SkillsTrain A+ Course

During the last month I have helped a couple of people with there computers. Last week I went over to my sisters and installed AOL broadband for her but first I had to purchase a ethernet port connector which her computer did not have.I removed the side of computer and fitted the ethernet connector for her and loaded the software for her I am now glad to say she is now on broadband with AOL. I have also recently added some memory to my own computer which I purchased off the internet and again I had to open my pc up to insert the memory stick. I am proud of myself because I thought I could not do things like that and now I have started this course my confidence has grown loads.

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I've been completing all Tutor marked assignments to a high standard and regularly logging onto the skills train website. I regularly check my webmails to keep track of everything happening, and I use the resources on the site to help with my course.

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I have achieved a fantastic result in building my first Computer, its been the happiest time for me. The Lady was a novice never really used a computer, but I built it and taught her how to use it, she knows I am only a call away and she is doing really well and now on the internet and doesn't need much help from me. She just asked me to help her friend with a computer, and show her how to use it and to upgrade it for her.

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I have gained alot of PC knowledge and managed to fix my own computer in various ways, for example a wireless networking system.

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I thought I would drop you a line and let you know how the course is going. I enrolled with Skills Train in February to do A+, N+, CCNA and finally CCNP ("this will keep me out of mischief for some time").

Initially I was full of feelings of self doubt and was rather nervous to say the least. Reason being that I am 42 years old and the last time I undertook major studies such as this, was almost 20 years ago!

When I received my material and started looking over the work, It dawned on me just how little I actually knew! We have all heard a lot of the terminologies used at some stage in our lives and careers, but never really new what they meant, how they functioned or for that matter how they fitted into the workings of the system.

I have found that by reading over the section twice and utilising two highlighters the information is sticking in my old 'Grey Matter' surprisingly well.

I have managed to achieve gradings of 80% and above so far and I can honestly say that I am thoroughly enjoying myself.

I can truthfully say that my self confidence is growing and is boosted when I get my marked results back every week! My only regret is that I did not do this earlier in my life!

Who said, "you can't teach an old dog new tricks"!

Thanks for the support and encouragement.

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I have had to restart my course work 3 times in the 5 months that I have been with "Skills Train". I therefore, haven't been able to successfully finish "PC Hardware & Maintenance" nor "CompTIA A+ 2003" with the limited time I have got from when I am not working in "Catering" (kitchens, cheffing is time consuming and hard work whilst being unsociable), planing time to do college work and also see my Wife, Family and Friends in the short time I have to myself is VERY difficult and having to stop the progress on the "PC Hardware & Maintenance" and "CompTIA A+ 2003" and move to the "CompTIA A+ 2006" is very Disconcerting and understandably off putting in the feeling that I am going to be moved from the "CompTIA A+ 2006" which I am currently studying in 30 day's, and fitting in with the past events my achievements are that I have now got past the first TMA of "CompTIA A+ 2006" and now going to be sending you the second one in about 30 min, to me that's a great achievement as I have finally got past TMA 1 and also TMA 2 and can now hopefully move on to TMA 3 without interruption.

I have also tried to make a time table for my college work that will fit within the unsociable hours that I have to work in the caring industry and the "Student Timetables" that you have left as a help guide really don't fit in with ever changing shift work that catering poses.

I hope this will give you a better understanding of what you are asking from people when you keep changing course material, also looking that not every one works 9-5 mon-fri that want to change their career.

I know this sounds like I am just moaning about what has happened and also feel that it is an "Isolated" instance but there is people out there that have had to change from one study guide to another but I don't feel they have had to do it as often in the time span I have had to do. I have been with "Skills Train" just over 5 months and are now on my 3rd study guide changing twice big smiles though I'm sure we will get me to the CCNP finish line soon enough and a better and more exciting job thank you.

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I haven't studied since late December 2006, when I realised the course material had changed and I would not be ready to sit the exam in March, which mean't I had to start from the beginning again, I lost all enthusiasm for the course, pressure at worked picked up and I ended up working over 50 hours a week. Then to cap it all my PC crashed and would not start up again, this was not a major problem as work bought me a new computer which is a better spec, it was when my future father in law asked me to look in the local paper and see if there were any cheap second hand PC's which would suit his needs that I realised I should be able to fix my old work PC from what I have learnt so far. So I asked work if they didn't mind me taking it home and trying to fix it, they said ok and off home it went with me.

I started by removing the casing and familiarised myself with the construction, checked all the wiring was connected properly, all were connected correctly, so scratching my head I turned to my training manuals for advise, quickly flipping through I discovered the PSU might be at fault, after a quick phone call to a electrician friend I had borrowed a multimeter and proceeded to to test the cables, first I checked the power lead and found that to be working, so I then moved onto the individual power connectors from the PSU and surprisingly there was no reading. So I unplugged all the connectors and removed it from the casing, I took it down to a local PC repair centre and explained what I thought was wrong, he confirmed my suspicions and asked if I had a surge protector at work, which I didn't, he explained that as we had a lightning storm recently a power surge could of damaged the PSU. After checking the details he ordered me a new PSU. It arrived the following week, and in just under 1 hour of careful re-assembling the PC, I pressed the on button, and believe it or not it booted up. I delivered the cleaned up PC to my future father in law the following day with a big smile on my face. Now I find myself around his house at least once a fortnight giving him lessons on how to make the most out of his PC and internet connection, which I am more than happy to do.

From this experience I have refound my enthusiam for the course and the enjoyment it used to give me, learnt something new, now both my work and my future father in law have surge protectors installed, and realised even though I have to start from the begining again, it won't take me long to catch up.

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I must admit that I did Hardware before coming doing this course but I have seen a great difference. My knowlegde about computers is grown and I am no more timid when it comes to computers. I am able to effectively deal with both portable computers and desk top as well.

Thank you to Skills Train. I have never regreted joining this course.

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Passed three of my tma with good marks love skills train. The best course I have done in my life.

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I had a knowledge in computers when I started this course, but little in hardware specifications. When I started reading and understanding my course book I've learned that my knowledge in computer hardware is not sufficient, I've learned so many things like fat32 from ntfs, different kind of voltage required to every components and peripheral. How to handle or trouble shoot a computer and how to approach a speficific problem a computer technician like asid, novell's approach, comptia +a.etc. I'm very interested to finish my study course and continue to study more for my career.

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When I first started this course I was happy knowing that everything was going great. During the past two months I have lost my house and family and I am currently going through divorce proceedings but I am not going to let these things get on top of me because now I have the chance to excel in everything I put my mind to and I intend to pass this course which has opened my eyes to everything about computers which makes me more determined to go forward in a possitive manner. With the knowledge that I have gained through this course I have been able to build my own computer and so far it is working quite well which makes me feel great knowing that I have acheived such a result.

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Passing my exams to complete Comptia A+ course (had to resit the second exam but after a month of revision managed a pass). While working full time and a single parent looking after my 13 year old daughter. Started a year ago on the course with a very basic knowledge of PC's ,I now have a clear understanding of how they work and can be fixed, looking forward to finding a new carreer and the Network + course.

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Between working at a full time job and helping to care for my partialy disabled wife and being the unpaid IT technican for my extended family (6 PC s and Laptops to takecare of) and also now responsable for the 3 PCs that make my employers IT Department. So my Study time is usually 10pm to midnight. with a average TMA Result about 96% my wife is very proud of me.

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