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    Hello,
    I will soon try to take MCDST (70-271, 70-272).  But im unsure if the book + cd is enough for my training or if a need to buy some more selftest..?


    BR
    Me
    Tuesday, October 7, 2008 4:34 PM

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    Acording to Microsoft. NO test is espected to be passable just by Book or CD learning. You will have to have hands on experance. That is they whole point of Certification. Proving that you know about the technoligly, not just "correct answers" to pass a test. The MCDST is a good starting point. You will need to know about XP and the Office products.

    If you have not already been here, then check out the main page for MCDST

    http://www.microsoft.com/learning/mcp/mcdst/requirements.mspx
    IF you can meet the folling conditions, then I would suggest taking the test. If you have taken any Microsoft tests, the 70-271 and 272 are not that bad.

    Candidates for this exam support end users who run Microsoft Windows XP Professional in a corporate environment or Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition in a home environment. They should have experience using applications that are included with the operating system, such as Microsoft Internet Explorer and Microsoft Outlook Express, as well as the productivity applications used in a corporate environment, such as Microsoft Office applications.

    Here is that part many over look.

    Candidates should be able to resolve operating system issues by telephone, by connecting to an end user's system remotely, or by visiting an end user's desktop. They should have a working knowledge of operating in a workgroup or Active Directory domain environment and how end users are affected by each environment.

    It does not cost to get hands on experance, where as each test does cost $125.00
    Good luck with your choice.

    MCSA, MCTS, MCITP, MCDST, MCP, A+, Network

    Tim
    • Proposed as answer by flcpl Tuesday, October 7, 2008 5:34 PM
    • Marked as answer by Michael D. Alligood Wednesday, October 8, 2008 3:41 PM
    Tuesday, October 7, 2008 5:34 PM
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    Depending on how good the book is it is possible to pass the test. But it is better if you have hands on experience. The whole point of certifictions is to demonstrate your knowledge and experience in certain areas. You should gain experience before you try to get certifictions. If you are able to pass the exam with what you learned from the book you will probably be in trouble when there is an issue that you are called on to fix, since you have no experience with it the certification will be useless.

    If you are not using XP in the work place why are you taking a test on XP?
    Eric
    Tuesday, October 7, 2008 8:43 PM
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    Experience can come in many forms.  At the very least I would see if you could get your hands on a copy of XP Pro and install it on a virtual machine using Virtual PC.  This would allow you to get some hands on experience and run it through some of the scenarios in the book you are using.  If you combine hands on experience using virtual machines along with book study and really put the time in, you should be able to pass the test.

    Good luck.

    Dave
    DaveLawlor.com
    Wednesday, October 8, 2008 2:04 PM
    Answerer

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    Acording to Microsoft. NO test is espected to be passable just by Book or CD learning. You will have to have hands on experance. That is they whole point of Certification. Proving that you know about the technoligly, not just "correct answers" to pass a test. The MCDST is a good starting point. You will need to know about XP and the Office products.

    If you have not already been here, then check out the main page for MCDST

    http://www.microsoft.com/learning/mcp/mcdst/requirements.mspx
    IF you can meet the folling conditions, then I would suggest taking the test. If you have taken any Microsoft tests, the 70-271 and 272 are not that bad.

    Candidates for this exam support end users who run Microsoft Windows XP Professional in a corporate environment or Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition in a home environment. They should have experience using applications that are included with the operating system, such as Microsoft Internet Explorer and Microsoft Outlook Express, as well as the productivity applications used in a corporate environment, such as Microsoft Office applications.

    Here is that part many over look.

    Candidates should be able to resolve operating system issues by telephone, by connecting to an end user's system remotely, or by visiting an end user's desktop. They should have a working knowledge of operating in a workgroup or Active Directory domain environment and how end users are affected by each environment.

    It does not cost to get hands on experance, where as each test does cost $125.00
    Good luck with your choice.

    MCSA, MCTS, MCITP, MCDST, MCP, A+, Network

    Tim
    • Proposed as answer by flcpl Tuesday, October 7, 2008 5:34 PM
    • Marked as answer by Michael D. Alligood Wednesday, October 8, 2008 3:41 PM
    Tuesday, October 7, 2008 5:34 PM
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    Okej, the problem here is that my boss are requering our department to take this certificate. And we are not using XP Pro for our work. Iv tried some question from the cd and the test from Pass4Sure. 
    But the only thing we got from our boss was a book... so :)  So you say i will not pass the test if only read one book and not have any deep experence of XP pro?






    Tuesday, October 7, 2008 7:33 PM
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    Depending on how good the book is it is possible to pass the test. But it is better if you have hands on experience. The whole point of certifictions is to demonstrate your knowledge and experience in certain areas. You should gain experience before you try to get certifictions. If you are able to pass the exam with what you learned from the book you will probably be in trouble when there is an issue that you are called on to fix, since you have no experience with it the certification will be useless.

    If you are not using XP in the work place why are you taking a test on XP?
    Eric
    Tuesday, October 7, 2008 8:43 PM
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    Experience can come in many forms.  At the very least I would see if you could get your hands on a copy of XP Pro and install it on a virtual machine using Virtual PC.  This would allow you to get some hands on experience and run it through some of the scenarios in the book you are using.  If you combine hands on experience using virtual machines along with book study and really put the time in, you should be able to pass the test.

    Good luck.

    Dave
    DaveLawlor.com
    Wednesday, October 8, 2008 2:04 PM
    Answerer
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    Cribb said:

    Okej, the problem here is that my boss are requering our department to take this certificate. And we are not using XP Pro for our work.




    Is this a typo? If not, I agree with Eric. I do not understand why your boss needs your department to test on Windows XP Professional if you are not using it. Regardless, the responses here are leading you in the correct direction. Experience + Knowledge = Proficiency.
    Michael D. Alligood,
    MCITP, MCTS, MCSA, MCDST, MCP, A+, Network+

    The I.T. Classroom Blog
    Start. Research. Plan. Perform. End. Test. Evaluate.
    Wednesday, October 8, 2008 3:41 PM
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    Because we will use it in the future..we have Xp Pro now but we do not have any rights to change settings and stuff like that and we really dont use it as a tool(we only use web applications for our customers).

    But for now i have one book.
    Test - Pass4Sure
    Test - Measureup(that Microsoft mention on their website).

    The problem i see is this:
    The book include 10 chapters, 70-271 is the first 5 chapter, 70-272 are the last 5...
    For ex. i get a lot of IE questions on the Measureup test(70-271) but in the book the IE chapter belongs to 70-272(?).
    So i really dont know if i would just concentrate on the Measureup or the book?




    • Edited by Wanted One Friday, October 10, 2008 12:21 PM
    Friday, October 10, 2008 12:19 PM
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    I would not mention Pass4Sure around here if I were you.
    There are not accepted as a valid study provider.

    Visit MeasureUp to take a practice test (MeasureUp.com)

    In support of its MCP practice tests, MeasureUp offers the following benefits:

    • A Test Pass guarantee
    • Online, CD-ROM, and download delivery modes
    • Multiple test modes
    • References to Official Microsoft Learning Products
    • Detailed explanations for correct and incorrect answers
    • A full test history
    • Score reports for an entire exam or score reports by objective

    Note MeasureUp’s 70-290 and 70-291 online practice tests feature a variety of performance-based simulations that reflect the actual performance-based simulations that are included in the Microsoft exams.

    Visit Self Test Software for practice tests and study guides (SelfTestSoftware.com)

    Self Test Software products are based on Official Microsoft Learning Products. They simulate the complexity of the real exam and help you assess your exam preparedness. In support of MCP exams, Self Test Software offers:

    • Learning and certification modes of study
    • In-depth tutorials that explain correct and incorrect answers
    • Test history so that you can track your progress over time
    • Score reporting by objective so that you can focus on your weak areas
    • Free, integrated flash cards so that you can drill yourself on key concepts
    • Customizable interface so that you can study according to your needs
    • The latest simulation items with in-depth explanations that detail the available completion paths and explain why those paths are correct
    • Test-pass guarantee because we know our products will help you pass the exam
    These are the accepted ones.

    Tim MCSA, MCTS, MCITP, MCDST, MCP, A+, Network+
    • Edited by flcpl Friday, October 10, 2008 2:26 PM
    Friday, October 10, 2008 2:22 PM
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    Yeh i have bought MeasureUp, their questions are harder then the questions from the book..so i dont know if the book are so damn good:)
    Friday, October 10, 2008 6:56 PM
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    I would recommend a new book than.

    You could get this one for the 70-271
    http://www.microsoft.com/mspress/books/8796.aspx

    and this for the 70-272
    https://www.microsoft.com/mspress/books/8771.aspx

    MSPress books are very good.
    Eric
    Friday, October 10, 2008 8:38 PM
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    Okej my book have like 130 pages for 70-271..the book you recommended was on 840(!) pages.  Oh my....

    I have one last question. Im feeling that the most people in this forum dont like Pass4Sure...reason? Are the question from them wrong or what?
    Saturday, October 11, 2008 6:19 PM
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    Wanted One said:

    Because we will use it in the future..we have Xp Pro now but we do not have any rights to change settings and stuff like that and we really dont use it as a tool(we only use web applications for our customers).


    But for now i have one book.
    Test - Pass4Sure
    Test - Measureup(that Microsoft mention on their website).

    The problem i see is this:
    The book include 10 chapters, 70-271 is the first 5 chapter, 70-272 are the last 5...
    For ex. i get a lot of IE questions on the Measureup test(70-271) but in the book the IE chapter belongs to 70-272(?).
    So i really dont know if i would just concentrate on the Measureup or the book?






    Cribb said:

    Okej my book have like 130 pages for 70-271..the book you recommended was on 840(!) pages.  Oh my....

    I have one last question. Im feeling that the most people in this forum dont like Pass4Sure...reason? Are the question from them wrong or what?



    I am assuming "Cribb" and "Wanted One" are the same author. Regardless, I will answer both concerns here.

    First, there is NO all-in-one study kit. Not one study kit will cover EVERYTHING you need to know about the technology - especially not in a book that only contains 130 pages!  This is where experience comes into play. Also, I really dont give stock to practice exams. The only thing I use them for is conditioning my body to sit for the allotted time of the exam. For what its worth, CertGuard lists Pass4sure.com as a braindump site. Whether it is or not, it still seems fishy to me.

    I would visit, http://www.microsoft.com/learning/en/us/exams/70-271.mspx#ERD and http://www.microsoft.com/learning/en/us/exams/70-272.mspx#ETD to review the objectives for each exam. After reviewing these objectives, you can determine what you know about any given subject yourself.
    Michael D. Alligood,
    MCITP, MCTS, MCSA, MCDST, MCP, A+, Network+

    The I.T. Classroom Blog
    Start. Research. Plan. Perform. End. Test. Evaluate.
    Saturday, October 11, 2008 11:14 PM
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    I just want to say this...the measure up questions are by far the worst. i'm sorry, but i have to be honest. I've seen errors on the practice tests, answers i picked that were right were marked wrong, they've had the wrong simulation graphic for the question, etc.
    Thursday, October 23, 2008 7:43 PM
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    I have had some issues with MeasureUp where questions were marked wrong but they were actually correct. Visit http://www.measureup.com/Site/display_article.aspx?id=838  when that happens and send them an email with the question id so they are aware of it. They were very helpful to me when I had an issue.
    Eric
    Thursday, October 23, 2008 8:02 PM