Frustrated with 70-680

robdawg925

A little background about myself. I've been working in IT for about 5 - 6 years. I would consider myself a jack of all trades. My title is a Sys Admin, although I do fill a desktop support and network administration role. I've just recently decided to head down the certification path to expand my knowledge.

I just cracked open the Microsoft 70-680 book. I would say I'm very frustrated through the first 100 pages. The first few chapters are about creating, deploying, and managing images. I don't have a lot of hands-on experience with Microsoft's imaging products; I've only used other products like Ghost. I'm not familiar with many of the command line tools like image.exe, dism etc... While performing the labs I find a few of the commands don't actually work. I then have to reference the internet to find correct instructions. After using the book and other sources on the web I finally get through the labs, although it takes me a LONG time. About a month ago I completed my CCNA. I feel as if the Cisco Press books were written so thoroughly. I just feel like the Microsoft book I have been reading is just thrown together. I don't feel like the concepts are harder in Microsoft's 70-680 book; I just feel like it's not put together as well.

All that being said I'm at a crossroads. Should I just continue with the 70-680 book and continue to pull my hair out? I have more experience working with the Windows GUI. After chapter 3, the rest of the chapters do seem to be more GUI based. I keep telling myself just make it through the first three chapters. Maybe I should continue? Maybe I should just wait for another 70-680 book to be released? How much of the 70-680 test is based on command line tools? Maybe i should try another MCTS test? Maybe the 70-682 test? I do feel comfortable with many of the topics in that book. Or maybe just move onto the CCNP test. I really do enjoy the Cisco Press books.

Anyways I know this is a lot of information. Your suggestions are appreciated.

Thank You

Hyper-Me

I think its important to understand the fundamentals of the MS imaging stuff because a lot of 3rd party products actually use some of it as a backend to their product.

Some MS press books are just terrible. The Vista book was so boring to read i literally fell asleep in the middle of a chapter.

There is an errata for the book, but if that doesnt help you quick enough then maybe try to mix in some of the links on the "71-680 resources" thread in the Windows 7 Certifications forum section.

I hate to be a prude, but you cant be a successful windows sys admin and be GOOD at it unless you can throw around some command line. The GUI just has too many shortcomings.