News

Free XP SP2 Clinics

Microsoft extends "try before you buy" offer to its XP SP2 clinics and hands-on labs for deploying or developing in a Windows XP SP2 enviroment.

• By Michael Domingo
• 11/18/2004

Microsoft Corp. recently made available two newly developed Windows XP SP2 online clinics:

• Course 2851: Deploying and Administering Windows XP Service Pack 2 — Aimed at IT professionals, it consists of two sessions covering SP2-based security features and desktop deployment and management in medium and large businesses.
• Course 2853: Developing and Maintaining Applications on Windows XP Service Pack 2 — Aimed at developers who plan to deploy and develop applications for Windows XP SP2 environments.

According to information on Microsoft's E-Learning site, the free clinics were made available to those signed up to take the free security clinics that were released in October (see "Shoring Up Security Skills for Free," in the News archive at http://mcpmag.com/news/article.asp?EditorialsID=740). Both courses deliver about six hours of instruction. Currently the clinics are delivered in English only.

Microsoft says that those who sign up for the XP clinics will also get access to three additional security E-Learning clinics that focus on security guidance best practices.

In related news Microsoft also released two XP SP2-related hands-on labs:

• Hands-On Lab 2852: Deploying and Administering Windows XP Service Pack 2 — Aimed at admins who want to try out new XP SP2 security features, including how to deploy XP via SMS, SUS and Group Policy Objects.
• Hands-On Lab 2854: Developing and Maintaining Applications on Windows XP Service Pack 2 — For developers who want to try their hand at configuring an XP-friendly development environment, plus gives customers the chance to play with SQL Server features in an XP SP2 environment.

The Windows XP courses are available free for a limited time, but Microsoft hasn't indicated when the offers will expire. Other e-Learning courses that are listed on the site compare at $349. To find out more, go to https://www.microsoftelearning.com/xpsp2/.