Hello all,

I have a laptop with windows vista business 32bit and a laptop with windows 7 ultimate 64 bit 2.4ghz i3 4gb ram, a 5 port small 3com unmanaged switch(still in package) and I get my internet by tethering from my smart phone. I have downloaded virtual box on my 64 bit laptop and plan on downloading windows server 2008 onto the virtual box.

now my questions are;

will it be necessary to download 08 server r2 onto virtual box to understand the exam? and if so how will I use server 08 it if it's not mentioned of the 70-685-686 book? To better understand server 08 (to which I have some knowledge from college) should I purchase a book dedicated to server 08 and study it before I study the 685-686 book? Should I also upgrade my vista 32 bit to win 7 32 bit to have 2 computers running win 7 or should I download win 7 on my vista laptop into virtual box? will my 3 com 5 port switch connect everything together so that I can simulate a small LAN configuration. I apologize If I sound rediculous, I just want to make sure I don't waste any time and money on this exam by failing it and hopefully one of you out there understands what I trying to say, even though it does not seem to make any sense. If anyone has a better way to approach this exam, please feel free to let me know I am definitely open to any suggestions.

Thank you for any help. CHOW!