Microsoft Exams released in November 2009

Exams released in November 2009	Preparation guide
PRO: Windows 7, Enterprise Desktop Administrator (English)	Exam 70-686
TS: Windows 7, Preinstalling for OEMs (English)	Exam 70-683
PRO: Windows 7, Enterprise Desktop Support Technician (English)	Exam 70-685

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Now available! 70-683: TS: Windows 7, Preinstalling for OEMs

Exam 70-683 is now available in Prometric testing centers. This is a Technical Specialist exam designed to assess candidates’ hands-on skills in preinstalling Windows 7 for OEMs.

Candidates for this exam are IT professionals who use the Microsoft OEM Preinstallation Kit (OPK) and imaging tools to deploy and maintain Windows 7 desktops and additional applications and tools. Candidates should have a minimum of one year of experience addressing day-to-day issues involving desktop image deployments. Candidates should be familiar with Microsoft best practices for using the OPK.

This exam covers the following topics:

• Preparing the OPK Environment
• Creating a Base Image
• Configuring the Image for Deployment
• Deploying and Updating the Image

For a more detailed list of the skills measured on this exam, check out the prep guide. To schedule your exam, visit Prometric’s Web site.

Now available! 70-662: TS: Microsoft Exchange Server 2010, Configuring

Exam 70-662 is now available in Prometric testing centers. This is a Technical Specialist exam designed to assess candidates’ hands-on skills configuring Microsoft Exchange Server 2010.

The typical candidate for this exam is a Messaging Generalist responsible for the maintenance and administration of the Exchange servers in an enterprise environment. Day to day, the candidate typically installs and manages Exchange Server 2010 and manages users, mailboxes, security, servers, and databases. The candidate might also monitor and troubleshoot Exchange Server 2010.

This exam covers the following topics:

• Installing and Configuring Exchange Servers
• Configuring Exchange Recipients and Public Folders
• Configuring Client Access
• Configuring Message Transport
• Monitoring and Reporting
• Implementing High Availability and Recovery
• Configuring Message Compliance and Security

For a more detailed list of the skills measured on this exam, check out the prep guide. To schedule your exam, visit Prometric’s Web site.

RTM’d today: MCTS Self-Paced Training Kit (Exam 70-680): Configuring Windows 7

MCTS Self-Paced Training Kit (Exam 70-680): Configuring Microsoft Windows 7 (Microsoft Press, 2010; ISBN: 9780735627086; 912 pages), by Ian McLean and Orin Thomas, is at the printer.  Congrats, Ian and Orin!

About Ian McLean and Orin Thomas

Ian McLean is the coauthor of numerous Microsoft Press SELF-PACED TRAINING KITs, covering the Windows Server, Windows Client, Exchange Server, and SQL Server technologies.

Orin Thomas is a writer, teacher, and consultant whose books include the SELF-PACED TRAINING KITs for Windows Vista exam 70-620 and Windows Server 2008 exams 70-646 and 70-647.

The book will be available via online retailers around October 21, 2009. You can preorder it here or here.

Here’s information about Exam 70-680.

And here’s the book’s chapter-level TOC:

Contents at a Glance

Introduction xxiii

CHAPTER 1 Install, Migrate, or Upgrade to Windows 7 1
CHAPTER 2 Configuring System Images 53
CHAPTER 3 Deploying System Images 113
CHAPTER 4 Managing Devices and Disks 195
CHAPTER 5 Managing Applications 255
CHAPTER 6 Network Settings 297
CHAPTER 7 Windows Firewall and Remote Management 381
CHAPTER 8 BranchCache and Resource Sharing 421
CHAPTER 9 Authentication and Account Control 477
CHAPTER 10 DirectAccess and VPN Connections 513
CHAPTER 11 BitLocker and Mobility Options 553
CHAPTER 12 Windows Update and Windows Internet Explorer 599
CHAPTER 13 Monitoring and Performance 647
CHAPTER 14 Recovery and Backup 729

Answers 783
Glossary 843
Index 847

Windows 7 Certifications/Exams (MCTS & MCITP)

 

Certification	Exam Number
MCTS: Windows 7 – Configuration	Exam 70-680
MCITP: Enterprise Desktop Administrator 7	Exam 70-686 (available late 2009)

Hope this is helpful.

Have MCAD, now what?

Current certification	Certification goals	Exams
MCAD	MCTS: .NET Framework 2.0 Windows Applications	Exam 70-558: Upgrade: MCAD Skills to MCTS Windows Applications by Using the Microsoft .NET Framework
MCAD	MCTS: .NET Framework 2.0 Web Applications	Exam 70-559: Upgrade: MCAD Skills to MCTS Web Applications by Using the Microsoft .NET Framework
MCAD	MCTS: .NET Framework 2.0 Web Applications and MCPD: Web Developer, Visual Studio 2005	Exam 70-551: Upgrade: MCAD Skills to MCPD Web Developer by Using the Microsoft .NET Framework
MCAD	MCTS: .NET Framework 2.0 Windows Applications and MCPD: Windows Developer, Visual Studio 2005	Exam 70-552: Upgrade: MCAD Skills to MCPD Windows Developer by Using the Microsoft .NET Framework
MCAD	MCTS: .NET Framework 2.0 Distributed Applications MCPD: Enterprise Applications Developer on Visual Studio 2005 certification Note You must have already passed Exam 70-551 and Exam 70-522.	Exam 70-529: TS: Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0 – Distributed Application Development and Exam 70-549: PRO: Designing and Developing Enterprise Applications by Using the Microsoft .NET Framework

Hope this is helpful.

Developer Certification Changes

Early information but at this point, it looks as though there will be two new exams for SharePoint developers coming.  An MCTS and an MCPD for Office SharePoint Server.  Some of you asked for the MCPD at PDC and I indicated at the time that it would require audience research.  The SharePoint folks have provided that and as a result, there will be new exams forthcoming.

Unfortunately, it appears as though there always has to be a negative side as well.  At this point, unless we can turn it around, the will be no certification exams for Expression Web or Expression Blend.  Kind of a shame as I was looking forward to having certifications on these.  Well, Expression Blend mostly for my preferences, but both would have been nice.

That’s all for now.

Shipping and Handling Details for Microsoft Paper Certificates

Starting next week, if you’d rather not print your own certificates or have a local print shop do it, you can order a paper certificate from our fulfillment vendor.

We’ll post instructions and a link next week both here and on the MCP Member site, but since many of you have been asking “how much is this going to cost,” we can share that information now:

The base shipping and handling cost for a paper certificate is $9.95 USD—to anywhere in the world. One price, worldwide.

Additional information:

You can add additional certificates to your order (maximum of 6) for $0.99 each… so an order for 3 certificates would cost $9.95 + $0.99 + $0.99 = $11.93

There will be an “express shipping” option for faster delivery, at an additional fee of course. Don’t have the details on that yet.

Some U.S. residents will be charged sales tax (if you live in a state where our fulfillment vendor has facilities—I have no idea why, but it’s a legal requirement).

No sales tax or VAT outside of the U.S.

Only Visa, MasterCard, and American Express payments are accepted—no other payments of any type.

More details next week.

Free MS Press Books on Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007 and Windows SharePoint Services Version 3.0 (For developers)

7 Development Projects for Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007 and Windows SharePoint Services Version 3.0 (PDF file, 4,877 KB)
Get a hands-on introduction with seven practical projects. This guide highlights architectural underpinnings, the latest enhancements for developers, and code samples to get you started with building custom applications and solutions with Windows SharePoint Services products and technologies. (Note For developers)

Hope this is helpful.

MCP Certificates: Then and Now – By Ken Rosen

MCP Certificates: Then and Now – Posted by Ken Rosen on July 1st, 2009

A few weeks ago, I made a side reference to the first MCP exam I ever took (and that Microsoft ever offered!): 70-001.

Eagle-eyed reader Matt caught it and replied, “So I have to ask… what is 70-001?”

Just for you, Matt: I dug out my old certificate to find the name of the exam, and when I looked at it, I knew I had to share it…

My favorite flourish has to be the little crown in the logo. (Can’t you just imagine a Microsoftie looking at the logo and thinking, “Hmmm… it’s just not quite right yet. Needs something… I know: a crown!”)

Oh, and my middle initial isn’t D. It took me years to get Microsoft to change that.

Quite a journey from the above to the below, eh?

Now if only I could get our database team to fix my “certified since 2005′” to read  “certified since 1993” like it’s supposed to…

Sigh. The more things change…