBLESHOOTING THE DESKTOP ENVIRONMENT 

Configure and manage user profiles.
Configure support for multiple languages or multiple locations.

• Enable multiple-language support.
• Configure multiple-language support for users.
• Configure local settings.
• Configure the Windows operating system for multiple locations.

Install applications by using Windows Installer packages.
Configure and troubleshoot desktop settings.
Configure and troubleshoot fax support.
Configure and troubleshoot accessibility services. 

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.

Connect to shared resources on a Microsoft network. 

IMPLEMENTING, MONITORING, AND TROUBLESHOOTING SECURITY 

Encrypt data on a hard disk by using Encrypting File System (EFS).
Implement, configure, manage, and troubleshoot local Group Policy.
Implement, configure, manage, and troubleshoot local user accounts.

• Implement, configure, manage, and troubleshoot auditing.
• Implement, configure, manage, and troubleshoot account settings.
• Implement, configure, manage, and troubleshoot account policy.
• Create and manage local users and groups.
• Implement, configure, manage, and troubleshoot user rights.

Implement, configure, manage, and troubleshoot local user authentication.

• Configure and troubleshoot local user accounts.
• Configure and troubleshoot domain user accounts.

Implement, configure, manage, and troubleshoot a security configuration.

III. Topics to Be Studied

• Windows Operating Systems Used on PC’s
• Operating System Architecture
• OS Administration of Resources
• Hardware Devices/Drivers & the OS
• Optimizing OS Performance and Reliability
• OS Desktop Environment Configuration
• Network Protocols and Services
• OS Security

IV. Special Projects to Be Included in Course 

Project 1 - Individual students will be required to successfully install and configure a computer operating system. 

Project 2 – Individual students will be required to troubleshoot a malfunctioning OS and make the proper reparations. 

V. Methods of Student Evaluation 

• Tests
• Lab Activities
• Application Projects

VI. Assessment of Outcomes

The course itself serves as an assessment of the Microsoft Certified Professional certification requirements. Successful course completion as well achieving the MCP certification demonstrates that students have mastered the criteria. 

VII.  Other Information 

This course is designed to prepare the student for a career in the computer industry. Along with the above stated course objectives this course will prepare the student to take their actual Microsoft certification exam at an authorized Microsoft testing center.