Announcing an all-new MCSA/MCSE Training Kit designed to help maximize your performance on Exams 70-292 and 70-296, core exams for IT professionals already certified on Microsoft Windows® 2000 who want to upgrade their credentials for Windows Server 2003. Covering two exams and two certification tracks, this kit provides excellent value. It packs the tools and features exam candidates want most—including in-depth, self-paced training based on final exam content; rigorous, objective-by-objective review; exam tips from an expert exam-certified author; and a robust testing suite. It also provides real-world scenarios, case study examples, and troubleshooting labs for the skills and expertise you can apply to the job.

Ace your exam preparation by working at your own pace through the lessons, hands-on exercises, and practice tests. The flexible, best-of-class test engine on CD-ROM features 425 practice questions and pre- and post-assessment capabilities. Choose timed or untimed testing mode; generate random tests or focus on discrete objectives or chapters; and get detailed explanations for right and wrong answers—including pointers back to the book for further study. You also get a 180-day evaluation version of Windows Server 2003 software—making this kit an exceptional value and a great career investment.

Amazon.com® Reader Reviews (Ranked by Helpfulness)

Average Amazon.com® Rating:  Based on 27 Ratings

Best Comprehensive Book Available but not without faults - 2006-08-31
Reviewer Rating:
I used this book as a primary study guide for the 2003 upgrade exams and although it doesn't cover all the material, it is an excellent book and in my humble opinion the single best source of prepartion.

From what I've gathered, the exams changed sometime in late 2005 and some of the content is dated. That however is not the fault of the authors and unlike many of the "Microsoft Press" books, I found this an enjoyable and easy read.

The book is not indended to deeply review the "Core MCSE Curriculum". Its' audience is expected to be familiar with Windows 2000 engineering and administrative principles as well as a practicing administrator. The text will present content that is now covered under the exam (ie: high availibility services and certificate services)and features that are differential to the old product line. So do not expect this to be your sole source for content, at best it covers 80% of the exam's breadth. If you feel in the learch, I can only suggest brushing up on your 2000 or 2003 core infrastructure notes especially dealing with the subjects of GPOs and Site design\ AD-replication.

Subjects that are missing from the book that require research are EMS (in-band\ out of band services), Role Separation for Cerificate services and WIFI GPO administrative practices. A list of references to supportive documentation can be found in the study notes at [...] . The webpage's host has done an admirable job of putting them together.

In final preparation for the exam, I can only suggest Transcenders as a simulation software...accept no other. CBT nuggets has some great multi-media presentations available through their website to aid in reviewing the material and their content is first class.


Good Luck

Excellent for real world and exams - 2007-03-17
Reviewer Rating:
Having achieved NT, 2000, and now 2003 MCSE certification, I've found the Microsoft Press books to be mixed bags. This one, however, is excellent. Weighing in at nearly 1500 pages, it covers a lot of ground. If you read (and re-read) the entire book, as well as ALL of the test questions in the included Measure Up sample test, and follow up on unclear information/answers with the TechNet website, and of course have real-world experience, then you'll have excellent preparation for the exams.

When reading this book, I kept admiring the editing. Most tech books have some serious editing problems - unclear wording, dubious or flat-out incorrect information. With this one, I was continually impressed with how each sentence was written to say precisely what was intended, with not too many or too few words. That's not to say it's pithy - writing "Windows Server 2003" repeatedly takes up space - just that it's very well written.

The glossary and included ebooks are helpful as well. Only bummer is that you can't print from the ebooks, so when you're studying, you'll need to apply pen to paper, or go to TechNet and do some printing.

The Measure Up practice test is not nearly as well written as the book - some dubious wording, typos, and incorrectly scored questions (like the answer is A, you put A, and the test scores it wrong). However, the practice test covers topics not included in the book (!), so it's worthwile to go through it.

Oh, and Microsoft even managed to inject a bit of humor here and there.

If Microsoft Press continues publishing books like this, they'll be a strong alternative to Sybex and others.

Nearly perfect, and surely the best prepguide there is available - 2006-09-29
Reviewer Rating:
I've used two preparation guides, this one and the one from Sybex. MSPress is definitely the best of these two books. Covers it all, the sybex version is too superficial and just does not cover it all, it actually lacks some important material.

This book contains lots of exercises, so you get hands on experience with all kinds of tools. Believe me, you are going to need it! The actual exam contains several simulations, so just reading about the available tools, options and functions is just not enough.

Futhermore every chapter ends with a small case study with some questions all of course regarding to stuff outlined in the chapter.

Without this book I would not have passed, both exams.

Very dry manual - 2009-01-23
Reviewer Rating:
This book was kind of helpful, but in the end I just studied on my own. The book was so dry it was very hard to keep motivated to keep studying. Between other review programs, and just plain old working in the field, this book was only marginally helpful for passing my MCSE upgrade.

Great Book To Upgrade the MCSA Certificate - 2008-05-02
Reviewer Rating:
Good training book to upgrade the MCSA or MCSE 2003 certificate. Easy to use and comprehensible. I recommend this book to prepare for the MCSA or MCSE Upgrade

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