In 2026, the candidates who prepare well are rarely the ones with the most hours — they are the ones with the best-structured materials. For the 74-697 exam, LatestCram combines a well-organized question bank, a printable PDF for note-taking, and a simulation engine that rehearses the real exam experience.
Microsoft 74-697 Exam Overview:
| Certification Vendor: | Microsoft |
|---|---|
| Exam Name: | OEM Preinstallation for Windows 8.1 / Windows 10 |
| Exam Number: | 74-697 |
| Available Languages: | German, Japanese, English, Russian |
| Certificate Validity Period: | 2 years (before retirement) |
| Exam Duration: | 90–120 |
| Exam Price: | $165 USD |
| Real Exam Qty: | 40–60 |
| Related Certifications: | MCSA: Windows 10 |
| Passing Score: | 700 / 1000 |
| Exam Format: | Drag-and-drop, Scenario-based, Multiple-choice, Multiple-response |
| Recommended Training: | Microsoft Official OEM Preinstallation Guides |
| Exam Registration: | Pearson VUE Registration Microsoft Learning Exam Page |
| Sample Questions: |  |
| Exam Way: | Retired exam; originally delivered via Pearson VUE test centers and online proctoring |
| Pre Condition: | No mandatory prerequisites; recommended 1+ year experience with Windows deployment and OEM system integration |
| Official Syllabus URL: | https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/learning/exam-74-697.aspx |
Microsoft 74-697 Exam Syllabus Topics:
| Section | Weight | Objectives |
|---|---|---|
| Topic 1: Troubleshoot Preinstallation and Deployment Issues | 10% | - Validate deployment success - Diagnose boot and installation errors - Resolve driver and compatibility problems |
| Topic 2: Prepare Windows Deployments | 30% | - Assess deployment requirements - Manage device drivers and hardware configuration - Configure answer files and unattend settings - Set up reference environment |
| Topic 3: Create, Capture, and Maintain System Images | 35% | - Maintain and update images - Capture images using DISM and Sysprep - Build and customize reference images - Integrate updates and applications |
| Topic 4: Deploy Windows Operating Systems | 25% | - Use Windows Deployment Services (WDS) - Validate OEM preinstallation compliance - Perform offline and online deployments - Configure deployment infrastructure |
74-697 Exam FAQ: Study Smarter, Not Longer
No mandatory prerequisites; recommended 1+ year experience with Windows deployment and OEM system integration
The 74-697 exam contains 40–60 questions with 90–120 minutes on the clock. That combination rewards candidates who have rehearsed under realistic conditions — which is exactly what the software simulation version of the LatestCram materials is for.
The official outline divides the 74-697 exam into weighted domains, including:
- Create, Capture, and Maintain System Images (35%)
- Prepare Windows Deployments (30%)
- Deploy Windows Operating Systems (25%)
The Microsoft OEM Preinstallation question bank at LatestCram is organized around these same objectives, and its clear layout makes the heavily weighted points easy to spot and revisit.
Microsoft provides these training resources for candidates:
Pair them with structured practice questions and simulation sessions, and you cover both the knowledge and the experience sides of exam preparation.
The passing score is 700 / 1000 and the exam fee is $165 USD. A practical approach: keep running timed practice sets until your results sit comfortably above the passing line, then book your seat.
Because knowing the content and knowing the exam are different skills. The software version of the Microsoft OEM Preinstallation materials simulates the real 74-697 exam environment, so the interface, timing, and question flow are familiar before you sit the real thing. It is a small rehearsal with an outsized effect — candidates who have experienced the simulation handle exam-day details calmly instead of burning time on surprises.
Registration is handled through the official channels below:
Pick a date that leaves room for at least a few full simulation sessions — that final rehearsal window is where preparation consolidates.
The 74-697 exam is the official test for the Microsoft OEM Preinstallation certification from Microsoft, measuring how well you can apply the published exam objectives in realistic scenarios. The credential validates your skills against an industry-recognized standard — and because the exam has its own format and rhythm, materials that combine organized content with realistic simulation prepare you more completely than reading alone.
Three things. First, it starts with a free demo containing plenty of sample questions, so you can taste the 74-697 exam content before deciding. Second, the PDF prints cleanly, turning your screen materials into paper you can annotate — notes in the margins keep your memory of key points fresh every time you pick the pages back up. Third, it travels anywhere: no account login, no compatibility worries, just 98 practice questions for the Microsoft OEM Preinstallation exam ready whenever you are.
Microsoft OEM Preinstallation Sample Questions:
You have a server named Server1 that runs Windows Server 2012 and has the Windows Deployment Services server role installed.
You need to use a capture image to create an image of a reference computer.
What should you add to Server1 before creating the capture image?
- A. An install image
- B. A configuration set
- C. A boot image
- D. An answer file
Correct Answer: C 🗳️
Explanation: Only visible for LatestCram members. You can sign-up / login (it's free).
You work for an OEM system builder.
You have a reference computer that runs Windows 8.
You plan to create an image of the computer.
You need to ensure that when the image is deployed to a computer, a custom application is installed in audit mode the first time the computer starts.
What should you do before you capture an image of the reference computer?
- A. Create an answer file that contains a FirstLogonCommands object. Run sysprep /audit /generalize /shutdown.
- B. Create an answer file that contains a RunSynchronous object. Run sysprep /audit /generalize /shutdown.
- C. Create an answer file that contains a RunSynchronous object. Run sysprep /oobe /generalize /shutdown.
- D. Create an answer file that contains a FirstLogonCommands object. Run sysprep /oobe /generalize /shutdown.
Correct Answer: B 🗳️
Explanation: Only visible for LatestCram members. You can sign-up / login (it's free).
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Your company's deployment environment contains the following:
One subnet
One Active Directory domain
Two servers that run Windows Server 2012
You need to recommend a solution to deploy an image to at least 100 client computers simultaneously.
The solution must start deploying the image automatically when 20 client computers are available to receive the image.
What should you include in the recommendation?
- A. The Windows Deployment Services server role that contains a Scheduled-Cast transmission
- B. The Scale-Out File Server for application data role and the Reliable Multicast Protocol
- C. The Multipath I/O (MPIO) feature and the File Server role
- D. The Windows Deployment Services server role that contains an Auto-Cast transmission
Correct Answer: A 🗳️
Explanation: Only visible for LatestCram members. You can sign-up / login (it's free).
You work for an OEM system builder named Fabrikam, Inc.
You plan to deploy an image from a network share.
You need to ensure that when Windows Preinstallation Environment (Windows PE) starts,
Plug and Play devices are installed, settings in Unattend.xml are applied, and network
resources are loaded.
Which command should you execute from Startnet.cmd?
- A. netsh.exe
- B. wpeinit.exe
- C. winpeshl.exe
- D. drvload.exe
Correct Answer: B 🗳️
Explanation: Only visible for LatestCram members. You can sign-up / login (it's free).
DRAG DROP
An updated driver for the device is released.
You need to add the driver to the image. The solution must minimize administrative effort.
Which three actions should you perform in sequence? (To answer, move the appropriate three actions from the list of actions to the answer area and arrange them in the correct order.)
Correct Answer:
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