a little guidance please

Talonize

So I just got net+ certified and wanted to get my mcsa in windows 8.1. Now I have already taken courses on mcsa and mcse for windows 8.1. I have the course books, but I really do not like them. Does anyone have a good suggestion for study guide material? Prefer books.

I also have transcender which came with the books purchase, and I took some practice questions and noticed a lot of power shell related questions. Does anyone have a good reference for learning those?

Asif Dasl

You have the official Microsoft courseware?

These are the MS Press books for MCSA: Windows 8.1

Exam Ref 70-687: Configuring Windows 8.1: Joli Ballew: 9780735684775: Amazon.com: Books

http://www.amazon.com/Exam-Ref-70-688-Supporting-Windows/dp/0735684731


The only non MS Press book that's probably useful for the exam is released in September... no word on 70-688 though

MCSA 70-687 Cert Guide: Configuring Microsoft Windows 8.1: Don Poulton, Randy Bellet, Harry Holt: 9780789748799: Amazon.com: Books

Talonize

Yeah I have the official 20687C and 20688C courseware. I don't like them because they're geared towards a classroom experience and expect trainers/teachers to expand on most of the material discussed within the book.

I just ordered the book by Joli Ballew with my credit card reward $ so we'll see how that is. Wish that other book was already released, kinda wanna get certified by the end of August.

Thanks for the help!

bub9001

I am really not understanding why most of the books from the usual authors aren't out yet for 8.1. It's been almost 3 months since Microsoft upgraded their testing to include 8.1 and there isn't any good MCSA 8.1 study books out there. In-side out series doesn't cut it in my opinion for the exams. CBT nuggets also leaves much to be desired, since most of it is based on 8 not 8.1. The updates to the videos are not that great and Tim Warner keeps talking speculating about the "Blue" update (8.1).

I would start with this Explore Windows 8.1 - Features, Store, FAQ, Windows To Go | TechNet and then move onto a book or maybe CBT Nuggets and Labs to help re-enforce the areas that don't make a lot of since. I have never liked the books for any Microsoft exams. They cover some, but never really cover all that you may run across in the exam. I never really enjoyed reading a 600+ page book about Micro$oft anyways.

Hope this helps

Talonize

Yeah I think I'm gonna have to rely on Technet along with Joli's book and my courseware book. Yeah, I just got Joli's book btw, which is better than the courseware at least. I'll see where I am at the end of the month.

I'll just look through the objectives and try to make a checklist. I can get most of the scenario stuff, it's just that if I'm asked for specific commands in questions I'll for sure be screwed.

I may just get my A+ since I know about computers, but not as in depth as I could know. I can do CCENT and CCNA afterwords and tackle this once some decent resources have arisen. Technet isn't my idea of a good resource, plus I like to highlight stuff in my learning process.

Appreciate the responses.