Achieved good results on examinations. In two yeras time, fixed so many PCs failed on hardware.

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HI I WOULD LIKE TO THANK EVERYONE AT THE SKILLS TRAIN AND SAY THAT I AS A STUDENT RECOGNISE THE GOOD WORK THAT YOUR DOING TO ASSIST US/ME WITH MY STUDIES AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT.
I am doing my CCNA but currently still on my N+ module which I believe I have been getting on well with, I work as a full time support worker where I work with four people with learning disabilities, my job is simply to support then in their day to day lives, I have to fit in my studing shedule with my job and my family at home, I got married in December and just adjusting to family life with one child I got enrolled in this to develope my career in computing and for a better future hopefully to finish the course and get a good job and give a good life to my new son. I am giving it my best I have done well with the tma's that I have done already. am sure with the support from the tutor team and the course material offered I will make it all the way and my dreams will become reality.

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I have been strugling on some of the work and by reading the course work and then trying the answers like a mock exam helps to find out what, I can rember so that I do not have to keep relying on the course work material.
Then when you think you have only to have a gues on the answer it will not work. Some times you think you have done bad and you then get to find out that you have got through to the next part, and you feel over the moon.

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HARDWORKING STUDENT, GET VERY GOOD RESULT.

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I HAVE SCORED 100% MARKE IN MY LAST TWO ASSIGNMENT.

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I love the course. Keep up the good work folks !

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I started studying again after 10 years, what gave me the incentive to study after all this time was that I was diagnosed with cancer in September 2005 after major surgery and 6 months of chemotherapy I was given the all clear on January 2006 . I always said to myself that I couldn't study after such a long period ( 10 years) but the challenges I faced during my operation and treatment showed me anything is possible, I am on the A+ part of my course at TMA 18 and up to this point I have achieved an average 97% mark. I look forward to sitting my exam in June 2007 and see this a another challenge I have signed up for the N+ and CCNN courses and look forward to these challenges, so for all you out there having doubts just remember anything is possible with the right encouragement and help

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Having been ill for quite a while I have only really been studying full time since Christmas. I have already completed 3 TMA's with astonishing results and starting on the next one in about 5 minutes. I certainly know quite a lot more about binary numbers than ever I did whilst at school or college, same goes for Hex-decimal.

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I started my course in October last year(2006) & I have been really pleased with the way that the learning format is laid out in the Skillstrain folders, I do shift work & have a lot of travelling to do each day to & from work & when I get home I sometimes feel to tired to do my coursework( I'm doing A+, N+ & CCNA), but I realise that I need to study to be able to improve my IT skills & be able to get myself a better job for me & my family & also to be able to give more time to my family & a better life. I have been really surprised & pleased with the results I have been getting, I have increased my learning timetable & have decided to put in as much time to my course as is possible, I have really enjoyed myself & learned a great deal along the way. I have just submitted TMA21 for marking which I hope I get good results with, the last few tests that I have put in have all been at 100% & I hope to be able to continue with results like this, especially when I take my main A+ exam hopefully within the next 5 weeks. I believe my average test result must be in the high 90's. My family have been really supportive to me, even when my wife gets bored with me talking about computers she still listens(bless her). I have started teaching my 9 year old son about computers & he seems to have a flair for it which I'm pleased about, hopefully he will take after me for that. Anyway thanks for reading this & good luck to all that enter student of the month. Many Thanks

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I am currently doing CCNA course now. I am full-time worker in one of the telecommunication company. I already finished an university degree but CCNA is very helpfull for my long team plans. I have completed A+ and N+ and will be finish it on time. Working and studying very hard but I can do it. Thanks to skills train, they are doing a fantastic job.

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I am currently doing CCNA course now. I am full-time worker in one of the telecommunication company. I already finished a university degree but CCNA is very helpful for my long team plans. I have completed A+ and N+ and will be finish it on time. Working and studying is very hard but I can do it. Thanks to skills train, they are doing a fantastic job.

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Re-building my PC after a catastrophic failure.

At first, I thought it was just another day at the office, but after all was said and done, and I closed the front door, glad to be home, I wondered

There was a distinct smell of “Burning”, you know that electrical arcing smell, I went on the hunt, determined to find the source. It didn't take long, to find the source, my P.C. screen was blank, and the hard drive seek light was flashing like a strobe. I found it strange that the DVD Rom light was also flashing at an alarming rate, and as I neared the offending article, I could hear rapid “Clicking”.

O.K. don't panic, keep calm and approach it logically. First switch the machine off, and then see what's going on. When I switched on the screen, there was nothing, so I tried a forced shutdown, strange, nothing there either, no response. O.K. main power switch to off, everything went quiet. Well let's see if those hours of studying have taught you anything!

I cleared a working space, armed myself with an anti-static band, three screwdrivers, pliers, (long nosed of course), a notebook, pen, multi meter, and torch. Disconnecting the machine from the mains, I started to disassemble the side casing, and then attached my earth strap. I carried out a visual inspection of the motherboard, and although I couldn't see any obvious signs of burning, I did notice that one of the chips seemed to be a funny shape, with the top of it being curved, or bubbled. I worked methodically through the Power supply, checking voltages +5v only reading +2.1v, +3V reading +1.1v. So the power supply and the motherboard were both showing signs of damage/failure. I did some internet research, only to find that a common problem with my particular brand and model of P.C. were prone to a triple failure of the PSU, motherboard, and Processor.

I made notes as I went through, and after some research, decided that as my machine was almost 3 years old, I could replace the Motherboard, Processor, and PSU with a current model/standard, almost as cheaply as I could replace them with the old standard. I decided that as I use the machine for 3D CAD applications, a 64 bit processor, or dual core processor would be a minimum standard to apply. A trip to the local Maplin store produced an almost unbeatable offer on an AMD 64 bit motherboard and processor bundle, and the PSU was also on special offer. A few checks to ensure that memory etc was compatible, and I was soon parted from my hard earned cash.

Armed with new found confidence, a new motherboard etc, I set about the re-build. Having just completed the section on building your own, or upgrading your PC, I was confident, although apprehensive. I stripped the old unit down, and carefully checking and marking the cables to the motherboard, I was soon in a position to remove the old Board. I checked the spacers, and ensured that they lined up properly, ensured that the fan was cleaned, I started the re-build. I was able to fit the new board by sliding the DVD drive forward, but without removing it completely, and replacing the PSU first was good, with plenty of room for manoeuvre. All in all it took me just over 2 hours start to finish, for the actual re-build, but I had spend hours planning and preparing. The whole experience was slightly scary, and at times a little unnerving, but really fulfilling, and has given my confidence a great boost. I know that I wouldn't have had the guts to do this 5 months ago, but now I know I could quite happily tackle it again.

Thanks for giving me the skills I needed.

Bill Ross

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Ive been studying the course for a month and a half now and im acheiving around 80% in each assignment, which is a real supprise to me. what I have learnt so far has helped me to sort out problems with my home pc and friends with regards to motherboard faliures. Being able to diagnose a problem, a replace the required hardware and configure it to run again.

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