Windows artifacts Troubleshooting
RCCE students will learn Windows forensic artifacts including registry hives (SAM, SYSTEM, SOFTWARE, NTUSER.DAT), event logs, prefetch files, shimcache, amcache, jump lists, LNK files, and browser artifacts. RCCE students will learn to extract and analyze Windows registry data for evidence of attacker activity, parse Windows event logs for security-relevant events, interpret prefetch data to determine program execution history, analyze shimcache and amcache for evidence of deleted executables, reconstruct user activity from jump lists and recent files, and correlate multiple artifact sources to build comprehensive investigation timelines. This diagnostic course focuses on identifying, analyzing, and resolving common failures, misconfigurations, and operational issues. Starting from foundational concepts, RCCE students will learn systematic troubleshooting methodologies that accelerate root-cause analysis and minimize downtime. Students work through realistic break-fix scenarios that build the diagnostic confidence needed for high-pressure production environments.
- Security Engineers building defensive controls
- Security Analysts and Blue Team members
- Systems Administrators with security responsibilities
- GRC and Risk Professionals supporting controls
- Professionals implementing Windows artifacts Troubleshooting
- Execute hands-on tasks for windows artifacts
- Explain Course Overview fundamentals
- Execute hands-on tasks for what you will learn
- Execute hands-on tasks for how you will learn — covering Registry hive analysis (SAM, SYSTEM, SOFTWARE), Structured troubleshooting methodology.
- Execute hands-on tasks for jump lists and lnk file reconstruction — covering Structured troubleshooting methodology.
- Execute hands-on tasks for what are windows forensic artifacts?
- Execute hands-on tasks for why they matter
- Execute hands-on tasks for windows artifact taxonomy
- Execute hands-on tasks for system configuration
- Execute hands-on tasks for user activity — covering Execution Evidence.
- Execute hands-on tasks for forensic artifact lifecycle
- Design a scalable privilege management architecture with policy and enforcement
| Module 01 | Windows Artifacts |
| Module 02 | Course Overview |
| Module 03 | What You Will Learn |
| Module 04 | How You Will Learn |
| Module 05 | Jump lists and LNK file reconstruction |
| Module 06 | What Are Windows Forensic Artifacts? |
| Module 07 | Why They Matter |
| Module 08 | Windows Artifact Taxonomy |
| Module 09 | System Configuration |
| Module 10 | User Activity |
| Module 11 | Forensic Artifact Lifecycle |
| Module 12 | Windows Registry Architecture |
| Module 13 | Hierarchical Database |
| Module 14 | Registry Hive File Locations |
All hands-on labs run on Rocheston Rose X OS. Students practice windows artifacts troubleshooting by implementing the controls discussed in class, with a focus on real-world deployment, monitoring, and validation.
- Lab 1: Execute hands-on tasks for windows artifacts
- Lab 2: Explain Course Overview fundamentals
- Lab 3: Execute hands-on tasks for what you will learn
- Lab 4: Execute hands-on tasks for how you will learn
- Lab 5: Execute hands-on tasks for jump lists and lnk file reconstruction
Upon successful completion of this course, students will receive an official RCCE Course Completion Certificate for Windows artifacts Troubleshooting, verifiable through the Rocheston certification portal.
- Full access to all course materials and slide decks
- Hands-on lab access on Rocheston Rose X OS environment
- Access to Rocheston CyberNotes
- Access to Rocheston Zelfire — EDR/XDR SIEM platform
- Access to Rocheston Raven — online cyber range exercise platform
- Access to Rocheston Vulnerability Vines AI