Mowgli

I'm both from over 10 years ago.
I plan to get recertified in A+ and am thinking about MC Desktop Support Tech.
I am certified in NT4.0 Workstation. That's usefull

Anyone know when they plan to roll XP off as a dead system?

They used to axe them when 2 newer systems had certs.
So my NT4 was dead when Win2000 came out.

I'm not a member at any tech forums and don't know where to ask so just wondering if there are any IT guys/gals here that know the 411.

Thanks

Mowgli

What the hell?
No IT professionals in here?

wxman

I got my A+ in 2004, and took the MCP courses for XP. Not really current though. My career path took me completely elsewhere (horticulture, heh).

XP should be supported for some time still although I believe retail sales have already stopped. If you're looking for OS certification, I'd go for Windows 7, or perhaps XP and 7. Businesses won't drop XP Pro for at least 8-10 more years. Vista is a dead end in soo many ways.

wxman

Oh, and the A+ doesn't expire, does it? I don't think taking the test again will get you anything. The hardware hasn't changed all that much. You'd be better off getting the Network+ cert. to compliment it, especially as a support tech.

Mowgli

I've been inundated with Vista's bad reviews and I haven't even been looking.
I can imagine how bad it must look to administrators.
I'll consider 7 after it's been out for a year or two.
Right now I'm looking at MCDST. It's XP based.
I did desktop support on 98 & 2000 and really enjoyed diving under hot secretaries' desks to make their day

I think hardware has changed enough to warrant getting recertified in A+
I haven't been deep in a puter's guts since 2000 was fairly new.
A terabyte harddrive was a sarcastic joke and now it's a reality.
I'll start on Net+ after I re-do my A+ to segue back to puters again from carpentry .

Part of certs to me is to prove that I know what I'm doing and if I'm riding on certs I got 10 years ago well...

I'm relieved that you're so confident in XP.
I just upgraded to it (from 2000) a couple of weeks ago and I'm seriously impressed.

Stryker

The Network + Cert was changed this year and if I am not mistaken the A+ is suppose to change shortly as well. I was unemployed the middle of this year and most businesses want CURRENT or ACTIVE Certs. If CompTia hadn't just changed the whole certification then I would say an older one was still okay...but with the recent changes companies won't let the old one be enough for long.

Mowgli

I don't believe that companies will require someone with a 1 or 2 year out-of-date cert to go update it.
Either you know it or you don't.
I got mine when P3 was all the rage and you could only afford DDR on video cards.
I can build nice furniture and roof a house but don't know the diff between DDR & DDR2 and 1M other new things a tech should know

prod

Any new OS like windows 7 wont be too different from XP, and I wouldnt worry about recertifying. Do you have a job now that is requiring you to get it?
You should just read up on some windows support forums, you will find a lot of useful information and what problems are most common.
I still support several customers running dos-based apps. XP wont just dissappear.

Mowgli

Been woodworking for myself but IT is easier and more lucrative.

I want to get recertified.
Back in the day it got me interviews that i wouldn't have gotten otherwise.

People used to say NT4 isn't going anywhere...
I actually believe it about XP.
Most everyone must finally be sick of "upgrading" to the newest, shiniest POS OS when they have a stable, working OS.