How to become a computer hardware expert/technician?

[kbrady1979]

You are absolutely correct. I retired from a 35 year computer carrer 21 years ago but most of the things I learned then do still apply.

Some of it is of course outdated. You don't have to calculate the rotation of your drum (which was your RAM) any more like in the late 50s and early 60s and storage dumps don't come in hexadecimal anymore like in the 60s thru 90s (that would be a real challenge for the kids).

Most of the time I was in Operating System development and the basic structure of Windows is no different than it was for the systems then. Only the nitty gritty part has changed.

The real new world is the internet - and all it's pros and cons. That did not exist then but starting in the 70s we had a company wide internal network that connected over 300.000 employees - and no malware, LOL.

I bet you could tell some interesting stories

 

[Franky]

Thanks guys,

you gave me good info for how to start. I think one of the best book on this area is what the "johnsmith45jock" said in post #9. But that book has more than 1000 pages and since I'm hardly involving to some other subjects (English language, C++ Programming language and computer software issues), I haven't that time for reading such a huge book. I think best work is to read the websites and learn from them. One of the best one is Wikipedia. Of course what I was looking for although was a book but not such a completely comprehensive book. I'd like to find a writing of about 100 pages that familiarizes me concisely to hardware. .
Anyway, If you agree about that I want to start from websites please say.
For example I can for first step, search the word "CPU" in Wikipedia and read about it. For second step I can do the same for "RAM", and so on.

 

[kbrady1979]

I don't think you'll find what you want out on Wikipedia.......it can help with terms/standards/protocols that you don't fully understand, but is a tad too general for understanding the fundamentals. Look around on amazon for A+ certification books, that is the basis of a good PC hardware foundation.

 

[Franky]

OK dear "kbrady1979", I search for an up-to-date version of A+ certification book and try to start with it. I think you completely know what I need and what should I do on this topic.
Thanks.

PS: I should search for "A+ certification book" not for "CompTIA A+ certification book", yes?

 

[kbrady1979]

Same thing, but they will be listed as CompTIA A+ cert. There will be several different versions, such as 700 series and 800 series books, with quite a few editions each......I would look at the 800 series books because that really deals with newer hardware. 700 series covers really old hardware and stops about Windows Vista. I'd go with the 800 series books.

 

[Franky]

All are about 1000 pages and therefore unsuitable for me. Anyway thanks for all of your comments.

 

[whs]

If you don't have time to read a book, you won't learn a lot. Without a formal education, it will take you many years to get a decent knowledge - and then some. There is no fast path.

 

[x BlueRobot]

All are about 1000 pages and therefore unsuitable for me. Anyway thanks for all of your comments.

Most books like that are going to be 1000 pages long. Windows Internals is easily about 1500+ pages long, and then it still doesn't cover everything, but that's software. I've read a CompTIA A+ book, and it easily stretched to that amount.

 

[kbrady1979]

It's taken me years of hands-on and research to be at the level I am at now, which honestly is probably entry level IT. It's going to take time.

 

[x BlueRobot]

It's taken me about 2 years to get where I'm now. It's just shows how long it takes, you need to be willing to learn it and make the time.

 

[Franky]

OK you are right. I should manage my time and dedicate some time a day for reading such a book. I chose one, it's in below image. Its print date is 2013 and covers good stuffs. Any one disagree?
Please vote to my choice. Agree or disagree?

 

[HAVOC]

I may have to change careers and computer hardware/networks looks like something I'll be interested in. I mess around with it at my house fixing computers for friends and family. Think I'll buy the book listed above. They also have one for Network and one for Security, not too expensive either.

 

[x BlueRobot]

I may have to change careers and computer hardware/networks looks like something I'll be interested in. I mess around with it at my house fixing computers for friends and family. Think I'll buy the book listed above. They also have one for Network and one for Security, not too expensive either.

There's CompTIA A+, and then Network+ and Security+.

 

[kbrady1979]

CompTIA A+ covers PC hardware and standards.

 

[Franky]

So is a good choice, yes?

 

[x BlueRobot]

Yes