Sat my Microsoft 70-640 exam today and passed. So this concludes my MCITP: Server Administrator 2008.
Just need my transcript to update in the next few days, then print out the certificate etc.
Posts Tagged ‘Microsoft’
Microsoft 70-640 Completed
Wednesday, September 8th, 2010Disappointing customer service from Microsoft Australia
Thursday, August 26th, 2010Hadn’t posted about this yet, but now is a good as time as any.
I attempted to use the exam vouchers that came with my MCITP SA 2008 books the other week, unfortunately the first 2 of the 3 vouchers that came with the book failed to work. Third one did, so booked with that. Very next day I open a ticket with Microsoft to have this corrected.
Skip forward nearly 3 weeks now and it’s still not resolved. I am not kidding, but in nearly 3 weeks they have failed to replace 2 exam vouchers. I’ve probably wasted over an hour of my own time chasing this up by numerous calls.
As of last Friday I was directed to call publisher in Sydney (that was 2 weeks wasted at that point). Come Tuesday when I called back publisher, I was told they couldn’t help me. So I went back to Microsoft Australia and rang the usual number hit option 4 and attempted to chase things up. Tomorrow will be 3 weeks and problem is still not resolved.
Extremely annoyed and disappointed. I am told I will get a call back by the team and then that doesn’t happen. In addition I made a complaint to an Australian call taker and was told it takes a day for a call back. Thus far that has lead to no call back either. Repeated attempts to speak with a supervisor result in no one being available and a call back promised.
Like I said, disappointing customer service by the team in question. If anyone knows anyone who works for Microsoft Australia, then let me know as I’d really love to provide them feedback about this ordeal (and maybe even hopefully get it resolved so I can get the vouchers reissued as required).
Meanwhile, think I will purchase a few more books that are NOT Microsoft Press ones.
EDIT: And still no follow up call to the issue. That’s over 4 weeks on this issue. Seriously annoyed. I would have to say, this is never going to be resolved.
Microsoft CertPacks
Tuesday, August 24th, 2010Was surfing yesterday and came across the following. It appears BornToLearn published the following post here.
This offer is available world wide. Purchase 2 or more exams up front to obtain a discount. In addition also get a second chance sitting of each exam purchased at no extra cost.
Proposed Technical Training
Monday, August 23rd, 2010Unfortunately it appears for sometime it is very difficult to get any sort of technical training. I ask and ask like anyone else and the technical training seems to be put on the back burner.
I guess it’s very lucky that I took the initiative of my own to attempt to brush up on some Microsoft skills. The journey so far has been interesting, although I must admit I am not at all looking forward to 70-640 exam. I’ll read the material and then do the usual revision. Hopefully I can pass it on the first attempt, but we will cross that bridge when it comes.
Meanwhile, as I was saying, technical training is hard to come by. So I have sat down and proposed the following training that I am going to complete off my own back.
Sept – 70-640 (attempt to complete the MCITP Server 2008 Administrator certification).
Oct – ITILv3 Foundations certification
Nov – 70-622 (turn my 70-620 into an MCITP Vista certification)
Dec – 70-686 (turn my 70-680 into an MCITP Windows 7 certification)
Jan – Jun 2011 (work through a RHCE book and then attempt to do the exam day to obtain an RHCE, followed by some more Microsoft. Possibly 70-652 and then more Hyper-V stuff).
Wish me luck, of course so items make get pushed back if I need more prep time for exams, but this is a rough guide on what I am hoping to achieve.
Microsoft 70-646 passed
Tuesday, August 17th, 2010Should of posted last night. Better late then never right?
I passed my Microsoft 70-646 yesterday, so now it’s onto the final exam of the 3 that I need to complete my MCITP Server Admin 2008 certification. The last exam in this case will be 70-640 which I haven’t done yet. Hoping to complete this on 20th September. Will depend on completing the reading material and being confident enough to give it a go.
Stay tuned.
70-646 exam scheduled
Wednesday, August 11th, 2010I’ve booked my Microsoft 70-646 exam. This is the 2nd exam on the track to obtaining MCITP: Server Admin 2008.
If I pass this next week, then I will start on the final 70-640 for which I have yet to read/complete.
Either be happy news after Monday or sad news. All depends if I pass. But I can assure you I am going in fully prepared. So if I don’t pass it might be a bit of a shock.
MCTS: Windows Server 2008 Network Infrastructure, Configuring
Monday, July 12th, 2010Passed the 70-642 exam today. It’s hoped that I can complete another one by the end of August. Aiming to undertake the 70-646 probably next, then coming back to complete 70-640 to finish off the MCITP: Server Admin certification track.
MCTS: Windows Server 2008 Network Infrastructure, Configuring
Monday, June 28th, 2010The Microsoft Windows 2008 Server Administrator books arrived about a few weeks ago. Started off reading the 70-642 book first. Some people recommended doing 70-640 first.
Just about finished the 70-642 book and have planned on attempting the exam 19th July, assuming I am confident when the time rolls around.
Wish me luck 
EDIT: Pulled exam forward a week. Got sick of reviewing. Now booked for 12th July.
MCTS: Windows 7 Configuration 70-680 passed
Monday, May 31st, 2010Sat for my MCTS: Windows 7 Configuration 70-680 today. Passed.
Now to order more books and continue this study/exam journey I have started. I hope Microsoft extend the 2nd chance offer when it ends in June. Soon see.
I won’t be doing another exam until I have the next set of books to read. Plan on ordering the books this week, so I won’t have them for about 3 weeks. So get to have a break, although I may do some reading from online resources (or via pdf’s until they show up).
Very busy
Sunday, May 30th, 2010Sorry about the lack of posts. But I’ve been very busy in recent months.
Between work and other stuff, not had much spare time. Currently finishing up a month long preparation for another Microsoft exam. I’ve been reading my 2nd book I purchased which was Windows 7 Configuration (70-680) which I booked the exam for the day after I completed my Vista Configuration exam.
Tomorrow is the big day to complete the next exam. If I can pass this one of the first go, then I’ll be ordering more books. Plan on doing MCITP: Server Administrator (2008) exams/certs. I’ve also been told I should probably grab an MCITP for Windows 7, which means I will probably end up doing 70-686 once the material is available later in the year, although I have found some online resources to work from in the meantime.
Will be sure to post back my progress soon.
