how much DO you know about computers?

[ShinigamiSama]

Well I'm doing a system's admin course
which more or less means running all the back end systems like the web severs, database servers, etc etc...
I've learnt pretty much most of the tricks out there, and if not I know where to look to find them or who to ask and such

but what about everyone else here?
I know theres a few others, like linux geek and howard I believe
a few others

so I'm starting to wonder how much the average listers know about their computers - seems like a good enough place to ask

 

[MagicFingers]

So, you think you know a lot, huh?

Then take the Microsoft certification tests.
THEN, you'll find out that everything they teach in the classes has nothing to do with the tests! Or real life.

 

[ShinigamiSama]

Then take the Microsoft certification tests.
THEN, you'll find out that everything they teach in the classes has nothing to do with the tests! Or real life.

I plan on it
and seeing as how half of our test banks come from the microsoft tests I think I'll do pretty good

when I go for my CCNA then I'll complain

 

[apb]

I know a little...

I was drafted out of Accounting into our IT department here when a couple of the guys noticed that I could more than navigate my way through Windows. I don't have any cert's or qualifications, all I have is my HS Diploma and a lot of hands on experience. I really don't think I'm qualified to be a IT but the Director and other members of the department think this is where I belong. I can't complain.

I guess I know more than average, but that isn't saying much. My current quest has been learning SQL.

 

[ShinigamiSama]

I know a little...

I was drafted out of Accounting into our IT department here when a couple of the guys noticed that I could more than navigate my way through Windows. I don't have any cert's or qualifications, all I have is my HS Diploma and a lot of hands on experience. I really don't think I'm qualified to be in a IT department but the Director and other members of the department think this is where I belong. I can't complain.

I guess I know more than average, but that isn't saying much. My current quest has been learning SQL.

good luck
I suggest building yourself a php/sql driven website
xampp is your friend for that

they teach you so much

'luck

 

[RonClarkeson]

Simple question?

Well I'm doing a system's admin course
which more or less means running all the back end systems like the web severs, database servers, etc etc...
I've learnt pretty much most of the tricks out there, and if not I know where to look to find them or who to ask and such

but what about everyone else here?
I know theres a few others, like linux geek and howard I believe
a few others

so I'm starting to wonder how much the average listers know about their computers - seems like a good enough place to ask

So what is the performance problem most likely to reduce response time on any computer running windws XP?

 

[ShinigamiSama]

So what is the performance problem most likely to reduce response time on any computer running windws XP?

malware
fragmentation
the indexing service

or the straight to point
PEBAK error

 

[M's girl]

All I know about computers is how to handle and use most of the software, and I'd like to keep it that way. Wait, that's not true... but it does not interest me enough to learn all the ins and outs. Of course I have found that sooooo much can go wrong with computers and even the wiz kids/guys (women, but less) don't know everything when systems really start to mess up...

It's like with cars... I COULD learn how to be able to take a car apart and fix everything myself and it would save me loads and loads of money.... Nah... I tell myself I'm good at other things...

 

[sparc101]

I know too much.... damnit.

I have lived computers for many years but to be honest, I don't call myself an expert. I do know... I have never had a computer I could not fix. The problem today with computers is all the crap you can end up downloading. Everyone should be into "safe computing". Put on those computer condoms (Norton Antivirus, SpySweeper, etc). Its a pain, but necessary in today's surfing world.

 

[Starbuck69]

I don't think of my self as being a expert either, even if it is in my job title, I no longer program or design them, but I do tell other engineers what to do to fix them.

I first got into pc's when they still used cassette tapes, and then went on to get a degree in them, I have worked on PC's, Laptop's, Net Servers and now on Unix Servers.

But there is always more to learn and no one can really be a expert and still have a life, personnaly I try to stay away from most of it unless it is for work.

 

[thecharlieman]

Only scratched the surface

I have a habit of messing up the OS on my comp........I keep trying new things, tweaking this and that......makes for an embarassing several hours trying to repair or reload........

 

[sparc101]

I agree Starbuck. It was always hard for me to take that title, "computer expert", when things were changing almost every day (the technology that is). I became pretty good at figuring things out quickly. The only time I am slow at fixing something is when I actually read the manual... ughhh...sometimes they are not even correct.

 

[thecharlieman]

I agree Starbuck. It was always hard for me to take that title, "computer expert", when things were changing almost every day (the technology that is). I became pretty good at figuring things out quickly. The only time I am slow at fixing something is when I actually read the manual... ughhh...sometimes they are not even correct.

You noticed! I have only scratched the surface, learning a little HTML, CSS, and SQL/PHP, and in the short time I have been doing this, all have changed a lot. I can only imagine what the rest of the computer world has been doing in the last 6 months!

I feel for you guys in the IT world!

 

[NippleMuncher]

I have an analog mind in an electronic world.

I do great with things that I can follow from point A to B to C, and so on, but when you put something in one side of a box and it magically transforms into something else on the other, I get lost.

I'd love to know more about computers and the software they run, however I just don't have an interest in them. Suffice it to say, I learn just enough for me to be able to do whatever it is I need in the moment, like participate in Lit forums.

 

[AcousticProphet]

This all depends on what you mean by an "expert." If you mean someone with a lot of letters after their name showing their certs, then no, I am not an expert. But I have yet to find a computer that I could not diagnose, fix, or build. I have tried nearly all of the major OSs, and I even have a Linux box at the house that is our home network's router and firewall (the only router that I have ever had that does not drop packets.)

I also realized that I am a computer geek when I carry a Linux live-cd distribution for system recovery purposes, and I have used it both at home and at the office for co-workers.

 

[ickle_stace]

As in building side of computers, I've fitted RAM, a Graphics card and a DVD-ROM drive before

Using, I'd say I'm good with them, but I study Multimedia at University, so I need to be good at using them

 

[ShyGuy68]

I know enough about computers that I'm able to build it from scratch, and then install Windows on it, and get it to work. I'm pretty good at finding hardware errors as well, and removing malware, spyware and vira. I'm also a MCSE in Windows XP and a MCP in Windows 2000

 

[BreeCarter]

Well I'm doing a system's admin course
which more or less means running all the back end systems like the web severs, database servers, etc etc...
I've learnt pretty much most of the tricks out there, and if not I know where to look to find them or who to ask and such

but what about everyone else here?
I know theres a few others, like linux geek and howard I believe
a few others

so I'm starting to wonder how much the average listers know about their computers - seems like a good enough place to ask

i know a pretty good amount, granted i'm no programmer. my husband is a system admin for a hosting company, runs his own server, and programs his own stuff quite frequently.

 

[BreeCarter]

Then take the Microsoft certification tests.
THEN, you'll find out that everything they teach in the classes has nothing to do with the tests! Or real life.

you do realize that microsoft is only one aspect of computers right, and that there are several other operating systems? passing a miscrosoft test has nothing to do with real life, unless you plan on working with/for microsoft.

 

[AlecBond]

empty

 

[linuxgeek]

what's a computer?

 

[ShinigamiSama]

where did expert come from?

if it was spawned from my say I know most of the tricks and such, I guess I didnt qualify that properly. As in for any and all daily work I do, though thats starting to include DNS and Terminal services... - thats an other story though

I do agree, unless you're a professional student theres no real experts, because theres such a huge spectrum of things
hardware, software
OS
integration
migration
services
protocols...

Certs I've noticed really mean nothing more than increased wages, chances are I could walk in right now and get my MCSE in XP and Sever2k3
give me two weeks and I could most likly pass my CCNA Exam'
I could possibly pass one or two of the Sun and Linux exams now

so they really mean nothing at all other than you put in the effort for a time and got a piece of paper and maybe a card

 

[CowBoy18^]

im still looking for that fucking any key and ive yet to get a tab to fit into the cupholder

 

[retd]

problem

I have e6 and xp, I have firewall defender avg anti spy, i have this weird problem my computer will siddenly just shut its self down.

it has no viruses or any other problem is it over heating or is it just memory loss.

I clean my files and defrag every two days. 758 of ram, I intend to go to !giga bite soon should I add more hard drive?

 

[Mazuri]

If it just shuts down, it's probably overheating. Depending on your power supply, it could simply not have enough juice to run the system any more, especially if you've added things to it (we had one once that, with the addition of a slave drive, it wouldn't even spin up ). If it's a weak power supply, an additional hard drive will only exacerbate the issue.

I've actually had my motherboard battery to die on an old system which caused periodic shut downs and funky dates/times. Up until that point, I hadn't really noticed it had one.