Customer Reviews

MCSA/MCSE Managing and Maintaining a Windows Server 2003 Environment Exam Cram 2 (Exam Cram 70-292)

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I failed this test twice, so I'm more familiar with the test than I wanted to be, and definitely in a position to say whether or not this book covers the material. Well, it depends on how you use the book. This test is fairly difficult. I base this on the fact that out of the 7 Microsoft exams I've taken previously, I had only ever failed one (the SQL Admin test) before. I think it *should* be hard, because it encompasses four other tests. That's the point of an upgrade test, right? Anyway, this book does not cover absolutely everything that you might encounter on the test. I doubt that there's a book that does. It even omits some things that I think should be included, like EMS and MBSA. However, it packs a lot of great material for each objective into only about 200 pages. I would certainly recommend doing other studying in conjunction with using this book (as does the author) but if you want a great overview, this book is very easy to read, has good coverage of a lot of the new 2003 features, such as the new command line tools, points you to other resources when you need additional information on a subject, and in many cases, puts the emphasis on exactly the right things.

Yet again another rather transparent attempt to dump on a good title. The content is there, the delivery is fine and as always with another source of material (you should never use just one source for certification exams) and provided you actually read and study for the exam (unlike some self-confessed so called reviewers) then this Exam Cram will help you through. On the other hand you could remain clueless and live in Denver.

I took the test today and I failed miserably. I am certified NT 4.0 and Windows 2000 MCSE. I thought the book was good but was off the mark to pass Microsoft test 70-292.
Once again, the Transcender tests are the only thing to use to pass the test. It is not the fault of the Exam Cram series but the way Microsoft writes the question. This test (70-292) was poorly written by Microsoft and some of the questions and choices were very confusing.

Having used this book to good effect I too thought I should come back and redress the balnce in ratings on this book as others have done. There is nothing wrong here, don't use it as a single source make sure you read widely and have some hands on. The only cruel joke in these pages emerges from Denver.

I would like to point out that scripting is methioned in several chapters. Early on, scritping is reviewed from new command-line utilites (Pgs 28-30). On page 90, several GPMC Scripts are highlighted that are used to troubleshoot GPOs. In Chapter 4, IIS command-line scripts are featured and discussed.

Chapter 3 discusses GPOs at length and includes topics on the Group Policy Managment Console (GPMC), copying, backing up, restoring and importing GPOs; Configuring RSoP, performing policy simulation, configuring and managing Security Policy using MMC and command line are all discussed in detail.

I personally use a variety of methods to prepare for certification exams. Installing, using and playing around with the Windows product is critical to passing any MS exam. Certification Texts an Study guides like the Exam Cram texts are very useful for the details along with taking practice exam questions. In all, I prepare an average of thirty hours for each exam. It appears to me that some people not only don't study for the exam, but also fail to read the material they review.

Smartcards, IPSec, default SOA settings....all these subject matters as well as a bunch of others were not even addressed in this book! Yet, the 70-292 exam tested you on all of these.

I passed all of the Win2k exams using Exam Cram series books, and I always felt there was simply too much material in the books, and it was not necessary to read every page.

Now it's not nearly enough. They are well written, organized and accurate. However, fall way short. I, too, use the operating system, puchased a video, surf the net for subject matter, and I was still surprised on the exam.

I'm getting the feeling that Microsoft is pulling questions for the upgrade exams from the pool of questions of the 4 core exams. Hardly seems fair.

I don't have the time or the money to guess which book has which material and read all of it. I need one product that thoroughly prepares me for the exam, and not have to guess what is and is not on the exam.

Exam Cram does not accomplish this goal. Otherwise they should change their slogan to: "The Exam Cram Method of study focuses on SOME of what you need to get certified now." Not very punchy anymore, is it.

I passed many a test using the Exam Cram books, but this one was no help. It's more like a review and missing many details found on the test.