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I have turned to the dark side...
Posted: Sun Jan 07, 2007 1:16 pm
by Charles256
I am going to become a Microsoft Certified Professional. Just one question to anyone that's followed this road. It says "this is for someone with x amount experience", anyone had any luck passing the tests without said experience?

Posted: Sun Jan 07, 2007 1:25 pm
by feyd
Yes, but it's not simple.
Posted: Sun Jan 07, 2007 1:30 pm
by Charles256
What I was thinking of doing is buying four computers and setting up my own domain and actually trying to do this stuff by hand. I think I can get four computers for about $900 bucks building it through tiger direct and smoe other site for the monitors. Anyone know of a place I could beat that price?
Posted: Sun Jan 07, 2007 2:20 pm
by Kieran Huggins
VMware! (or the F/OSS equivalent)
Posted: Sun Jan 07, 2007 2:31 pm
by timvw
The microsoft equivalent would be VirtualPC :p (Just look at all the 'ready to use' virtual pc images they offer at msdn subscriptions etc... and you'll know they're pushing this (like all their other stuff)).
Posted: Sun Jan 07, 2007 2:37 pm
by Kieran Huggins
Posted: Sun Jan 07, 2007 2:39 pm
by Charles256
Virtual machines will allow me to emulate a network? OOO! I likey this virtual PC!at least i think.now to see if i can make it work. To make sure I have this right I need the operating sytem CD for Virtual PC to boot up these virtual operating systems,right?
Posted: Sun Jan 07, 2007 3:06 pm
by feyd
Yeah, VirtualPC is pretty useful for testing. And yes you can make networks amongst virtual machines.
Posted: Sun Jan 07, 2007 3:09 pm
by Charles256
So now all I have to do is figure out where to come up with 500 dollars so I can boot up a virtual machine of windows server 2003.... : sigh :
Posted: Sun Jan 07, 2007 3:12 pm
by AKA Panama Jack
Charles256 wrote:What I was thinking of doing is buying four computers and setting up my own domain and actually trying to do this stuff by hand. I think I can get four computers for about $900 bucks building it through tiger direct and smoe other site for the monitors. Anyone know of a place I could beat that price?
Heck, you could buy 4 used computers with 4 used monitors for half that at most used computer stores. And yes, they would be more than powerful enough to do what you are wanting.

Posted: Sun Jan 07, 2007 3:49 pm
by m3mn0n
If you do want a good remote control app, I'd recommend TightVNC (
http://www.tightvnc.com/ )
It has Windows, Linux, & Unix clients/servers.
It's great and simple and I used to use it a lot for tech support around my parents house (Had 4 other computers on the network which always seemed to have an issue or two).
Another use I had for it was having an actual old PC as a Linux web server, and this was my way to control it with a GUI instead of remotely by command.
Posted: Sun Jan 07, 2007 3:55 pm
by Kieran Huggins
I use (and like) tightVNC for work.
VMware has extended support for setting up and booting entire networks of VM's. It also has a free player.
I'm sure booting a non-production copy of windows just to study for your MCSE doesn't violate the spirit of the EULA. There are arguments for and against this, and they've been made before (I'm not looking to start one here).