big_nath

This is too funny!! Hard Drive weight increasing? This is courtesy of Modey here

thanks for the comments guys! I have been looking around, but there isn't much around at the moment! I wouild love to work for the IT dept at the council here! I have met a couple of the guys down there and they seem a good bunch!

Hi All, I want to get involved in more projects and server work. Let me first explain my situation I am 1 of 2 ICT Techs, above us we have a curriculum network manager and above him our systems manager. I have recently become an MCSA (working towards MCSE). Neither of my managers have a strong IT knowledge/ background. An example of this is that, i regularly get asked how to setup different things on the server, how to deploy packages, setup group policies etc. I don't have a problem with this, but i want some recognition. I also want to get involved in more projects and development. My boss knows i'm capable and has said it many times, but when ever some thing that is over he's head (setting up new server etc) he hires an external contractor. Every job i have ever been asked to do i have done, and i have never messed anything up! I personally think the reason is because, he doesn't want it to look like i know more than him. Which i can understand. I have 2 questions Does anyone have any suggestions to overcome this? or has any one every encountered a similar situation?

I don't know of any free PDF's, but this book is pretty good [ame=http://www.amazon.co.uk/Active-Directory-Administrator%2527s-Consultant-Administrators/dp/0735626480/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1247578435&sr=8-6]Active Directory® Administrator's Pocket Consultant Administrators Pocket Consultant: Amazon.co.uk: William R. Stanek: Books[/ame].

Think about what you need it for! Do you need to run Multiple memory intensive programs?

Agreed home study isn't for everyone. I think the ability to complete an intensive course would depend on you current skills. If you know Windows server inside out, i guess it is a quick way to certify, but if you have a lot of areas that need improvement, i'm not sure the average person would be able to keep up. I know that i wouldn't be able to.

Correct experience is key! It depends what you use at place of work. If you have a 2k3 network then go down the MCSA/MCSE road. If you are on 2k8 then MCITP would be the path i'd choose. The same is true for the client exams if you use mainly Vista then do the 7-620 exam, if XP then do the 70-270. If you choose the MCSA/MCSE path, you can easily upgrade to MCITP at a later date.

I don't get why you need 14 books? the MCSA is part of the MCSE path. The MCSA is 4 exams and the MCSE is a further 3. I would recommend you investigate home study as it will only cost about £30 each book and £88 each exam. I paid about £3k for a similar course, but i wish i had just saved the extra money and bought myself the nuts of a PC with the extra!

It depends on what you do in your day-to-day job . The client exam, either Vista or XP (70-620 or 70-270) you will probably find fairly easy. The other's depend on how much server work you actually do and to what level. I have recently certified as MCSA and i did these exams 70-270, 70-290, 70-291 and 70-284. This is how i found them, 70-270 - Fairly easy, but still some suprises. 70-290 - I actually found this easier than the 270, but i do a lot of account administration. 70-291 - HARD, HARD, HARD. I don't have alot of experience with configuring DNS, DHCP etc. 70-284 - I found this one fairly hard also. But again i don't do that much exchange (just works most of the time). The best books IMO are the MS press books, they come with a digital version of the book, exam voucher and some exam practice questions and it is probably a good idea to get some form of CBT too. You will need to setup a test lab, i did this with VMware, as i don't have the space at home for physical machines. For each exam i studied for about 2 hours a day (every single day) for about 2 month, then took the exam (the 291 and 284 took me about 3 months each). Good luck!!!

Dual booting Windows 7 and Vista.

My work PC is similar, but i have 8GB ram and only 500GB HD.

the profile is not to big. It could be a logon script is hanging. The default time out is 10 minutes for that i beleive. Other than slow log on is the network quite responsive?

I have not ever done this, but a quick google took me to this site, Configuring ISA Server for Incoming Ping Responses It might help.

How big are the profiles? and how long is it taking to log on?

Hi richard, Here is a good link regarding gpo's, specifically inheritance. Group Policy Inheritance. You can use group policy results wizard to see what GPO's are being applied. here is a link that will help you with that Using Group Policy Modeling and Group Policy Results to Evaluate Group Policy Settings