Author Archive
Weekly Q&A: Recover deleted files on a hard drive
Question:
I deleted a user account on my XP Pro machine. I’d never done this before. In spite of my computer education, I wasn’t familiar with what actually takes place, and I just didn’t think! I’m a businessperson and busy.
Question: Is there a way that I can recover the deleted files on this hard drive? [...]
How Recession-Proof Is IT?
There are just as many surveys and reports making the case for or debunking the assertion that we are currently in a recession.
Likewise, when it comes to IT spending, the results vary in terms of severity but the fact is that businesses across the country are currently reining in technology budgets because of slowing [...]
Book Review: “Cisco Firewall Video Mentor”
Any time you have a chance to learn the same information you would in a classroom for a fraction of the cost, you should take advantage of it. Additionally, if you can learn the same material but in less time than you would in the classroom, then you’d be foolish not to capitalize.
While there are [...]
If Not Windows 7, Then What?
Microsoft is already making noise about Windows 7, the successor to Windows Vista due in late 2009 or early 2010. And while most IT departments that skip Vista will likely move from Windows XP straight to Windows 7, others are considering ditching Microsoft altogether.
“Because of the fiasco with Vista — and what a debacle that [...]
LPIC Exam Changes - Part Two
As I mentioned last week, in order to keep its LPIC exams current, the Linux Professional Institute is in the process of updating its Level 1 and Level 2 exams.
The following changes are being made to the second exam required for LPIC Level 1 certification: LPIC 102. A date of implementation is not yet known.
On [...]
LPIC-1 Study Guide
I always find it somewhat humorous that the best vendor-neutral Linux certification is so broad in scope that it can’t really be called an entry-level certification. To become LPIC-1-certified, you must pass two exams from the Linux Professional Institute (LPI).
Those exams not only exhaust your knowledge of command-line options, but also expect you to know [...]
Rent-A-Proctor
BUSINESS IDEA NO. 965: RENT-A-PROCTOR
As I was reading the latest press release from Prometric — which has been awarded a contract with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office to deliver exams to patent attorneys — it suddenly hit me how we can solve what’s wrong with today’s exam environment.
I’ve been bothered for some time by [...]
What you need to know about Cisco’s new CCNA specializations
What are the new CCNA specializations?
To become a specialized CCNA, you must first be a “regular” CCNA, and then pass a single certification test in your specialist area.
There are three new CCNA specializations:
CCNA Security
CCNA Voice
CCNA Wireless
Each of these is an area of technology in which Cisco is pushing for a very strong presence.
What do [...]
COMPTIA ADDING VIRTUAL TRAINER CERTIFICATION
On July 1, CompTIA announced that it was adding a module to its Certified Technical Trainer (CTT) certification for virtual classroom trainers.
The CTT+, a vendor-neutral certification for IT trainers, requires passing a proctored exam and creating/submitting a video presentation for grading.
Starting in August, those seeking CTT+ can choose whether they want to be certified with [...]
BASH YOUR WAY THROUGH EXAM STUDY
Over the years, I’ve seen many approaches to certification exam study. You can do everything from taking an exam blind — the idea being that it will help you get a feel for what questions and topics are on the exam, even if you fail — to sitting through weeks of expensive vendor training designed [...]