How to Cheat at Microsoft Vista Administration

How to Cheat at Microsoft Vista Administration

by Jan Kanclirz
Released April 2011
Publisher(s): Syngress
ISBN: 9780080553559

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Book description

The Perfect Reference for the Multitasked SysAdmin
The Microsoft Windows Vista operating system offers several changes and improvements over its predecessors. It not only brings a new and redesigned interface, but also improves on many administrative utilities and management consoles. It also enhances the system’s reliability, performance, and problem-solving tools. As administrators, Vista will sometimes look like its predecessor, Windows XP, and at other times, look like an all-new operating system. How to Cheat will help you get Vista up and running as quickly and safely as possible and provide you with a solid idea of all the important changes and improvements the new Microsoft Vista OS has to offer.

In the book you will:
* Automate Windows Vista Installation
See how Windows installations can be automated for large-scale deployments using the Windows Automated Installation Kit (WAIK).
* Install and Maintain Devices
Windows Vista contains device drivers for hundreds of PnP devices, and the Device Manager snap-in is the main utility on a local computer for managing them.
* Customize Appearances, Taskbars, and Toolbars
See how to use a personalization page, use the taskbar, and customize desktop themes.
* Manage File System Formats, Partitions, and Volumes
Learn how Windows Vista supports basic and dynamic volumes and two partition styles: MBR and GPT.
* Increase File System Performance
Learn how using tools such as disk defragging, cluster size adjustment, removing short filename support, and compression can help with performance.
* Administer via Remote
Remote Desktop and Windows Firewall can help administrators perform administrative tasks on remote computers.
* Managing Services
The Services utility allows you to view the status of services, as well as to disable nonessential services.
* Configure TCP/IP in Vista
See how to configure TCP/IP (both IPv4 and IPv6) via the user interface or via the netsh command.
* See What’s New with Wireless in Vista
Understand wireless security and learn how to install a wireless network.
* Optimize Windows Startup, the Hard Disk, and More
Optimize memory, applications, and the network connection, and see how to monitor performance.

Contents Include
Introducing and Installing Microsoft Vista
Installing and Maintaining Hardware Devices and Drivers
Customizing Desktop Properties
Managing File Systems and Disks
General Administration Tasks
Managing Local Networking Essentials
Managing the Wireless World and Its Security
Managing Security Essentials
Securing User Access
Tuning for Better Performance
Troubleshooting
  • Provides the multi-tasked SysAdmin with the essential information needed to perform the daily tasks
  • Covers the major new release of Windows, which will create significant challenges for IT managers
  • Emphasizes best-practice security measures

Table of contents

  1. Cover image
  2. Title page
  3. Table of Contents
  4. Copyright page
  5. Technical Editor
  6. Contributors
  7. Chapter 1: Introducing and Installing Microsoft Vista
    1. Introduction
    2. Introduction to Windows Vista
    3. Installing Windows Vista
    4. Migrating to Windows Vista
    5. Migrating Previous Files and Settings
    6. Automating Windows Vista Installations
    7. Running Windows Vista
    8. Summary
    9. Solutions Fast Track
    10. Frequently Asked Questions
  8. Chapter 2: Installing and Maintaining Hardware Devices and Drivers
    1. Introduction
    2. Viewing Currently Installed Devices
    3. Installing and Maintaining Devices
    4. Device Drivers
    5. Using Automated Help with Hardware
    6. Customizing Hardware Devices
    7. Summary
    8. Solutions Fast Track
    9. Frequently Asked Questions
  9. Chapter 3: Customizing Desktop Properties
    1. Introduction
    2. Customizing the Display Appearance and Screensaver
    3. Customizing the Taskbar and Toolbar
    4. Customizing with Desktop Themes
    5. Summary
    6. Solutions Fast Track
    7. Frequently Asked Questions
  10. Chapter 4: Managing File Systems and Disks
    1. Introduction
    2. Managing Basic and Dynamic Disks
    3. Managing File System Formats, Partitions, and Volumes
    4. Increasing File System Performance
    5. Sharing File Systems
    6. Implementing Local and Network File System Security
    7. Summary
    8. Solutions Fast Track
    9. Frequently Asked Questions
  11. Chapter 5: General Administrative Tasks
    1. Introduction
    2. Backup and Recovery
    3. Printer Management
    4. Administer via Remote
    5. Scheduling Tasks and Managing Time and Date
    6. Working with Power Plans
    7. Managing Services
    8. Summary
    9. Solutions Fast Track
    10. Frequently Asked Questions
  12. Chapter 6: Managing Local Networking Essentials
    1. Introduction
    2. A New Generation of TCP/IP
    3. Configuring TCP/IP in Vista
    4. The Network and Sharing Center
    5. The Network Map
    6. Network Access Protection
    7. Summary
    8. Solutions Fast Track
    9. Frequently Asked Questions
  13. Chapter 7: Managing the Wireless World and Its Security
    1. Introduction
    2. What’s New with Wireless in Vista?
    3. Understanding Wireless Security in Vista
    4. Installing a Wireless Network
    5. Summary
    6. Solutions Fast Track
    7. Frequently Asked Questions
  14. Chapter 8: Managing Security Essentials
    1. Introduction
    2. Managing the Windows Firewall and IPSec
    3. Managing Patching
    4. Managing Malware Protection
    5. Managing Internet Browser Security
    6. Managing User Account Controls
    7. Summary
    8. Solutions Fast Track
    9. Frequently Asked Questions
  15. Chapter 9: Securing User Access
    1. Improving the Logon Architecture
    2. User Account Control
    3. Managing User Accounts
    4. Summary
    5. Solutions Fast Track
    6. Frequently Asked Questions
  16. Chapter 10: Tuning for Better Performance
    1. Introduction
    2. The Windows Experience Index
    3. Optimizing Windows Startup
    4. Optimizing the Hard Disk
    5. Optimizing Memory
    6. Optimizing Applications
    7. Optimizing the Network Connection
    8. Monitoring Performance
    9. Summary
    10. Solutions Fast Track
    11. Frequently Asked Questions
  17. Chapter 11: Troubleshooting
    1. Introduction
    2. Working with Windows Remote Assistance
    3. Working with Logs and Errors
    4. Network Connectivity and TCP/IP
    5. Data Access Issues
    6. Windows Help and Support
    7. Problem Reports and Solutions
    8. Summary
    9. Solutions Fast Track
    10. Frequently Asked Questions
  18. Index

Product information

  • Title: How to Cheat at Microsoft Vista Administration
  • Author(s): Jan Kanclirz
  • Release date: April 2011
  • Publisher(s): Syngress
  • ISBN: 9780080553559