MCSA/MCSE Self-Paced Training Kit (Exam 70-270): Installing ...

23 Implementing, Managing,
Monitoring, and
Troubleshooting Hardware
Devices and Drivers
Installing new hardware in a computer requires connecting it to the computer and then
installing software, called a device driver, so that Microsoft Windows XP can communicate
with the hardware. Usually, Windows XP finds the device and automatically
installs the device driver. However, you must be prepared to troubleshoot problems
with this process, particularly when working with hardware that is more than a few
years old. You should be able to manually add, update, and roll back device drivers
when problems arise.
The device driver is not always the only software you need. Computer motherboards
and many other hardware devices have firmware that contain code independent of
the operating system needed for startup and initialization of the device. If you have
problems with a device that an updated device driver does not resolve, verify that the
computer’s firmware and the device’s firmware are up-to-date and configured properly.
Although you can use Device Manager to update device drivers, you will need a
software tool provided by the hardware manufacturer to update a device’s firmware.
Tested Skills and Suggested Practices
The skills that you need to successfully master the Installing Windows XP Professional
objective domain on the Installing, Configuring, and Administering Microsoft Windows
XP Professional exam include the following:
Important For the following task, you should complete at least Practices 1 through 3. If
you want hands-on experience with every aspect of the exam and you have the extra lab
resources needed to do Practice 4, complete Practice 4 as well.
■ Implement, manage, and troubleshoot disk devices.
❑ Practice 1: Configure Chkdsk to scan your C: drive and fix any problems that
it finds. You will probably need to restart your computer.
❑ Practice 2: Use the Disk Defragmenter to defragment your C: drive.
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