Michael Meyers' A+ Certification (All-In-One Certification)
Michael Meyers' A+ Certification (All-In-One Certification)
Overview
If you have some book knowledge, a PC to dissect, and a lack of actual experience in cracking cases open, theA+ Certification Lab Manualwill do everything but remove the floppy drives for you as it cheerfully walks you through your PC's guts. Guided walk-throughs, backed up with clear explanations and a more-than-generous dollop of real-world experience, make this a book that's perfect for beginners and intermediates. It won't get you through the test by itself, but it will definitely serve as a top-notch supplement for book-learners who are trying to expand their knowledge.TheLab Manualis a series of 20 walk-through sections (there are 50 walk-throughs total, but they're grouped by category) that require some basic hardware knowledge. They focus on giving the reader a working knowledge of how the parts fit into the computer, how to put them together, and the common things that go wrong in the real world. So, while the hard-drive section doesn't go into great depth on the meaning of sectors and cylinders, itdoeshave you identify and remove a hard drive, shows you how to configure the CMOS so that it recognizes a drive both manually and automatically, then shows you how to put it back in without a hitch. (It also covers formatting and partitioning.) This book serves as a nice yin to the yang you'll get with most A+ guides, giving you hands-on information that fleshes out your theoretical knowledge. After all, you can read all about cylinders and sectors, but what's ultimately going to be more useful--knowing what the cylinders mean, or being able to install a hard drive so that the computer recognizes it?It's not until you actually read the walk-throughs in this book that you realize how perfunctory the exercises in other books are. Meyers spends a lot of time walking you through common mistakes that techs make, as well as giving handy tips for when things don't quite go right. (Can't determine which power pins to connect the on/off button to? Hook up the power supply and touch the connectors with a screwdriver tip until the fan whirs!) The depth and insight granted here are both rewarding and a pleasure to read, and, when you're finished, you should be able to vivisect and reassemble a test PC with little trouble.However, one does wish that someone had told Meyers that a picture is worth a thousand words. It's frustrating to have a half a page's worth of writing on what an ISA slot and an ISA card look like without a single picture; particularly in the early hardware sections, this verges on the hair-tearing. And the pictures thatarethere are poorly laid out and in some cases blurry. Rather than a large picture with a tiny circle indicating what a fan clip looks like and how to remove it, wouldn't it be better to print a close-up of the clip so that we can see what the tech is actually doing?Another slight problem with the book is its focus. To be fair, it really goes into some depth in the early and most heavily tested sections--the indispensable hardware parts like the processor, the motherboard, and the hard and floppy drives. And thatisthe stuff that the bulk of the A+ exam is about. But near the end of the book, the walk-throughs for the sections worth 5 percent of your total A+ score become almost exasperatingly short; the "Network" section only touches on wire and doesn't cover installing a network interface card at all. Likewise, the "Portable PCs" chapter, weighing in at all of three pages, doesn't even go through the basics of installing and removing a PCMCIA card from a laptop.The third and final problem with theLab Manualisn't really a problem at all, but could be viewed as such by some readers: it isnota reference guide. Commonly tested topics like the lists of hexadecimal memory addresses and the differences between the various processors aren't mentioned except in passing; if this is the only guide you buy, you are certain to fail.But that isn't the point. What this bookdoesdo is meld the theoretical knowledge you've gained from whatever A+ reference you've used with the hands-on experience you'll need in the field. Using this in conjunction with a solid theoretical book will weld the knowledge into your head forever, reinforcing what you've already learned via endless lists and paragraphs into solid, screwdriver-twisting experience. You could pass the exam without this book...but it would be a heck of a lot harder. Recommended.--William Steinmetz--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.Description
Condition Guidelines
Books - New and Used
The following guidelines apply to books:
- New: A brand-new copy with cover and original protective wrapping intact. Books with markings of any kind on the cover or pages, books marked as "Bargain" or "Remainder," or with any other labels attached, may not be listed as New condition.
- Used - Good: All pages and cover are intact (including the dust cover, if applicable). Spine may show signs of wear. Pages may include limited notes and highlighting. May include "From the library of" labels. Shrink wrap, dust covers, or boxed set case may be missing. Item may be missing bundled media.
- Used - Acceptable: All pages and the cover are intact, but shrink wrap, dust covers, or boxed set case may be missing. Pages may include limited notes, highlighting, or minor water damage but the text is readable. Item may but the dust cover may be missing. Pages may include limited notes and highlighting, but the text cannot be obscured or unreadable.
Note: Some electronic material access codes are valid only for one user. For this reason, used books, including books listed in the Used – Like New condition, may not come with functional electronic material access codes.
Shipping & Delivery
Shipping Fees
- Stevens Books offers FREE SHIPPING everywhere in the United States for ALL non-book orders, and $3.99 for each book.
- Packages are shipped from Monday to Friday.
- No additional fees and charges.
Delivery Times
The usual time for processing an order is 24 hours (1 business day), but may vary depending on the availability of products ordered. This period excludes delivery times, which depend on your geographic location.
Estimated delivery times:
- Standard Shipping: 5-8 business days
- Expedited Shipping: 3-5 business days
Shipping method varies depending on what is being shipped.
Tracking
All orders are shipped with a tracking number. Once your order has left our warehouse, a confirmation e-mail with a tracking number will be sent to you. You will be able to track your package at all times.
Damaged Parcel
If your package has been delivered in a PO Box, please note that we are not responsible for any damage that may result (consequences of extreme temperatures, theft, etc.).
If you have any questions regarding shipping or want to know about the status of an order, please contact us or email to support@stevensbooks.com.
Returns & Refunds
You may return most items within 30 days of delivery for a full refund.
To be eligible for a return, your item must be unused and in the same condition that you received it. It must also be in the original packaging.
Several types of goods are exempt from being returned. Perishable goods such as food, flowers, newspapers or magazines cannot be returned. We also do not accept products that are intimate or sanitary goods, hazardous materials, or flammable liquids or gases.
Additional non-returnable items:
- Gift cards
- Downloadable software products
- Some health and personal care items
To complete your return, we require a tracking number, which shows the items which you already returned to us.
There are certain situations where only partial refunds are granted (if applicable)
- Book with obvious signs of use
- CD, DVD, VHS tape, software, video game, cassette tape, or vinyl record that has been opened
- Any item not in its original condition, is damaged or missing parts for reasons not due to our error
- Any item that is returned more than 30 days after delivery
Items returned to us as a result of our error will receive a full refund,some returns may be subject to a restocking fee of 7% of the total item price, please contact a customer care team member to see if your return is subject. Returns that arrived on time and were as described are subject to a restocking fee.
Items returned to us that were not the result of our error, including items returned to us due to an invalid or incomplete address, will be refunded the original item price less our standard restocking fees.
If the item is returned to us for any of the following reasons, a 15% restocking fee will be applied to your refund total and you will be asked to pay for return shipping:
- Item(s) no longer needed or wanted.
- Item(s) returned to us due to an invalid or incomplete address.
- Item(s) returned to us that were not a result of our error.
You should expect to receive your refund within four weeks of giving your package to the return shipper, however, in many cases you will receive a refund more quickly. This time period includes the transit time for us to receive your return from the shipper (5 to 10 business days), the time it takes us to process your return once we receive it (3 to 5 business days), and the time it takes your bank to process our refund request (5 to 10 business days).
If you need to return an item, please Contact Us with your order number and details about the product you would like to return. We will respond quickly with instructions for how to return items from your order.
Shipping Cost
We'll pay the return shipping costs if the return is a result of our error (you received an incorrect or defective item, etc.). In other cases, you will be responsible for paying for your own shipping costs for returning your item. Shipping costs are non-refundable. If you receive a refund, the cost of return shipping will be deducted from your refund.
Depending on where you live, the time it may take for your exchanged product to reach you, may vary.
If you are shipping an item over $75, you should consider using a trackable shipping service or purchasing shipping insurance. We don’t guarantee that we will receive your returned item.
Overview
If you have some book knowledge, a PC to dissect, and a lack of actual experience in cracking cases open, theA+ Certification Lab Manualwill do everything but remove the floppy drives for you as it cheerfully walks you through your PC's guts. Guided walk-throughs, backed up with clear explanations and a more-than-generous dollop of real-world experience, make this a book that's perfect for beginners and intermediates. It won't get you through the test by itself, but it will definitely serve as a top-notch supplement for book-learners who are trying to expand their knowledge.TheLab Manualis a series of 20 walk-through sections (there are 50 walk-throughs total, but they're grouped by category) that require some basic hardware knowledge. They focus on giving the reader a working knowledge of how the parts fit into the computer, how to put them together, and the common things that go wrong in the real world. So, while the hard-drive section doesn't go into great depth on the meaning of sectors and cylinders, itdoeshave you identify and remove a hard drive, shows you how to configure the CMOS so that it recognizes a drive both manually and automatically, then shows you how to put it back in without a hitch. (It also covers formatting and partitioning.) This book serves as a nice yin to the yang you'll get with most A+ guides, giving you hands-on information that fleshes out your theoretical knowledge. After all, you can read all about cylinders and sectors, but what's ultimately going to be more useful--knowing what the cylinders mean, or being able to install a hard drive so that the computer recognizes it?It's not until you actually read the walk-throughs in this book that you realize how perfunctory the exercises in other books are. Meyers spends a lot of time walking you through common mistakes that techs make, as well as giving handy tips for when things don't quite go right. (Can't determine which power pins to connect the on/off button to? Hook up the power supply and touch the connectors with a screwdriver tip until the fan whirs!) The depth and insight granted here are both rewarding and a pleasure to read, and, when you're finished, you should be able to vivisect and reassemble a test PC with little trouble.However, one does wish that someone had told Meyers that a picture is worth a thousand words. It's frustrating to have a half a page's worth of writing on what an ISA slot and an ISA card look like without a single picture; particularly in the early hardware sections, this verges on the hair-tearing. And the pictures thatarethere are poorly laid out and in some cases blurry. Rather than a large picture with a tiny circle indicating what a fan clip looks like and how to remove it, wouldn't it be better to print a close-up of the clip so that we can see what the tech is actually doing?Another slight problem with the book is its focus. To be fair, it really goes into some depth in the early and most heavily tested sections--the indispensable hardware parts like the processor, the motherboard, and the hard and floppy drives. And thatisthe stuff that the bulk of the A+ exam is about. But near the end of the book, the walk-throughs for the sections worth 5 percent of your total A+ score become almost exasperatingly short; the "Network" section only touches on wire and doesn't cover installing a network interface card at all. Likewise, the "Portable PCs" chapter, weighing in at all of three pages, doesn't even go through the basics of installing and removing a PCMCIA card from a laptop.The third and final problem with theLab Manualisn't really a problem at all, but could be viewed as such by some readers: it isnota reference guide. Commonly tested topics like the lists of hexadecimal memory addresses and the differences between the various processors aren't mentioned except in passing; if this is the only guide you buy, you are certain to fail.But that isn't the point. What this bookdoesdo is meld the theoretical knowledge you've gained from whatever A+ reference you've used with the hands-on experience you'll need in the field. Using this in conjunction with a solid theoretical book will weld the knowledge into your head forever, reinforcing what you've already learned via endless lists and paragraphs into solid, screwdriver-twisting experience. You could pass the exam without this book...but it would be a heck of a lot harder. Recommended.--William Steinmetz--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.Description
Condition Guidelines
Books - New and Used
The following guidelines apply to books:
- New: A brand-new copy with cover and original protective wrapping intact. Books with markings of any kind on the cover or pages, books marked as "Bargain" or "Remainder," or with any other labels attached, may not be listed as New condition.
- Used - Good: All pages and cover are intact (including the dust cover, if applicable). Spine may show signs of wear. Pages may include limited notes and highlighting. May include "From the library of" labels. Shrink wrap, dust covers, or boxed set case may be missing. Item may be missing bundled media.
- Used - Acceptable: All pages and the cover are intact, but shrink wrap, dust covers, or boxed set case may be missing. Pages may include limited notes, highlighting, or minor water damage but the text is readable. Item may but the dust cover may be missing. Pages may include limited notes and highlighting, but the text cannot be obscured or unreadable.
Note: Some electronic material access codes are valid only for one user. For this reason, used books, including books listed in the Used – Like New condition, may not come with functional electronic material access codes.
Shipping & Delivery
Shipping Fees
- Stevens Books offers FREE SHIPPING everywhere in the United States for ALL non-book orders, and $3.99 for each book.
- Packages are shipped from Monday to Friday.
- No additional fees and charges.
Delivery Times
The usual time for processing an order is 24 hours (1 business day), but may vary depending on the availability of products ordered. This period excludes delivery times, which depend on your geographic location.
Estimated delivery times:
- Standard Shipping: 5-8 business days
- Expedited Shipping: 3-5 business days
Shipping method varies depending on what is being shipped.
Tracking
All orders are shipped with a tracking number. Once your order has left our warehouse, a confirmation e-mail with a tracking number will be sent to you. You will be able to track your package at all times.
Damaged Parcel
If your package has been delivered in a PO Box, please note that we are not responsible for any damage that may result (consequences of extreme temperatures, theft, etc.).
If you have any questions regarding shipping or want to know about the status of an order, please contact us or email to support@stevensbooks.com.
Returns & Refunds
You may return most items within 30 days of delivery for a full refund.
To be eligible for a return, your item must be unused and in the same condition that you received it. It must also be in the original packaging.
Several types of goods are exempt from being returned. Perishable goods such as food, flowers, newspapers or magazines cannot be returned. We also do not accept products that are intimate or sanitary goods, hazardous materials, or flammable liquids or gases.
Additional non-returnable items:
- Gift cards
- Downloadable software products
- Some health and personal care items
To complete your return, we require a tracking number, which shows the items which you already returned to us.
There are certain situations where only partial refunds are granted (if applicable)
- Book with obvious signs of use
- CD, DVD, VHS tape, software, video game, cassette tape, or vinyl record that has been opened
- Any item not in its original condition, is damaged or missing parts for reasons not due to our error
- Any item that is returned more than 30 days after delivery
Items returned to us as a result of our error will receive a full refund,some returns may be subject to a restocking fee of 7% of the total item price, please contact a customer care team member to see if your return is subject. Returns that arrived on time and were as described are subject to a restocking fee.
Items returned to us that were not the result of our error, including items returned to us due to an invalid or incomplete address, will be refunded the original item price less our standard restocking fees.
If the item is returned to us for any of the following reasons, a 15% restocking fee will be applied to your refund total and you will be asked to pay for return shipping:
- Item(s) no longer needed or wanted.
- Item(s) returned to us due to an invalid or incomplete address.
- Item(s) returned to us that were not a result of our error.
You should expect to receive your refund within four weeks of giving your package to the return shipper, however, in many cases you will receive a refund more quickly. This time period includes the transit time for us to receive your return from the shipper (5 to 10 business days), the time it takes us to process your return once we receive it (3 to 5 business days), and the time it takes your bank to process our refund request (5 to 10 business days).
If you need to return an item, please Contact Us with your order number and details about the product you would like to return. We will respond quickly with instructions for how to return items from your order.
Shipping Cost
We'll pay the return shipping costs if the return is a result of our error (you received an incorrect or defective item, etc.). In other cases, you will be responsible for paying for your own shipping costs for returning your item. Shipping costs are non-refundable. If you receive a refund, the cost of return shipping will be deducted from your refund.
Depending on where you live, the time it may take for your exchanged product to reach you, may vary.
If you are shipping an item over $75, you should consider using a trackable shipping service or purchasing shipping insurance. We don’t guarantee that we will receive your returned item.
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