Plan on getting A+ Certified

Judas · Jul 9, 2003, 08:09 PM

I had talked to a few people around about getting A+ Certified..... and i was told that the test consists of a few questions on linux... but i have a hard time believing it...somehow....

Anyone here know anything of it?

(any helpful tips to pass on? )

Thanks in advance...

UberLord · Jul 10, 2003, 12:29 PM

What is A+ certified?

Some kinda mental classification

Judas · Jul 10, 2003, 07:58 PM

It's what you have to get to be able to work in a shop on computers.... without the worry of being sued if you do something wrong..... (which you shouldn't if you get certified)

evergreen · Jul 10, 2003, 08:21 PM

I used to teach an A+ Core class at a local college--never certified though, but plenty of "real-world" experience. It was approximately 2 years ago and there was no Linux, mainly PC basics in detail: motherboards, BIOS, memory types, chipsets, IDE hard drives...

Current:
A+ Core Exam

1.0 Installation, Configuration and Upgrading 30%
2.0 Diagnosing and Troubleshooting 30%
3.0 Preventive Maintenance 5%
4.0 Motherboard/Processors/Memory 15%
5.0 Printers 10%
6.0 Basic Networking 10%

A+ Operating Systems Exam

1.0 OS Fundamentals 30%
2.0 Installation, Configuration and Upgrading 15%
3.0 Diagnosing and Troubleshooting 40%
4.0 Networks 15%

Reference www.comptia.com for more info

~~craig588~~ · Jul 11, 2003, 05:26 AM

For each test they randomly draw questions from a master database, I was lucky and had no linux or printer questions. I guess I had an older version, because printers used to be part of another section. It used to be 2 sections: hardware and software and they randomly drew up questions from each catagory. Now they have it set up so you can't get lucky and miss a few critical questions.

Judas · Jul 12, 2003, 08:20 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by evergreen
I used to teach an A+ Core class at a local college--never certified though, but plenty of "real-world" experience. It was approximately 2 years ago and there was no Linux, mainly PC basics in detail: motherboards, BIOS, memory types, chipsets, IDE hard drives...

Current:
A+ Core Exam

1.0 Installation, Configuration and Upgrading 30%
2.0 Diagnosing and Troubleshooting 30%
3.0 Preventive Maintenance 5%
4.0 Motherboard/Processors/Memory 15%
5.0 Printers 10%
6.0 Basic Networking 10%

A+ Operating Systems Exam

1.0 OS Fundamentals 30%
2.0 Installation, Configuration and Upgrading 15%
3.0 Diagnosing and Troubleshooting 40%
4.0 Networks 15%

Reference www.comptia.com for more info

Sweet....thanks,

BTW, what would everyone recommend as the best getting started..newbie to linux.... version?

If you can't see my system specs in my sigy...

AMD Athlon XP 1900+
Abit AT7-MAX2
Hercules Digifire 7.1
Radeon 8500LE
2x 30gb SATA150
Yamaha CD-RW and Sony DVD
512Mb DDR
Basically that all...

since i'm considering install linux.... how much space would you think it would need for me to run such things as linux (abviously), it's swap file if it has on (most likely..).... maybe a game or 2.... and maybe some other basic programs.... 2-3gb?(please... set minuim)

The_Neon_Cowboy · Jul 12, 2003, 01:27 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Judas
It's what you have to get to be able to work in a shop on computers.... without the worry of being sued if you do something wrong..... (which you shouldn't if you get certified)

well actually it just a peace a paper that shows that you know as much as a technicain "on the job " should know in 6 mouths of work experiance... nothing more / less

shows you now what you think you know.... to a potential employer it is very nice to have ...

you dont have to have it .. i never have goten mine ...

but thn agin i got buds who got thiers .. but there working at kroger etc .. lol .. you gotta really love what you doing.. and know you stuff and then getting a pc tech job not so hard...

Judas · Jul 12, 2003, 07:23 PM

All the employers around here won't employ me enless i have it....

Soloboy · Jul 12, 2003, 07:55 PM

When i took my A+ a few weeks ago i didnt get a single question on linux. Its mostly on windows with a little dos(make sure you know up through winxp). Its also not important to memorize all the irq and dma tables, just know the memory addresses and irqs for com's 1-4. Know how many pins are on common connectors, like the parellel port and serial and what a db and din connectors are. Its not so much memorizing stuff as just realizing what causes certain problems and how to fix them.

Soloboy

Judas · Jul 15, 2003, 01:02 AM

Sounds like i need a little more info.... # of pins.... that i somewhat know.... but why.... What i can't seem to figure out is why they constantly are dwelling on some of the older stuff yet....

Judas · Jul 15, 2003, 01:04 AM

Oh, here's an Example of Dwelling on OLD stuff.... I went in to take some programing.... and i ended up with a floppy with Q-Basic on it and a link to a website with the list of things to do... (and a VERY BREIF manual)..... I HAVE tried to get q-basic running on windows XP.... it does work...but common, why are we still living in DOS programing?

evergreen · Jul 15, 2003, 03:30 PM

I definitely recommend getting the knowledge that comes from A+, Network+ & any OS certification like Windows 2000 Server (MCP) or perhaps Netware 6 (CNA)--whatever is applicable. Of course Linux/Unix are out there as well, especially on the Internet side of things and hardware like Cisco/Nortel. I have a few certs (mostly older) from Microsoft, Novell & Nortel, but I am in an IT management position now--2 CLEP tests remain to complete a bachelors degree. Education and experience is where it's at. Once you get a lot of the basic knowledge down, you can roll with the flow as new versions come out.
QBasic is a great place to start; a lot of the commands are common and the basic principles are there. Of course you need to expand from there. Try to stay diverse in your knowledge, there are many factors to a network. I began in computers with a Commodore Vic 20 and it's user manual which contains some basic programming. There used to be magazines that would come out with programs in the back and I would type them in and save them via a tape drive attached to the Vic 20 (8K of RAM, 3 1/2K available after the OS loaded). The next year I got a Commodore 64 (a sweet computer at the time!!!).

Jul 10, 2003, 12:29 PM	#2
UberLord A Legend in Underwear Join Date: May 2002 Location: Unknown Posts: 5,255 Rep Power: 70	What is A+ certified? Some kinda mental classification __________________ Gentoo Linux - Developer (baselayout) Read my blog "I contend that we are both atheists. I just believe in one fewer god than you do. When you understand why you dismiss all the other possible gods, you will understand why I dismiss yours." Stephen Roberts

Jul 10, 2003, 08:21 PM	#4
evergreen DriverHeaven Lover Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: West Virginia Posts: 148 Rep Power: 0	I used to teach an A+ Core class at a local college--never certified though, but plenty of "real-world" experience. It was approximately 2 years ago and there was no Linux, mainly PC basics in detail: motherboards, BIOS, memory types, chipsets, IDE hard drives... Current: A+ Core Exam 1.0 Installation, Configuration and Upgrading 30% 2.0 Diagnosing and Troubleshooting 30% 3.0 Preventive Maintenance 5% 4.0 Motherboard/Processors/Memory 15% 5.0 Printers 10% 6.0 Basic Networking 10% A+ Operating Systems Exam 1.0 OS Fundamentals 30% 2.0 Installation, Configuration and Upgrading 15% 3.0 Diagnosing and Troubleshooting 40% 4.0 Networks 15% Reference www.comptia.com for more info

Jul 11, 2003, 05:26 AM	#5
~~craig588~~ Banned Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: In clothing Posts: 3,510 Rep Power: 0	For each test they randomly draw questions from a master database, I was lucky and had no linux or printer questions. I guess I had an older version, because printers used to be part of another section. It used to be 2 sections: hardware and software and they randomly drew up questions from each catagory. Now they have it set up so you can't get lucky and miss a few critical questions.

Jul 12, 2003, 07:55 PM	#9
Soloboy DriverHeaven Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 21 Rep Power: 0	When i took my A+ a few weeks ago i didnt get a single question on linux. Its mostly on windows with a little dos(make sure you know up through winxp). Its also not important to memorize all the irq and dma tables, just know the memory addresses and irqs for com's 1-4. Know how many pins are on common connectors, like the parellel port and serial and what a db and din connectors are. Its not so much memorizing stuff as just realizing what causes certain problems and how to fix them. Soloboy

Jul 15, 2003, 03:30 PM	#12
evergreen DriverHeaven Lover Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: West Virginia Posts: 148 Rep Power: 0	I definitely recommend getting the knowledge that comes from A+, Network+ & any OS certification like Windows 2000 Server (MCP) or perhaps Netware 6 (CNA)--whatever is applicable. Of course Linux/Unix are out there as well, especially on the Internet side of things and hardware like Cisco/Nortel. I have a few certs (mostly older) from Microsoft, Novell & Nortel, but I am in an IT management position now--2 CLEP tests remain to complete a bachelors degree. Education and experience is where it's at. Once you get a lot of the basic knowledge down, you can roll with the flow as new versions come out. QBasic is a great place to start; a lot of the commands are common and the basic principles are there. Of course you need to expand from there. Try to stay diverse in your knowledge, there are many factors to a network. I began in computers with a Commodore Vic 20 and it's user manual which contains some basic programming. There used to be magazines that would come out with programs in the back and I would type them in and save them via a tape drive attached to the Vic 20 (8K of RAM, 3 1/2K available after the OS loaded). The next year I got a Commodore 64 (a sweet computer at the time!!!).