You have at least a couple of years if you are going the Windows 2003 route.
I would not rely on one book for each test though. I HIGHLY recommend that
you also use Mark Minasi's mastering Windows 2003 Server as a learning book.
It is not an MCSE book but it is very good at explaining concepts with lots
of real world examples, explanations, and many tricks and traps throughout.
Also take advantage of the free resources at Microsoft's website such as the
various white papers and the Widows 2003 Server Deployment Kit as shown in
the first link below. You will find the built in Windows help files also
extremely valuable learning tool. Right clicking a setting or dragging the ?
mark [from top right hand corner of a pop up box] to the setting will often
open the help file for that setting.
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserv...deploykit.mspx
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/Sec...g/tcgch00.mspx --
Great security reference for your studies.
http://labmice.techtarget.com/windows2003/default.htm -- Labmice site.
Tremendous amount of information available in a well organized site.
If you are disciplined and can learn on your own I suggest you forget
classes and instead sep up a small test network at home with at least three
computers. You can do that with one monitor if need be and use a KVM switch
to switch between computers and/or use Remote Desktop. You can get used Dell
computers for around $150 shipped with thirty day warranty on Ebay [no
monitor]. A 500Mhz with minimum 128 ram or better yet 256 ram and a hard
drive of at least 5G would be great. A 5G drive would allow you to have dual
boot operating systems to give you great flexability in scenrios with three
computers. I have passed 15 exams with no classroom time and never came
close to failing one. However do NOT get too bummed out if you fail one,
just consider it a learning experience and be determined to be better
prepared the next time. Good luck. --- Steve
"Steven Swallow" <> wrote in message
news:ckcfgl$ck2$...
> Hi all,
>
> I've just started studying my MCSE (starting with the first of the Core
> exams 70-290). My workplace is unwilling to pay, so I've decided to self
> study and get out of my "go nowhere" job.
>
> As a noob (although I've been in the IT trade for about 8 years, from
> Helpdesk through to NT4 and Wink2K Server installs, network design and
> upgrades etc), I wondered if any of you guys had some insights and
> suggestions, pitfalls to watch out for etc.
>
> I'm self studying from the MS Press books and will only do courses if I
> have to (like I say, I'm funding it myself). I'm hoping to do roughly one
> exam every 2 months. Do I have a time limit from when I get my first exam
> to when I get my last?
>
> Any insights you guys and gals can share would be most appreciated.
>
> Regards,
>
> Steve Swallow
>
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