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Firecracker Disco: WS2008 Betas

Are you sitting down, Windows Server sports racers? Here is the beta information (and live prep guides) for the three Windows Server 2008 Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist exams, she says, with cautious enthusiasm, bracing for onslaught of questions and collective, beta-related panty bunching.

Windows Server betas, sports racers. Good luck!

The betas are open now until December 21 at Prometric test centers. For background on what these exams will do for you, read this, for now (more info coming on December 5).

If you don't know much about betas, read this or this first. 

Register for Windows Server 2008 Beta Exams

You are invited to take the following beta exams:

If you pass the beta exam, the exam credit will be added to your transcript and you will not need to take the exam in its released form. The 71-xxx identifier is used for registering for beta versions of MCP exams, when the exam is released in its final form the 70-xxx identifier is used for registration.

By participating in beta exams, you have the opportunity to provide the Microsoft Certification program with valuable feedback about exam content, which is integral to development of exams in their released version. We depend on the contributions of experienced IT professionals and developers as we continually improve exam content and maintain the value of Microsoft certifications.

70-640, 70-642, and 70-632 count as credit toward three respective Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist certifications.


Availability

Registration begins: November 21, 2007

Beta exam period runs: November 27, 2007– December 21, 2007

Receiving this invitation does not guarantee you a seat in the beta; we recommend that you register immediately. Beta exams have limited availability and are operated under a first-come-first-served basis. Once all beta slots are filled, no additional seats will be offered.

Testing is held at Prometric testing centers worldwide, although this exam may not be available in all countries (see Regional Restrictions). All testing centers will have the capability to offer this exam in its live version.

Regional Restrictions: India, Pakistan, China


Registration Information

You must register at least 24 hours prior to taking the exam.
Please use the following promotional code(s) when registering for the exam(s):

  • 71-640: B640 <updated to "71" per Yiseiluk, thanks>
  • 71-642: 642J
  • 71-643: J643

Receiving this invitation does not guarantee you a seat in the beta; we recommend that you register immediately.


Test Information and Support

You are invited to take these beta exams at no charge.
You will be given four hours to complete the beta exam. Please plan accordingly.

Published Friday, November 30, 2007 10:45 PM by trikah@microsoft.com

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Friday, November 30, 2007 7:28 PM by MSDN Blog Postings » Firecracker Disco: WS2008 Betas

# MSDN Blog Postings &raquo; Firecracker Disco: WS2008 Betas

Friday, November 30, 2007 8:02 PM by jtb

# re: Firecracker Disco: WS2008 Betas

How many, if any MCITP: Consumer Support Technician folks got the "Charter Member" label on their certificates?  I'm very disappointed that I did not...  After all, I was in the first 201 to obtain that relatively easy (but still new!) designation!

Please tell us more so we can all compete for that coveted distinction...

Friday, November 30, 2007 8:03 PM by jtb

# re: Firecracker Disco: WS2008 Betas

That is, tell us how long we have after each newly-released test in terms of time and/or numbers...  ;-)

Friday, November 30, 2007 8:38 PM by Bob

# re: Firecracker Disco: WS2008 Betas

Can I take these exams at a VUE testing center?

Friday, November 30, 2007 11:04 PM by Aaron Tiensivu's Blog

# Windows 2008 certification exams are starting to go to beta

As noted here, the Windows 2008 certification tests are starting to trickle out. These are the non-upgrade type of exams, i.e. not an upgrade exam from MCSE 2003 to MCSE 2008. To a certain extent, MCSE 2008 doesn't really exist. Tests available now:

Saturday, December 01, 2007 10:45 PM by Alice

# re: Firecracker Disco: WS2008 Betas

Yay! Finally! :-) My PearsonVue center has gotten set up with Prometric, but now I have to go fight with the Prometric website....

Bob - Nope, no more betas at PearsonVue. :-( I just logged in, and there are no 071 exams available for scheduling.

Sunday, December 02, 2007 11:00 AM by Plataforma e Infraestructura Microsoft

# Quieres presentar algunos exámenes BETA de Windows Server 2008? (codigos promocionales adentro)

Estas interesado en presentar alguno de los siguientes exámenes MCTS en Windows Server 2008 durante su

Sunday, December 02, 2007 11:00 AM by Plataforma e Infraestructura Microsoft

# Quieres presentar algunos exámenes BETA de Windows Server 2008? (codigos promocionales adentro)

Estas interesado en presentar alguno de los siguientes exámenes MCTS en Windows Server 2008 durante su

Sunday, December 02, 2007 2:47 PM by Bob

# re: Firecracker Disco: WS2008 Betas

I'm not sure. Should I take these exams?

Sunday, December 02, 2007 4:28 PM by hartplaza

# re: Firecracker Disco: WS2008 Betas

I don't know Bob, Why should you not take the exams?

Monday, December 03, 2007 12:37 AM by Greig Stewart

# re: Firecracker Disco: WS2008 Betas

I see that you are not allowed to take these exams in India. I guess that means I will also not be able to take 71-647 when that comes out as I am currently working in India?

Monday, December 03, 2007 5:29 AM by Lukas Beeler

# re: Firecracker Disco: WS2008 Betas

Greig,

Unless you have an India Passport, you can't take MS exams in India anyway.

Monday, December 03, 2007 5:50 AM by Adrian

# re: Firecracker Disco: WS2008 Betas

Thanks Trika,

These will be my first Beta exams! Ive been using 2008 since beta 2 but I'm still very nervous on some of the topics.

I think they will prove difficult without any resouces to use. I'm still excited though :)

Monday, December 03, 2007 8:42 AM by Blog de TI de Lucho Rozas

# MCTS: Windows Server 2008 - BETA!

¡Y ya están en el ruedo desde hace unos días los exámenes BETA, para las tres certificaciones de Windows

Monday, December 03, 2007 9:47 AM by as

# re: Firecracker Disco: WS2008 Betas

@Adrian:

TechNet has a TON of resources on Server 2008, including some absolutely invaluable virtual labs.  

Check it out.

Monday, December 03, 2007 4:23 PM by Marcelo Di Iorio

# Exámenes Beta MCTS Windows Server 2008

Ya se encuentran disponibles, y hasta el 21 de diciembre, los exámenes beta para las 3 certificaciones

Monday, December 03, 2007 4:30 PM by Larry West, MCSD, MCPD, MCITP, MCTS x5, ...

# re: Firecracker Disco: WS2008 Betas

Can't find any centers within a couple hundred miles (except perhaps those saying Microsoft employees only) that allow Saturday or evening testing.

Can you pretty please add Vue back again!

Monday, December 03, 2007 10:30 PM by yiseiluk

# re: Firecracker Disco: WS2008 Betas

# re: Firecracker Disco: WS2008 Betas

>Can't find any centers within a couple hundred miles (except perhaps those saying Microsoft employees only) that allow Saturday or evening testing.

>Can you pretty please add Vue back again!

Agree. My personal experience in terms of respose tiem and overall feedback for Prometric is very negative.

Monday, December 03, 2007 10:33 PM by Yiseiluk

# re: Firecracker Disco: WS2008 Betas

I guess it's a typo? promotion codes should be for

71-640: B640

71-642: 642J

71-643: J643

Tuesday, December 04, 2007 5:35 AM by Adrian

# re: Firecracker Disco: WS2008 Betas

@AS

Thanks for the heads up on those Virtual Labs, I read the Free Server 2008 book that was given out at TechEd (I think) last night so that was a good start.

So I plan on taking some Virtual Labs today and using the 2008 Technical Library to fill in any further gaps I have. Im taking the Network exam tomorrow morning so its all go over here! :) Wish me luck!!

Friday, December 07, 2007 1:27 PM by Lukas Beeler

# re: Firecracker Disco: WS2008 Betas

Colleague of me did 71-643 this morning. God i'm really happy that i just had to do the upgrade exam ;)

Friday, December 14, 2007 11:37 AM by Michael Bender

# re: Firecracker Disco: WS2008 Betas

Just finished the Beta for 71-640...

Overall, it was a decent exam.  I was weak in a key area so I'm not sure what the result will be.

First Beta so I was surprised to find out I won't get a score for 8 weeks:(

Good luck to everyone "Beta Testin" next week!

Mike

Friday, December 14, 2007 11:31 PM by Alice

# re: Firecracker Disco: WS2008 Betas

I did 71-642 last week, and it was more difficult than I had expected. It went into quite a bit more nitpicky details than its portion had on 71-648.

I did 71-640 today, and it seemed more reasonable and I feel more confident about it.

If I end up not passing 642, I'll probably go back to 648 (or 649). Maybe I'll get lucky and they'll drop the nitpicky questions when they do the scoring. ;-)

I had come fairly close to passing 648 in the beta, but hadn't had enough time to study because of schedule complications. But I'd expected the single tests to be comparable to the combined test, not *more* difficult!

So if anyone else is in that situation (close-but-not-quite on 648/649, so now trying the single tests), you probably need more studying on these than you might have expected. :-)

Wednesday, January 23, 2008 7:25 PM by Mirrored Blogs

# "So, a booth babe and a geek walk in to a bar..." : Firecracker Disco: WS2008 Betas

Trika has announced the availability of the three Windows Server 2008 Microsoft Certified Technology

Thursday, January 31, 2008 12:52 AM by Alice

# re: Firecracker Disco: WS2008 Betas

Any news on how the results are progressing with these? (I've seen delays/extensions happen on several others lately...)

The expected release date is Feb 27, so we should normally have the results by then (and I think the intended goal is a week or two before release?).

Tuesday, February 12, 2008 11:33 PM by trikah@microsoft.com

# re: Firecracker Disco: WS2008 Betas

I'm thinking first week of March (looks like exams not going out on 2/27), is when you should start freaking out, if you don't have results. Prior to that, please keep calm!! :-)

Saturday, March 01, 2008 10:50 AM by Andy

# re: Firecracker Disco: WS2008 Betas

The results of exams 640, 642, and 643 have been posted at Prometric.com.

Friday, March 07, 2008 7:52 PM by Alice

# re: Firecracker Disco: WS2008 Betas

Yay! With no emails ever going out about this, I had no idea the results were finally out until I decided to dig up this post. I passed both 640 and 642. :-)

Friday, May 23, 2008 6:21 PM by Plataforma e Infraestructura Microsoft

# Quieres presentar algunos exámenes BETA de Windows Server 2008? (codigos promocionales adentro)

Estas interesado en presentar alguno de los siguientes exámenes MCTS en Windows Server 2008 durante su

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