Ok, first off. Blogger is pissing me off big time. I've been trying to do updates for weeks now and everytime i get to class, the damn system is down and i can't do shit with it.

Now. I just got a %63 on my mid-term after answering one obvious question wrong and i'm having some issues with other questions being asked and the whole direction of class lectures.

Some questions being asked in tests have 2 possible answers and when the most popular answer isn't given, the mark is deducted, when obviously there should have been 2 options.

The question is : ____ offers several easy-to-use tools to prevent damage to a hard drive, recover data from a damaged hard drive, and improve system performance.

Possible answers : Norton Utilities, Spinrite, Partition Magic or Bootmagic.

Throwing out the obvious partitioning and boot utility tool, i've used both Norton and Spinrite and they both offer the features in question, so how is spinrite the wrong answer?

Next? The instructor goes through a typical lecture on a chapter and during the lecture he makes specific mention to certain parts of chapters and certain topics. You focus on these topics and sections and study them, only to have nothing of the type come into play when exams and tests are given.

Quite frustrating, i must say.

Posted by n00nz |

Finally recovering from the laringitis. Still very tired and getting to the point where i wish i could get my nights back for relaxation.

Notes:

• A Cluster is the smallest storage area on a disk.
• A Sector is the smallest physical area on a disk.
• If a single file is big enough to be saved on multiple clusters, it is called a chain.
• Defragmenting a hard drive with an NTFS file system offers a very minimal performance boost.
• The directory table points to the first cluster that holds the files.

Posted by n00nz |

Ugh... i think i'm gonna pass out on this keyboard. I'm so damn tired now. I haven't really slept well all week with the damn coughing and laringitis. I can't wait till this is over and i can go back to my loathing self.

Starting off with labs today and i can barely keep interest enough to sit straight on my chair.

Nothing more boring than file systems, with the clusters, sectors, blah blah blah....

Posted by n00nz |

Ugh... lost my voice with the damn laringitis.

Test today was ok. Scored a 73% with absolutely no studying. I really need to put more into this class, but again, my work schedule seems to be ramping up and may not let up. Of course, passing the A+ certification requires an 85% mark, so when the test comes, that's cramming time.

Hmm.. i asked the teacher in my Godfather voice, if we could do the test, then the lecture so i could take off and get home, skipping the lab section of the class today. We are covering hard drives and it appears we are moving so slowly through the chapter, the whole class is going to miss the lab and i will still sit through a lecture that lasts until regular class time is over.

Notes:

• PIO - Program Input Output - The CPU needs to get involved as soon as data is introduced to the system. The CPU slightly accesses the data to acknoledge that it's there, and puts it aside while it works on data received earlier.
• DMA - Direct Memory Access - The data introduced is directed to an I/O address in memory where it sits until the CPU is ready. The CPU doesn't need to stop any process to deal with new data until it's ready. Faster.

Posted by n00nz |

All the labs are going wrong today. The textbooks are asking us to download an utility that isn't compatible with the BIOS in our lab computers. No loss for me, it's all elementary.

NOTES:

• Ah, the typical memory vs. storage mistake. How many people out there know people who refer to hard disk space as "memory". "I only have 40 gigs of memory"... "Holy shit, really?"
• PROM - Programmable Read-Only Memory
• EPROM - Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory
• EEPROM - Electrical Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory
• The memory controller passes data to the CPU from cache memory and tries to predict what data will be needed next from main memory.

Posted by n00nz |

Quiz about to start...

Oh well.... 10/15 isn't that bad for someone who hasn't studied and barely read the textbook since starting the class.

Well now, onto the motherboard.


Notes:

• What is 127 in binary code? A: 01111111. Hell, I don't know.
• SCSI = Small Computer System Interface.
• RAID = Random Array of Inexpensive Disks, now using Independent... Duh.
• SATA = Serial ATA, Serial Advanced Technology Attachment.
• IDE = Integrated Device Electronics.
• FRU = Field Replacement Unit.
• CISC Based processors = Complete Instruction Set Computing.
• RISC Based processors = Reduced Instruction Set Computing.

Posted by n00nz |

Much better today. I've got to stick to my old rule of getting to bed before 11pm and I should be fine. It's a wonder how the body functions so much better with some much needed extra sleep. Ah...

This class should be interesting, after not having any time to complete a lab assignment last class, this class we start with the labs we missed. Off we go...

Now to the lecture...

Hey, I just noticed my farm boy buddy doesn't have his hearing aid in tonight. I guess my horse stomping typing style was driving him crazy. Oh well.... woah there boy.

Pop, there goes our class's projector bulb. I saw that one coming from week one, the yellow warning light on the Epson projector has been flashing since then and it was only a matter of time before the bulb just gave up. Teacher is very surprised, even though when he starts the projector, it also puts up a warning text on the screen.

Dammit.... The tech guy in the media department was able to get the bulb to fire up, maybe for the rest of the class. There goes another sale, down the drain. I won't tell my boss I lost another one.

Funny, we are spending so much time on the damn electricity chapter, even though the A+ exam doesn't expect a computer technician to know everything about electricity. You only need surface knowledge.

Notes:

• Volts x Amps = Watts
• A power adapter is a rectifier
• A transformer steps down power for electronics to handle
• Conductors easily allow electricity flow
• Insulators resist the flow of electricity, like ceramic or glass.
• Semiconductors are between conductors and insulators.

Posted by n00nz |