PC Repair self-study course

[ENVY]

I got the Forefront A+ certification course for 500.00 and found it to be overpriced BS!
The info included in the cd was out of date and not enough description.Two weeks after buying forefront called and said they could updtae the course for 250.00!This was after they told me that the course was gauranteed to be up to date and that updates would be supplied for free for 30 days!I found that a 50.00 book supplies more info and is more up to date than the BS they offer!I would say look elsewhere.This is just based off my own experience with Forefront.

[Pushrod]

Q

ZDNet has something like ZDU (ZD University) that offers computer this and that at a flat monthly rate. I registered with them last June (and I didn't follow up on it offcourse)and the rate then was $4.99/month. When I tried to reregister later on the price has gone up to a whopping $5.99/month. Can you just imagine that? A whole 20% increase.

You can find it in the PCMagazine website I think. Have a look at if you haven't yet and see if that will do for you.

Post here what you think of it,okay? good luck. If you can't find it,let me know.

[cpt puget]

Upgrading and Repairing PC's by Scott Mueller. comes with 2 cd's. about 4" thick and considered the best of its type. around $50 locally and $38 (shipping incl) from Buycom. most recent is the 10th anniversary edition.

[This message has been edited by cpt puget (edited 04-25-99).]

[Pushrod]

Q,
Here's zdu. www.zdu.com (http://www.zdu.com)

[This message has been edited by Pushrod (edited 04-25-99).]

[ANTONIO E GUERRA]

Unfortunately some of the A+ curriculum has changed twice in less than a year. It is very difficult to keep update with their changes. I would recommend the following books:
(1) A+ Cram Sessions. It is a two pack boxed. It includes the hardware lessons and a second book on Dos, Windows 3.1 and Windows 95;
(2) If you can download a copy of the Heathcliff Tester or the Test Benchmark. These tests have similar questions to the real test;
(3) I will agree Scott Muller is great. Mark Minasi is also great, but they are both very hard to read for a test. I use both as excellent reference. I will recommend Bigelow's Repairing and Upgrading. It is very amusing and he really makes the reading enjoyable;
(4) Nothing better than practice. I will recommend to build your own computer.In addition, if you have free time, offer your services at a school or church fixing their computers.
I have learned a lot (and still learning) from
www.pcguide.com
www.pcmechanic.com
www.cpu.com
www.overclockers.com
www.alternativecpu.com
www. Mcse, Mcp, A+ cram sessions.
If you have a chance visit Philip Evans website. He includes a braindump that is very similar to the actual test.
Keep a file with all the specs about cpu and motherboard configurations. Technology is always changing and you may need that info for your future customers that own old computers.
I hope this is helpful and you won't need to pay $500.00 or more for a Forefront course.

[This message has been edited by ANTONIO E GUERRA (edited 04-25-99).]

[Dreadnaught]

I was considering NRI. I'm also looking at the MicroSoft Certified Engineer program. I'm still undesided as to which way to go but I'm leaning toward the MSCE. Does anyone know anything about these courses???

Later friends
Dreadnaught

[Q]

Can anyone recommend a good PC Repair self-study course? ForeFront Direct offers a course and diagnostic tool package for around $1300. Has anyone used this package and if so, how did you find it?

[Titan]

Envy is right, don't go with ForeFront.Their information is out of date, and the spelling errors, I was wondering if anybody took the time to spellcheck it before they published the CBT. Plus it did not prepare me very well for the test. The only reason I used it was because the place I worked for paid for it. Use something, (anything else) that one of the other people posted, don't waste your time with ForeFront.