A+ Certification- help me laddies

Hey guys, I am ready to start studying for my A+ certification and need help finding what to study. First, what are the names of the 2 tests? I am also half broke and really don't have the money to spend on Testking, what should I do????

 

1. A+ hardware
2. A+ operating systems

You can go to comptia.org (I think thats it) and read more. Just look around the web, there is lots of info to be had on A+ stuff. Also, each test is 160$, so you need to feel pretty comfortable with it before u run off and take it.

 

A pretty comprehensive book:
https://www.megasecurestores.com/to...Code=TS&Product_Code=1381619&Category_Code=AC

More info:
http://www.comptia.com/certification/a/default.asp

 

Thanks guys! Do I need to locate a testing center or do you take the cert tests from home?

 

You need to locate a testing center.

 

Wow, I feel like such a newbie for asking this, but what does A+ certification entail anyway?
I think I could probably get the hardware (maybe some trouble with networking), and hte OS, blah, I hate software.
Still, im curious (and isnt that what makes a geek a geek?)

 

Here ya go: http://www.comptia.org/certification/a/default.asp

 

The hardware wasn't that hard for me. Its pretty basic stuff. Board layout, jumper configs, memory types and pin layout. There is some networking hardware questions to but it's basic networking stuff. Like all the different types of networks, token ring, star, something else I allready forgot. lol

Selftest Software is a excellent way to prep. You can take practice timed test or just trail and error questions.

I still havent passed my OS exam. Im no good with software.

 

Ive decided its impossible to be truly and logically 'good' with windows software. Mainly because each version of windows carries over tons of key components from previous versions, which were based on previous components, etc etc etc going back to the early 80's. And at every step they chose easy, crappy, subpar methods to get things done, simply because it would take to long to reengineer it (and backwards compatability being, errr, not good), to be efficient, secure, and fast. Like .ini, .dll files, for example. Made mainly so hardware drivers can integrate themselves into windows. The registry is in many ways an extension of this.
Which all ends up with a nice, bloated, inefficient, insecure, fragile, OS, half based on engineering prowess and a larger half black magic.

Linux/unix/freeBSD etc are much better, but due to the steep learning curve, sketchy hardware vendor support, and lack of windows-application compatability (WINE and the like work, but much slower then a pure windows environment).

/endrant

Time to take the practise hardware exam

 

I can pass software test without even opening my eyes and half asleep.

The hardware, I am almost there, but its dry reading so I am being lazy about it.

 

Can you get like "readiness" online tests? I did one for MSCE and apparently I was "ready" without even studying what i was being ready about :S thats slightly worrying. That was on Windows 2000 Pro though, i wasnt so good on the rather out-dated "Proxy Server 2.0" test I did, mostly because it was just really old. I couldnt find a ISA book in the library The Proxy 2.0 CD-ROM was really stupid...

Users can? Users cannot? Users cat?

 

picked up the A+ for dummies book. Passed the test in 53 minutes.

 

If I passed them, anyone can. I actually failed hardware the first time but passed the second and then passed the software first try. Go figure.

 

I am taking the Hardware part of the A+ test next week. Anyone have advice on what areas I should be more concerned with.

 

I would suggest memorizing the DMA assignments, IRQ numbers, and memory addresses for COMs and stuff.
Mind you, I didn't take the tests. I studied a little, but then thought, I would rather take the Linux+ test,
I studied the Linux for many months. I believe that If I invested in some online practice tests, that I could pass the Linux+ test.

I know that certs were slammed in one of the threads on this board, but I may try to pass the test anyway,
we'll see.

Good luck to all