Retired Exam?

Hello,

I am currently studying 2261-271 course (MCDST) via the Mircosoft E-Learning
site & have just noticed it says (Retired) in the course title. What does
this mean?

Will I still be able to get certified?

Can I still take the exam?

Is there any point in taking the exam still?

Many thanks, Paul.

HC - Paul

"HC - Paul" <HC - > wrote in message
newsBEEAE1C-5AD0-4E01-8A52-...
> Hello,
>
> I am currently studying 2261-271 course (MCDST) via the Mircosoft
> E-Learning
> site & have just noticed it says (Retired) in the course title. What does
> this mean?

"Retired" in a Microsoft eLearning course means that the specific instance
of the course you are using is the older version, and there is a newer
version now available. Recently the authoring software was updated, and a
lot of the current content was republished with the new authoring software
resulting in a notable number of "Retired" courses still available in active
subscriptions.

If you're interested in the newer version, go back to the MyLearning site
and search for the course. It should be present and available to you in both
the new version and the "retired" version.


> Will I still be able to get certified?

Yes.

> Can I still take the exam?

Yes.

> Is there any point in taking the exam still?

Yes.


--
Lawrence Garvin, M.S., MCITP:EA, MCDBA
Principal/CTO, Onsite Technology Solutions, Houston, Texas
Microsoft MVP - Software Distribution (2005-2009)

MS WSUS Website: http://www.microsoft.com/wsus
My MVP Profile: http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/pro...awrence.Garvin

Lawrence Garvin [MVP]

"Lawrence Garvin [MVP]" wrote:

> "HC - Paul" <HC - > wrote in message
> newsBEEAE1C-5AD0-4E01-8A52-...
> > Hello,
> >
> > I am currently studying 2261-271 course (MCDST) via the Mircosoft
> > E-Learning
> > site & have just noticed it says (Retired) in the course title. What does
> > this mean?
>
> "Retired" in a Microsoft eLearning course means that the specific instance
> of the course you are using is the older version, and there is a newer
> version now available. Recently the authoring software was updated, and a
> lot of the current content was republished with the new authoring software
> resulting in a notable number of "Retired" courses still available in active
> subscriptions.
>
> If you're interested in the newer version, go back to the MyLearning site
> and search for the course. It should be present and available to you in both
> the new version and the "retired" version.
>
>
> > Will I still be able to get certified?
>
> Yes.
>
> > Can I still take the exam?
>
> Yes.
>
> > Is there any point in taking the exam still?
>
> Yes.
>
>
> --
> Lawrence Garvin, M.S., MCITP:EA, MCDBA
> Principal/CTO, Onsite Technology Solutions, Houston, Texas
> Microsoft MVP - Software Distribution (2005-2009)
>
> MS WSUS Website: http://www.microsoft.com/wsus
> My MVP Profile: http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/pro...awrence.Garvin
>


Thank you very much. I will look for it.

Is there a Windows 7 certification out, or coming out? Only reason I ask is
I am signed up to do my MCSA after that. Do you think I should do that or go
for the Windows 7 one as it's going to be the new operating system?

HC - Paul

"HC - Paul" <> wrote in message
news:F7C14334-F27B-4585-A541-...

> Is there a Windows 7 certification out, or coming out?

There is.

The MCTS: Windows 7 - Configuration (Exam 70-680) is available today.
http://www.microsoft.com/learning/en...0&locale=en-us

Also, the MCITP: Enterprise Desktop Administrator (Windows 7) has been
announced.
It will require the MCTS above (Exam 70-680) and a PRO exam (70-686) which
is scheduled for release before the end of the year.

> Only reason I ask is
> I am signed up to do my MCSA after that. Do you think I should do that or
> go
> for the Windows 7 one as it's going to be the new operating system?

What you should do is dependent on where your *experience* exists, and what
you'll be doing in the near future, and why you're pursing certfication.

If you'll be working in an organization that plans to deploy Windows 7 as
soon as it's available, and you'll be in the thick of things, it might be
very useful for you to focus your attentions there. If Windows 7 is not on
the radar for a real world scenario in the immediate future, you might defer
that.

Note: The MCSA requires a desktop examination requirement. The MCDST does
not meet that requirement (but does meet the requirement of an elective).
While not yet formally posted, the MCSA *may* accept the Windows 7 (70-680)
as the desktop requirement (instead of WinXP or Vista). To that point, it
may not be an either-or type of question -- earning the MCTS:Windows 7 may
be part of the pathway to the MCSA.

If you'll be working in a Windows Server 2003 environment as a System
Administrator, or you're interested in getting promoted from the Help Desk
(or other desktop admin position) then the MCSA is exactly the direction you
should be heading.

If the organization you're working for is already deploying Windows Server
2008 and phasing out Windows Server 2003, then I'd be considering what value
the MCSA would actually have. However, preparing for the MCSA *will* be
useful in preparing for the MCITP:Server Administrator (a Windows Server
2008 certification), and there is an upgrade exam from MCSA to MCITP:SA.
There's a lot of value to be had in being dual certified on both server
platforms. (In fact, having completed the MCITP:EA earlier this year, I'm
now continuing to work on my MCSA as a point of documenting my *depth* of
experience.)



--
Lawrence Garvin, M.S., MCITP:EA, MCDBA
Principal/CTO, Onsite Technology Solutions, Houston, Texas
Microsoft MVP - Software Distribution (2005-2009)

MS WSUS Website: http://www.microsoft.com/wsus
My MVP Profile: http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/pro...awrence.Garvin

Lawrence Garvin [MVP]