A+ core test was not very fun :)

[youngsw]

I took my A+ hardware core test this morning, glad I passed :) I almost ran out of time hehe. If I would have studied differently I would have studied more about scsi and older cpus.

For those preparing for the test, memorize the IO addresses and IRQs. COM 2 and LPT1 found their way in my test (only remembered the last three characters of LPT1 and good thing only one selection ended with the correct characters :D)

Monday I take the software test, if anyone is wanting links of sites that I used to study I will post them. I am so happy :D

[Jiggy]

Good to here you passed the A+ hardware, and all the best for the OS part.

Ive passed the A+ hardware last week and im taking OS after christmas, any links you have would help, thanks.

[deddard]

Well done!
Those questions on the IRQs, DMAs etc can be a major pain can't they?!
Best of luck for the OS :)

[youngsw]

I was lucky to not have any questions about DMA, I neglected to study those hehe.

The sites that I used are mainly practice exams. I have experience in the industry and had a course that worked out of an A+ book, so I think that helped a lot.

http://www.4tests.com/exams/examdetail.asp?eid=75
http://www.learnthat.com/courses/computer/apluscore/hardware.html
http://www.besttests.com/content-2.html

I will be on the hunt for more materials on the OS portion. I have done tech support on all versions of Windows and worked with them for years, so hopefully the OS test will be easier than the hardware hehe.

Thanks for the support guys !

[Jhorner1]

Along with Mike Meyers book, I used this site (http://www.passitnow.com/comptia.html) for practice exams.
Good luck to both of you.

[youngsw]

cool, that site looks familier but I forgot to bookmark it :)

Thanks for the link jhorner !

[Jiggy]

Thanks for the link, i to an using that book in small chunks.

[youngsw]

Took the OS test this morning, was better than the Hardware one imo :) I feel a whole lot better now that I don't have to worry about those tests. Now to prepare for the 70-270 MS test :)

Studied a whole bunch on XP the past couple of days and I know that I aced those two questions it asked about XP :D

Jiggy, not sure if all of the tests will be like this, but a very large majority of the questions involved NT and Win2k. I have lots of experience in those OS's so it wasn't too bad for me, but most have very little expereince with win2k (and even less with NT). I would refresh those sections if you are not familier with them. Good luck !

[deddard]

They STILL asking all those NT questions?!! :eek:
I do wish they'd get up to date. It was the same when I took my A+, (the 2K syllabus, right before the new XP syllabus came in) - it's the one OS I haven't touched!

[Jiggy]

Is there a lot between NT and 2000 ?

What does NT have over 2000 ?

[youngsw]

Windows NT (referring to NT 4) came out around the same time as Windows 95. It was a Network Operating System meant to rival Novells NOS. It was just as easy to use as Windows 95 (same interface) and also easy to manage networks with. But it is not a Plug and Play OS and has no USB support. The best thing it had over Windows 95 was that it was more stable (totally different Kernel and has no DOS code anywhere in it), but not much more stable :) Also NTFS is a plus..

Windows 2000 is often referred to NT 5. Windows 2k has improved upon the NTFS by adding encryption to it which is pretty spiffy. Win2k is built like a rock, it supports usb and PnP devices. When I was running it for a workstation I had no problems and it was very stable. Server wise, it sets up networks differently than Windows NT(I wasn't asked anything like that on my test though), like there are only Domain Controllers, no Primary Domain Controllers or Backup Domain Controllers.

During the 5 years of no NT releases (but there were service packs released with updated hardware support), they have improved Windows NT, win2k is very stable, runs very fast and is a great OS (some people may disagree). Windows XP is known as NT 5.1, pretty much win2k for the home user with improved software support :)

Also an annoying thing about Windows NT was that after installing protocols and sometimes drivers, you normally have to reinstall the service pack. With Windows 2k and Xp you don't which is very nice :)

[deddard]

NT requires more registry editing to accomplish certain tasks, and requires more knowledge of command-line configuration, which has been largely superceded by 2000 and XP. I had some questions on really oddball commands that were required - I was told to study 2000 and 98, as there were would be few questions on NT :eek:

[youngsw]

I guess I was lucky, I wasn't asked too many commandline questions. The only ones I was asked are common knowledge (at least I see them as common knowledge :D) Like the command to create a repair disk in NT.

98 was only mentioned with questions about duel booting win98 and win2k on the same harddrive, also on the same partition which I don't see the point of. Win2k cannot be really secure if it's using a FAT partition :)

For me ME and 95 were not mentioned, XP just popped up about two times. There were questions on Internet Protocols which is very basic. Just study up on NT and win2k along with the rest of your preperation and I am sure you will do fine.

[kirbykirbykirby]

the A+ Certi test is on NT?!? god, why did they base it on the one os that hard to find *both legally and illegaly* you do mean Nt Workstation and not 2k/xp rite?

[youngsw]

afraid so, hardly any xp and there were some win2k questions.

[JPasterik]

At least they *finally* let go of DOS on the A+ OS test...Just needed to know a few commands out of it. The OS was definitely harder for me than the Core, but at least I passed both and am moving on to the WinXP course to get my MCP. :)

[youngsw]

if you don't have knowledge of NT, I don't see that portion of the test being easy. At least my software test had mostly NT questions.

[papertech]

The reason why there are still questions on the exam about NT and W2K is because many companies still run those OS's on their networks. It's difficult for corporations to upgrade their software in a timely manner, mostly due to financial constraints. NT had Workstation (previously windows 3.1 and 3.5?) as well as Server and Server Enterprise.

There are benefits of dual booting NT or W2K and W98 in certain situations. Theoretically, security shouldn't be a big problem as we're talking intranet behind major firewalls, vs internet.

My MCSE (NT4) and A+ (2000) certs are rather old, so it was interesting to me to read through all your comments on the differences between NT, W2K and XP.

Good luck to all in your studies!

[atc_traffic856]

The core exam comprised of how many types of cpus?
Thank you

[FastLearner]

Back to the differences between Win NT and Win 2K for one moment, if I may. THE biggest difference between the two is that Windows NT used NTDS and with Win 2K came the greatest invention Microsoft has ever come up with - Active Directory (and IntelliMirror). I would know that for any exam wanting to know the differences between the two OSes, along with a little bit about the differences between how trusts (NT) work vs. Group Policy Objects (Active Directory). Just a though. Personally, I'm sweating bullets because I finally went ahead and scheduled my Network + Cert (May 2). If I pass, it will be my first official certification - or should I try and be confident and say 'when' I pass? - hehe

[Jiggy]

Hi FastLearner,

Hope you pass lad, ive not booked my A+OS yet as im trying to read my book and read through Certiguide, need to pull my finger out, If and when i pass N+ next.

[FastLearner]

Thanks Jiggy. I'll keep my fingers crossed for you, too. Break a leg...:)