Microsoft exams

Beerbaron

Beerbaron

Beerbaron

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I am coming to the end of my MSc Computer Forensics course and finding a job in that industry is near impossible atm. I have decided for the time being to go back in to support but even that's still competitive so i really need some MCPs on my CV. Prometric have an offer on exams so ideally looking to start with 4. I am not too familiar with MS exams so looking for some advice. The first 3 i believe i should start with are below but not sure of the fourth. Any help would be appreciated.

MCDST
70-271 Supporting Users and Troubleshooting a Windows XP Operating System
70-272 Supporting Users and Troubleshooting Desktop Applications on a Windows XP Operating System

70-682 Upgrading to Windows 7 MCITP Enterprise Desktop Support Technician


Thanks.

ps just noticed there is no sub forum for training/certs
 
I'm on a similar route at the minute and I believe you'll need the MCTS configuring and installing Window W7 before you can upgrade to the MCITP. There may be an exam to upgrade your XP skills to W7 at MCTS level.

I got my MCDST a few years ago and just recently took the MCTS Win 7 training with the exam due in the next week. I'm looking to upgrade that to the MCITP level after

it's also worth noting Microsoft Second shot. It lets you re-take a failed exam for free if you go through that website first before Prometrics
 
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Im doing the MCDST (work forcing me to) but its pretty easy if you have some experience. One of the support guys here did both in a month. I think it gets retired in March, although still worth having.
 
Microsoft Certified Desktop Support Technician (MCDST)

Upgrade Paths

Upgrade your MCDST certification to earn MCTS and MCITP certifications

As a Microsoft Certified Desktop Support Technician (MCDST), you can upgrade your certification to include a Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS) certification and a Microsoft Certified IT Professional (MCITP) certification by passing just one exam.
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http://www.microsoft.com/learning/en/us/certification/mcdst.aspx#tab3

I have used XP since its release and supported it for 4 years + so basically i just want something on my CV to show what I already know. Someone has suggested to me to do 70-270 install and configuring XP as well

topshot said:
Im doing the MCDST (work forcing me to) but its pretty easy if you have some experience. One of the support guys here did both in a month. I think it gets retired in March, although still worth having.
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I have never worked for a company that has offered me or made me do any training..... oh wait i was force to do an internal 1 hr manual handling course which was pointless. I was later that day lifting a UPS on a palette :(
 
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ahh that's a good upgrade from MCDST to MCITP then :)

As topshot said, the MCDST isn't too bad at all if you've tinkered around with XP much in the past.

I have a Global Knowledge MS book in front of me at the min and one of their suggested upgrade paths is that after the MCITP Enterprise Desktop Support Technician you go for the MCTS Windows 7 Deployment (70-681) then upgrade that to MCITP Enterprise Desktop Administrator (70-686).

But I guess it depends what kind of field you want to get into? Going by your first 3 exam suggestions you're looking to get into general support?
 
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Beerbaron said:
I have never worked for a company that has offered me or made me do any training..... oh wait i was force to do an internal 1 hr manual handling course which was pointless. I was later that day lifting a UPS on a palette :(
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Some companies have to have a certain number of employees which are Microsoft Certified to retain their Microsoft Valued Partner (or something like that) status, so pay for people to do the courses. Unfortunatly, the company I work for isn't one of them :(
 
ZombieFan said:
Some companies have to have a certain number of employees which are Microsoft Certified to retain their Microsoft Valued Partner (or something like that) status, so pay for people to do the courses. Unfortunatly, the company I work for isn't one of them :(
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Would be nice to find a company that invested in their IT staff. All the companies ive worked for seem to just push IT aside and then complain about stuff. Some of these weren't small companies either!


I can only book 1 exam at a time so will do the 3 i have mentioned and then think about the 4th one. Im looking to book my first exam for the end of the week if i can. I have the study books, well .pdfs to work from. I have a fair amount of free time atm so really want to push on.

Any server 2003 exams anyone can recommend as a fair amount of jobs like this?

Thanks
 
As our company does IT consultancy, managed services etc we have to have a certain amount of people microsoft qualified.

Ive been in IT for 5years doing onsite support/upgrades but because i never bothered with certifications they are now making me do them. Its good in a way but pretty easy so it's hard to keep focused on it.


For 2003 Server - Managing and Maintaining a Windows Server 2003 Environment Exam 70-290 this and your MCDST work towards your MCSA/MCSE
 
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Unless you have prior cert's it may be wise to get the 2008 qualifiactions rather thant the 2003 ones. Especially if they're going to be retired soon.


M.
 
I have purchased 3 exams and going to start with 70-271 Supporting Users and Troubleshooting a Windows XP Operating System and then go from there. I will probably need to have a job to start buying more any way :(
 
Sorry to bump but I am hoping to get a few more exams under my belt too.

I have passed 70-620 Configuring Microsoft Windows Vista Client

I currently have 70-236 Configuring Exchange Server 2007 booked for the 29th of this month (pertinent to me because I want to go into Exchange from where I am now).

I want to get the Exchange qualification for the Enterprise Messaging Administrator then i'll probably look at taking some Server 2008 exams to tie into my Vista exam and get another proper qualification. These things take a bit of time though and I don't like to blast through them :P
 
If you have no Exchange experience then you may find it hard. A colleague did the exam a week ago (who uses Exchange daily) and found it very hard going in places.

Obviously it's going to be easier to pass an exam based around technology you are familiar with.



M.

P.S. Passed 70-649 now onto 70-647 then 70-680 and job done for the MCITP: EA.
 
I did my first MS exam a few weeks ago, 70-401, shouldn't have left it so long tbh.

Luckily my work will pay for the exam if you take one and pass it. Plus have had a few paid for courses over the years there, the last one being a 7 day residential so they've not been too bad.

As said the exchange ones can be tricky if it's not an area you're great in, lots of powershell stuff but should be ok if you are used to using it a lot.

m4cc45 said:
Unless you have prior cert's it may be wise to get the 2008 qualifiactions rather thant the 2003 ones. Especially if they're going to be retired soon.


M.
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Definitely imho, look at 2008 and Windows 7 certs. Is there a particular reason why you're sticking to XP/2003?

There will be a lot of people moving to 2008, and also from XP to Windows 7. Knowing how to deploy Windows 7 wouldn't be a bad desktop based skill to have.

Plus they will still help you supporting 2003 environments :)
 
m4cc45 said:
Obviously it's going to be easier to pass an exam based around technology you are familiar with.
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Sorry forgot to mention I do administer exchange 2003 and 2007 on a daily basis at work so it's been good to already know some stuff. Use PowerShell at work wherever I can now (pulling message tracking logs, accepted domains, stats from mailboxes, reconnecting tombstoned mailboxes, moving mailboxes etc) and I have a good working knowledge of the Exchange management console etc :)
 
Congrats in the 70-649 exam I got 970 - well actually I got 1000/1000/970 and for some reason it gave me 970 (the exam was in three sections).

Still never got 1000 yet and that's my 12th exam!



M.
 
m4cc45 said:
Congrats in the 70-649 exam I got 970 - well actually I got 1000/1000/970 and for some reason it gave me 970 (the exam was in three sections).

Still never got 1000 yet and that's my 12th exam!



M.
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I got 1000/1000 in my 70-620 exam! :D

Was quite suprised to be honest, but also happy at the same time :)
 
Yeah I think I'll get 1000 one day or another - probably in the 2011 exams! I have scraped a pass with 700 but that was after the computer crashed, I ran out of parking money and the simulations didn't work!



M.
 
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