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Thread: Home Study

  1. #1
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    Home Study

    Hi, has anyine taken a MCSE home study course?
    who did you use, who would you recommend?

    Thanks
    Rob
    The older I get, the faster I was.

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    Re: Home Study

    Depending on the course and the level of your knowledge, one possibility is simply purchasing the Microsoft Self-Certification kits, which usually come with a few books and accompanying e-book editions, and some test engines to prepare you for the exam. I find these are fine for MCTS level study at the very least. There are usually deals on Amazon for them, just do a search for your preferred exam number or certification title. Just make sure you're getting the most recent edition. I can't honestly comment on home-study courses run by a provider, as I've never used one.

    Actually, I suppose I should ask exactly what you want to study.
    Last edited by thestjohn; 12-02-2010 at 04:35 PM. Reason: Clarification.

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    Re: Home Study

    I am thinking of SQL Server 2005. Where can you take the exams if you study on your own?
    The older I get, the faster I was.

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    Re: Home Study

    There are test centres all over the country I believe. And I'm not sure, but I think some can be done online. Prometric run Microsoft Exams in this country, have a look at http://www.register.prometric.com/Me...?cookie_test=1

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    Re: Home Study

    I got my CompTIA A+, my 2 MCSA's, my 2 MCSE's and my CCNA all from home study. You're probably better off getting the Sybex books than the official MS ones. I took my exams to both prometric and VUE test centres but I think only prometric do MS exams now.
    However the books alone were nothing like enough. You will need a PC with 4GB RAM and Vmware or MS virtual server and you have to use the virtual machines till everything is properly stuck in your head and you understand how and why it works the way it does. However this enough is certainly not enough to be decent at IT. You must whilst you are studying also be doing a lot of the stuff you are studying for your job. They compelment each other very well - the study will make you better at your job and your job will make the study easier if you are applying your knowledge under the guidance of someone that can make sure you aren't breaking anything.
    "In a perfect world... spammers would get caught, go to jail, and share a cell with many men who have enlarged their penises, taken Viagra and are looking for a new relationship."

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    Re: Home Study

    Thanks guys, all very useful comments. I agree about the complementary aspect of the study, unfortunately I am the IT Department, so no chance of any guidance !!

    Thanks
    Rob
    The older I get, the faster I was.

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    Re: Home Study

    Quote Originally Posted by robbiehall View Post
    Thanks guys, all very useful comments. I agree about the complementary aspect of the study, unfortunately I am the IT Department, so no chance of any guidance !!

    Thanks
    Rob
    On that basis before making any changes, try them on a test version of your system first. Get a lot of research done and look out for pitfalls. Before making the change, have a plan that has a rollback plan for every stage and make sure you have good backups before doing anything!
    By good backups, I mean backups that you have successfully performed a restore on. Exchange and SQL are notorious for you finding out the backups are useless even though your backup software has been telling you everything's fine.
    "In a perfect world... spammers would get caught, go to jail, and share a cell with many men who have enlarged their penises, taken Viagra and are looking for a new relationship."

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