Where to start?....

Ok all you techies out there! Looking for some advice and hopefully some useful links... I am about to (finally) embark on a crazy scheme of learning what I love. Computers. I have always been one for tinkering with all sorts of electronics and gizmos but my true passion is working on and with computers. I want to get some certifications and be well rounded in all of it. (in other words I ain't got a clue what I want to do!):cry I guess once I start into it I will probably start leaning in one direction or another. Initially it was hardware but in today's world it seems its all about security and networking. I really enjoy troubleshooting and repair but in a "throw away" world that just really isn't feasible.

Anyway, I am looking for some useful links and where to go to study. or find my path.

Or maybe just some wise words from the "elders" to help me on my way.

Thanks!
Ciber

 

Entry Level certs i would recommend are A+ and the Cisco ccna. And go up and outwards from there.

 

I agree with Coleman guy, just recently passed my A+ cert actually.
If you want to get into newtworking and security( I do too ) might I suggest also looking into the Network+ and Security+ exams.

 

Thanks Colemanguy :highfive

Spock, How was the testing? IS it something I can study on my own or is it pretty involved? :confused

 

The A+ certification is broken into two tests the Essentials (Basically what everything is) and the Practical ( How it works). Maybe not the best explanation though.
If you do go to take them. Get the CompTIA A+ books and study them, also look up Professor Messer He has free videos up for all of the CompTIA certifications. They helped a lot. I took it through my college, but the course pretty much followed the two books, so I'm sure you could study for it on your own.
Hope it helps.

 

Yeah that explains it well enough for me. Is it pretty easy or do you suggest going through a college or tech school? I consider myself to be knowledgeable among my friends. Then I look at my friends.... Lol

So essentially I know enough to get in trouble and enough to Google myself out of trouble but dont really know all that much about SQL and all that other stuff. Just mainly troubleshooting windows and peripheral devices...

 

Easy really depends on how much you study. You can do it without going through a college, or tech school. But, you 'd have to pay for it out of pocket. ( At least my college put the cost of the certification into my tuition).

 

Ill have to look into the costs. As for the studying, it looks like I have alot to learn :-o scored 14 out of 38 questions right on the assessment test from the front of the comptia book. :cry

Time to get crackin!:major

 

I'm not sure exactly what you're looking to learn (so this might not interest you) but one of my favorite nerds (don't tell him I said that LOL) gave me this link. I haven't been able to spend as much time as I wanted but it as helped me learn some.

http://www.w3schools.com/

 

Thanks! Not my cup of tea for today but definitely a great site. I know Ill have to tap into these areas at some point. Gonna save the link for future reference....

 

Are you referring to me?:-D

 

I don't recall you being the one to give me that link....

However you can always try to become my favorite nerd, if you want to. :-D

 

OH BOY! WOULD I!!! :hyper:hyper:celebrate

 

Are you being sarcastic? :-D

because if you're not.... http://i800.photobucket.com/albums/yy290/lotzasmilies/evilwiddle.gif

 

Maybe I am, maybe I'm not.rolleyes

 

Just like a guy. Can't just ever answer a question directly. :-D

 

Exactly.:-D

 

Got the latest books on comptia a+ and it seems they are doing away with the whole lifetime cert. thingy ma jigger. Good stuff in the new edition. Doing away with everything that deals with 2000 and the like. They have really revamped the whole testing objectives. and you have to get recert'd every 3 years. Apparently this started as of 1/ 01/2011..(There are other ways other than retaking the test though) They also added ios and android to it as well.

Thanks Spock96 for the proffessor messer site! :highfive This site ROCKS! :dood

 

You're welcome.
Yeah, I'm not a fan of them making it a 3 year cert like the rest, but nothing we can do about it.