Certification Prep – The 20 Minute Workout

TrainSignal is partnering with Microsoft Learning and IT consultant/trainer Michael Bender (MVP, MCT) on the “90 Days to MCSA Challenge,” in which people spend the 90 days leading up to TechEd North America studying for the Microsoft Certified Solutions Associate: Windows Server 2012 exams. Participants are able to take the exams at TechEd. This year’s challenge begins March 5 and runs through June 3, the first day of TechEd. Bender will be blogging on Microsoft’s Born to Learn throughout the process, to help participants figure out a game plan for studying. He’ll also be answering questions on the site’s forums and encourages people to follow the contest via Twitter, #90Days2MCSA. Review all the details at TrainSignal's Blog    

Straight from the Born to Learn site is Microsoft Learning's 90 Days to MCSA: Windows Server 2012 Edition Here you are able to Sign up for “90 Days to MCSA” emails , watch the Exam Prep Videos, join different study groups and much more. Michael Bender will be blogging about this regularly; you can see his first post Welcome to the "90 Days to MCSA" Challenge!

This is fantastic. The entire transcript is here as originally posted by sangeek Here is the video from YouTube.

The following is a list of new functionality in BitLocker for Windows 8 and Windows Server 2012 as provided via What's New in BitLocker from Microsoft TechNet: BitLocker provisioning Windows 8 is now deployable to an encrypted state during installation prior to calling setup. Used Disk Space Only encryption BitLocker now offers two encryption methods, Used Disk Space Only and Full volume encryption. Used Disk Space Only allows for a much quicker encryption experience by only encrypting used blocks on the targeted volume. Standard User PIN and password change Allows a standard user to change the BitLocker PIN or password on operating system volumes and the BitLocker password on data volumes, reducing internal help desk call volume. Network Unlock Enables a BitLocker system on a wired network to automatically unlock the system volume during boot (on capable Windows Server 2012 networks), reducing internal help desk call volumes for lost PINs. Support for Encrypted Hard Dr...

Leann Turpin is the Site Manager for the Born to Learn site and she has been adding and updating to the Certification Exam Prep Resources as part of the Server Certification Study Group content. I have been reviewing these for my 70-417 exam (which is not broken down as its own entry but is there as part of the core entries). The site breaks down each skills measured subtopic into groupings and offers links to the materials. For those of you looking for 70-411: Administering Windows Server 2012 materials can check out the wiki page for the 70-411 exam for all the links.

Here is my technology public service announcement for the week; if anyone cold calls you about your computer, that they are a windows tech and using "scare tactics" like your "computer is going to crash" or they have you "Windows Key+r and have you enter eventvrv" to run the Event Viewer so they can "prove" that these errors exist - HANG UP. It is a scam - they are just trying to charge you for a non service as there's probably nothing wrong with your system in the first place. The numbers / contact information people are reporting to me include 800-800-9822 and 424-256-3700 and a website http://www.optimizepcservice.com/ The callers speak with a foreign accent and so will any “manager” that comes to the phone. Many times they will simply identify themselves as working for “Microsoft Windows”; I worked for Microsoft Corporation for nearly nine years – there never was a consumer / end user service division and to this da...

It’s like I say “If I can teach someone the technology and they can learn the material, they will pass the exams” and that applies just as much to myself as anyone else. Here is a video shot of me at TechEd 2012 regarding the rebranding of the Microsoft Certification tracks for Windows 8 and Server 2012