Microsoft started offering a free second chance to take and pass a Microsoft IT Professional, Developer, or Microsoft Dynamics certification exam back in September 2007, this offer was originally going to end on 31 January 2008, however due to demand Microsoft Learning and Prometric have just announced that they are extending the offer through to 30 June 2008

Of course being well prepared you will pass first time and will not need this, but just in case I will list a couple of useful links below:

For answers to your FAQ’s Click Here

To register for this offer visit Microsoft Learning,

Good Luck

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Following Microsoft’s release of Vista Service Pack (SP1) Release Candidate (RC) in December and the refreshed version in January it had been expected that Microsoft would make available the final release in the first quarter of 2008, but some say it could be available in the next few weeks, more than a month before the quarter ends on March 31.

A PC World article stated that a Taiwanese news outlet on Wednesday reported in a story that Vista SP1 would be released on February 15, just after Valentines Day. Michael Cherry, an analyst with Directions on Microsoft is quoted as saying “that date is as good as any other … For all we know, they could make it available tomorrow”

Several sources who work closely with Microsoft said a mid-February release is not unlikely, and they expect the software to be out before the end of March. Microsoft declined to comment on the February 15 date beyond confirming that the software would be available in the first quarter.

Many believe that the final release of the full version of SP1 will encourage business customers to update their employee desktops – we will wait and see – knowing that Windows 7 is on the horizon and is similar to Vista but uses less memory and is claimed to be more reliable with a new interface and features I have my doubts. The Windows 7 preview build M1 (Milestone 1) has already been leaked with a final release date expected in 2009.

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A recent report by TGDaily suggests that Microsoft has released a new roadmap for the Release to Manufacturing (RTM) of Vista’s successor Windows 7 - previously code-named Blackcomb Vienna. Microsoft is not known for being reliable when it comes to announcing when its products will be ready to ship, originally it was stated that Windows 7 would be released early in 2010, but now it may arrive a few months earlier, late in 2009

Information on Windows 7 is limited, however as I understand it, Windows 7 will provide multiple graphics card support with touch screen technology, another interesting feature is the new MinWin operating system kernel that takes up only 40 MB of memory while running, this offers a smaller memory footprint than Windows Vista, although a more powerful CPU and graphics card will more than likely be needed.

As soon as I have more information on the Windows 7 features and the release date I will list it here.

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I recently received the Microsoft January MCP Flash. In this Microsoft encourages people to be amongst the first to become Windows Server 2008 qualified, which is unsurprising, however there was also an article focusing on the Windows Server 2003 certification.

Even though Windows Server 2008 is due for release next month and I will admit that from my experience and from what I have seen it is a great operating system, I know of a number of companies that I have been in contact with recently that are running Windows Server 2003 in an Active Directory environment and at this stage do not intend to migrate to Windows Server 2008, recognising this Microsoft can still see there is a demand for individuals with the appropriate skills and the Microsoft MCSA or MCSE 2003 certifications

The newsletter stated “These certifications will not change or retire with the release of Windows Server 2008. MCSA and MCSE will continue to be recognized and supported by Microsoft, and will be valued by organizations seeking skilled professionals on the Windows Server 2003 infrastructure all over the world. In the future, you can leverage your Windows Server 2003 certification for a shortened path to Windows Server 2008 certifications, when that makes sense for you.“

If you are still interested in these certifications and the upgrade paths available to Windows Server 2008, Microsoft has released a number of alternative electives, for example: exam 70-620 –TS on Windows Vista client, Configuring – can also be used as a core client or general elective exam on the MCSA or MCSE 2003 certification. For a list of the exams needed for MCSA 2003 click here, for MCSE 2003 click here.

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Microsoft have released an updated version of Windows Vista Service Pack (SP)1 RC called “refresh.” to the public, this includes the latest updates for the Vista operating system. To install the update you must first install the old Vista SP1 RC.

For instructions on the installation, visit the Microsoft web site

When the final full version of Windows Vista SP1 is released (scheduled in the next few months) it should fix a number of bugs and improve hardware and software compatibility issues, unfortunately it is not expected to provide a significant performance boost to the operating system.

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The British Educational Communications and Technology Agency (BECTA) has just released it’s final report with recommendations on the adoption, deployment and interoperability of Windows Vista and office 2007 for British schools. The agency appointed Oakleigh Consulting Ltd (Oakleigh) to conduct a final comprehensive review of these products following the publication of two interim reports at BETT in January 2007. The first report was concerning Microsoft’s Academic Licensing Programmes and was interim as it was subject to ongoing negotiations with Microsoft. The second report concerned Vista and Office 2007 and was interim as it was based on beta products.

Oakleigh advised “. none of the second-phase findings alter our original recommendation that an upgrade to Windows Vista is not recommended at present in the UK educational environment.” The report continued “The new features of Vista add some value but, taking account of the deployment costs and potential benefits, widespread upgrade of the ICT estate in schools and colleges is not recommended”

BECTA said that the only reason for schools to consider moving over to Vista is if, at the same time, new infrastructure was being deployed. It also advised “We do not recommend the use of PCs in a mixed operating-system environment (for example Windows Vista and Windows XP). Although there are no technical reasons why this is not possible, running multiple operating systems in a single network greatly increases maintenance and support overheads” they continued “Where applications are only supported on one or other of the operating systems, this can lead to problems with machine availability or duplicated licensing costs. For these reasons we recommend that new machines that come with Windows Vista pre-installed be downgraded to Windows XP until such time as the entire network can be upgraded.”

Oakleigh also advised against the use of Microsoft Office 2007 saying “There is still no real benefit to be obtained by upgrading to Office 2007. Additional configuration and installation of software components is required to achieve interoperability between versions of Microsoft Office and / or alternative office applications. … There are some usability improvements in Office 2007. However, there is a low level of support for interoperability in the context of home and school use”

Dr Stephan Lucey, BECTA’s Executive Director of Strategic Technologies said: “Our objective is to make sure schools and colleges get the best possible value for money. Our advice is to be sure there is a strong business case before upgrading to these products as the costs are significant and the benefits remain unclear… We also want to see easier access to competitor products enhancing innovation and choice.”

Becta recommends that schools and colleges review the findings of the report before considering any large-scale investment or deployment, to read the BECTA full report click here

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Windows Sidebar Protection is a new security tool developed to automatically disable malicious gadgets.

Gadgets are usually small but useful tools normally written using HTML and scripts for doing things like RSS feeds or monitoring the PC. While the gadgets are created by both Microsoft and third parties and are available from the Microsoft web site, the company admits they are not vetted.

Microsoft is calling the new 1MB download a “high priority” update which is outlined in the Microsoft Security Advisory (943411). While the update is optional, depending on you security settings in Windows Automatic Updates, the code may be downloaded and installed automatically.

Austin Wilson, a director in the Windows Client Management group stated “The update gives us a mechanism to prevent a malicious gadget from being unstalled first of all, and if it’s installed, to block the gadget from running, … we are being proactive here. We looked at the security landscape and wanted this in place in case a problem arises in the future”.

Microsoft officials said they know of no vulnerabilities in existing gadgets presently. Great comfort!

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Bill Gates made his last keynote address as Microsoft chairman at the annual Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas on Sunday, in this he claimed that Vista had shipped 100 million copies since it was released last year, this shows that the Windows Vista operating system is proving far less popular with new PC buyers than Windows XP did during XP’s first year on the market

When Windows XP was released back in 2001 (yes that long ago!) it sold around 89 million copies in its first year, according to ITnews, meaning Vista sold around 10% more copies in its first year than XP in a PC market which has nearly doubled

Many organisations have held off deploying Windows Vista because of the increased hardware requirements and compatibility problems. Microsoft recently released a beta Windows Vista Service Pack (SP) 1, the final release of which is expected soon, this has provided some improvements with networking performance, the hibernate/shutdown functionality and device driver support. Michael Cherry, senior analyst at Directions on Microsoft, believes SP1 should help boost sales into IT organizations, he stated:. “In some ways Microsoft has trained customers not to upgrade until service pack 1… So there are a certain number of people who have it almost as a policy to not deploy until that time.”

Time will tell if organisations decide to deploy Windows Vista with SP1, several which I have had contact with are not planning on upgrading to Vista, instead they have decided to wait for Microsoft’s next operating system – Windows 7 provisionally scheduled for release in 2010.

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