Reddit reviews A+ Guide to Managing & Maintaining Your PC

Alright, so before anything else drop what you're doing and study hardware, repair, and maintenance. This is all basically in the A+ course if you choose to take the test for it. Networking extends off of hardware and repair, and Programming requires knowledge of both A+ and Networking depending how far you take a program. I did programming at first with really basic goofy programs.


So A+ is by far the best route to start, and let me emphasize you will want to only be working on one area at a time. Start hardware/repair, then go networking. In fact I recommend going CompTia to get certifications in them. A+ is the hardware certification, Network+ is after that, and Security+ is after that.


I started A+ and since completing it I've been working on a retail tech job. Not the best tech work, but it can certainly be fun. Going out onsite for repairs, swapping out parts, removing viruses. It's fun, and you meet a lot of cool people doing it. Go buy this book. Jean Andrews covers EVERYTHING in hardware and computer repair and maintenance. Also available, Professor Messer has free A+ study videos on his website. Both of those are the main study materials I used to get my cert.


Now here is the by far biggest piece of advice I can give you...GET STARTED NOW. I waited my senior year of high school to get A+ certified. Had I started earlier, I would have left with A+, Net+, and Sec+ all under my belt. It's a horrible feeling having missed out on great opportunities. My school even offered subsidizing the tests, because they can cost quite a bit. If you would like any more advice on the subject, or if anyone else has questions for me, reply or send a message to my inbox. I'd love to help with getting you into the IT field.

Thanks for the help! I will get to watching the videos. This is the book that the school uses http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1133135080/ref=s9_simh_gw_p14_d0_i1?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=0YRQ7BN70KWN9VT04BS7&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=1688200382&pf_rd_i=507846

I'm actually taking a class in college right now that at the end I can take the A+ certification. I rather like my textbook which is A+ Guide to Managing & Maintaining Your PC as its fairly straightforward if not extremely long.

Part of my class also includes Testout which has videos and training sessions that I feel really helps me learn the material and you can take the Testout PC Pro Certification with that as well which just proves along with A+ that you can install hardware rather than be given scenarios as with the A+ exam as I understand it

I am not a pro , but I am in school going for It and i may be right or i may be wrong on a couple points .

Not sure how necessary it is but it does provide a framework structure and direction. many people are self taught some go through the system.

I would consider picking up some books and start reading. if you don't want to shell out big bucks you can usually get a previous edition for cheap and most information is the same . you can also find torrents of some books.
some are worth buying as reference , and to develop a level of commitment.

Be willing to help others to gain practical experience, read posts of solved and unsolved problems.

Jean Andrew A+ guide to managing and maintaining PC 8th edition:

http://www.amazon.com/Guide-Managing-Maintaining-Printed-Access/dp/1133135080/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1395794977&sr=8-1&keywords=jean+andrews+a%2B+guide+to+managing+and+maintaining+your+pc+8th+edition

i have seen a torrent of this and covers the generals, hardware and software

HTML 5 and CSS3, pearl script, PHP , python, etc. and nutshell books are good.

Database (access MYSQL).

Learning linux/unix , command line .

You caa download Virtual box for free and play with different systems by getting .ISO of different operating sytems