I will never pass 8

[ecojohnson]

I am struggling. Are tests supposed to be this confusing? I took a practice exam last week. There was a question:

You are a desktop admin, and you are asked to assign a standard application using a windows installer package. You attempt to do so, but an error occurs. You want to deploy the application using windows installer. What should you do?

The correct answer was: Modify the package using an .mst file and redeploy it.

Now, today, I had a similar question. It was:

You are a desktop admin, and you are asked to assign a standard application using a windows installer package. You attempt to do so, but the following error occurs “Cannot prepare package for deployment”. You want to deploy the application using windows installer. What should you do?

So, for the answer, I selected

Modify the package using an .mst file.

However, my answer was wrong. The reason was is that if the error message has something like "Active Directory will not allow the package to be deployed" or "Cannot prepare package for deployment", you are supposed to re-create the package. You are not supposed to use a .mst file.

ARGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[edlcsre]

hi Ecojohnson,

In a word, Yes! The exams DO tend to be written in their own way when it comes to Microsoft, but, as you look at more and more questions, you do start to spot the tricks they often include to catch you out.

For the example you stated, my guess is that, somewhere in a manual, there is a statement which reads that when you get the Active Directory error, the only possible solution would be to re-create the package. For the first one, it just says 'an error occurs' This could mean several things, and so you have to pick the 'best' answer.

Without seeing all of the possible answers, its often hard to make sense of some of the questions, but as a general rule if they give a non specific error, its likely to be the next best action to take from the list of possible answers, whereas when they give a specific error messages its a very specific answer they want. If you bear that in mind, you've posted two different questions up here, and its not unreasonable for them to have two separate answers

I'm sure i've seen questions in the past where the error they mentioned in the question bore little or no relation to the rest of the question, but because you'd got that specific error, there was only one possible answer, and so you did get a strange correct answer.

Another really important thing to consider is how reliable you think your test exams are. Even if you've paid for practice tests, you've no guarantee that the answers will be correct.

It honestly does get easier the more you look at the sort of questions MS like to ask, you get a feel for their questioning and, after a while, you'll start to find that the answers make more sense based on the exact information in the question.

Microsoft like to try and make sure they are testing your 'real life' understanding of the subject in question, and so its often a case of having a question about one particular 'thing' not working, and the answer is that something totally different isn't working properly, which is mixed in with 3 or 4 answers relating to the first thing that didn't work.

Just stick with it, we're all in the same boat!

good luck for the actual exam.

edlcsre

 

[dragonwell]

That's some good advice!

 

[Overclocker]

Also remember this:

An .msi file is an unaltered Micro$oft installer file, while an .mst file is an altered or "Transformed" .msi file. That particular tidbit of information threw me for a loop many times.

Overclocker
(A+, Net+, MCP/Win2K)

 

[ecojohnson]

Yeah - but this is only one example. It almost seems like the goal of these tests is to trick you.

I know, I hate to sound pessimistic, but I really don't know how I can expect to do well. I guess I'll just have to do my best. I'm taking it on Monday. We shall see.

 

[Tchk]

heycould u tell me the web site where u took the pratice test. I will appreciate it.

 

[ecojohnson]

Here you go - have fun.

http://www.mcsebraindumps.net/dump.php?bd_id=13316

There are 200 questions.

 

[Tchk]

Hey there are couple of links which one did u go to to take practice tests for MCSE. or did u pay for them let me know.

Thanks

 

[ecojohnson]

No - I didn't pay for them. They were free. I think you may have to register (provide a username/password).

 

[Nzarth]

Braindumps are BAD and lessen the value of our certs...but thats a different topic

Nzarth

MCSA/MCSE (W2K), CCA

Working on CCNA

 

[iolair]

I have taken Novell, Sun, and Microsoft tests. I just wanted to say, ecojohnson, that you are correct. The Microsoft tests do try to trick you into picking the wrong answer. I was pleased that the Novell and Sun tests did test your knowledge. Sun and Novell also made their tests so you couldn't just memorize a bunch of answers, you actually have to be able to think and reason out the answer while you're there. But, the MS tests just try to trick you.

Iolair MacWalter

 

[jtb]

OTOH, more employers are interested in the m$ certs... YMMV...

Make sure you have the ROI figured out b4 you slap down your $125+/- for that test...

JTB
Senior Microsoft Consultant
MCSE-NT4, MCP+I, MCP-W2K, CCNA, CCDA,
CTE, MCIWD, i-Net+, Network+
(MCSE-W2K in progress)

 

[ecojohnson]

Sorry for my ignorance, but what do you mean "ROI"?

 

[jtb]

Oh sorry, Return On Investment... For example, the cost of books+studyguides+PCs = $A, the cost of tests = $B, and the cost of your time (instead of spending it with your family or taking that second job) = $C...

So your total cost (let's call it $X) = $A + $B + $C

Let's say it comes out to $1,000.00, just for this example.

Now let's say you know you can get a $1/hour raise for your trouble.

You can see that it will take you 1,000 hours @ $1/hour to make back that investment. If you work 2,000 hours per year, that implies it will take about 6 months--after the raise--to pay it back. Actually more because you were without the money, time, etc.; but let's just leave it at that.

Your annual ROI is about "2". Now, let's say that you have a chance to put the money in your bank and make interest. That interest you did not make in another cost. If you used a credit card to pay for it there is additional interest, and so on.

Be creative!! Look at all your options. Write this up and try to make a business proposal to sell to yourself. try to find better uses for the money.

Then!! After (if?) you have convinced yourself this is the best way to spend money and better yourself, do it.


Oh and by the way, that is the way to get ready to ask your boss for a raise, to ask for a particular project to be funded, and so on... Managers are all about ROI and if you can show scenarios with cost-justifications based on legitimate reasons, you'll be ahead of your peers...

Yes it's a lot more difficult and complicated than that at executive levels but I'm not an MBA... and I'm betting that most certifications don't require 3 senior consultants for three months...

JTB
Senior Microsoft Consultant
MCSE-NT4, MCP+I, MCP-W2K, CCNA, CCDA,
CTE, MCIWD, i-Net+, Network+
(MCSE-W2K in progress)

 

[ecojohnson]

Well, I am scheduled to take it Monday, although I don't feel very confident in passing.

I know I'm not ready, but my company is pressuring me into taking it now, just to see how I will do.

I don't see how there is any way possible I am going to pass. An 80% is a bit unattainable. Ugh.

 

[GlenJohnson]

Check out

faq468-4224 How to pass MS tests on the first try

This is a FAQ I wrote because MS tests are designed, in my humble opinion meant to be tricky. I found more trick questions than I would have believed. The faq was basically given to me by a gent that was on the team that wrote W2K, and his advice was on the money. Good luck.

Glen A. Johnson
"Give the laziest man the hardest job and he'll find the easiest way to do it."

Want to get great answers to your Tek-Tips questions? Have a look at FAQ219-2884

 

[ecojohnson]

Thanks Glen.

I will definitely give that a shot! Thanks!

 

[Scribe6]

The Transcenders are definately a life saver. I took Workstation and Server after going through the MS Press stuff and transcenders, and passed them both. I also have managed to pass 218, but 216 (Infrastructure) keeps kicking me in the shorts (taken twice and failed both ).

KT Marketing also has a really good deal right now, offering all of their MCSE 2000/A+/Cisco exam prep CDs for $69.99. I ordered them, and should have them in the next couple of weeks, and I'll let you know what I find. I'm working on my CNA for NW6 right now, but will be returning to the MS tests in a few weeks.

 

[ecojohnson]

The software package I purchased was self test software. I thought that they were fairly good. For $130 (or somewhere around there), I got 170 practice questions, a study guide, and 24x7 online help.

I definitely felt that they helped, but I ran into two questions that were incorrect. That was not good.

 

[ecojohnson]

Shocking, for sure, but I did actually pass on Monday.

I must have taken 50 different practice exams (from books, the internet, etc.), and I never ONCE passed any of these.

Yet, there was still stuff that showed up, which I had never even heard of before. Yikes!