70-681 Resources

Resources and Study Guide for the 70-681 TS Windows 7 and Office 2010, Deploying exam

Skills Measured:
TS: Windows 7 and Office 2010, Deploying

Recommended Reading:
Download details: Deploying Windows® 7 Essential Guidance from the Windows 7 Resource Kit and TechNet Magazine
Deployment Fundamentals: Deploying Windows clients using MDT 2010 Lite Touch (Volume 1)
Microsoft Deployment Toolkit Print-Ready Documentation (Optional Download)
Deploying Windows 7 from A to Z

Labs, Webcasts and Training Material:
Deployment Fundamentals Volume 1
Windows 7 Videos - Deployment, Migration, Compatibility | TechNet

Understanding Volume Activation
Implementing UAC in Windows 7
Using DISM For Servicing Windows 7 Images
Office 2010 Common Features

Everything You Wanted to Know About Windows 7 Deployment in 90 Minutes
How Microsoft Does IT: Deploying Microsoft Windows 7
Windows 7 Planning and Deployment Tools
Windows 7 Deployment Enhancements
Application Compatibility in 90 Days
Mitigating Application Issues Using Shims
Understanding Activation and Validation in Windows 7
Plan for and Deploy Volume Activation for Windows 7
Deploying Windows with Volume Activation
Troubleshooting Activation Issues with Windows 7
Managing Activations Using Volume Activation Management Tool
Deploying Microsoft Office 2010 to the Desktop

TechNet Virtual Lab: Windows 7: Introduction to Deploying Windows 7
TechNet Virtual Lab: Windows 7 Application Compatibility Toolkit 5.5 and Windows 7

Skills Measured

Configuring a Deployment Infrastructure (24%)
Configure the Microsoft Deployment Toolkit (MDT) environment.
Microsoft Deployment Toolkit
Understanding the MDT Configuration Database Part 1 Xtreme Deployment
Modifying Task Sequences
Preparing the Deployment Environment
Deploying Windows 7 - Part 20: Securing MDT (Part 1)
Deploying Windows 7 - Part 16: Using the MDT Database

Configure networking for deployment.
About Multicast for Operating System Deployment
How to Deploy an Operating System Image via Multicast
Planning for PXE Initiated Operating System Deployments
Performing Multicast Deployments

Configure activation
Windows Activation | Genuine Windows 7, Vista, XP | TechNet
Volume Activation Planning Guide
Customer Hosted Volume Activation Guide
Microsoft Hosted Volume Activation Guide
Managing Activation Using the Volume Activation Management Tool (VAMT)
Customizing Windows 7 Professional Edition
KMS Activation
MAK Activation
Plan for volume activation of Office 2010

Configure the Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager Operating System Deployment (OSD) environment
Overview of Operating System Deployment
About Native Mode Certificates and Operating System Deployment

Creating and Configuring Images (25%)
Deployment Tools Walkthroughs

Create and capture an image
Building a Standard Image of Windows 7 Step-by-Step Guide
Capture Images
Add and Remove Drivers Offline
Walkthrough: Create a Custom Windows PE Image

Create automated installation scripts
Unattended Windows Setup Reference
Settings to Use for an Unattended Installation
Best Practices for Authoring Answer Files

Create and customize task sequences.
How MDT does Application Installation Xtreme Deployment
Installing Office 2010 Beta with MDT 2010 Xtreme Deployment

Customize default operating system settings
10 ways to tweak Windows 7 using the Local Group Policy Editor | 10 Things | TechRepublic.com
How to reset Internet Explorer settings
Group Policy Settings Reference for Windows Internet Explorer 8

Add applications to an image
Understanding Application Preinstallation

Configure application compatibility
Getting Started with Application Compatibility in a Windows Deployment
Managing Shims in an Enterprise

Deploying Windows 7 (27%)
Choosing a Deployment Strategy

Perform a Lite Touch Installation of Windows 7.
Lite-Touch, High-Volume Deployment
Deploying Windows 7 - Part 6: Lite Touch using MDT 2010

Perform a Zero Touch Installation of Windows 7.
SuperFlow for Operating System Deployment via PXE

Migrate user settings and data
Migrating User Files and Settings from Windows XP to Windows 7
What Does USMT Migrate?
Windows XP to Windows 7 Hard-Link Migration of User Files and Settings
Choose a Migration Store Type
Determine What to Migrate
Understanding USMT with MDT 2010 Xtreme Deployment

Configure post–operating system deployment tasks.
Add a Custom Script to Windows Setup
Planning MUI Deployments for Windows 7
Understanding Multilingual Deployments
Add a Language Pack Online

Customize hardware settings.
Understanding Device Drivers and Deployment
Managing and Deploying Driver Packages
Add a Driver Online in Audit Mode
Deploying Windows 7 - Part 17: Deploying Applications Based on Make and Model
Deploying Windows 7 Part 23: Managing Drivers – Introduction

Configuring and Deploying Office 2010 (24%)
Technical diagrams for Office 2010
Office 2010 Deployment | TechNet On
Office Customization Tool in Office 2010

Configure Office 2010 user-specific settings.
Customize setup for Office 2010
Configure Outlook 2010
Customize specific features in Office 2010
Configure security for Office 2010
Enforce settings by using Group Policy in Office 2010

Configure Office 2010 application-specific settings.
Assessing the compatibility of Office 2010
Add or remove languages after deploying Office 2010

Deploy Office 2010
Deploy Office 2010
Create a network installation point for Office 2010
Plan an upgrade to Office 2010
64-bit editions of Office 2010

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Comments

Claymoore

I will update the post as I gather the links for each objective section. The webcasts should help get you started.

Hyper-Me

LOL only 25% is deploying office?

Looks like my study time will be slim to none.

Piers

Hyper-Me wrote: »

LOL only 25% is deploying office?

Looks like my study time will be slim to none.

haha, yeah, I was looking at the measured skills.. it seems reasonable to assume this is comprised 75% of the 686 exam and the other 25% Office

veritas_libertas

Hyper-Me wrote: »

LOL only 25% is deploying office?

Looks like my study time will be slim to none.

I was thinking the same thing. Basically 75% of the test is the 70-680.

zippie666

Deployment was my weakest topic of Windows 7 on the 70-680 exam so this will be a good test to see how much I already forgot

The Office deployment doesn't look that difficult, or is that just my impression?

Essendon

Sticky please.

Claymoore, man, damn you're good!

wd40

Thanks Claymoore I think the Office part will be a bit difficult, for me at least, I will need to learn about office communicator, and SCCM, both are new to me.

Claymoore

Ok, overall I think the guide is in good shape. I was having trouble finding some good links for MDT, but the WindowsNetworking articles have a good overview. The best MDT documentation is probably the Print-Ready documentation you can download with MDT. I have read through it and it really goes into depth on all the task sequence variables as well as a good walk-through of the process.

Definitely check out the videos and walkthroughs on the downloadable Deployment CD. That CD and the downloadable resource kit chapters from the MS Deployment eBook appear to cover most of the exam objectives.

Hyper-Me

I don't worry with the MDT stuff too much when it comes to the exam. I've never seen a test where they've hit it hard.

pespi_man

That MS Press ebook is pretty good so far, I havent had to touch deployments of Win7 since the Windows 7 beta exam. Waiting for a confirmation email for the cd.. 2 days to wait

earweed

Think this might help?

Office 2010 Application Compatibility Overview

stefx

Claymoore,

Thanks for this great resource source.... I need to pass a client exam for my MCITP:EA. I was about to go for the 7-624 at end of September. But as it will be retired ,I'd like to go for the 70-681 instead.
Do you think the sources that you've provided (plus TechNet and Google) will be fine for the exam? And also when will it be released?

Thanks in advance

Stefx

earweed

Welcome to TE!
There's no telling when the actual exam will be available as the Beta was just recently done. It's likely that there will be a book available for this exam by the time it is released. As for using technet articles and the resources Claymoore has listed that's all you currently have available for this exam.

Claymoore

I wouldn't expect a book or Transcender for this one when it is released. The 624 Vista deployment exam wasn't very popular and never had a book published specifically for it. MS Learning used to post how many people had passed each exam and the 624 had less than 2000 passes. I only took 624 because it was an MS Partner requirement for delivering MS-funded Business Desktop Deployment packaged services. I expect 681 will be a requirement for the Win 7 Jumpstart or Production Pilot offerings when it is released, so I took it now expecting that I would be asked to take it later. I know 681 will count as a client requirement for the MCITP:EA, but I think you would get more recognition for having the 680 Windows 7 exam on your resume than the 681.

Miikey87

I have this one tomorrow, not looking forward to it too much. Structured study would have been better but alas work requires my certification in this. Will give my opinions tomorrow after i sit it. Last minute crams now!

Breakingcustom

Thanks for this thread. I just got asked by my company to take the 70-681, 70-642, 70-662, and the 70-652 so we can keep our Gold Partnership status.

Out of all the exams, I couldn't really find anything as far as books for the 70-681. Hopefully from this thread, I can pass the test.

peakbagger66

We just bought the Trainsignal Windows 7 Deployment course whose material seems to map to this exam.

Just wondering - does existing course material for 70-624 overlap with this exam? Can it be used as well?

zdq

Has anyone tried this exam already ?
Is it really 70-680 material (image related stuff) + MDT and Office deployment ?

Claymoore

zdq wrote: »

Has anyone tried this exam already ?
Is it really 70-680 material (image related stuff) + MDT and Office deployment ?

Several of us took the exam when it was in beta:
http://www.techexams.net/forums/windows-7-exams/55371-70-681-ts-windows-7-office-2010-deploying.html

The 681 exam is all deployment - even more so than the 686 - so the 680 deployment topics would be a primer for either of the exams.

alokin123

70-624 is probably the equivalent exam for a Windows Vista deployment. Although having knowledge for 70-624 would help, a lot of the deployment tools have been updated for Windows 7 so you would be best to stick with Rhonda Layfields videos which she recorded for Trainsignal. Rhonda knows deployment inside out. You can see some of her videos from her presenations at msteched which give a great overview of windows 7 deployment:

Microsoft Tech·Ed Online

peakbagger66 wrote: »

We just bought the Trainsignal Windows 7 Deployment course whose material seems to map to this exam.

Just wondering - does existing course material for 70-624 overlap with this exam? Can it be used as well?

Zentraedi

Claymoore wrote: »

Several of us took the exam when it was in beta:
http://www.techexams.net/forums/windows-7-exams/55371-70-681-ts-windows-7-office-2010-deploying.html

The 681 exam is all deployment - even more so than the 686

Hmm, how much more studying would you reckon is involved after having taken the 680, 685, and 686? I'd really like to go for the 681 after my 686, but might pass if it requires me to delay my other plans by more than a week or so.

Timelord

70-681 video links - All freely available videos!!
MCTS: 70-681 ? Exam Study Video Links | Scriptimus Ex Machina

stefx

Hello, I passed the 70-681 with 900, thanks a lot for this post it helped me a lot.:)

I did a lot of labbing and Technet!

Now next the 70-647 and I am an MCITP-EA

Solomonboy

stefx wrote: »

Hello, I passed the 70-681 with 900, thanks a lot for this post it helped me a lot.:)

I did a lot of labbing and Technet!

Now next the 70-647 and I am an MCITP-EA

Hey I just graduated with an A.S. degree in Network administration, and I have an opportunity to take a free cert if i do it in the next 28 days, at work we are rolling out win7 and office 10 this summer, so it will be helpful to have this cert. and I can play with all the tools I need at work (windows deployment services, toolkit, etc.)
however this will be my first cert! so my question is to people that have taken the test: is this test going to be way over my head? should I take others first? also, I started reading the stuff above, is there anything else I should be sure to read/study?

I would be very grateful for any helpful suggestions/comments!
Thanks!

Saundie

I just wanted to post a quick thank you for providing this information. Using the resources you link to combined with the Train Signal videos, I was able to pass the 70-681 exam today.

zdq

Just in case you missed this: the 70-681 exam is scheduled for retirement on July 31, 2013.
Official information in MS website: Microsoft Learning: Certification Lifecycle (expand Windows Client part).

Kinet1c

zdq wrote: »

Just in case you missed this: the 70-681 exam is scheduled for retirement on July 31, 2013.
Official information in MS website: Microsoft Learning: Certification Lifecycle (expand Windows Client part).

This has been extended till 31st January 2014.

SweenMachine

Kinet1c wrote: »

This has been extended till 31st January 2014.

Looks like July 31st, 2014 now..