MCDST: Microsoft Certified Desktop Support Technician Study Guide: Exams 70 - 271 and 70 - 272 [DELUXE EDITION] (Hardcover)

~ Bill Ferguson (Author), Brad Causey (Author) "Understanding how an operating system is installed is the first step toward understanding how to troubleshoot a failed installation..." (more)
Key Phrases: desktop support technician, desktop production software, help desk support technician, Internet Explorer, Microsoft Windows, Microsoft Knowledge Base (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

If you're seeking MCDST certification, here's the book you need to prepare for Exam 70-271, Supporting Users and Troubleshooting a Microsoft XP Operating System, and Exam 70-272, Supporting Users and Troubleshooting Desktop Applications on a Microsoft Windows XP Operating System. This revised and updated Deluxe Edition features over 200 pages of new content-including the very latest updates to the exams as well as case studies-and provides complete instruction to meet the exacting requirements of each exam. Prepare for your certification and career with this two-in-one, value-packed guide.

Inside you'll find:

• Practical information on how to analyze problems and provide support to end users
• Hundreds of challenging review questions
• Bonus CD loaded with exam prep software, four bonus exams, Sybex test engine, and 300 electronic flashcards

Authoritative coverage of all exam objectives, including:

Exam 70-271

• Installing a Windows Desktop Operating System
• Managing and Troubleshooting Access to Resources
• Configuring and Troubleshooting Hardware Devices and Drivers
• Configuring and Troubleshooting the Desktop and User Environments
• Troubleshooting Network Protocols and Services

Exam 70-272

• Configuring and Troubleshooting Applications
• Resolving Issues Related to Usability
• Resolving Issues Related to Application Customization
• Configuring and Troubleshooting Connectivity for Applications
• Configuring Application Security

SYBEX TEST ENGINE: Test your knowledge with advanced testing software. Includes all chapter review questions plus bonus exams.

ELECTRONIC FLASHCARDS: Reinforce your understanding with flashcards that can run on your PC, Pocket PC, or Palm device.

Also on the CD you'll find the entire book in searchable and printable PDF. Study anywhere, any time, and approach the exam with confidence.

Visit www.sybex.com for all of your Microsoft certification needs

Note: CD-ROM/DVD and other supplementary materials are not included as part of eBook file.

From the Back Cover

If you're seeking MCDST certification, here's the book you need to prepare for Exam 70-271, Supporting Users and Troubleshooting a Microsoft® XP® Operating System, and Exam 70-272, Supporting Users and Troubleshooting Desktop Applications on a Microsoft® Windows® XP Operating System. This revised and updated Deluxe Edition features over 200 pages of new content—including the very latest updates to the exams as well as case studies—and provides complete instruction to meet the exacting requirements of each exam. Prepare for your certification and career with this two-in-one, value-packed guide.

Inside you'll find:

• Practical information on how to analyze problems and provide support to end users
• Hundreds of challenging review questions
• Bonus CD loaded with exam prep software, four bonus exams, Sybex test engine, and 300 electronic flashcards

Authoritative coverage of all exam objectives, including

Exam 70-271

• Installing a Windows Desktop Operating System
• Managing and Troubleshooting Access to Resources
• Configuring and Troubleshooting Hardware Devices and Drivers
• Configuring and Troubleshooting the Desktop and User Environments
• Troubleshooting Network Protocols and Services

Exam 70-272

• Configuring and Troubleshooting Applications
• Resolving Issues Related to Usability
• Resolving Issues Related to Application Customization
• Configuring and Troubleshooting Connectivity for Applications
• Configuring Application Security

SYBEX TEST ENGINE: Test your knowledge with advanced testing software. Includes all chapter review questions plus bonus exams.

ELECTRONIC FLASHCARDS: Reinforce your understanding with flashcards that can run on your PC, Pocket PC, or Palm device.

Also on the CD you'll find the entire book in searchable and printable PDF. Study anywhere, any time, and approach the exam with confidence.

Visit www.sybex.com for all of your Microsoft certification needs.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 624 pages
• Publisher: Sybex; 2nd edition (April 10, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0471789291
• ISBN-13: 978-0471789291
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 7.6 x 1.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #38,680 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great review book, but know it thorougly, January 26, 2007

By	T. Ferguson - See all my reviews

I just passed the 271 with an 899 and the 272 with a 916. This book was my only study resource, but I have been working with the XP OS on-the-job for four years.

The difficulty of the test comes from Microsoft's method of testing. Even though I did very well, I only had "warm fuzzies" with half of the questions as I was taking the test, because they really run your brain through the wringer. So, you must understand why all of the other choices are clearly wrong and only one is right, and this entails knowing the material thoroughly.

The only problems I had with the book are is the horrible amount of typos and strange program behavior with the practice tests, and the lack of anything other than multiple-choice questions.

Other than that, get hands-on training, read this book over and over, and be careful with the wording of questions on the actual exams.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good OS knowledge builder but not the total readiness solution for both exams, October 31, 2007

By	A. Reed (Bethel, NC) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Really I wish I could give this 2 and 1/2 stars since it really only covers one of the exams well. I found that this book covers the content in 70-272 wonderfully and most of what is included in this text was really relevant and helpful in that exam.

The same can not be said for the content covered for 70-271. I found that a lot of what was in the exam was not mentioned in the book, specifically security template inf files (which there were a few questions). The book focuses a lot on the knowledge of the boot process and I can say I don't remember seeing one question about troubleshooting that in the exam. I understand that all questions may not be the same for every session but I remember thinking when the exam was completed that I studied a lot of stuff that I saw no questions on. On the other hand a lot of stuff I knew through my experience with the OS and not from what I read in the book. The opposite was true for 70-271 which as I said before, the covered content was pretty relevant.

Overall I am not sure I would recommend this book to someone who is looking for an "all-encompassing" testing tool. It provides good working knowledge of WinXP but I think a little more material relevant to exam 70-271 should be covered. I think on future exams I will stick to MS published material instead.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Pretty OK, January 4, 2008

By	flyingcow (California) - See all my reviews

I used only this book and plenty of hands on experience to pass the test (271:880, 272:918).
The 271 coverage is iffy. As other reviews have said the book covers a lot about the boot sequence which wasn't on the test for me at all. It is missing coverage of security templates .inf s completely but that is probably a page's worth of material, you can google it.
The 272 coverage is complete and very much what the test questions covered.

I gave it 4 stars because it is concise, a feature that many other MCDST books lack.

The practice exams on the CD are slightly easier or about the same than the actual test albeit is worded very differently.

If you already have some experience in the field, and don't want to spend too much time then this book is great. Otherwise look for something more detailed.