Advanced, Certification Edition
Frequently asked questions and instructor notes
All our courses assume that each student has a personal computer to use during the class. Our hands-on approach to learning requires they do. This topic gives information on how to set up the classroom to teach this course. It includes minimum requirements for the students’ personal computers, setup information for the first time you teach the class, and setup information for each time that you teach after the first time you set up the classroom. Each student’s personal computer should have:
· 1 GHz or faster 32- or 64-bit Pentium 4, Celeron, or AMD processor.
· At least 512 MB RAM.
· At least 15 GB hard-disk space, 40 GB or more recommended.
· A DVD drive for installing Windows Vista. A CD writer or DVD writer with blank disks is required for completing the backup activities in Unit 3.
· XGA monitor at 1024´768 resolution (or higher).
· Video adapter card compatible with DirectX 9 or newer with at least 64 MB video memory.
· A keyboard and a mouse.
· Printer useful but not required.
· A network adapter, either wired or wireless, and appropriate media and network hardware (routers, hubs, etc.) to create a network in the classroom. You will need a wireless adapter to complete the wireless network activity in Unit 6.
· A USB flash memory device that’s compatible with Windows ReadyBoost and that has at least as much free space as there is RAM in the student computers. This should be a device that Windows Vista will recognize and install automatically. You will need one device for each student to complete the activities in Unit 5, Topic A.
· Optional: A notebook computer to complete
the external display device activity in Unit 7.
· Optional: An external display device to complete the external display device activity in Unit 7.
· Optional: A network projector, installed and configured according to manufacturer’s specification for the network projector activity in Unit 7.
Note: The hardware you use will determine the Windows Vista features that are enabled. For example, the default network configuration enabled by Windows Vista will depend on your network type and the devices that Windows detects during installation. Additionally, the default user interface theme is determined by the type of graphics card and the amount of memory in your computer. Therefore, we strongly recommend that you standardize the equipment in your classroom. Furthermore, we recommend that you key through the course before teaching it and be prepared to help students through sections where keystrokes might vary from those included in this manual.
Software requirements
You will also need the following software:
· Windows Vista Business. You can also use any other versions of Vista that include a greater set of features than the Windows Vista Business edition. You’ll need a copy of the installation DVD for each student, or you can have students share the DVD during class as necessary.
· Microsoft’s free PowerPoint Viewer 2007 (available at microsoft.com/powerpoint).
· The latest free version of Ad-Aware,
downloaded from Lavasoft’s Web site at http://www.lavasoftusa.com. You’ll need
a copy of the installation file for each student in class.
Network requirements
The following network components and connectivity are also required for this course:
· Computers should be networked on a LAN; you
will need multiple computers to key through the networking and collaboration
activities in units 6 and 7.
· Internet access is required, particularly for the activities in Unit 2, topics B through E.
First-time setup instructions
The first time you teach this course, you will need to perform the following steps to set up each student computer.
1 Install Windows Vista on an NTFS partition according to the software manufacturer’s instructions, following these additional detail steps:
a When prompted, click the button specifying to go online and get the latest updates (unless you don’t have an active Internet connection).
b When prompted, create a user account named Admin with the password !pass (an exclamation point followed by pass in all lowercase).
c Name the computers Computer01, Computer02, Computer03, and so on. Students will need to know the names of their computers, so you might want to put a card with this information on it next to each computer.
d At the Help protect Windows automatically screen, choose Use Recommended Settings.
e At the Windows networking screen, select Work.
2 Log on as Admin.
3 Create a standard user account named User## where ## is the computer number. For example, on Computer01 you would create a user named User01. Create a password for the user of p@ssword.
4 Enter the Network and
Sharing Center, and ensure that File sharing, and Public folder sharing are
off. Verify that Network discovery and Password protected sharing are on.
5 If you don’t have the CD that came with this manual, download the Student Data files for the course. You can download the data files directly to student machines, to a central location on your own network, or to a disk.
a Connect to www.courseilt.com/instructor_tools.html.
b Click the link for Microsoft Windows Vista to display a page of course listings, and then click the link for Windows Vista: Advanced, Certification Edition.
c Click the link for downloading the data files, and follow the instructions that appear on your screen.
6 Create a folder named Student Data in the Public Documents folder (Common Places, Public, Public Documents).
7 Copy the Ad-Aware installation executable file to the Student Data folder.
8 Install the free PowerPoint Viewer onto each student computer. You can obtain the PowerPoint viewer software from www.microsoft.com/powerpoint.
9 Close all windows and log off.
10 Log on as User##. (The user’s personal folder and other settings are not created until you log on the first time.)
11 Open Microsoft PowerPoint Viewer. Accept the license. In the File Open dialog box, click Cancel. Log off.
Setup instructions for every class
Because so many system settings are modified during class, every time you teach this course you will need to perform the “First time setup instructions” above.
CertBlaster pre- and post-assessment software
CertBlaster pre- and post-assessment software is available for this course. To download and install this free software, complete the following steps:
1 Go to www.courseilt.com/certblaster.
2 Click the link for Windows Vista.
3 Save the .EXE file to a folder on your hard drive. (Note: If you skip this step, the CertBlaster software will not install correctly.)
4 Click Start and choose Run.
5 Click Browse and then navigate to the folder that contains the .EXE file.
6 Select the .EXE file and click Open.
7 Click OK and follow the on-screen instructions. When prompted for the password, enter c_vista.
Topic B: Frequently asked questions
There are no frequently asked questions for this course at this time.
Topic C: Course notes
There are no notes for this course at this time.
Topic D: Additional information
There is no additional information for this course at this time.