10 Windows System Administration Interview Questions and Answers

Windows System Administration is a critical skill in managing and maintaining the infrastructure of many organizations. It involves overseeing the installation, configuration, and maintenance of Windows servers and ensuring their optimal performance. With the increasing complexity of IT environments, proficiency in Windows System Administration is essential for ensuring system reliability, security, and efficiency.

This guide offers a curated selection of interview questions designed to test your knowledge and problem-solving abilities in Windows System Administration. By reviewing these questions, you will be better prepared to demonstrate your expertise and handle the technical challenges that may arise during the interview process.

Windows System Administration Interview Questions and Answers

1. How would you configure a Group Policy to enforce password complexity requirements?

Group Policy in Windows allows administrators to manage and configure operating system settings for users and computers within an Active Directory environment. To enforce password complexity requirements, configure a Group Policy Object (GPO) specifying the password policies.

To configure a Group Policy for password complexity:

1. Open the Group Policy Management Console (GPMC).
2. Navigate to the appropriate Organizational Unit (OU).
3. Right-click the OU and select “Create a GPO in this domain, and Link it here.”
4. Name the GPO, such as “Password Complexity Policy.”
5. Right-click the GPO and select “Edit.”
6. In the Group Policy Management Editor, navigate to:

• Computer Configuration
• Policies
• Windows Settings
• Security Settings
• Account Policies
• Password Policy

7. Enable the Password must meet complexity requirements policy and configure related settings like minimum password length and maximum password age.

2. Write a PowerShell script to create a new Active Directory user and add them to a specific group.

To create a new Active Directory user and add them to a specific group using PowerShell, use the following script. Ensure you have the necessary permissions.

# Define user details
$UserName = "jdoe"
$Password = ConvertTo-SecureString "P@ssw0rd" -AsPlainText -Force
$FirstName = "John"
$LastName = "Doe"
$OU = "OU=Users,DC=example,DC=com"
$Group = "CN=Staff,OU=Groups,DC=example,DC=com"

# Create new user
New-ADUser -Name "$FirstName $LastName" -GivenName $FirstName -Surname $LastName -SamAccountName $UserName -UserPrincipalName "[email protected]" -Path $OU -AccountPassword $Password -Enabled $true

# Add user to group
Add-ADGroupMember -Identity $Group -Members $UserName

3. How do you set NTFS permissions to allow a user read-only access to a folder?

NTFS permissions in Windows control access to files and folders. To set NTFS permissions for read-only access to a folder:

• Right-click the folder and select “Properties.”
• Go to the “Security” tab.
• Click “Edit” to change permissions.
• Click “Add” to add a new user or group.
• Enter the user or group name and click “OK.”
• Check the “Read” box under “Allow.”
• Ensure other boxes under “Allow” are unchecked.
• Click “Apply” and “OK” to save changes.

4. What steps would you take to configure a scheduled backup in Windows Server?

To configure a scheduled backup in Windows Server using Windows Server Backup:

• Install Windows Server Backup Feature: Ensure it’s installed via Server Manager.
• Open Windows Server Backup: Launch from Administrative Tools.
• Configure Backup Schedule: Use the Backup Schedule Wizard to set up a recurring backup.
• Select Backup Items: Choose to back up the entire server, specific volumes, or individual files.
• Choose Backup Destination: Select a destination like a local drive or network share.
• Set Schedule: Define the frequency and time for the backup.
• Configure Advanced Options: Optionally, configure settings like VSS options.
• Finish and Save: Complete the wizard to save the configuration.

5. How would you configure a static IP address on a Windows Server?

To configure a static IP address on a Windows Server, use either the GUI or CLI.

Using the GUI:

• Open Control Panel and go to Network and Sharing Center.
• Click “Change adapter settings.”
• Right-click the network adapter and select “Properties.”
• Select “Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4)” and click “Properties.”
• Choose “Use the following IP address” and enter the IP address, subnet mask, and default gateway.
• Optionally, enter DNS server addresses.
• Click “OK” to apply.

Using the CLI:
Use the netsh command:

netsh interface ip set address name="Ethernet" static 192.168.1.100 255.255.255.0 192.168.1.1
netsh interface ip set dns name="Ethernet" static 8.8.8.8
netsh interface ip add dns name="Ethernet" 8.8.4.4 index=2

Replace “Ethernet” with your network adapter’s name and adjust settings as needed.

6. Describe the process of creating an inbound rule in Windows Firewall to allow HTTP traffic.

To create an inbound rule in Windows Firewall for HTTP traffic:

• Open Windows Firewall with Advanced Security.
• Click “Inbound Rules” in the left pane.
• Click “New Rule” in the right pane.
• Select “Port” as the rule type and click “Next.”
• Choose “TCP” and specify port 80, then click “Next.”
• Select “Allow the connection” and click “Next.”
• Choose when the rule applies and click “Next.”
• Provide a name and description for the rule, then click “Finish.”

7. How do you create and configure a new virtual machine in Hyper-V?

To create and configure a new virtual machine in Hyper-V:

1. Open Hyper-V Manager.
2. Create a New Virtual Machine: Right-click the host server and select “New” > “Virtual Machine.”
3. Configure the Virtual Machine:

• Name and Location: Provide a name and specify the location for the virtual machine files.
• Generation: Choose the generation (1 or 2) based on requirements.
• Memory: Allocate memory for the virtual machine.
• Network: Connect the network adapter to a virtual switch.
• Virtual Hard Disk: Create or use an existing virtual hard disk.
• Installation Options: Choose the installation media for the OS.

4. Finalize and Start the Virtual Machine: Review settings and click “Finish.” Start the virtual machine by right-clicking it and selecting “Start.”

8. What steps would you take to troubleshoot a Windows Server that fails to boot?

To troubleshoot a Windows Server that fails to boot:

1. Check Hardware Components: Ensure all hardware components are functioning correctly.
2. Review BIOS/UEFI Settings: Verify boot order and drive recognition.
3. Safe Mode: Attempt to boot in Safe Mode to identify driver or software conflicts.
4. Last Known Good Configuration: Use this option to revert to the last successful boot state.
5. Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE):
   • Use Automatic Repair to diagnose and fix boot issues.
   • Run commands like bootrec /fixmbr to repair the boot configuration.
6. System Restore: Revert to a previous state if restore points are available.
7. Check for Error Messages: Review error messages during boot for clues.
8. Event Viewer: Once accessible, review logs for errors during boot.
9. Driver Issues: Update or roll back drivers causing conflicts.
10. Malware Scan: Perform a malware scan to rule out malicious software.
11. Consult Documentation: Refer to Microsoft documentation for additional guidance.

9. Explain how Active Directory replication works and how you would troubleshoot replication issues.

Active Directory replication uses a multi-master model, where each domain controller can accept changes and replicate them to others. The Knowledge Consistency Checker (KCC) manages the replication topology. Replication can occur within a site (intra-site) or between sites (inter-site).

To troubleshoot replication issues:

• Check Replication Status: Use tools like repadmin and dcdiag to identify errors.
• Review Event Logs: Examine logs for replication-related errors.
• Verify Network Connectivity: Ensure domain controllers can communicate over the network.
• Check DNS Configuration: Ensure domain controllers are correctly registered in DNS.
• Examine Replication Topology: Review the topology in Active Directory Sites and Services.
• Force Replication: Use repadmin /syncall to force replication if needed.

10. How would you troubleshoot network connectivity issues on a Windows Server?

To troubleshoot network connectivity issues on a Windows Server:

1. Check Physical Connections: Ensure network cables and devices are functioning.
2. Verify Network Configuration: Use ipconfig to check IP settings.
3. Ping Test: Use ping to test connectivity to other devices.
4. Check DNS Settings: Use nslookup to verify DNS resolution.
5. Examine Firewall Settings: Ensure Windows Firewall isn’t blocking traffic.
6. Review Network Adapter Settings: Ensure the adapter is enabled and drivers are correct.
7. Check for IP Conflicts: Use arp -a to check for IP conflicts.
8. Examine Event Logs: Review logs for network-related errors.
9. Use Network Troubleshooter: Access the built-in troubleshooter for common issues.
10. Advanced Tools: Use tools like tracert, netstat, and Wireshark for deeper analysis.