How do you learn/revise?

[gl3nnym]

Hi All

 

I am probably right in guessing that most people here have taken a course or studies MS as some point. My question is, when it comes to revising for a course and performing practises, how do you do it without hands on?

 

For example I am currently studying for the 70-620 Vista exam (don't hate on me, work are paying and it's toward my MCITP:ESA). I want to do these practises properly but I don't have the Vista Ultimate media. I will soon need to work on Windows Server 2008 but also do not have access to this anywhere!

 

So how does one get hands on? I was going to try to use Vista Ultimate for the practises during it's trial period then delete it when finished but I cannot get hold of the DVD. I will never be able to get a Server 2008 DVD.

 

I could buy the operating systems but I only want to try them for about a week or so then I have no use for them.

 

Any advice appreciated (this is my first exam by the way, hence the n00bness).

glennym

[swhymark]

Hi gl3nnym,

Maybe if you get the Microsoft Virtual PC, (which is free), you may be able to find a .VHD of Vista from Microsoft, or a 30 day trial or something.

Sorry can't be more helpful than that, it is what I would try to do.

[AyatollahPies]

Virtual machines all the way!

 

If work are paying towards a qualification, surely they appreciate you need to be able to practice on the OS, rather than just read about it? Have a nice word with the business manager.

[gl3nnym]

My plan is to run VMware off my laptop (which can happily run a few instances of XP) and have two or three trial Vista VM's setup. I would use this for maybe 1 or max 2 weeks then delete the files after I am done.

 

@swhymark Thanks. Microsoft do allow use of Vista for up to 30 days (I think) without activation. The only trouble is finding them! I am not willing to use torrents or go down the illegitimate route.

 

@ayatollahpies Thanks. Again I do want to use Virtual Machines but cannot find Vista to put on the buggers. The business manager was reluctant enough to pay for the qualification. If I ask him to shell out another £150 for Vista Ultimate he will probably have a stroke!

 

Thanks for the advice so far.

[pete]

Virtual machine with trial version, or get $work to pay for a Technet subscription (basically, access to most MS products for testing/evaluation/learning - keys and .iso downloads, plus two support incidents with MS). It's ~£200 if you find a decent discount voucher.

[ajs]

So how does one get hands on? I was going to try to use Vista Ultimate for the practises during it's trial period then delete it when finished but I cannot get hold of the DVD. I will never be able to get a Server 2008 DVD.

 

 

 

Windows Server 2008 R2 Evaluation Free 180-Day Trial

 

According to the info at the top of the page, VHDs are also available for download.

[kili]

Hi All

 

I am probably right in guessing that most people here have taken a course or studies MS as some point. My question is, when it comes to revising for a course and performing practises, how do you do it without hands on?

 

For example I am currently studying for the 70-620 Vista exam (don't hate on me, work are paying and it's toward my MCITP:ESA). I want to do these practises properly but I don't have the Vista Ultimate media. I will soon need to work on Windows Server 2008 but also do not have access to this anywhere!

 

So how does one get hands on? I was going to try to use Vista Ultimate for the practises during it's trial period then delete it when finished but I cannot get hold of the DVD. I will never be able to get a Server 2008 DVD.

 

I could buy the operating systems but I only want to try them for about a week or so then I have no use for them.

 

Any advice appreciated (this is my first exam by the way, hence the n00bness).

glennym

 

Ask your management to allow you to buy a single technet subscription ( 134 euros). This will give you access to all the Microsoft software you require with serial numbers for download.

 

Kili

[busby]

not tested the link sorry Vista

[Azhibberd]

Personally i'd go for the tech net plus, I bought it for myself just so i can test everything in a vm environment without any resrictions!

[gl3nnym]

With regards to TechNet. I have seen that the Pro version is £234 per year. Surely this does not grant me full use of ALL software seeing as Vista can go for £170 alone? Need to read more into it but this looks good.

 

Does anybody have a TechNet sub? Any good?

 

@ajs: Brilliant thank you! I will grab that for when I need it!

@busby Will try the link, thanks!

 

I don't think work would fork out for a subscription for me but I suppose there is no stopping me getting it myself.

[Soulfish]

TechNet gives you access to virtually all MS software for use within a test environment only. It's cheap as lots of people need access to various MS products so that they can test/play with them, and may not be able to afford full copies of everything. Do remember that the license is very restricted and you cannot use the software in a live/production environment

[gl3nnym]

TechNet gives you access to virtually all MS software for use within a test environment only. It's cheap as lots of people need access to various MS products so that they can test/play with them, and may not be able to afford full copies of everything. Do remember that the license is very restricted and you cannot use the software in a live/production environment

 

Thanks for the info. I am now looking at the Standard one as that lets me use the software I want e.g. Vista Ultimate and Server 2008. So I will be able to play with AD and GPO with the test version? I don't want anything for production, just testing as you mentioned.

[Azhibberd]

Your be able todo everything with it that you can do with a full copy, Just the restriction is your not allowed to use it in a production environment! Otherwise do as it as you wish

[gl3nnym]

Sorry to be a pain but I have just read this article:

Microsoft secretly yanks TechNet product keys ? The Register

 

Does this mean I can only use a specific amount of software from TechNet? Of does this mean I can only use each bit of software so many times? I cannot find anything on MSTechNet.

 

Thanks Again

[Azhibberd]

Just means you can only activate the software so many times, so each os will come with x amount of liscences so you can only have x amount of live copies going in a test environment

[gl3nnym]

Ah OK so if I went for the Standard then I guess I can only activate each piece of software twice. Not too bad I suppose.

Thanks for the info. Really cleared some things up!

 

(VHD link for Vista doesn't work unfortunately).

[Azhibberd]

Exactly! Never hit the limit myself in all honestly as never needed more than 5 test machines at once, Its just nice to have everything available when ever i want it!