What do you do in A+?

[fastguy94416]

Is it even hard for someone experienced in building systems from parts?

[netviper13]

I'll let you know after this Saturday, when I take the test.

From what I've heard from people I know that have taken it, it's not all that hard. I can ace the practice tests I got with my A+ prep book.

[Feanor]

With one of the majors I'm taking (in computer networking) we took classes which were essentially preperatory for this. It wasn't that I was going for the test, but one of the 2 colleges I'm concurently enrolled in decided to include it for a larger major. Thing is it is simple, but make sure to take some practice tests, as some of the "correct answers" were BS or were dated and no longer applied for the present.

An example of the latter (though they might have updated it for now) is concerning the bus clock in a PC. It presents options including 66 MHz, 90 MHz, 100 MHz, etc...

The answer it wanted was 66 MHz, but today "yeah right"... With the exception of the Celeron line, the last processor Intel manufactured that ran with a 66 MHz fsb was the Pentium II 333. Newer boxes (and by newer remember that the 350 MHz Pentium II and up, the Pentium IIIs, and the Athlons have been around for several years now) use a 100 or 133 MHz fsb (some mobos are this DDR) and the P4 uses either DDR as mentioned before or Rambus (though 400 MHz DDR has not really taken a hold just yet).

If you answer that based on what would be true today... Some others are "eh, but moving away from the PC to some RISC, or basically non Wintel platform, not necessarily". You'll have to feed them the answers they expect, even if they aren't most correct...

[netviper13]

Your friend must have gotten in on the older revision of the test. They released a new revision last year that is much more up to date than the previous one.

My friends who took it said that rather than focusing mostly on straight up knowledge, it tests your situational awareness (eg: what would you do if X problem occured on a 9x machine).

Should be interesting and I hope I pass as it is fairly expensive.

[DaveW]

What do you do in A+?


You pick your nose for 20 minutes, then answer a question about why a Soundblaster Live doesn't work in an AGP slot, and then leave. I think the most common reason for failure is forgetting to put your name at the top of the paper.

[Matthyahuw]

I took it a few months ago, it was not THAT hard, but if you don't know basic how-tos, yes, it's hard. And no, you won't get by if you just play around with the computer for fun, they made the tests much harder than they used to.

There are specific things you need to know about Laser Printers, you should know the print order, and what each thing does in there.
You also need to know the IRQ, and DMA tables, and what each one is basically assigned to (like DMA channel 2 is for the floppy, etc...)

[Tactics]

Also Windows 3.1 is in there believe it or not unless they updated it which I would hope they would by now. I took it 3 years ago and it wasn't that hard. You will need to do some studying IMO. I'm working on my CCNA now which is a little more trickier. :)

[netviper13]

Ya still have to know DOS and how its memory works, plus all OSes on the 9x core; but there is less focus on DOS than on the previous version.

[Feanor]

Originally posted by netviper13
Your friend must have gotten in on the older revision of the test. They released a new revision last year that is much more up to date than the previous one.

My friend? I was the one in the class, not a friend. I'm speaking from first hand experience. Yeah it is expensive (over $1,000) and we were told they were just about to come out with a new rev. A question like that I do think is kind of rediculous though. Because the moment it is written...something new comes out. The AMD Hammer will probably change quite a bit, as Foster might too...

In the class and looking at some of the questions, the teacher (who himself was a computer engineer) was like "yeah that's true...but you see to pass this you need not to think through the questions so thoroughly...just practice and see what answers they want". Course my sole experience isn't just on the x86 and M$ Windows/DOS platform either. (Actually I prefered DR-DOS over M$ Dos personally)

[vampireuk]

I should be starting the A+ in about 2 weeks hopefully *dances around in a pink tutu*

[de><ta]

what exactly is the A+, another one of those company based certification courses??:confused:

I am a computer eng major/bachelor and i am not aware of it.
From the questions it seems more towards the technical aspects not the theoretical.

[vampireuk]

The A+ is a entry level qualification for been a technician.

It teaches the practical aspects behind computers such as building maintaining etc. I'm sat here reading a list off a sheet of paper heh. w00t i got my loan!:D sorry I'll get over that soon:cool:

[Matthyahuw]

I just passed the Network+ test this morning, and I think it was a bit easier than the A+...
A+ is all about know this and that, Net+ was a bit more flexible in terms of no need to know many certain facts, just "hows".

The Cisco tests are the "online" tests, yeah, I don't know how or what exactly we are doing yet (I'm still in Win2000 Pro&Server classes). For the CCNA, I think the A=Associate...not 100% sure tho...then CCNP (professional) then CCNE (Engineer), that one commands a 6 figure salary. But don't expect to get that w/o a lot of hard work and experience...

[Switch]

I passed my A+ and I can't get anything as far as a job goes. The area that I live is is swamped by navy "electronic engineers" that think they know a thing or two about computers...

A perfect example of this is a computer store across from the school I went to. Their solution for everything was. "I'm sorry <Insert Customer name Here> but it seems you've some how corrupted your operating system and we'll have to reinstall it." It's funny, because they carry an 18 month warranty but conviently don't cover the operating system in that 18 months.... and if I were to bet on anything, it was their crap motherboards that caused them problems.

If you'd like a laugh (http://www.mroca.com)

I always got a laugh when the CEO would complain. It'd be a slow week/month in PC sales and he'd go off and blame it all on online retailers.... Consumers can get parts cheaper than he can and he's gonna cry about it. Example... Ti200 he gets for $175 and *tries* to sell it for $230. I interned there for a while so I know what he pays to get his stuff.

I really pissed him off once. He tried to sell my girlfriend a computer. I took a list of parts/prices out of my pocket and beat his price by 50 bucks with a faster machine.... his responce? He said he wasn't sure about my brand names... which where Abit & Visiontek, Crucial for the main parts. I got major complaining about online retailers there.

I'd hate to be some of his employees... They're so over him in qualifications they'd practically have to talk down to him.

The moral of the story being, getting an A+ is great, but that doesn't mean much in this world. You've got to have experience and it's got to be something you like to do. The fastest computer one tech at RMO has is a 266MHz. Now that's great but when the computer field drastically changes, which could come when hammer is released, him and his "10 years of computer experience" aren't going to be worth crap.

[vampireuk]

ok come on enough with the spam, and A+ is not gay its a entry level exam showing you have the basic skills and while its not going to get you the worlds best job its still handy to have:p

[ibGoodEnuf]

True, I have spammed to get to 10 posts, but after 3+ years as a loyal visitor I believe I have earned the right. However, I stand by my original assessment of A+'s worth. I am the Sales Manger for a very large computer company and have been a tech since 1982. I interview and test all prospective hires for tech and I can honestly say that my 2 current techs, neither of whom are A+ certified are among the best I have ever met. We have a CCNP that frequents our facility and is constantly getting help from these techs. Noww this CCNP is incredible with UNIX, is also an MSCE, and knows more about networking than just about anyone, but when it comes to pure bench tech, A+ means CRAPOLA.

[vampireuk]

which is why I said entry level really;) after A+ im doing network+ MCSE and CCNA so hopefully ill get a rather good job after these courses:)

[netviper13]

w00tness and stuff, I passed both tests today :D...now it's on to CCNA and other such certifications.

[vampireuk]

cool! congrats :) I should be getting final confirmation of my loan sometime this week :)

[LORD-eX-Bu]

Man I have had it with computers, I don't want to work with them too much for my profession.

[Retrolock]

Happy 6 year birthday thread!

this is the oldest thread i can find here

[crainger]

What kind of idiot digs old threads like this?!


Oh wait... ::o:

[bob saget]

i was probably ****ing drunk pre-teen preggo girls at this time....

[crainger]

Ah Russia.

[Retrolock]

What kind of idiot digs old threads like this?!


Oh wait... ::o:

:wonder: i like you. i saw you digging and my wang just bobbed