Windows Vista: Technical Reference

This collection provides comprehensive information about the technologies included in the Microsoft Windows operating systems. This set of Technical Reference documentation is designed to assist IT planners and administrators by providing the foundational information about the technology components of the operating system.

The Technical Reference is a dynamic documentation set. Technical Reference documentation will continue to expand to cover additional technologies and tools. In addition, the content will be updated to reflect product upgrades, service packs, and critical updates.

Technical Reference for the Windows Operating System

This content provides reference information about various features of Windows (e.g., printing, the file system, networking).

Windows Server 2003 Technical Reference

Security Policy Settings

Security Policy Settings

This topic in the Windows Vista Threats and Countermeasures Guide lists threats and vulnerabilities countermeasures for specific security policy settings.

Security Policy Settings New for Windows Vista

This topic provides additional information about the new security settings in Windows Vista including the locations of these security settings in the local Group Policy object (GPO), their default values, and a discussion of the setting.

Updated Security Policy Settings for Windows Vista

This topic provides additional information about the security settings that have changed from Windows XP including the locations of these security settings in the local GPO, their default values, and a discussion of the setting.

Domain Isolation

This content describes how domain isolation uses an Active Directory® directory service domain, domain membership, and Group Policy settings to enforce a network policy that requires domain member computers to accept incoming communication requests only from computers that can authenticate themselves with domain credentials. This network policy isolates domain member computers from non-domain-member computers.

Domain Isolation with Microsoft Windows Explained

Command Reference

The Command Reference contains syntax and usage information for tools available from the command prompt. See the Command Reference in the Windows Server 2008 Technical Library (https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=91473).

Windows Defender

Windows Defender Technical Overview

This content explains architectural and configuration options for Windows Defender for the IT professional.

Software Restriction Policies

Software Restriction Policies Technical Overview

This overview explains two improvements that have been made to software restriction policies in Windows Vista.

Trusted Platform Module

Trusted Platform Module Administration Technical Overview

This reference topic describes what the TPM chip is and the TPM services components.