A+ cert

[pumpkinhead77]

I am looking to get A+ certified, can someone tell me the kind of things that i would need to know, and if you know of any, sites that have study guides etc. http://forums.windrivers.com/cgi-bin/forum/smilies/cwm12.gif

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If it's not broken....Fix it!

[Kathy2you]

Hi. I am currently studying for the A+. A good book to get is the All in One A + certification book by Micheal Meyers.
You can also go to http://www.brainbuzz.com and go to the Cramsession section an excellent site to let you know what you need to know http://forums.windrivers.com/cgi-bin/forum/smilies/cwm12.gif

[Jvaguy]

windows, dos, printers, laser printers, hardware, software , hard drives, cables, troubleshooting,

a good set is from the ex forefront people they have classroom based training disks, i learned mine from experience and took the test years back .. and it shocked me i passed it with ease .. A+ is a good start but youll need more to be something .. A+ has lost the meanig it once had .. look into MCSD .. everyone is going to networking .. look into developing

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1,2,3,4,5,6,7 all good children go to heaven

[Kathy2you]

Another thing you need to do is read, read, read. Subscribe to computer magazines and so on. A good magazine is Maximum PC. http://forums.windrivers.com/cgi-bin/forum/smilies/cwm9.gif I will also eventually go for the Network + exam. http://forums.windrivers.com/cgi-bin/forum/smilies/cwm11.gif

[Kathy2you]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Jvaguy:
windows, dos, printers, laser printers, hardware, software , hard drives, cables, troubleshooting,

a good set is from the ex forefront people they have classroom based training disks, i learned mine from experience and took the test years back .. and it shocked me i passed it with ease .. A+ is a good start but youll need more to be something .. A+ has lost the meanig it once had .. look into MCSD .. everyone is going to networking .. look into developing

</font>

Do you have a url as to where I can get something like that? I have seen something like that in magazines.

http://forums.windrivers.com/cgi-bin/forum/smilies/cwm11.gif

[dantanna]

I got my a+ a year ago, I used the Newriders/Marcraft A+ certification training guide book it includes tests with it on cd and course material also used alot of online testing, I crammed alot for the test and found it to be not as hard as I thought it would be. GOOD LUCK!

[rscos]

I used sybex and exam cram books for all my certs, I never took the A+ in the end coz I was concentrating on getting the NT4 certs, but also have a look at www.certificationhelp.com (http://www.certificationhelp.com) for some question dumps

[zipulrich]

Another good practice quiz site is at http://www.geocities.com/aplus_practice_exams/index.htm

[pumpkinhead77]

Thanks guys, i like all of the sites, and from what i can tell, i can pass without even studying!

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If it's not broken....Fix it!

[Jvaguy]

heres the classrom based training place
http://www.ffg.com/default.asp

ahh never stop studing ... even if its the easiest thing ... i bet 99% of us here study several times a week on things we know even if its making a startup disk ..

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1,2,3,4,5,6,7 all good children go to heaven

[crtlaltdel]

I used the A+ study by David Goth and the A+ for dummies book(it was free), study study study, and if possible getting some hands on helps alot, good luck http://forums.windrivers.com/cgi-bin/forum/smilies/cwm30.gif

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I'm on the right track but the wrong train...or is it the right train but wrong track ?

[Bambs]

For a very wide range of exams (though you will need to register) try www.examcram.com (http://www.examcram.com)

http://forums.windrivers.com/cgi-bin/forum/smilies/cwm16.gif

[captpackrat]

Study? For the A+? http://forums.windrivers.com/cgi-bin/forum/wink.gif

The test is actually quite easy, especially if you have experience already. The main thing is to memorize the tables, everything else is pretty simple.

The Sybex A+ study guides seemed pretty nice. Just make sure you get the most current version, because CompTIA does update their tests every once in a while.

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Captain Troy D. Pack Rat
`akbar Press

If you're furry and you know it, hug the mouse! (http://captainpackrat.dynip.com)

[professadainty]

The site that you would want to go to is www.comptia.org. (http://www.comptia.org.) It tells you all about the test and provides lots of links. Also, Bambs mentioned www.examcram.com. (http://www.examcram.com.) Try getting your hands on the A+ exam cram study guide. Trust me, it was a great help for me. Peace...

[pumpkinhead77]

well guys, i got the book by david goth and realized that i knew most everything on the test! so after 10min of studying i got my cert

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If it's not broken....Fix it!

[crtlaltdel]

Nice job, what's next ?

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I'm on the right track but the wrong train...or is it the right train but wrong track ?

[pumpkinhead77]

college, at the international acadamy of design and technology (formerly known as computer tech) i am going there to learn computer informations management and then i would like to go on to a school to get my masters in compter science.....any reccomendations for a nice computer science school



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If it's not broken....Fix it!

[carrienscott]

A+ certification is easy it only tests low level techee ability. However when you start going after things like MCSE 2000 you should start to get a bit nervous...

It always helps to work for a company that will pay for the exams.

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It's a dog eat dog world out there and I'm wearing milk bone underwear.

[pumpkinhead77]

well, i would love to work for a company that would pay for my exams but, alas i am only 18 and for some reason my age makes potential employers think that i am not as capable as some old geezer,lol

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If it's not broken....Fix it!

[carrienscott]

I'm 22 so i just now got past some of that anti - young tech crap...

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It's a dog eat dog world out there and I'm wearing milk bone underwear.

[robbydobby]

hey i am working on my A+ certification an was wanting to know if any of you guys or gals knew a good web site for practice testing http://forums.windrivers.com/cgi-bin/forum/smilies/cwm15.gif

[pumpkinhead77]

they are all listed, but i like the one at geocities

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If it's not broken....Fix it!

[kannibul]

GOOD IDEA, lets get another lame tech that hasnt a clue on how to fix computers, refer him to cramsession.com or some crap like that.
I hate people that have certs and dont know anything.
i once knew a guy that was MCSE certified, and didnt know how to use dos (in NT)(to ping another server...)
f@cken morons...
I dont have a single certification, though i know for a fact i could get my A+ at the drop of a hat. so what - i dont need a peice of paper to tell me that i know how to fix a computer.
everything i know about computers, i have taught myself, no training or otherwise.
I know more about Windows 2000 than 90% MCSE's out there, am i certified? nope.
hsould i? not really, the only I will see an increase in pay (the real reason people get certified is to get a better job) is to quit and work somewhere else.
I like my job, pay is ok, but the fact that i have free reign over $300,000 worth of compaq servers is awesome. the user ratio is about right (1:170)

certification isnt worth it, unless you hop from job to job to job everytime you get a new cert.
and then for those that take the cram, you are hopeless. you will be discovered, be ridiculed, and made to quit the company.
best piece of advice? get a job in a little techie shop, learn everything you can, and try to push the little company forward. keep learning, and keep pushing the envelope, and expand what the company does, most companies dont handle networking, or dont do on-site, and i realixe that alot of people that post here do, but i know there are alot that dont.
that will make you more money, and then go take the test, without cramming, and see how good you do.
if it isnt good enough, earn it by learning more, earn the cert.
that is much better than cheating yourself and your employer into thinking you are something you arent.

[robbydobby]

well i have to say that i have met ppl that had the a+ and have never seen a comuter that was slower then a 600 p3

i know more about computers then the teacher that i have at itt that is teach the quarter that deals w/ computer the main reason i ask is that i have the problem of doning a lot of guess ing on test or for getting it when i get ready for it so i want to see a few goog sites for testing so i can better my testing skills

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How do I set my laser printer to "stun"?
I can't back up my hard drive, there's no reverse button.

[pumpkinhead77]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by kannibul:
GOOD IDEA, lets get another lame tech that hasnt a clue on how to fix computers, refer him to cramsession.com or some crap like that.
I hate people that have certs and dont know anything.
i once knew a guy that was MCSE certified, and didnt know how to use dos (in NT)(to ping another server...)
f@cken morons...
I dont have a single certification, though i know for a fact i could get my A+ at the drop of a hat. so what - i dont need a peice of paper to tell me that i know how to fix a computer.
everything i know about computers, i have taught myself, no training or otherwise.
I know more about Windows 2000 than 90% MCSE's out there, am i certified? nope.
hsould i? not really, the only I will see an increase in pay (the real reason people get certified is to get a better job) is to quit and work somewhere else.
I like my job, pay is ok, but the fact that i have free reign over $300,000 worth of compaq servers is awesome. the user ratio is about right (1:170)

certification isnt worth it, unless you hop from job to job to job everytime you get a new cert.
and then for those that take the cram, you are hopeless. you will be discovered, be ridiculed, and made to quit the company.
best piece of advice? get a job in a little techie shop, learn everything you can, and try to push the little company forward. keep learning, and keep pushing the envelope, and expand what the company does, most companies dont handle networking, or dont do on-site, and i realixe that alot of people that post here do, but i know there are alot that dont.
that will make you more money, and then go take the test, without cramming, and see how good you do.
if it isnt good enough, earn it by learning more, earn the cert.
that is much better than cheating yourself and your employer into thinking you are something you arent.</font>


wow, what hostility! I just got my cert so that i could get a decent job to help me pay my way through college, I didnt know everyone was going to hate me cause of it, damn

oh and by the by, im going to try to get my masters degree in computer science....keyword try!



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If it's not broken....Fix it!

[Pinnacle]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by pumpkinhead77:

wow, what hostility! I just got my cert so that i could get a decent job to help me pay my way through college, I didnt know everyone was going to hate me cause of it, damn

oh and by the by, im going to try to get my masters degree in computer science....keyword try!

</font>

I'm sure Kannibul meant no offense. It gets a little irritating to see people who are good at memorizing facts pass a certification that really have no idea what they are doing. I do not think anyone means to suggest you fit in that group.

I think the cram sights are okay to test one's knowledge right before they take the real exam. I would much rather take a free practice test to find out how much I know, than pay $100 for the real exam and then find out the exam was going into much more detail than I anticipated.

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"Tell me, and I'll forget. Show me, and I'll remember. Involve me, and I'll learn." -- Marla Jones

[NTTECH1]

A lot of Links on cert on this site: www.techrepublic.com (http://www.techrepublic.com) register as user and look under Cetifications.

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Computer Shop Owner A+ COMPTIA Lifes a Beach

[pumpkinhead77]

Oh, well it just seemed that way, and by the way, I dont just memorize facts for the test I have been a techie for going on 5 years so i do have a decent amount of experience.

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If it's not broken....Fix it!

[crtlaltdel]

Nothing for nothing some employers want the certs, they won't even look at a resume with out any certs on it. I didn't need any at my present job, but I am going for Net+ and Mcse2000 because I want them and if in the future I decide to move on I want to be more marketable

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These are the facts and they are undisputed

[captpackrat]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by robbydobby:
well i have to say that i have met ppl that had the a+ and have never seen a comuter that was slower then a 600 p3 </font>

When I got my A+, I'd never seen a computer faster than a Pentium 200. http://forums.windrivers.com/cgi-bin/forum/wink.gif

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Captain Troy D. Pack Rat
`akbar Press

If you're furry and you know it, hug the mouse! (http://captainpackrat.dynip.com)

[CannyDog]

I'm with you ctrlaltdel! We all know that certification without experience is pretty useless. However, the employers who you really want to work for will almost always demand certification. The reason is simple. People lie about thier experience.

kannibul if you want to prove you have what it takes. Take the exams and "show us what you've got"! Otherwise, go to "that backdoor", you're so "near". http://forums.windrivers.com/cgi-bin/forum/smilies/cwm6.gif

[pumpkinhead77]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by captpackrat:
When I got my A+, I'd never seen a computer faster than a Pentium 200. http://forums.windrivers.com/cgi-bin/forum/wink.gif

</font>

lol, made me chuckle......

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If it's not broken....Fix it!

[UsePost2000]

When i got my aplus, it was on apple stuff as well as dos...tells you how much technology changes...!
http://forums.windrivers.com/cgi-bin/forum/smile.gif
im almost ready for a job http://forums.windrivers.com/cgi-bin/forum/wink.gif

[knuckledude]

Know modem AT commands, Standard IRQ assighnments, Serial and parellel port memory adresses and IRQ's. (= approx. 10% of the exam I took...)

Oh yah, DOS and Windows boot file call and execute order..

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"Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it."
-Ferris Bueler

[Melmac]

Learn with Smartforce CBT, then practice with Transcender. You'll ace it easily.

[Kathy2you]

I have a question for you all. Is it possible to just take an online course for A + certification and then take the exams and then pass? I was curious about this because someone I know is going to do this and I know more than they do! They don't have much hands on experience and I believe that you should in order to become A+ certified! What are your opinions?

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Need I say more?

[pumpkinhead77]

Anything helps, but tell them that hands on experience and reading any and everything that you can find is also a very big help. I reccomend the book "all in one A+ certification" by michael meyers, it is $51 at amazon.com with rush shipping and is one of the best books that i have read about computers because of all of the diagrams and such and it also does not assume anything

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If it's not broken....Fix it!

[Kathy2you]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by pumpkinhead77:
Anything helps, but tell them that hands on experience and reading any and everything that you can find is also a very big help. I reccomend the book "all in one A+ certification" by michael meyers, it is $51 at amazon.com with rush shipping and is one of the best books that i have read about computers because of all of the diagrams and such and it also does not assume anything

</font>

I told this person about the book, and about reading, and so on. Just seems too simple. Hmmm, got me thinking about looking into something like that course...depending on how much it is. I guess every little bit helps http://forums.windrivers.com/cgi-bin/forum/smilies/cwm1.gif

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Need I say more?

[Kathy2you]

Ooops, sorry for posting twice, but I overlooked some of the posts!!! http://forums.windrivers.com/cgi-bin/forum/smilies/cwm6.gif
Congrats pumpkinhead77!! http://forums.windrivers.com/cgi-bin/forum/smilies/cwm30.gif
I didn't realize that you took the exams and passed in only a matter of days! I am impressed!! http://forums.windrivers.com/cgi-bin/forum/smilies/cwm12.gif

[This message has been edited by Kathy2you (edited March 01, 2001).]

[cyberhh]

The A+ exams are insulting to people with years of experience, but my employer now requires it - by, by $250 and a whole day.

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Death is lighter than a feather - duty heavier than a mountian.

[pumpkinhead77]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by cyberhh:
The A+ exams are insulting to people with years of experience, but my employer now requires it - by, by $250 and a whole day.

</font>

WOW! $250 when i went it was only $132! and if your are with a company like dell or compuke...er...Compaq..yeah thats it you can get discounts

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If it's not broken....Fix it!

[jjma2]

A+ Certification for Dummies was the only resource I used. Had little experience prior to taking the tests. Passed them both w/ 80%+. Don't waste your money or time studying other books. Just get that one.

[barryjo]

Im going to have to agree with everyone that has said certifications are bull$hit... Ive been working in this industry for almost 8 years, and most of the certified people ive met (MCSE, MCSD, CCNA, etc), are VERY booksmart people that dont have a friggen clue how to do any problem solving in their area of cert. It really pisses me off when I go to a client's site and some other consultant is pretty much making $hit up. Their comeback when you tell them how wrong they are is "But Im an MCSE."

[pumpkinhead77]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by barryjo:
Im going to have to agree with everyone that has said certifications are bull$hit... Ive been working in this industry for almost 8 years, and most of the certified people ive met (MCSE, MCSD, CCNA, etc), are VERY booksmart people that dont have a friggen clue how to do any problem solving in their area of cert. It really pisses me off when I go to a client's site and some other consultant is pretty much making $hit up. Their comeback when you tell them how wrong they are is "But Im an MCSE."</font>


keep you opinions to yourself, some people cannot get a job in their area if not for certs so if you do not like them then dont take them just please dont flame those who have to have them


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If it's not broken....Fix it!

[crazyman]

I am an A+ tech and one of my favorite books is "Ugrading and Repairing PC's" 12 edition ;Scott Mueller.

I also took a great A+ class for $33.00 $11.00 per unit at a local college here.Look into that in your area. http://forums.windrivers.com/cgi-bin/forum/smilies/cwm11.gif

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PIII600b\128 rdram\pc700
AMD380\320 ram\pc100
celeron333\128 ram\pc100
Roadrunner\So Cal
X-FILES fan

[SirSmackdown]

I agree that people automatically think they are going to get a killer job ($60,000/yr+)just by getting certslike MCSE.. I just had a guy call me up asking if we were hiring.I told him no, because we dont have room right now. Anyway he told me he had been an auto mechanic for 20 years, and that a buddy of his got his MCSE and now he's making tons of moohlah. So he took out a loan for $10,000 to take MCSE classes. So now he is certified, but with no experience and he wants those high end network admin jobs that us with certs and experience cant get! I just thought that was funny..

[http://forums.windrivers.com/cgi-bin/forum1/noncgi]

Originally posted by crazyman:
I am an A+ tech and one of my favorite books is "Ugrading and Repairing PC's" 12 edition ;Scott Mueller.

I also took a great A+ class for $33.00 $11.00 per unit at a local college here.Look into that in your area. http://forums.windrivers.com/cgi-bin/forum/smilies/cwm11.gif



My favorite book as well ;)

[imd14u]

One thing, you guys who are interested in taking the A+ exams, they're being revised after the end of this month.

Which can include Windows 2000.
http://www.comptia.org/certification/aplus/os_exam.pdf

You need AdobeAcrobat to view it. :D :p :rolleyes: :eek: :rolleyes: :p :D

[http://forums.windrivers.com/cgi-bin/forum1/noncgi]

Originally posted by Eightball:
One thing, you guys who are interested in taking the A+ exams, they're being revised after the end of this month.

Which can include Windows 2000.
http://www.comptia.org/certification/aplus/os_exam.pdf

You need AdobeAcrobat to view it. :D :p :rolleyes: :eek: :rolleyes: :p :D

I think most of us know this :)

[tha 4NiK8R]

goto www.brainbuzz.com (http://www.brainbuzz.com) and download the cramsession, read it, go take the test. The tests are so easy if you have any kind of experience you should have no problems

[TELLIOTTJR]

I am also studying for the A+ and have about 4 years tech experience. I have found the All-In-One book by Michael Meyers a great study guide but believe I can pass the test dry. The best place I have found to get tech books is Bookpool (http://www.bookpool.com) the book was $33.50 + s/h. I plan to eventually get my MCSE because in the Baltimore/DC area it is very necessary to get in the door with the larger companies.

[Radical Dreamer]

Originally posted by Brew Master:
I am also studying for the A+ and have about 4 years tech experience. I have found the All-In-One book by Michael Meyers a great study guide but believe I can pass the test dry. The best place I have found to get tech books is Bookpool (http://www.bookpool.com) the book was $33.50 + s/h. I plan to eventually get my MCSE because in the Baltimore/DC area it is very necessary to get in the door with the larger companies.

I have read this and agree that it is a great book