CompTIA Review

Core 2 · Chapter 3

Windows Administration

Sysprep, ImageX/DISM, WDS, setup passes, updates, BCD, bootrec, 20 SMB connections.

Setup passes (WinPE is not a pass)Often missed

WinPE is the environment you boot into. It is not a Windows setup pass.

  • auditSystem — system-wide setup
  • generalize — strips hardware-specific drivers and SIDs
  • auditUser — user-specific setup
  • OOBE — Out-of-Box Experience for the first user

Deployment workflow (correct order)Often missed

1. Configure reference PC
2. sysprep /oobe /generalize /shutdown   ← PREPARE first
3. Boot WinPE
4. imagex /capture  or  DISM /Capture-Image   ← CAPTURE
5. Add image to WDS
6. PXE-boot targets
7. WDS deploys image   ← DEPLOY
8. Each PC boots to OOBE

sysprep MUST run before capture. /generalize removes hardware bindings so the image works on other PCs.

  • sysprep = prepare. ImageX/DISM = capture .wim. WDS = deploy over the network.
  • USMT migrates user data. MAP toolkit assesses hardware. Different jobs.

Insider, update branches, 32→64

  • Insider Program: not on Home. Supported on Pro, Education, Enterprise.
  • Do not pick “General Availability” as the branch name on this material. Semi-Annual Channel = regular public. LTSC = long-term enterprise. Insider = preview.
  • Security updates fix vulns (highest priority). Critical = major bugs. Feature updates bump version (21H2 → 22H2). Quality rollups = monthly cumulative. Optional = drivers/extras.
  • 32-bit → 64-bit is clean install only. No in-place, no intermediate stepping stone.

BCD, bootrec, concurrent connectionsOften missed

  • BCD location: legacy MBR → C:\boot. UEFI → ESP.
  • bootrec /rebuildbcd — rebuild BCD. /fixmbr — MBR. /fixboot — boot sector. /scanos — find Windows installs.
  • Windows workstation SMB inbound connection limit is 20 — not 25, 30, or 40.