In-Depth

The Guide to Windows 2000 Wisdom: Get to Those Tests

Procrastination can affect your certification. What are you waiting for?

• By Jill Gebelt
• 03/01/2001

Recently, I watched a mad scramble of test takers as people tried to finish their Windows NT 4.0 MCSEs by Dec. 31. Microsoft extended the deadline, so I expect to see a similar panic when the deadline arrives again. So far, I haven’t witnessed a similar level of motivation (or panic) among current MCSEs who are trying to upgrade to a Windows 2000 MCSE. As a trainer, that concerns me. I suspect most people are suffering from a healthy dose of procrastination and a major lack of study time. I’m sure I would have taken longer to complete the tests myself if it hadn’t been a job responsibility.

The Dec. 31, 2001 deadline for upgrading to a Win2K MCSE is approaching faster than we like to think, and there’s nothing to suggest that Microsoft will extend the deadline. If you haven’t started yet, it’s time to create a study and testing schedule. I recommend a schedule that finishes your Win2K MCSE by early fall at the latest. Then, if something goes wrong, you still have some time left before the deadline.

If you’re planning to take exam 70-240 (the Windows 2000 accelerated exam for MCPs who have passed the three core NT exams), keep in mind that if you don’t pass the exam, you can’t take it again. I strongly suggest that you plan to take this exam by early summer. If you put it off too long and fail the test, you’ll be rushing to take all four core exams before the Dec. 31, 2001 deadline arrives.

On a lighter note, here’s my favorite interface feature. I really like the way you can expand items on the Start Menu. To give it a try, right click the Taskbar | Properties | Advanced. Among the options, you can expand the Control Panel, Printers, and Network and Dial-Up Connections. If, for example, you expand Control Panel, you can use the Start Menu to navigate directly to any applet in the Control Panel. Very slick.