WINDOWS XP: AN INTENSIVE WOKSHOP (three-days, hands-on)
Instructor: Constantine Kaniklidis

This intensive seminar combines lecture and guided hands-on exercises to give registrants the essential survival skills for dealing with Microsoft's Windows XP. The seminar presents the core of the XP work environment: GUI/desktop, boot/startup, hardware and drives, Internet technology, and working with applications under XP, and also includes power topics for the control of the XP environment: performance, system maintenance, and recovery. Fully updated to the latest XP platform technology, the course seeks to make the new user fully comfortable, proficient, and efficient in the XP environment. Throughout registrants are provided with invaluable tips and tricks, documented and undocumented, for the mastery of Microsoft's Windows XP. Finally, the seminar updates users to the new Office XP environment.

Introducing Windows XP
        Where XP Fits in:  95/98, ME, XP, NT, Windows 2000, Windows 2003
        What's New in Windows XP
        Windows XP Home Edition vs. Windows XP Professional
        Dealing with the Windows Update Feature
        Everything You Need to Know About WPA (Windows Product Activation)
        Making and Using the Startup Disk
        Windows XP on a Corporate Network:  Considerations and Limitations

The XP Environment:  Getting Started
        The New XP Desktop vs. the Classic View
        Using the Windows XP Interface (XP Desktop):  Customizing and Optimizing
        The Windows XP Explorer
        Working with Taskbar, the Start Menu, and Other Desktop Tools
        The GUI Environment: Working Smart

Windows XP: The Boot and Startup Environment
        Understanding File Systems: FAT, FAT32, NTFS
        Understanding Startup Options
        XP Coexistence:  The Multiple OS Environment and Multibooting
        Multibooting vs. Virtual Machine Technology
        What to do After an Ungraceful Shutdown
        Troubleshooting Boot/Startup Problems

Dealing with Devices and Hardware
        Using the Device Manager
        Working with New Removable Technology (USB, Firewire, . . .)
        Using Hardware Profiles
        Power Management
        Using the New Device Driver Rollback
        Troubleshooting Hardware Problems

Dealing with Disks and Drives
        Drives, Disks, and Partitions
        XP Disk Management Tools and Technologies
        Drive Integrity and Maintenance:  Checking and Repairing Errors
        Defragmentation:  Optimizing Access
        Using Compression
        Managing Space: Drive Cleanup
        Using the Indexing Service
        Understanding Virtual memory
        The XP Swap File:  Allocating and Optimizing
        Using Encryption
        Troubleshooting Drive Problems
        Troubleshooting Memory Problems

Internet Technology under XP
        What's New in Internet Explorer and Outlook Express
        MSN Explorer vs. Internet Explorer
        Microsoft Messenger
        Using ICF:  Internet Connection Firewall
        ICS:  Internet Connection Sharing
        Customizing Web Security
        Customizing Web Privacy
        Troubleshooting TCP/IP Connections

Applications under XP
         Knowing How Best to Run a Program
         Understanding Compatibility Modes
         Using the Application Compatibility Tool
         Smart Installing/Uninstalling of Applications
         Installing and Uninstalling System Components
         Tasks: Launching, Managing, Terminating
         Setting Task and Application Priorities
         How Best to Kill a Frozen Task
         The Task Manager and Tracking Performance
         The Task Manager and Tracking Memory
         
*XP Multimedia (Optional Unit)
         What's New
         The New WMP 8 (Windows Media Player)
         Handling CDs and DVDs
         WMP CD Burning
         New Photo, Graphics, and Video Technologies
         Microsoft Movie Maker

XP Print and Fax Technology
         Printer Management
         Print Sharing
         Using Fax Facilities
         Troubleshooting Printer/Fax Problems

XP Performance
         Monitoring Performance
         Optimizing Drives and Disks
         Optimizing Video Performance
         Optimizing Applications
         Optimizing Virtual Memory
         Other Tweaks and Optimization Technologies
         
XP Networking
         Network Options
         File and Folder Sharing
         Issues in File Sharing
         XP in a Workgroup vs. Domain Environment
         *What is Active Directory? (Optional Unit)
         XP Mobile and Remote Technology
         Remote Desktop and Remote Assistance
         *XP Wireless Networking Technology (Optional Unit) 
         *DFS: The Distributed File System (Optional Unit)
         Troubleshooting Network Problems

System Maintenance
         Using the XP Administrative Tools
         Understanding MMC (Microsoft Management Console)
         Managing System Services
         Using System File Protection
         Backup and Restore Technologies
         What is the XP Registry?
         How to Backup and Restore the XP Registry

*System and Disaster Recovery (Optional Unit)
         Using the Event Viewer
         Using Boot Options
         Recovering from a System Crash
         Cleaning up after a System Crash
         Restoring Protected System Files
         Using LKGC (Last Known Good Configuration)
         Booting into Safe Mode
         ASR (Automatic System Recovery) and System Rollback
         Using a Rescue Disk
         Understanding and Using the Recovery Console
         Planning for a Failsafe System

Office XP: A Brief Update
         What's New in Office XP?
         Exploiting the New Features
         Special Tips and Warnings
         Troubleshooting Office XP