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Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #128300 in Books
• Published on: 2004-10-05
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 480 pages

From the Back Cover
Here′s the book you need to prepare for Microsoft′s new MCDST exams—70–271: Supporting Users and Troubleshooting a Microsoft XP Operating System; and 70–272: Supporting Users and Troubleshooting Desktop Applications on a Microsoft Windows XP Operating System. This two–in–one Study Guide was developed to meet the exacting requirements of today’s certification candidates. In addition to the consistent and accessible instructional approach that earned Sybex the “Best Study Guide” designation in the 2003 CertCities Readers Choice Awards, this book provides:

• In–depth coverage of all exam topics
• Practical information on supporting users and troubleshooting applications
• Hundreds of challenging review questions
• Leading–edge exam preparation software, including a test engine and 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

About the Author
Bill Ferguson, MCT, has been in the computer industry for over 15 years. Bill worked as a Certified Technical Trainer in with ExecuTrain for many years and now runs his own training and consulting company from Birmingham, Alabama. In addition, Bill writes and produces technical training videos for Virtual Training Company, Inc. and Specialized Solutions, Inc.

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Customer Reviews

Good book. Did the job well.
I decided last minute to do the MCDST just to fill some time between jobs. I bought this book and the exam crams for both exams. The exam crams were good for pushing info through the eyes into storage for recall during the exam. The Sybex book however provided greater understanding of the subjects. I see a previous reviewer thought 80% of the exam was not in the book! Well I can say that this is not my experience. All that is in the Cram books is in here, and it expalins it better. I started learning and took the exams (passed) all within a month and used these books to do it. I did have an understanding of XP but only how to tweak the look of it.
I would recomend this book to anyone thinking of the MCDST

A good book
I work in technical support as a 2nd line analyst for IBM, doing the very role this book covers on a day to day basis.

We are reasonably new to Xp on our desk, but the book itself seems to cover all the normal situations covered by a helpdesk analyst, and desktop support people and has helped me already to have a great understanding of XP within 2 days of beginning to read the book.

everything from Windows installations through to configuring toolbars in office is covered ( and its generally those ms office problems which cause the most head aches for the analyst), the book sensibly refers the user to make the most of the microsoft knowledge base where appropriate, which is what most of us do anyway when needed, but at the same time covers some of the main scenarios

My only worry is, that ms press are doing two huge books to cover each exam at the cost of £30 each, is this book missing something, or have i found a great bargain ...?

But at £20 the information in the book, is worth it in my opinion and it will certainly enhance your knowledge of Windows XP and the standard applications used on it

Very good book
This is a good book to start people on the MCDST track, for all those that have commented above they need to read the exam information for any Microsoft exams. The idea is that you have worked with the systems for a few years supporting them, you have then used the book to brush up and revise some exam style techniques then sit the exam. For those who are just interested in sitting the exam you would be better off using a copy of XP and practice using as much of the operating system as you can then revising from the book. You will learn alot more from experience than you will from ANY book.

Sybex books and Microsoft Press books are amongst the best for any Microsoft exam, though the Microsoft Exams do tend to go into alot of detail!!