Windows XP Pro Case Studies & Practical Application 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A user on a Windows XP Pro machine cannot connect to the internet but can ping the default gateway. DNS resolution fails. What is the BEST next step?
- Verify the DNS server address in TCP/IP settings and try 'nslookup' to test name resolution (Correct answer)
- Reinstall the network adapter driver
- Run ipconfig /release
- Disable Windows Firewall
Correct answer: Verify the DNS server address in TCP/IP settings and try 'nslookup' to test name resolution
When gateway connectivity exists but DNS fails, the DNS server address is likely misconfigured; nslookup confirms whether the DNS server is reachable and responding.
Question 2: A technician needs to transfer user settings and files from an old Windows XP machine to a new one. Which Microsoft tool is designed specifically for this?
- User State Migration Tool (USMT) or Files and Settings Transfer Wizard (Correct answer)
- Disk Management
- Remote Desktop Connection
- Robocopy only
Correct answer: User State Migration Tool (USMT) or Files and Settings Transfer Wizard
USMT and the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard are Microsoft's purpose-built tools for migrating user data and settings between Windows XP machines.
Question 3: A Windows XP Pro machine is unable to read files on an NTFS partition that was originally from another computer. The user is a local administrator. What should be done?
- Take ownership of the files through the Advanced Security settings in file properties (Correct answer)
- Format the partition and restore from backup
- Disable simple file sharing
- Convert the partition to FAT32
Correct answer: Take ownership of the files through the Advanced Security settings in file properties
Administrators can take ownership of files whose original SID no longer exists on the current machine, then assign appropriate permissions to regain access.
Question 4: A Windows XP Pro PC in an office randomly loses its domain connection and shows 'No logon servers available.' Restarting fixes it temporarily. What is the BEST diagnostic step?
- Check for a duplicate computer name on the network and review the NETLOGON service status (Correct answer)
- Replace the network cable each time it occurs
- Rejoin the domain on every occurrence
- Disable NetBIOS over TCP/IP
Correct answer: Check for a duplicate computer name on the network and review the NETLOGON service status
Duplicate computer names cause Netlogon to fail intermittently as domain controllers reject authentication from conflicting machines on the network.
Question 5: A Windows XP Pro workstation's hard drive is nearly full, causing performance issues. Disk Cleanup has been run. What should be checked next to free significant space?
- Disable or reduce System Restore's disk space allocation under System Properties (Correct answer)
- Delete the Windows folder
- Remove all fonts
- Reduce the desktop resolution
Correct answer: Disable or reduce System Restore's disk space allocation under System Properties
System Restore can consume several gigabytes for stored restore points; reducing its allocation immediately reclaims significant disk space.
Question 6: After enabling Internet Connection Sharing (ICS) on a Windows XP Pro machine, other network clients receive an IP in the 192.168.0.x range but cannot browse the web. What should be verified on the ICS host?
- That the internet-facing adapter has a valid external connection and that ICS is configured on the correct adapter (Correct answer)
- That the clients are using NTFS
- That Remote Desktop is enabled on the host
- That the host machine's firewall is disabled completely
Correct answer: That the internet-facing adapter has a valid external connection and that ICS is configured on the correct adapter
ICS must be enabled on the adapter connected to the internet, not the LAN adapter; enabling it on the wrong adapter prevents traffic from being forwarded.
Question 7: A Windows XP Pro machine is part of a workgroup. A second user needs access to a shared folder but sees 'You might not have permission.' Simple File Sharing is disabled. What should be checked?
- Whether the second user has a local account on the sharing machine and the correct NTFS/share permissions (Correct answer)
- Whether the second user is in the Domain Admins group
- Whether the sharing machine has Windows XP Home Edition
- Whether the folder is compressed
Correct answer: Whether the second user has a local account on the sharing machine and the correct NTFS/share permissions
In a workgroup without Simple File Sharing, Windows XP authenticates network users against local accounts, so both a matching local account and appropriate permissions are required.
Windows XP Pro Case Studies & Practical Application 5
A user on a Windows XP Pro machine cannot connect to the internet but can ping the default gateway.
DNS resolution fails.
What is the BEST next step?