Virtual vs Actual experience

I am working on the course material using a virtual software package. I'm enjoying the course work, but can't help but feel inadequate when considering the fact that I have never actually physically dealt with opening up a computer... used a multimeter... etc etc. Anyone having the same problem? Chris- Melbourne, Australia

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3000GT

What i did for my A+ Exams was go to local PC repair shops and ask for any spare bits they didnt want and have a play about with them as here in the UK if you want to **** any used parts it costs money for business, so i took it off there hands and diagnosed all the faults on the components i was playing with

Plantwiz

cm101 wrote:

I am working on the course material using a virtual software package. I'm enjoying the course work, but can't help but feel inadequate when considering the fact that I have never actually physically dealt with opening up a computer... used a multimeter... etc etc. Anyone having the same problem? Chris- Melbourne, Australia

No, but I was fortunate to have held a couple jobs where my experience of tearing about my own equipment back in the early 80's allowed me an opportunity to 'practice' at the various jobs I held growing up.

Perhaps work in a mentor or co-op type program or just volunteer some time to shadow or get your your hands on equipment.

I wasn't aware that there were training packages to 'train' a person in hardware without physically touching parts????

hpl104

I have the same problem. I am a graduate student and worked as a computer lab assistant my dept. (sociology) for my graduate assistantship. I have experience performing minor hardware and software troubleshooting but have opened up a computer only once. I recently passed my A+ certification exam using practice tests from MeasureUp and a book by Prentice Hall. It took me 2 years preparing for the exam because I have to focus on my course work and write papers as I am in graduate school (I passed my OS on the first attempt and HW on the 2nd attempt).