Advanced PC Configuration & Troubleshooting

You Will Learn How To

Recover lost files/directories and revive nonbootable hard disks
Create emergency rescue disks to recover crashed Windows systems
Detect and remove virus and spyware programs
Remove unwanted start-up programs from the Registry
Examine system status with Windows Computer Management tools
Install and configure a basic TCP/IP network and firewall

Course Benefits

Organizations can lose valuable time and resources when PC systems fail or are poorly maintained. In this advanced course, you gain the tools and techniques you need to maximize the performance of PC systems, troubleshoot the problems, and recover lost data and files. You are also introduced to Windows Registry editing and hardware configuration and troubleshooting techniques.

Who Should Attend

All personnel involved in the daily operation, maintenance, and support of PC hardware and software. Basic PC hardware configuration experience is helpful.

Hands-On Training

Extensive hands-on exercises provide the skills to recover lost data, manage memory and improve PC performance. Exercises include:

Recovering erased files and directories
Reviving nonbootable disks
Repartitioning and "cloning" a disk partition
Detecting and preventing virus infections
Troubleshooting with the Windows Recovery Console
Building a bootable WinPE emergency repair disk
Editing the Windows Registry
Installing and configuring a TCP/IP network
Implementing firewall programs

Course 150 Content

Basic Data Recovery Concepts

An organized troubleshooting strategy

Interpreting disk error messages
Creating emergency rescue disks
Disk repair tools

How disk drives work

Tracks, cylinders, sectors, clusters
Master boot record
Partition table
File systems (FAT16/32, ExFAT, NTFS5)

Recovering Files and Directories

Useful data-recovery techniques

Recovering erased files
Editing disk sectors
Rescuing data from USB flash drives
Transferring recovered files to back up media

Surviving disk disasters

Reviving nonbootable disks
Repairing the master boot record
Fixing a damaged partition table

Solving common disk problems

Recovering from accidental reformatting
"Invalid drive specification"
When Windows won't start

Fighting Malware: Viruses, Spyware and Rootkits

The malware epidemic

Preventing infection
Diagnosing virus
Treating spyware infections
Detecting and removing rootkits

Macro viruses

Protecting key system files
Checking for macro viruses missed by scanning programs
Protecting against script-based viruses

"Turbocharging" the Hard Drive

Optimizing disk organization

Repartitioning disks on the fly
Reducing wasted cluster space
Eliminating disk fragmentation
Managing MBR (Master Boot Record) and GPT (GUID Partition Table) Disks

Implementing Windows recovery strategies

Creating complete disk images with GHOST
Repairing damaged systems
Creating a WinPE ISO image

The Windows Registry and Other OS Configuration Files

Overview of OS boot files/configuration tools

NTLDR
NTDETECT.COM
NTOSKRNL.EXE
BOOT.INI
BCD (Boot Configuration Database)
BCDEdit
DISM (Deployment Image Servicing and Management)

Troubleshooting Registry problems

Repairing corrupted Registry files
Removing unwanted Registry entries
Solving .INI/Registry conflicts

Configuring and Troubleshooting Windows

Windows emergency repair tools

Booting a "blue-screened" system with the Windows Recovery Console
Performing emergency repairs with Microsoft Diagnostic and Recovery Tools (DaRT)
Creating bootable Windows PE repair disks

Troubleshooting startup problems

Windows Plug-and-Play architecture
Windows boot files
Windows 7 startup sequence
Windows 8 startup features
Creating Windows backups

Windows administrative tools

Computer Management Console
System tools, storage, services and applications
Viewing event logs

Securing your computer

Physical security and hardware authentication devices
Authentication technologies: CHAP, digital certificates, Kerberos
Controlling access with User Accounts and Group Policies
Installing and configuring Windows firewall programs for maximum protection

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Advanced PC Configuration, Troubleshooting and Data Recovery: Hands-On