Exam Profile: MCITP 70-623 - Microsoft Desktop Support, Consumer

Date: Sep 11, 2012

This article profiles the Microsoft Desktop Support, Consumer (MCITP 70-623) exam, for professionals supporting a wide range of desktop operating systems, desktop applications, and mobile devices. Pearson IT 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, and recommendations for additional study resources. Find out what you can expect to see on the exam and how you can better prepare for it.

The 70-623 exam is meant to be taken by those who typically work as Consumer Support Technicians. You should have experience with a wide range of desktop operating systems, desktop applications, and mobile devices. In addition, you should also have experience with network, virus, malicious software (malware), and hardware support issues. There are some questions on the exam that refer to implementing, administering, and troubleshooting desktop operating systems in stand-alone or small home-network environments.

After you pass the Microsoft Desktop Support[md] CONSUMER (70-623) exam, you complete the requirements for the Microsoft Certified IT Professional (MCITP): Consumer Support Technician certification.

Exam Details

Number of Questions: Approximately 55 questions (Since Microsoft does not publish this information, the number of exam questions may change without notice.)
Type of Questions: This test format is multiple choice and multiple choice multiple answer.
Passing Score: 700

This passing score does not mean that you must answer 70 percent of the items correctly in order to pass the exam The actual percentage varies from exam to exam and may be more or less than 70 percent. There is no penalty for guessing. No points are deducted for incorrect answers. If a question specifies that you must choose multiple correct answers, you must choose the exact number of correct answers specified in the question in order to earn a point for that item. Some of the questions on the exam may not count toward the calculation of your score. Microsoft will often throw a question in that is meant to gather data that will help them improve the exam.

Time Limit: 120 minutes
How to Register: Prometric.com

Trouble Spots

As with any exam, it will vary from person to person as to what is deemed to be difficult. Be sure you are familiar with each of the topics in the exam objectives listed below.

If you are having intermittent problems concerning Aero Glass theme on a laptop, make sure that the battery is charged or choose a different power option such as Balanced. Aero Glass theme will not work with Remote Desktop unless both machines support Aero Graphics.

Upgrade Paths to Windows Vista

	Vista Home Basic	Vista Home Premium	Vista Business	Vista Ultimate
Windows XP Professional			Yes	Yes
XP Home	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
XP Media Center		Yes
XP Tablet PC			Yes	Yes

Windows Defender is a security technology used for the detection and mitigation of spyware and other potentially unwanted software. Windows Defender provides advanced system scanning and spyware removal technologies that simplify the removal of spyware and other potentially unwanted software from a computer. It is broken down into three different components: Microsoft Anitmalware Engine, Windows Defender Real-Time Protection, and Windows Defender Definitions. There is no longer support for Windows 2000.

Windows Update can install important updates as they become available. In order to turn on automatic updating, open the Windows Update menu by clicking Start button, Control Panel, System and Maintenance, Windows Update, Change Settings. There are four main settings for this utility that will allow you to configure how Windows installs updates and notifies users.

Install updates automatically
Download updates but let me choose whether to install them
Check for updates but let me choose whether to download and install them
Never check for updates

You can use Parental Controls to help manage how children use the computer. You can set limits on access to the web, the hours that the computer can be logged on, the games that can be played and programs that can be run. When Parental Controls blocks access to a webpage or game, a notification is displayed that indicates that the webpage or program has been blocked. Each user that you want to set up Parental Controls for must have a standard user account because Parental Controls cannot be applied to Administrator accounts. To turn on Parental Controls for a standard user account, open Control Panel, User Accounts and click Setup Parental Controls.‌ Once you have turned on Parental Controls, you can adjust the individual settings that you want to control. You can control the following areas:

Web restrictions
Time limits
Games
Allow or block specific programs

Parental Controls are not available if the computer is connected to a domain.

A firewall is a piece of hardware or software that stands between your computer and the Internet or any other external network. By enabling Windows Vista Firewall, you allow legitimate traffic into your computer and keep unauthorized traffic out. To enable Windows Firewall, go to Control Panel and click Windows Firewall. There are three tabs that allow you to control the setting of the firewall. Within the General tab, you can turn the firewall on or off. The Exceptions tab allows you to choose programs that are allowed to run. The Advanced tab allows you to see a list of the networks to which you connect. To enable Windows Firewall protection, make sure that the box next to each network is checked.

The System File Check helps you determine whether an issue you are experiencing is caused by one or more system files that are used by Windows Vista. It scans system files and replaces incorrect versions of the system files by using the correct versions. To run the System File Checker tool, type sfc /scannow at a command prompt while logged in as administrator. Once the scan is complete, test to see whether the issue that you are experiencing is resolved. If the issue that you are experiencing is not resolved, you can try to use the System Restore tool to resolve the issue. The System Restore tool uses restore points to return system files and settings to an earlier point in time. It may be able to resolve your problem, but does not necessarily tell you what caused the issue. You can find the System Restore tool in Start/Accessories/System Tools. This tool will restart the computer. Once restarted, the system files and settings are returned to the state that they were in at the time that the restore point was created.

Preparation Hints

Review the Exam Objectives below and make sure that you are familiar with them. The Microsoft Desktop Support exam is designed for those who have experience in this environment. Always check the Microsoft site for the specific exam you are going to take. In this instance, the site is http://www.microsoft.com/learning/en/us/exam.aspx?ID=70-623.

There are many websites and blogs that can help you to research topics, but be careful to fully research the information you read. It is not advisable to try to find sites that list questions and answers for several reasons. First, you don’t know if you will be asked a specific question and second, the answers given in a blog may be inaccurate and third, you need to understand the information to adequately prepare.

When taking the exam, read each question carefully. Microsoft is notorious for adding a lot of unneeded information in their questions. Make sure that when you click on a choice, that it is really marked. Be careful clicking anywhere on the screen. I found that by inadvertently clicking near the scroll bar on the right of the screen, I actually changed an answer. You get a single piece of paper and a marker for writing. You can use a small amount of time before you even start the exam to make notes once you enter the test area. Sometimes there is even a questionnaire at the beginning of the test that does not count against your test time. You can even use this time to write down notes, facts, tables or other information by taking your time between answers.

Recommended Study Resources

MCITP Self-Paced Training Kit (Exam 70-623): Supporting and Troubleshooting Applications on a Windows Vista Client for Consumer Support Technicians by Anil Desai

MCITP 70-623 Exam Cram: Supporting and Troubleshooting Applications on a Windows Vista Client for Consumer Support Technicians by David R. Miller

Microsoft also has recommended classroom training or E-Learning:

LP623A: Learning Plan for MCITP Consumer Support Technician Exam 70-623 (1 Forms)
5379AE: Supporting Windows Vista for the Consumer Support Technician (10 Hours)
5366AE: Maintaining and Troubleshooting Computers Running Windows Vista (12 Hours)
5354BE: Configuring Windows Vista Networking and Security (10 Hours)
5104AE: Upgrade Skills to Support Windows Vista Consumers (12 Hours)
5347BE: Installing and Configuring Windows Vista (12 Hours)
5103BE: Upgrade Skills to Configure Windows Vista (16 Hours)
5360BE: Configuring Windows Vista Applications and Devices (10 Hours)

Exam Objectives

The exam objectives are broken up into six different categories. The objectives for Exam 70-623 as stated by Microsoft include:

Install and Upgrade Windows Vista

Evaluate potential upgrade environments.
Prepare to install Windows Vista.
Troubleshoot and resolve installation issues.
Troubleshoot and resolve post-installation issues.

Post-Installation: Customize and Configure Settings

Configure Sidebar.
Configure Windows Aero.
Customize and configure user accounts.
Evaluate user requirements and recommend, set up, and configure appropriate applications.
Evaluate user's system and recommend appropriate settings to optimize performance.

Configure Windows Vista Security

Configure Windows Security Center.
Configure firewalls.
Configure Windows updates.
Configure Windows Defender.
Configure parental controls.
Configure Internet Explorer 7.
Configure user account control.
Protect data.

Configure, Troubleshoot, and Repair Networking

Configure and troubleshoot network protocols.
Configure and troubleshoot network services on the client.
Configure and troubleshoot Windows Vista by using the Network and Sharing Center.
Configure and troubleshoot wireless networking.
Troubleshoot file and print sharing.
Configure Media Center.

Install, Configure, and Troubleshoot Devices

Connect peripherals to Windows Vista.
Install, configure, and troubleshoot mobile devices.
Install, configure, and troubleshoot digital cameras and camcorders.
Install, configure, and troubleshoot media devices.
Install, configure, and troubleshoot printers, fax machines, and copy devices.

Troubleshoot and Repair Windows Vista

Diagnose a specified issue.
Repair a corrupted operating system.
Remove malicious software from a client system.

Where to Go from Here

After you pass the Microsoft Desktop Support—CONSUMER (70-623) exam, you may want to take Exam 70-620: TS: Configuring Microsoft Windows Vista Client.