John wrote:
> Thank you all for answering my thread yesterday on Microsoft News
> Groups. I am trying to take advantage of this opportunity and
> readdressing my thread once more. I have some old computers that I
> could use to test this idea that I am trying to reexpain. Outside
> of this online A+ Certification course I've taken these are my
> experiences in software.
>
> With one of my old computers that I have I found myself calling
> the manufactuer for tech support. The computer kept crashing,
> programs had to be add and removed and settings needed to be
> constantly changed. As bad as an experience as it was I found it
> to be a interesting experience for a first computer.
>
> I also have a used laptop computer which would not sign onto
> internet.
> It needed a wireless network card. This card was purchsed and was
> installed the next day. This still made things interesting.
>
> So these techs had to start somewhere. Some how there is a big
> picture. So as I explained these are my experiences. Could
> someone suggest a book that I could research at a large bookstore
> that I could get hands on experiences. In taking this next step
> just by starting with a suggested hands guide. I could continue to
> work with my computers and from there research my next step in
> learning. Thanks again. John
Most of the excellent technical support and problem-solving type people I
know did not get their abilities from books. They did things. They got a
computer and took it apart, they put it back together, they formatted it and
installed different operating systems on it. What they didn't understand -
they did Internet searches for and they worked until they figured it out.
When someone had a problem, they took it over and figured it out.
Most of the so-so (if you want to go that far) technical support and
probelm-solving type people I know have rooms full of books and are always
referencing them. They don't just play around and research things on the
Internet. They know one or two things and yes - they may know those things
really well - but they take a long time to solve new problems. This is
because you are speaking of technology. 20 years ago, technology was much
different than it is now - and it has continued its speedy change.
Those really good at what they do won't likely have any books to recommend
to you. Those 'so-so' will, but do you want to know them?
Truthfully - if you are not programming but are wanting to troubleshoot
problems (software-related issues) you will be best served by reading the
newsgroups - where the latest problems are posted about and solved along
with playing around and installing things on your own system. Get a virtual
system up and running - play with the settings. See if you cannot tweak it
to run better, change a setting to make things look/feel different in some
unusual way.
--
Shenan Stanley
MS-MVP
--
How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html
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