A+ Certification For Dummies [Paperback]

Ron Gilster (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0764508121 | ISBN-13: 978-0764508127 | Publication Date: April 15, 2001 | Edition: 2nd

The A+ examinations measure the ability and knowledge that's expected of computer technicians who've had six months of on-the-job training. A+ certification is a lifetime certification, and certified technicians are always in demand, so this test is critical if you're hoping for a bountiful future as a technical pro. A+ Certification For Dummies, 2nd Edition covers all the crucial information you need to know for the A+ exams, from hardware to operating systems, delivered in clear, jargon-free language and in a fun, entertaining style. The new edition has been completely updated and revised to include CompTIA's new test objectives and adaptive testing mode.

Plus, A+ Certification For Dummies, 2nd Edition includes a CD-ROM loaded with hundreds of practice questions and a customizable test engine.

Covers: Exam 220-201 and 220-202

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

The Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA) A+ certification proves that you're a capable hardware technician--capable of upgrading, troubleshooting, and fixing problems related to physical devices (such as memory chips and video cards) in Intel-compatible personal computers. A+ Certification for Dummies is designed to help you review for the two A+ exams--Core Hardware (220-201) and Operating System Technologies (220-202)--and it succeeds at that goal. It's also worth reading if you're not interested in A+ certification, but want to know enough to change out your own hard drives and install expansion cards without the help of a technician.

Ron Gilster teaches the subject--which encompasses good troubleshooting and repair practices as well as specific hardware facts--in a clear style that's easy to follow as you work on an actual machine (and, by the way, work on actual machines is essential to passing the tests). The book foregoes photographs (which almost never turn out well, and rarely look like your equipment anyway) in favor of clear line drawings. There are some step-by-step procedures to follow, but Gilster mostly recognizes that PC hardware varies a lot and leaves most specifics up to readers. One bit of advice: in the field, supplement this book with Scott Mueller's definitive hardware encyclopedia, Upgrading and Repairing PCs. --David Wall

Topics covered: Intel-compatible personal computers, their essential subsystems (motherboard, RAM, processor, BIOS, video, disk storage, and others), and how to assemble, troubleshoot, and repair them. Operating system coverage focuses on Windows 95, 98, Me, and 2000.

Review

"an excellent overview of personal computer operations...was worth careful reading regardless of whether I take the test or not." -- Plainview Daily Herald, September 1, 2000 --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 600 pages
• Publisher: For Dummies; 2nd edition (April 15, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764508121
• ISBN-13: 978-0764508127
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 7.3 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (173 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,141,394 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Ron Gilster was born in Vallejo, California in 1947. Which is the last time he actually lived in any one place for very long at all. Ron began his computing and technology career in 1965 in the Air Force, in which he took refuge from the draft, but ended up a Vietnam vet anyway. Over the years, he has been a punch-card machine operator, a computer programmer, a systems analyst, a database manager, a manufacturing production manager, a consultant for what was then a Big 8 accounting firm, an executive in the audio/visual and telecommunications industry, a college instructor and administrator, and, oh yes, a writer.

Ron has had a number of best-selling books, including his first "A+ Certification for Dummies," "CCNA For Dummies," "Cisco Networking For Dummies," and a dozen more. He lives in Spokane, WA and continues to write at least four books per year; the latest being "MCAS: Exam Guide."

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "A+ Certificatio for Dummies" does the job!, May 28, 2001

By A Customer

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: A+ Certification For Dummies (Paperback)

Mr. Gilster's 2001 edition of "A+ Certification for Dummies" is a comprehensive preparation guide for the new A+ examinations. It stays true to the "Dummies" concept of serving as an introduction to anyone wanting to learn more about computers, but it is a serious read and study guide for anyone wanting or needing to obtain A+ certification.

The final chapter in the book categorically lists other web sites that contain simulators or other test prep information (one of them, ..., will send you a test question each day). The software that comes with the book contains an excellent test simulator.

In preparation for my A+ exams I also read the 2001 edition of Ron Meyers' "All In One A+ Certification Guide." With so much material floating around I did not want to rely on just one source to prepare for the exams; I wanted to pass these tests the first time around. Mr. Meyers' book is comprehensive but weighs in at about twice the size of the "Dummies" book (and you need to load a patch to get the software to run properly). My point is that I write this review with the benefit of having read two separate -- and excellent -- guides on the new A+ examinations. If, like me, you have a lot of experience with PC's then the "A+ For Dummies" book might be the only guide you'll need to pass the exams...

45 of 49 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars You won't pass the Dos/Win, March 25, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: A+ Certification for Dummies (Paperback)

After buying the book as my sole study aide for the A+ test, I then came to this site and read the reviews. I started to panic and rightly so. The core portion of the book is nicely written and easy to understand. If you actually read the words that make the sentences that make the paragraphs, you'll have a good grasp of not only the answers but the concepts as well. Those that take only the study tests at the end of chapters, memorize the "Instant Answers" and use the bold face method of studying run the risk of flunking the Core test. No matter what web site you go to, those attempting to cram for the test and simply regurgitate the "knowledge" at test time are those that fail the test and wonder why.

That said, the Dos/Win portion of this book is insufficient enough for the publisher to simply pull the book from the shelves. You WILL NOT pass the Win/Dos portion if this is your only aide, unless you retain ample personal experience. I don't know how this book was even published with so little information on a 65 question test.The test will delve deeply into troubleshooting Dos and Win 95, and this book only gives you 37 pages and mostly on boot sequences. Only by luck did I pass the Dos/Win with a score of 69% A score to be embarrased of on the one hand, while bordering on embarrased of being certified by a company that hasn't udated it's test in so many years that it's painfully outdated. The Dos/Win is more of a history test than a technolgy test as (regardless of what people will say) Dos will finally meet it's end with the release of Win ME. Most computers in the workplace are either 98 or NT, neither of which are mentioned and won't be until the end of the year when CompTia will revamp the test and remove the Dos, Win 3.x and 95 from the testing.

Be careful of websites that offer practice test and brain dumps. Most braindumps give wrong answers and many of the practice test have errors as well. You can simply stop reading this book when you finish with the Core section.

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This book delivers!, September 16, 2000

By 

Melvin Williams - See all my reviews

This review is from: A+ Certification for Dummies (Paperback)

Yet another testament to this book. I used it as my one and only source for the A+ test and passed it on my first try. A friend of mine spent some serious money at the same time to attend a specialized A+ school and took the test with me. We spent equal time studying for the test. I passed both portions and he bombed the hardware portion of it. We both invested about one month of study, he using his class materials and me using this book. The book is not perfect and has a handful of typos, especially in the practice tests. However, if you study it carefully you should have no problem finding these errors and correcting them. The author is right on target when he states that he streamlined the material to prepare the reader for the actual test. The included CDROM also has some great practice test material worth every penny of the cover price alone. The book is well written and flows easily from one topic to another. The wording is simple and direct and stays within the realm of the average layperson's grasp. By carefully studying this book one should have no problem passing the A+ tests. A minor update correcting typos would help, but the book still delivers as it is. I highly recommend this to anyone serious about trying to gain their A+ certification.