A+ level question for tech's

WARNING: - slight rant

I received a call today from a colleague who was freaked out as he didn't know how to hook up a CD and HDD as the MOBO I had spec'd only had one IDE Controller.

This guy is A+ 'certified'!!!

I'm sorry, but this (IMO) is basic stuff! I'm not opposed to helping someone out (and I did btw in a professional manner), but it just fries me that someone who read a frigging book, can sit for a test, and then they freak out when they are assigned a project because they really DO NOT UNDERSTAND hardware!! and they proudly display the frigging piece of paper that says they do

Some of you may have felt I've been 'short' with you in the past regarding your questions on A+ stuff. A+ is more than a mere test for beginners to get through!! There are a lot of things that an experienced technician KNOWS from Time in the industry (real experience) that cannot be learned in 6 weeks from books.

Even more, there are things that one learns by surving the next generation upgrades that turn out. Some things just take time!!

/rant

**************

So my question to those of you preparing as well as anyone who has recently passed the A+ Core exam......

Do you understand how to set up a system with a CD and HDD when you only have a single IDE controller?

And for a second level question?
Why are you likely to only see 1 IDE controller today as opposed 2 IDE controllers from a board 3 years ago?

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Comments

janmike

Sometimes a thing just has to be said.

I see this very thing in these forums--the hurry-up wannabes. This gives us a square mile of knowledge covered by an eighth inch of know-how.

Have a good day anyhow, Plantwiz!

ja5983

each controller can hold upto 2 drives...

ide is going away because of SATA...

jescab

But I beat he had a able that only had a connection on each end and no connection for the slave so he was stumped.

Ricka182

Gee, that guy should be an instructor.......

jescab

LOL good one ricka

Plantwiz

jescab wrote:

But I beat he had a able that only had a connection on each end and no connection for the slave so he was stumped.

I wish it was even that. He had not even hooked the thing up yet.

What is even better..... about four months ago, he had asked me the same thing and I walked him through the set-up back then. He had forgotten to adjust the jumpers and couldn't get the system to boot and wanted me to order him a replacement MOBO and HDD

So I helped him figure out HOW to use the little black pegs on the back of the devices....again. These are things an A+ person should KNOW and not just be learning after the exam (IMHO)

Oh well.....Gives me something to do

jescab

OMG - I hope you are just kidding.

If he would have read the material that came with the device it would have walked him thru setting up the jumpers.

bananaman

wow, that dude sounds like an idiot. It reminds me of some of the people I work with on the Geek Squad, there are some real frauds out there. CompTIA should make the A+ exams hands on as well. That should weed out all of the fakes.

paige1

Plantwiz I feel your pain. Don't tell anyone else that this guy is A+ certified. Please.

Plantwiz

paige1 wrote:

Plantwiz I feel your pain. Don't tell anyone else that this guy is A+ certified. Please.

No, I do not promote the fact that he holds a cert. I mentioned it here as 1. he is anonymous to most of you
2. show a real example of the problems when people sit for tests who have only read the books and cannot do the work.

Believe me, I'd rather he ask than guess. Problem is with the type of questions being asked.

Like today...

Wanted me to find him a 925x MOBO that can use an AGP card

Because this is a 'newer' issue, it wasn't as big of a deal (IMO) as the questions from yesterday, but still something a technician (or someone who claims to be competent as a technician should be read up on).

Like I mentioned...keeps me around

[

paige1

Believe me, I'd rather he ask than guess. Problem is with the type of questions being asked.

Some people just learn differently... Stay wit' em Plantwiz, in time he'll be a real tech

Plantwiz

paige1 wrote:

Believe me, I'd rather he ask than guess. Problem is with the type of questions being asked.

Some people just learn differently... Stay wit' em Plantwiz, in time he'll be a real tech .

You are absolutely correct Paige1!

Just goes to show a piece of paper doesn't make a person more of an asset.

He's a good guy. I think he gets overwhelmed/frustrated with all the technology...there is a lot. Like today he didn't understand which LGA CPU fit with which LGA board????

The irony is, his questions actually help me make sure that 'I" know the stuff.

jescab

Just think of it as he is helping you keep your skills sharp and up to date.

Baredor

ja5983 wrote:

ide is going away because of SATA...

/cheer

jd_mattos

Here is a story for you on unknowlegable certified techs.
We were going to hire a new Tech, so I interviewed these 2 guys. One had a MCSE and one had nothing.
So I asked them a lot of questions, and the guy with the MCSE didn't know anything. So I had some new computers that needed to be built, I put them each in a room with all of the parts and told them to build the systems.
Guess who could do it and who could not.
That right the guy with nothing finished and the system was built correct. The guy with the MCSE was almost crying because he didn't know what to do!
I know kids that can build a computer!

Plantwiz

jd_mattos wrote:

Here is a story for you on unknowlegable certified techs.

Guess who could do it and who could not.
That right the guy with nothing finished and the system was built correct. The guy with the MCSE was almost crying because he didn't know what to do!

MCSE, doesn't necessarily mean the person is proficient with Hardware. One would hope they would have the knowledge, but a lot of the skills of an engineer deal with OS/NOS/ and the structure of those items working together and not necessarily assembling a box.

Though I do agree with the point I think you were making....Too many people holding a piece of PAPER and not having the experience to back it up.

2lazybutsmart

Plantwiz wrote:

Though I do agree with the point I think you were making....Too many people holding a piece of PAPER and not having the experience to back it up.

The last time that issue about "too many papers, too little knowledge" was raised, we just ended up prayin' for the IT field....

Believe me, if this trend continues in the market for a few more years, you'll see many people with MCSE's (legit MCSE's) working at McDonalds.

That’s why I’m starting to believe a person can be labeled successful today if he holds his current job without having it given away to a lower wage bidder.

But you know the good thing...those bloodsucking companies out there will bleed before they even realize they've hired a bunch of papers for a few pennies.

..and we keep prayin’
2lbs.

garv221

This is a perfect example of why a "DRIVERS TEST" is not just a written exam. Its also a perfect example of how easy the A+ exam truly is. That is too easy, I could walk him through the installation flawlessly over the phone while I am at the bar drinking a beer, trading convo with someone else & watching tigers baseball (whom suck)..lol

Even though we joke about this topic..Its scary like 2lazy said....I have only been in field for 5 years & I'm already making plans to get out...

Plantwiz

garv221 wrote:

This is a perfect example of why a "DRIVERS TEST" is not just a written exam.

Think that depends upon the state where one lives

garv221 wrote:

Even though we joke about this topic..Its scary like 2lazy said....I have only been in field for 5 years & I'm already making plans to get out...

Other industries are the same....statistically, you'll find the same 'type'/percentage of people who slip through the cracks...some are doctors, some are lawyers, some are auto mechanics, etc... We notice the IT wanna-be's more because is impacts us.

There are a lot of people I come across each day who just pretend to know what they are doing and are making no attempt to improve their situation....so it goes, it guess

If you left IT garv, what do you think you'd like to get into? I've thought medical, but then I figured there probably was much of a difference and the risk to my own health is greater (IMO).

ja5983

I agree...

there is a famous quote...i dont remember who said it..but basically... most people are promoted to their highest level of incompetence.

This means that, if you are a competent tech, you will be promoted to a competent specialist, if you are a competent specialist, you will go up, etc, etc. to the point where you are no longer competent in your field and thats where you will stay.

MEANING, if you become a bus driver, a doctor, a astronaut, a civil engineer or a garbage man, you are going to be surrounded with the same idiots you are now. the only difference is they will dress different and use different technical jargon. Chances are, your boss will still be an idiot too. Running away from IT due to your co workers incompetence will NOT make you better or happier. What you need to do is use your coworker/collegues stupidity to make yourself look great and stick it out until you become the big boss (if you are competent enough) and can weed out your orginizational incompetence yourself.

my 2 $

garv221

Plantwiz wrote:

There are a lot of people I come across each day who just pretend to know what they are doing and are making no attempt to improve their situation....so it goes, it guess

If you left IT garv, what do you think you'd like to get into? I've thought medical, but then I figured there probably was much of a difference and the risk to my own health is greater (IMO).

That is true. No matter what field you are in, you always have wannabes.

Me wanting out of IT has nothing to do with IT. Any profession I would be in right now, I would want out. Not fully out, but working my way away from depending on an IT salary to live.. I feel very lucky to be doing what I'm doing at a young age. However I need more, I need to be in control. The only way to do that is be smart with money & make my money make me money. I'll get the ball rolling next fall.

ja5983

i can see that..im trying to go to a more managerial position...like IT director or such