Certification Prep – The 20 Minute Workout

As offered on the Microsoft website, you can leverage these offered virtual labs and get exposure to the features in Windows 7, including the Application Compatibility Toolkit 5.5, AppLocker, BranchCache, BitLocker, Microsoft Application Virtualization (APP-V) and many others. The system requirements for the TechNet Virtual Labs have been outlined as: Windows Vista Windows XP Windows 2000 Windows Server 2003 Internet Explorer versions 5 or later is required I am running Windows 7 Ultimate Edition x64 and had no issues running the labs but these are the requirements as outlined on the System Requirements page. Additionally a screen resolution of 1024x768 or greater is recommended and the online labs are in US English and only support US English Language Keyboards. The FREE Windows 7 Virtual Labs are a MUST HAVE for anyone studying for the 70-680 MCTS Windows 7, Configuring exam. Technorati Tags: 70-680 , 70-680 Windows 7 , Windows 7 , MCITP , MCP , MCSE

Brien M. Posey, MCSE, is a five-time recipient of Microsoft's Most Valuable Professional (MVP) award for his work with Exchange Server, Windows Server, Internet Information Services (IIS), and File Systems and Storage. Brien has served as CIO for a nationwide chain of hospitals and was once responsible for the Department of Information Management at Fort Knox. As a freelance technical writer, Brien has written for Microsoft, TechTarget, CNET, ZDNet, MSD2D, Relevant Technologies and other technology companies. You can visit Brien's personal website at www.brienposey.com . He recently posted an article titled Crash course on Microsoft Outlook 2007 calendar sharing on the SearchExchange.com website. The walkthrough reviews the steps to share out an Outlook 2007 calendar, customize personal calendars, and to view multiple Outlook calendars in overlay mode all with accompanying screenshots. Technorati Tags: Microsoft , Outlook 2007 , Calendar , Sharing

So for those of you that might be interested in changing your default search provider in Internet Explorer 7 this quick walk through allows you to do it in a few simple steps. So the first thing you need to do is open your browser. Once you do that you’ll see the default search provider in gray in the search window as shown below. The next step is to click on the arrow to the right side of the search field and the magnifying glass so that the option menu shows up: Once you do that you can select “Change Search Defaults” which will open the dialog box as shown below. To choose a provider not shown or to create your own you’d choose the blue link Find more providers… at the bottom left corner of the dialog box. Choosing that link will cause the http://www.microsoft.com/windows/ie/searchguide/en-en/default.mspx?dcsref=http://runonce.msn.com/runonce2.aspx page to load as shown below. On this page you can choose from the list of provided options to select from or to create one of your own

For a limited time, you can download this free e-book “First Look: Microsoft Office 2010”, by Katherine Murray, which offers 14 chapters of early content. · Download e-book First Look: Microsoft Office 2010 (PDF file, 10.5 MB) · Download e-book First Look: Microsoft Office 2010 (XPS file, 27.9 MB) Direct links: http://download.microsoft.com/download/E/D/A/EDAE500D-75C8-406F-B1B4-A9FDEF477281/ebook_Microsoft_Office_2010.pdf http://download.microsoft.com/download/E/D/A/EDAE500D-75C8-406F-B1B4-A9FDEF477281/ebook_Microsoft_Office_2010.xps The e-book offer includes the following content. Part I, "Envision the Possibilities," describes the changes in the new Microsoft Office suite and shows how to use the new features so they fit the way you work. Chapter 1, "Welcome to Office 2010," introduces the new features. Chapter 2, "Express Yourself Effectively and Efficiently," details the great new enhancements and visual effects. Chapter 3, "Work

Emma Nelson recently posted an article over on the Windows Server HQ website regarding Network Access Protection. I would recommend review the article in it’s entirety. As part of the Windows 7, Configuring Exam (70-680) you’re going to need to have a good understanding of now NAP works and how it affects users that are connecting via Direct Access or via traditional VPN connections. NAP can also be used on the LAN as well. Windows Server 2008 uses NAP to restrict network access based on a system by system basis by performing a health assessment check on each computer that connects to the corporate network. If the client system meets the health benchmark by passing the health assessment check it is granted access the network. If the computer is in noncompliance, NAP is generally configured to block those systems from accessing the network until they can be made compliant with the health policy. For the most part there is a set of criteria that is set through the Windows Secu

The Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP) certification is one of the certifications available from the legacy MCP / MCSA / MCSE tracks. As part of the other topics I am writing about here on the site I thought it was important to take a look back at some of the history of the Microsoft Certification Program. I have a new article titled Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP) certification on the Toolbox for IT website. It references some of the history of the program back to the MCP days. Technorati Tags: certification , Microsoft , MCP , MCSA , MCSE , MCITP , MCTS