I think this book is great because it covers so much of Windows XP from understanding the operating systems to moving files. I learn much about task manager and how to rollback drivers. Anything that has to do with Windows XP is pretty much in this book. Keep this book handy because it is a great reference book when you need to fix a problem.

Last week I passed the 70-271 exam first try (you can read my review for the 70-271 self paced training book).

In few days I studied this 70-272 book (same issues are identical to 70-271) and I esily passed the 272 exam with 863.

Now I am MCDST Certified and I must thank this 2 books for that.

Also the "Exam Cram 2 series" were useful (expecially the 70-271), but the tests contained in Exam Cram 272 CD were mostly wrong scored (a lot of questions take your answer as wrong even if you answered right).

On the contrary both the Microsoft Self paced training books and CDs were (and are) very very useful. Keep them because they contain very practical informations.

This book, combined with the 70-271, and the practice exams included on the CD's were the best resource in helping to understand and pass the exam. Even more so then class time!

I felt it was a good reference for the material. I have just been browsing over it, But not to many mistakes and I think I got what I paid for@!

The item I received was in good shape, but it arrived over a week after Amazon's date of arrival. There is no reason why an item should arrive a week late.

I've been an A+ Certified Technician since 2001, but this book really gave me the edge I needed to fully understand more about Windows XP Pro and Microsoft Office hands-on installations, configurations, troubleshooting, securing and networking with other computers in a corporate setting.

I haven't taken the test for MCP yet, but this volume certainly has me ready to do so any day now, if you're looking to learn Windows XP Pro and MS Office 2003, drop everything you're reading and buy this book, and also, keep it real handy after you are "done" studying it, because is very useful as a reference book as well. I Hope this review will be helpful.

I took my test today and came close to maxing out, 972....study hard the reviews at the end of the book. When taking the test, read the questions AND answers carefully, kind of like the old school days, an answer may "look" right but it could be one word off. Keep the books, don't resell them, I've already gone back into 70-271 and reviewed a few things. handy to have on hand when you deal with it every day. Very thorough in my opinion. Just a humble IT geek working on his certs.....

I just took this certification and found out that some of test questions were the same as the back of this book. If you go through the test bank in the back of the book and go through the lessons your sure to pass. The book also comes with 180 day trials of xp pro sp2 and office 2003 professional. Not to meantion you get a voucher for 15% off the exam. I will warn you that some of the exam questions are very easy and others are super tricky.

I just took this certification and found out that some of test questions were the same as the back of this book. If you go through the test bank in the back of the book and go through the lessons your sure to pass. The book also comes with 180 day trials of xp pro sp2 and office 2003 professional. Not to meantion you get a voucher for 15% off the exam. I will warn you that some of the exam questions are very easy and others are super tricky.

This book came with a free trial of Office 2003. (The book for the 70-271 exam has the XP Pro trial as stated in the editorial review) When I tried to install the free trial it had already expired. Apparently, the free trial begins when the book is purchased, and not when the software is installed. Therefore, if you wait to install it you will not get the full 180 days, and the 180 days includes the time it takes to ship the book to you. I really needed the free trial. I was saving it until I needed it, and I ended up buying Office Professional 2003 instead. Oh well, the book gets a 3 anyways because it needs supplemental material to prepare for the exam. (but don't they all?)

The Microsoft Certified Desktop Support Technician test (Exam 70-272) has been modified and updated to incorporate the material needed to support Microsoft XP (with Service Pack 2) and Microsoft Office Professional Edition 2003. This has resulted in this Second Edition of the Self Paced Training kit.

The book comes with two CD's that include all the software you will need to prepare for the test. This includes the operating system, and the Office suite of products in trial versions that are fully functional but time limited to give you the basic test platform to practice the points developed in the text.

The basic format of the text is to give you the information you need to understand to pass the test and a set of questions and answers to help you identify those areas that may need further study. Finally there is a 'Readiness Review' test on the CD as a final in-depth exam just before you take the actual test.