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Greetings everyone.

I am attempting to get my MCSA certification on Windows Server 2003.

I have been operating desktop computers for over 10 years now. I pretty much
know all the in's and out's. I can install software, hardware, troubleshoot
most problems, and build a computer from the ground up (I can't build one
from the sky down, because gravity interferes).

But I don't know very much about networks and the software they use. In
essence, I know most of the advanced stuff about computers, EXCEPT for
networking.

I have been searching for some good training material to teach me to pass
the exams. I plan on taking them in the recommended order, starting with
70-290.

My research seems to indicate the the MSPress books may not be the best
solution for training... my question is, what do you guys think is the best
training product available for my upcoming exams?

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Tim Graham

If you have not taken a MS Cert exam yet, it would be better for you to
start with the 70-270 (XP Pro) and not 70-290. Why? Because 70-290 is heavy
on server and network and even 70-270 is not just from the user point of
view, it is from the Administrator point of view and you'll have network in
that exam too

"Tim Graham" <Tim > wrote in message
news:335AAA4E-BC8F-4D00-9ADD-...
> Greetings everyone.
>
> I am attempting to get my MCSA certification on Windows Server 2003.
>
> I have been operating desktop computers for over 10 years now. I pretty
> much
> know all the in's and out's. I can install software, hardware,
> troubleshoot
> most problems, and build a computer from the ground up (I can't build one
> from the sky down, because gravity interferes).
>
> But I don't know very much about networks and the software they use. In
> essence, I know most of the advanced stuff about computers, EXCEPT for
> networking.
>
> I have been searching for some good training material to teach me to pass
> the exams. I plan on taking them in the recommended order, starting with
> 70-290.
>
> My research seems to indicate the the MSPress books may not be the best
> solution for training... my question is, what do you guys think is the
> best
> training product available for my upcoming exams?
>
> Any help would be appreciated.
>
> Thanks,
> Tim Graham
>
>

Thank you guys for the advice.

I've decided on the following certification path, in this order:

CompTIA A+
CompTIA Network+
MCDST
MCSA

I have most of the information I need. However, I am still wondering about
the actual study materials before the exams. Which books are best?

I've seen the MSPress books, and they are ok. I am also exploring Sybex
products... has anyone has experience with these? They seem to offer a study
guide for almost every exam.

Any advice would be appreciated.

"Tim Graham" <> wrote in message
news:EECB869B-2D87-40C2-800A-...
> Thank you guys for the advice.
>
> I've decided on the following certification path, in this order:
>
> CompTIA A+
> CompTIA Network+
> MCDST
> MCSA
>
Take 70-270 and 70-290 and skip the rest. Start with and finish the MCSA as
passing the rest of these is redundant. The only case where I see them as of
any use is for vendor warranty support certs and big box retailers. An MCSA
is qualified enough to not require MCDST.

I'd view as the rest of that low end stuff as redundant if I saw it on your
resume.
--
Leonid S. Knyshov, CEO
Crashproof Solutions, LLC - http://www.crashproofsolutions.com
MCP Exchange 2003/Small Business Server 2003, CCNA, SCSA 8
Microsoft Small Business Specialist Partner

> Take 70-270 and 70-290 and skip the rest. Start with and finish the MCSA as
> passing the rest of these is redundant. The only case where I see them as of
> any use is for vendor warranty support certs and big box retailers. An MCSA
> is qualified enough to not require MCDST.
>
> I'd view as the rest of that low end stuff as redundant if I saw it on your
> resume.
> --
> Leonid S. Knyshov, CEO
> Crashproof Solutions, LLC - http://www.crashproofsolutions.com
> MCP Exchange 2003/Small Business Server 2003, CCNA, SCSA 8
> Microsoft Small Business Specialist Partner
>

Thanks for the advice.

I'm taking the CompTIA certs because they will satisfy the elective exam
required for the MCSA cert, and they will give me two additional certs at the
same time. I'm taking the MCDST cert for my own educational benefit as well
as the cert itself.

"Tim Graham" <> wrote in message
news:2C0827C6-39CE-4244-9307-...

> I'm taking the CompTIA certs because they will satisfy the elective exam
> required for the MCSA cert, and they will give me two additional certs at
> the
> same time. I'm taking the MCDST cert for my own educational benefit as
> well
> as the cert itself.
>
Well, the more the merrier, but I would instead recommend doing a pure MCSA
with some SE electives with leftover cash. 70-284 comes to mind as a very
desirable skill as well as 70-297. I honestly wouldn't care about your lower
certs such as *+ and MCDST (that's what I certify new techs as) if you
wanted to work for me.

The decision is yours.
--
Leonid S. Knyshov, CEO
Crashproof Solutions, LLC - http://www.crashproofsolutions.com
MCP Exchange 2003/Small Business Server 2003, CCNA, SCSA 8
Microsoft Small Business Specialist Partner

Tim,

I Have MCDST cert and this also stands as an elective for the MCSA, I've
also passed the MCP 70-270 and it was well worth doing before 70-290, which
I'm taking in about four weeks.

Study material for all my exams are:- Sybex Study Guide, Microsoft Press and
CBT Nuggets, then about a week before I do test questions from where ever I
can get them.

feel free to ask any questions, cause I've been there.

"Tim Graham" wrote:

>
>
> > Take 70-270 and 70-290 and skip the rest. Start with and finish the MCSA as
> > passing the rest of these is redundant. The only case where I see them as of
> > any use is for vendor warranty support certs and big box retailers. An MCSA
> > is qualified enough to not require MCDST.
> >
> > I'd view as the rest of that low end stuff as redundant if I saw it on your
> > resume.
> > --
> > Leonid S. Knyshov, CEO
> > Crashproof Solutions, LLC - http://www.crashproofsolutions.com
> > MCP Exchange 2003/Small Business Server 2003, CCNA, SCSA 8
> > Microsoft Small Business Specialist Partner
> >
>
> Thanks for the advice.
>
> I'm taking the CompTIA certs because they will satisfy the elective exam
> required for the MCSA cert, and they will give me two additional certs at the
> same time. I'm taking the MCDST cert for my own educational benefit as well
> as the cert itself.
>