Exam Profile: MCTS: Windows 7, Configuring (70-680)

Date: Sep 13, 2010

Pearson Certification provides a variety of exam preparation tools to help our customers in their quest for certification. As part of our service to you, we have developed this Exam Profile series. Each profile is developed based on the testing experience of one of our trainers or authors. You won’t get exact questions or answers, but you will get a real feel for the exam. Each profile describes question forms, trouble spots, hints for exam preparation, exam objectives, and recommendations for additional study resources.

The TS: Windows 7, Configuring (70-680) is the primary exam that covers Microsoft Windows 7 and is one of the required exams for the MCITP: Enterprise Desktop Administrator 7 and MCITP: Enterprise Desktop Support Technician 7 certifications. It also counts as the client requirements for MCTIP: Enterprise Administrator. For those who are seeking the MCITP: Enterprise Administrator, the 70-680 is usually the easiest of the required exams. Therefore, it is usually the first one taken.

The 70-680 exam covers installing, upgrading, and migrating Windows; deploying Windows; installing and troubleshooting drivers; troubleshooting compatibility problems with applications; configuring network settings including the Windows Firewall; managing disks; and recovering Windows in case of a failure or problem. While the 70-680 is a comprehensive exam, it tends to give a little bit more focus on newer technologies introduced or modified in Windows 7.

Exam Details

65 questions (Note: Microsoft does not publish this information and may change the number of exam questions without notice.)
Multiple choice
Passing score 700 out of 1000.
90 minutes
You can take the exam at Prometric.
The complete listing of exam objectives appears on page 2 of this article.

Trouble Spots

Before you take this exam, you should have either taken or acquired the equivalent knowledge found on the CompTIA A+ and CompTIA Network+ exams. Both of these exams give you the background to understand, install, configure, and troubleshoot computer and network problems and allow you to get the most out of studying for your 70-680 exam.

Compared to the equivalent exams for Windows XP and Windows Vista, the 70-680 covering Windows 7 is a little bit more difficult. You need to understand the material that is covered and apply the knowledge in various scenarios.

For those who may think that they are experienced with Windows, you need to review the objectives to determine if you really know Windows 7. For example, most people who are trying to get a start in Information Technology have installed Windows 7 from the installation DVD, and many people have upgraded Windows Vista to Windows 7. However, unless you work in a corporate environment where you are responsible for deploying Windows 7, most people have not used system images or automatic installation with an answer file.

Another big change from earlier versions of Windows is the repair and recovery options. For example, although safe mode and last known good configuration have not changed, you will need to know how to create and use a system recovery disk and how to use the Windows PE disk and the related commands.

Lastly, be sure you review the newer technologies including user account control (UAC), BranchCache, DirectAccess, BitLocker, and BitLocker ToGo. In addition, be sure to know how to recover encrypted files even if the user forgot their BitLocker pass code.

Preparation Hints

For any exam, always go to the source, which in this case is the Microsoft 70-680 exam page. The exam objectives are listed later in this article as well as posted at the Microsoft site. You need to look at the objectives and rank them for what you think you know and what you think you need to learn about. If the objectives are totally foreign to you, don’t be discouraged; it just means that you have a lot of work ahead of you. Remember, everyone in Information Technology had to start somewhere.

After you know the objectives, you should be using Windows 7 for several months. You need use the advanced features that deal with recovery and security, and support corporate environments. Again, these features are listed in the objectives but are not usually used by everyday home users.

Next, don’t be afraid to get on the Internet and research some of the topics. Again, take smaller steps so that you are not overwhelmed. Whenever possible, you want to use Microsoft websites because the exam comes from Microsoft.

Look at your local schools. Many schools have excellent programs and include hands-on classes. Remember, that most people in the technical field learn best hands-on.

Don’t be afraid to set up your own network. You will most likely need to install a Windows Server 2008 R2 as a domain controller and use Windows 7 that is both connected as part of the domain and not connected as part of the domain. Also be sure you manually configure IP configuration, wireless connections, and Windows Firewall (Basic and Windows Firewall with Advanced Security).

Recommended Study Resources

MCTS 70-680 Exam Cram: Microsoft Windows 7, Configuring by Patrick Regan, publishing December 2010 by Pearson IT Certification.

MCTS 70-680 Cert Guide: Microsoft Windows 7, Configuring (Certification Guide) by Don Poulton, publishing November 2010 by Pearson IT Certification.

MCTS 70-680 Exam Objectives

These exam objectives are reprinted with permission from Microsoft. Please check the Microsoft website to get the most up-to-date information.

This exam measures your ability to accomplish the technical tasks listed below. The percentages indicate the relative weight of each major topic area on the exam.

Installing, Upgrading, and Migrating to Windows 7 (14 percent)

Perform a clean installation.

This objective may include but is not limited to: identifying hardware requirements; setting up as the sole operating system; setting up as dual boot; installation methods; boot from the source of installation, preparing the installation source: USB, CD, network share, WDS

Upgrade to Windows 7 from previous versions of Windows.

This objective may include but is not limited to: upgrading from Windows Vista; migrating from Windows XP; upgrading from one edition of Windows 7 to another edition of Windows 7

Migrate user profiles.

This objective may include but is not limited to: migrating from one machine to another; migrating from previous versions of Windows; side-by-side vs. wipe and load

Deploying Windows 7 (13 percent)

Capture a system image.

This objective may include but is not limited to: preparing system for capture; creating a WIM file; automated capture; manual capture

Prepare a system image for deployment.

This objective may include but is not limited to: inserting an application into a system image; inserting a driver into a system image; inserting an update into a system image; configuring tasks to run after deployment

Deploy a system image.

This objective may include but is not limited to: automated deployment methods; manually deploying a customized image

Configure a VHD.

This objective may include but is not limited to: creating, deploying, booting, mounting, and updating VHDs; offline updates; offline servicing

Configuring Hardware and Applications (14 percent)

Configure devices.

This objective may include but is not limited to: updating, disabling, and uninstalling drivers; signed drivers; conflicts between drivers; configuring driver settings; resolving problem device driver

Configure application compatibility.

This objective may include but is not limited to: setting compatibility mode; implementing shims; compatibility issues with Internet Explorer

Configure application restrictions.

This objective may include but is not limited to: setting software restriction policies; setting application control policies; setting through group policy or local security policy

Configure Internet Explorer.

This objective may include but is not limited to: configuring compatibility view; configuring security settings; configuring providers; managing add-ons; controlling InPrivate mode; certificates for secure Web sites

Configuring Network Connectivity (14 percent)

Configure IPv4 network settings.

This objective may include but is not limited to: connecting to a network; configuring name resolution; setting up a connection for a network; network locations; resolving connectivity issues; APIPA

Configure IPv6 network settings.

This objective may include but is not limited to: configuring name resolution; connecting to a network; setting up a connection for a network; network locations; resolving connectivity issues; link local multicast name resolution

Configure networking settings.

This objective may include but is not limited to: adding a physically connected (wired) or wireless device; connecting to a wireless network; configuring security settings on the client; set preferred wireless networks; configuring network adapters; configuring location-aware printing

Configure Windows Firewall.

This objective may include but is not limited to: configuring rules for multiple profiles; allowing or denying an application; network-profile-specific rules; configuring notifications; configuring authenticated exceptions

Configure remote management.

This objective may include but is not limited to: remote management methods; configuring remote management tools; executing PowerShell commands

Configuring Access to Resources (13 percent)

Configure shared resources.

This objective may include but is not limited to: folder virtualization; shared folder permissions; printers and queues; configuring HomeGroup settings

Configure file and folder access.

This objective may include but is not limited to: encrypting files and folders by using EFS; configuring NTFS permissions; resolving effective permissions issues; copying files vs. moving files

Configure user account control (UAC).

This objective may include but is not limited to: configuring local security policy; configuring admin vs. standard UAC prompt behaviors; configuring Secure Desktop

Configure authentication and authorization.

This objective may include but is not limited to: resolving authentication issues; configuring rights; managing credentials; managing certificates; smart cards with PIV; elevating user privileges; multifactor authentication

Configure BranchCache.

This objective may include but is not limited to: distributed cache mode vs. hosted mode; network infrastructure requirements; configuring settings; certificate management

Configuring Mobile Computing (10 percent)

Configure BitLocker and BitLocker To Go.

This objective may include but is not limited to: configuring BitLocker and BitLocker To Go policies; managing Trusted Platform Module (TPM) PINs; configuring startup key storage; data recovery agent support

Configure DirectAccess.

This objective may include but is not limited to: configuring client side; configuring authentication; network infrastructure requirements

Configure mobility options.

This objective may include but is not limited to: configuring offline file policies; transparent caching; creating and migrating power policy

Configure remote connections.

This objective may include but is not limited to: establishing VPN connections and authentication; enabling a VPN reconnect; advanced security auditing; NAP quarantine remediation; dial-up connections; remote desktop; published apps

Monitoring and Maintaining Systems that Run Windows 7 (11 percent)

Configure updates to Windows 7.

This objective may include but is not limited to: configuring update settings; determining source of updates; configuring Windows Update policies; reviewing update history; checking for new updates; rolling back updates

Manage disks.

This objective may include but is not limited to: managing disk volumes; managing file system fragmentation; RAID; removable device policies

Monitor systems.

This objective may include but is not limited to: configuring event logging; filtering event logs; event subscriptions; data collector sets; generating a system diagnostics report

Configure performance settings.

This objective may include but is not limited to: configuring page files; configuring hard drive cache; updated drivers; configuring networking performance; configuring power plans; configuring processor scheduling; configuring desktop environment; configuring services and programs to resolve performance issues; mobile computing performance issues; configuring power

Configuring Backup and Recovery Options (11 percent)

Configure backup.

This objective may include but is not limited to: creating a system recovery disk; backing up files, folders, or full system; scheduling backups

Configure system recovery options.

This objective may include but is not limited to: configuring system restore points; restoring system settings; last known good configuration; complete restore; driver rollback

Configure file recovery options.

This objective may include but is not limited to: configuring file restore points; restoring previous versions of files and folders; restoring damaged or deleted files by using shadow copies; restore user profiles

Where to Go from Here

If you are taking the 70-680 exam, you are most likely planning to take additional exams. If you are a help desk person, you would want to be certified as a MCITP: Enterprise Desktop Administrator 7 and MCITP: Enterprise Desktop Support Technician 7. Most IT personnel would rather go for the higher certification such as the MCITP: Enterprise Administrator, which is what replaced the MCSE for Windows Server 2003.

Have you taken the TS: Windows 7, Configuring (70-680) exam? Share your experiences by posting to the MCTS thread in our forums.