MCSA Certification

For those of you heading down the MCSA certification track, I hope the following list of links and resources will be of some use to you.

By obtaining the Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator (MCSA) certification, you should be able to demonstrate the skills necessary to successfully implement, manage, and troubleshoot the everyday requirements of a Windows-based operating environment.

The MCSA certification was launched in 2002 and is geared toward those who have about 12 months of experience working within the industry - with exposure to desktop operating systems, network operating systems, as well as the inherent network infrastructure that supports them. As there are no pre-requisites to this exam you can study for, and take, the MCSE however even if you don’t have the required practical experience.

The MCSA certification is best thought of as a mid-level certification, nicely sandwiched between the Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP) on the entry-level end of things and the Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE) on the expert end. Unfortunately the MCSA hasn't been around long enough for employers to be demanding it but it seems things are changing as the certification gains more acceptance. Anyhow, it's a Microsoft certification, so that must count for something. (Right?)

According to an online survey, the MCSA was last year hottest certification to go for according to those who were actually taking the exams. What you can read into that is debatable, but it certainly seems to be a popular choice.

Perhaps it's because the MCSA offers a stepping-stone certification on the path to the more arduous MCSE, or that the MCSA better reflects the duties and responsibilities that many IT professionals have in their daily jobs than the MCSE does/would.

To gain MCSA certification you will be required to pass three core exams and one elective exam (if you've already passed a CompTIA exam you may wish to look here to see if you can cross-credit, or if you've already headed down the MCP route you may find that you're well on your way to obtaining the MCSA certification).

MOUS Certification

If you're studying for your MOUS certification, either completely or just individual components, then hopefully my collection of free MOUS resources, MOUS study guides, and practice exams will be of use to you. I'll be adding to the list as I come across any further good MOUS resources, so keep checking back from time to time.

I've also put up a studying tips section, with links and articles to getting the most from your studying time, and offering techniques to improving your studying habits.

I was asked to complete the MOUS certification by my employer at the time (for what reason I don't know but it's a handy certification to have nonetheless). Due to work commitments I took one exam every two weeks, so it took me about 10 weeks to finish the Master MOUS certification. Many people I spoke to at the exam centre were doing it in one go, so it's certainly not impossible to do it that way either.

I used mostly CBT's (Computer Based Training) for these exams (which were provided for me through the company I worked for, but there are many others out there on the market if you need to go down the same route).

I found it was a good idea to print off the list of MOUS objectives for each exam from the Microsoft site, and then cross off each subject as you master it. Try to do as many practice questions as you can, and any areas that you feel you're not getting the answers right make sure you keep studying until you do get them right. If you can safely tick off the list of objectives as outlined on Microsoft's MOUS site, then you'll be ok for the exams.

If you're intending to purchase a MOUS book to help you with your studying, then my advice to you is to print off the objectives for the exam and compare those objectives to the chapters in the book you're intending to purchase. Make sure the book covers everything that is on the MOUS exam.

One other thing I suggest you try to remember for the exam (and this really helped me to improve on my scores as I took each subsequent exam) - on each question there is a button to restart that particular question.

Use it!. If, for example, you get a question with multiple objectives, you will probably spend some time clicking on various menu's to find the options and tools that you need to complete the question. Well, after you've done the question, restart it and do it again.

You'll do it the second time in a fraction of the time it took the first time, and you'll click all the right options first time. Your score will be much higher. And if you know your stuff, you'll have plenty of time to do each question twice.

So don't get worried at the time ticking away, and make sure to use the 'repeat the question' option.

How to install a printer driver on a Windows XP?

To install a printer driver locally on a Windows XP based computer, follow these steps:

• Click Start, click Control Panel, click Printers and Other Hardware, and then click Printers and Faxes.
• Double-click Add Printer to start the Add Printer Wizard, and then click Next. Click Local printer, clear the Automatically detect and install check box, and then click Next.
• Click Create a new port, and then click Local Port in the Port type section.
• In the Port Name box, type the path to the printer in the following format, where server is the name of the print server and printer is the name of the printer:
• \\server\printer
• Click Next, and then select a Windows 2000 or Windows XP driver for your printer.

Click Next, and then follow the instructions to finish the wizard.

3 simple steps you can take to get better prints from your digital photos...

1- Resolution of Image- The important factor to get a quality print, the DPI of the an image. DPI stand for numbers of dots of ink per inch that will appear on the page in both directions (Vertically and horizontally), for example 600X700 dpi.

If you are going to print simple text or image then 300 dpi is best and for higher quality text or image your choice for image resolution should be 600 dpi. But if you are working with professional image quality then set dpi up to 2400.

2- Paper Quality- Paper quality playing a vital role in printing an images. Specially printer manufactures designed paper to be used with the ink in your printer. You should consider some qualities in paper like page size, paper color and its weight.

3. Printer Settings - Printer setting is also important factor in image result, but these setting almost same with the all printers, for example Paper size, printing mode (EconoMode for save toner), printing quality (Best Quality, Faster Printing and Custom) and color management.

HOW TO CLEAN CD-ROM

If your CD drive creating problem to read CD disc, taking time to read and showing message there is no disc in the drive. These are the symptoms of dirty or weak CD-drive lens, because dirty lens can create errors in reading or writing and soon will not work at all.

Follow the given steps to care and clean a CD-Drive.

• First make sure your discs are clean, unscratched and you’re loaded it properly.

• Always use laser lens cleaner to clean drive lens.

• Insert the laser lens cleaner disc and play it for 2 to 3 min.

• Using CD drive cleaner properly clean the CD-ROM laser from dust. If your drive still creating problem then open it and clean the lens with a cotton swab.

Creating a shortcut.

Windows allows you to create shortcuts for any program, file or folder. This allows you to quickly access these applications without having to use the Start menu. To do this:

1)Click on the start button.
2)Select programs.
3)And click on Windows Explorer.
4)Now, locate the item that you wish to create a shortcut for.
5)If you are using Windows Explorer in full-screen mode, you will need to click the Resize button in the top right corner of the screen (This is the double rectangle button in between the Minimize and Exit buttons).
6)Now, right-click your mouse on that item and hold it while you drag it to the location you wish to have it (preferably to the Desktop).
7)When you let go of the right mouse button, you can select to "Create Shortcut(s) Here" in the new location

SIGN INTO GMAIL VIA SECURE CONNECTION

It is recommend for you to have a secure connection network between your PC and the Gmail server. Let say if you login to Gmail using a public network like wireless or hotspot in Starbucks, someone can tamper or see the sensitive information transferred from your PC to the Gmail server. This is because the network you are using is not secure and is open to everybody.

Npn-secure networks make it easier for someone to impersonate you and gain full access to your Google account, including any sensitive data it may contain like bank statements or online log-in credentials.

To check whether you are in a secure connection or not, check that the protocol that being used is https at the address bar. And also, there is a Lock icon at the bottom right corner of your browser (Firefox).
When you have both of them, that’s mean you are in a secure connection. No one can tamper or modify or spying on the data transferred between you and the Gmail server. You are now safe and secure to send emails, at least.

Enable the function

To enable this function, in Gmail, go to Settings. Under General tab, scroll down to the bottom and tick Always use https at Browser connection. After you clicked on the Save Changes button, Gmail will log you out and you have to login back but now, you will use https protocol.
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Take note, when you are in a secure connection, Gmail speed will be decreased. This is because every data that you transfer will be encrypted first before your browser can send the data to the Gmail server.

Although it is not necessary to always connect to Gmail in a secure connection, but in my opinion, it is better to have this function enabled. We don’t know, maybe today, tomorrow, or later, someone might able to get our sensitive data just because we are too lazy or don’t want to use the security feature that have been provided by Google.