Troubleshooting Microsoft Technologies: The Ultimate Administrator's Repair Manual

Many IT professionals have long considered the practice of troubleshooting to be more of an art than a science. However, with the right methodology, anyone can systematically analyze and repair problems affecting an individual computer or an entire network. All it requires is an understanding of the technologies involved, knowledge of the available tools, and insight into the most common system and application issues.

Troubleshooting Microsoft Technologies is the first complete guide to troubleshooting the vast interrelationships of Microsoft network technologies. This book begins by introducing readers to the fundamentals of networks and troubleshooting. After documenting the available Microsoft troubleshooting tools, the author then attacks technology-specific problems chapter by chapter. A concise technical introduction at the outset of each chapter quickly brings readers up to speed on the technologies involved.

Key topics covered include:

• Client-server issues, including XP-related problems
• Office XP application and file faults
• Disk failures
• Domain Name Service (DNS), including client configuration, server configuration and replication, zone configuration, and Active Directory integration
• Windows Internet Naming Service (WINS), including server and database configuration and database replication
• Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP), including DHCP clients and servers and relay agents
• Network and application services such as RIS, print services, terminal services, and DFS
• Routing and Remote Access Service (RRAS), including Network Address Translation (NAT), Virtual Private Networks (VPNs), and Remote Access Servers (RAS)
• Active Directory (AD), including group policies, domains, trusts, replication, service integration, and security

In short, Troubleshooting Microsoft Technologies is the ultimate ready reference for solving problems on Microsoft networks.

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Troubleshooting Microsoft Technologies

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Preface

Many have long considered the act of troubleshooting to be more art than science. However, with the right methodology, one can systematically analyze and repair problems affecting an individual computer or an entire network. Whether you are an end user looking to exert a new level of problem solving independence, or are an experienced help desk analyst or systems administrator, this book has something for you. The book not only provides answers to some of the most puzzling Microsoft computer problems, but also presents the answers in the context of the troubleshooting methodology most highly regarded in the computer industry, allowing you to learn and apply a proven troubleshooting technique to any computer problem.

This book begins by presenting the most common approaches for diagnosing and resolving problems, and then moves to documenting all of the Microsoft troubleshooting tools at your disposal. With a troubleshooting foundation securely in place, the book then focuses exclusively on individual problem sets, including:

• Common Windows Server 2003 and Windows XP problems
• Microsoft Office
• Hard disk errors
• DNS and WINS
• DHCP
• Routing and network services
• Active Directory

With chapters organized and dedicated to specific problems, you will find this book an invaluable tool for repairing software glitches on all of the computers you manage. Since no problem can be solved without understanding the underlying fundamentals of the technology involved, you will appreciate the concise technical introductions at the beginning of each chapter. So if called on to resolve a DNS problem in which you have little experience, using this reference will allow you to quickly get up to speed with DNS concepts and in turn solve the error.

While one can attempt to solve problems with just the available tools that come with the operating system, troubleshooting is much easier with the help of several tools provided by third party vendors. When troubleshooting problems such as those that involve network name resolution or group policy objects in the Active Directory, you will be able to find the problem faster with one of the fifteen third party tools that are included with this book’s companion CD.

Repairing computer problems requires the right approach, an understanding of the technologies involved, knowledge of the available troubleshooting tools, and insight into the most common operating system and application problem areas. Microsoft networks comprise of a vast array of technologies, each of which are covered by their own technical reference. If you need to troubleshoot many of these technologies, you could carry twenty books around with you, which may provide some troubleshooting information on each technology, or you can carry this single reference, which details troubleshooting for nearly all of the software dilemmas you are likely to encounter.

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Table of Contents

Preface.


 1. Introduction.


 2. Fundamental Networking.


 3. Troubleshooting Techniques.


 4. Monitoring and Diagnostic Tools.


 5. Client-Server Troubleshooting.


 6. Office XP.


 7. Disk Subsystems.


 8. DNS.


 9. WINS.


10. DHCP.


11. Network and Application Services.


11. Routing and Remote Access.


13. Active Directory.


Appendix A. Command Line Troubleshooting Tool Reference.


Appendix B. Common Error Codes.


Appendix C. Third Party Tools.


Index. 0321133455T03032003