UH OH

[Revjapaca]

You guys should get a kick out of this. Let me give you some history first. I was in the Navy for 7 years and went to college while I was in. I earned a degree in computer information systems (mostly theory; data systems design, database mgt ect. Well, as soon as I got out of the service I was offered a job with a contracting company to repair photo digital printers. I explained that I had no real hardware expierience and they ensured me that the machines were unique and they would handle the training. They did and it has been going fine, however, my company recently got the contract to maintain all of the PCs and HP printers on site 150 or so. I have alot of book knowledge on PC maintenance but no real hands on. The problem is that I am the only person from my company on site. I'm worried that a motherboard will fail before I can get to some night classes for A+ training. Do any of you great and powerfull geeks have any short term solutions, such as study guides, tutorials that hit hard and to the point. I need to pull this off if I can. I await your wisdom. http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/eek.gif

[sea69]

http://skilldrill.brainbuzz.com/testlist.asp

http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/wink.gif

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sea1_69@hotmail.com

homepage (http://www.seanweb1.homestead.com/3.html)

;)~

[wiltrot]

A+ Complete Study Guide Second Edition by David Groth & Dan Newland. $50
A+ Complete Lab Manual Second Edition by Donald R. Evans. $20
Make sure copy write is 2001, publisher SYBEX.
You can find these books at Amazon.com at a good price.
How Computers Work by Ron White, is pretty good, you probably don't need it
but you can get it at a discount.
P.S. Neither great nor powerfull.

[Paleo Pete]

Well, here at the PC Guide you'll find most of the info you need for average day to day things, and a bit of looking through the Certification topics will turn up some good study links. My site and mjc's both have good lists of links to all kinds of useful info, and I plan to add more to mine pretty soon. A search for A+ on Google (http://www.google.com) should turn up more links, and mostly related to A+ certification. You can also get the PC Guide disk edition, it's really nice to have, no waiting for webpages to load...It's not specifically an A+ training guide, but it has tons of info that will help you along the way. I've used the Sybex books, they seem to be very good. My set is an older one, 1999 I think...

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So many idiots, and only six bullets...
Note: Please post your questions on the forums, not in my email.

Computer Information Links (http://www.geocities.com/paleopete/)

[jpm]

I'm studying for my A+ exam at the mo and most of the stuff is straight forward. With books by yourside, theory and lots of computers to practise on you should be at least able to progress. From the book that I have (Mike Meyers) a lot is covered although you can pretty much guarentee the problem that crops up won't be. If this is the case I would not worry: solution can be phone call/email away. Also remember there are some incredibly stupid people using computers (ie Moi!) and the problems that I have come across at work don't need any qualification just the ability to work through the problems from the easiest step ie monitor power on.
As always the people here are always willing to help from the likes of me to the likes of Charles and Pete.
Good Luck!

---you may know your wines Mr Bond, but it is you on your knees---

[yawningdog]

After seven years in the canoe club (six myself) I would have thought you would have learned how to fake it. http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

Do this. If there is a problem, simply approach the machine with squared shoulders and a clipboard, ask lots of accusatory questions of the user, hit some buttons and use any current knowledge to try to solve the problem. If you are unable to fix the machine, say "I'm afraid this is going to require some research."

This approach will buy you anywhere from two days to a month.

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He thrusts his fists against the posts but still insists he sees the ghosts.

[jpm]

is that an option on the A+ exam when you don't have a clue?
a) Stare blindly at the computer and weep quietly
b) reboot the system until the end of the day
c) take the whole thing to pieces and blame the user for odd fonts
d) all of the above

god i hope so!

[Ghost_Hacker]

I've found the application of "techno babble" to render any user speechless. Enabling me to go back to playing games and searching the web till such time as I see fit to fix whatever problem their having. http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

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Comment heard from a Klingon programmer.

"Our users will know fear and cower before our software! Ship it! Ship it and let them flee like the dogs they are!"

[kenja]

"Short term solutions": Seriously, yawningdog has it right: Fake it!

Even though I had the appropriate (public and corporate) classroom training, when I started working as an industrial electronics technician, I felt like I was "faking it" for the next couple of years. I'd say, don't sweat the A+. OJT (On the Job Training) will accelerate your growth of knowlege by a factor of ten.

Get a couple of good PC references like "The PC Guide" and Scott Mueller's "Upgrading and Repairing PCs" (Que).

If possible, get the HP maintenance manuals for the models you will be working on (I'd expect my employer to pay for these).

Good things about being the only tech on site: No one will be second-guessing your every move (like replacing a motherboard that didn't need to be replaced (been there http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/rolleyes.gif )), and you won't have to fix another technician's mistakes.

[Revjapaca]

Fake it, outstanding! I thinks me going to likea this job. Thanks for all of the advice.

[kenja]

Another suggestion: When I worked as a technician, I always wore a shirt with a chest pocket. Why? So I would always have a pen and notepad with me. Being able to scrible down bits ( http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif ) of information and reminders to myself was invaluable. The juiciest pieces of information would then be transferred to 3x5" notecards which were held in a small two-ring binder. This became my personal "technicians bible". (If I were to do this again, the info would be transcribed into a computer.)