ATTN: Thursday Classes!!!

I caught most of you, but for those I didn't catch: I will not be in class on Thursday due to some meetings I need to attend. Please read and do exercises for Chapter 13 in the Network Infrastructure book and Chapter 12 in the Active Directory book.

I'm really sorry for being out again, but I promise, it's out of my control!!

Random fact: this is Ben's Blog's 300th post!

Windows 2000 Networking/OS - 11/29/2006

Today we took a break from our computer repair and watched a demonstration of an install and use of Windows Vista, which is due out tomorrow (or Jan. 30, whichever method you're going to use to get it.

Homework:

• No homework!

Troubleshooting - 11/29/2006

More computer fixin!

Homework:

• No homework!

Marketing - 11/28/2006

Testing... testing... 1, 2... 3?

Tonight's class consisted of just the test over Chapters 7, 8, 16. Remember, next week is the Personal Sales Workshop, worth a whopping 100 points!!! Make sure that you're here! Bring a pencil and a keen understanding of the 7 steps in personal sales.

If you missed the test tonight, I will need you to stick around after class next week and take a modified version of it.

Homework:

• No homework!!!

CompTIA A+ Software - 11/28/2006

Today marked the final day of lecture for our A+ class and covered the relatively short Chapter 13, in which we covered all kinds of preventative maintenance. Luckily, most of it is common sense, like, don't stick a screwdriver in an open light-socket and don't pour coffee down the ventilation holes of your monitor. Other things, like the book's suggestion of reformatting your hard drive every year are a bit unorthodox, but hey, it doesn't mean it doesn't work. Just make sure you do your backups (and know what the differences are between all of the different backup types too!)

Next week, we will continue the morning class tradition of doing Transcender practice exams and I will have all of your homework graded and tallied up too. You'll know next week whether or not I need to see you on December 12 for a final. Can ya believe we're almost finished???

Homework:

• Chapter 13 - Review Questions 1-15
• Chapter 13 - Exam Questions 1-10

CompTIA A+ Hardware - 11/28/2006

This morning's class consisted of the test over Chapters 4-7. There was a 14 point curve, but I still would have liked to have seen higher test scores.

Eric Beller mentioned that he is going to try for his A+ certifications before December 31, and I think that's a good idea. Taking them after January 1 means that you'll have a new set of requirements (details found here). The same information that we've covered will be available -- don't worry about that -- it's just that it will be in a slightly reorganized format.

Remember, next week, make sure that you are in class, as we will be having a very point-valuable Transcender day next week. I'll also have your homework graded and your grades tallied up to that point so you'll know whether or not you have to come in for the final on December 12.

Homework:

• No Homework!!!

Windows 2000 Networking/OS - 11/22/2006

It was more computer fixing for us today too! We finished up two computers that we had been working on -- one for quite a while.

1. Remember that computer last week that would power on and then nothing would happen? Check the entry below for the Troubleshooting class on what happened there.
2. Mark Cox's computer is FINISHED! Mark gave us permission to run the system restore partition on his computer thereby refreshing back to its brand new status. It's kind of cheating, yeah, but still, it's fixed now, running smooth and most importantly, out of our hands.
3. Donna Hudson had a computer she wanted us to totally wipe out and reinstall Windows 98. After a few driver diversions, the computer was finished and she picked it up!

Homework:

• No homework!!

Troubleshooting - 11/22/2006

More computer fixin', as usual. Here's a summary of what we went through today:

1. The computer that would power on for a second and then turned off turned out to be a HUGE mass of dust/gunk clogging up the main fan and the heat sink. Although we didn't know for sure, we decided that the processor and/or motherboard were shot. The woman who owns the computer is going back to the shop that had originally "repaired" it to get her money back.
2. Ted's friend Karen now has a working Windows ME machine after installing a new hard drive and controller!
3. Joe and Katie fixed Brenda Pedigo's computer by removing the 600+ spyware files and now it runs much, much smoother.
4. Brett PASSED HIS PRO EXAM! Give this boy a cracker.

Homework:

• No homework!

Marketing - 11/21/2006

Tonight's class was over (the first half of) Chapter 16 -- Personal Sales. We talked about various sales techniques and varying ways that sales managers and salespeople operate in their own "areans". We also talked about the 7 steps of the selling process, which are:

1. Prospecting/Qualifying
2. Preapproach
3. Approach
4. Presentation
5. Handling Objections
6. Closing the Sale
7. Follow-up

We then turned our attention to the test that is scheduled next week, and I handed out a study guide designed to help you prepare.

Here is the lineup as I foresee it for the rest of the semester:

• November 28: Test: Chapters 7, 8, 16
• December 5: Sales Workshop (worth 100 pts!!!!!!!!), Find out if you need to take the final.
• December 12: Final Exam.

Homework:

• Study for your test!!!

Peace out.

CompTIA A+ Software - 11/21/2006

Today in class we talked about different troubleshooting and fixing methods such as Emergency Repair Disk, backups, Device Manager, yadda yadda yadda.

Homework:
* No Homework!

CompTIA A+ Hardware - 11/21/2006

Hands-on!!!!

That was the theme today, as each one of us got a piece-o-doodie computer to take apart and put back together. As you guys were doing this, I made a nuisance out of myself and walked around and quizzed you on the particulars of the various computer parts that you were playing with.

Homework:
* No homework!
* Test next week on Ch. 4-7. BE READY!

Implementing Active Directory -- 11/16/2006

See below post. I had 9 lbs of snot in my head and I couldn't move. Think: cold turkey gravy.

Mmm...

Homework:

• Chapter 11 - Lesson Reviews

Implementing Network Infrastructure -- 11/16/2006

Hey guys, I hope no one's too terribly pissed -- remember Wednesday when I was kinda floaty from all the cough medicine? Well, I was down with the sickness on Thursday and could hardly move when I woke up at 7:15 (which is about 1.5 hours late for me!!!).

I hope everyone's not too terribly put out by me calling class at the last minute.

In case you didn't get the homework...

Homework:

• Chapter 12 - Lesson Reviews

Windows 2000 Networking/OS - 11/15/2006

Today we too started our first day of PC repair days with three computers. One was the same computer we've been having trouble with so far and have been trying to fix via HijackThis! and the others had power supply problems. Yee-haw!

Homework:
* No Homework!

Troubleshooting - 11/15/2006

Today we embarked on our brand new computer repair class. We had a whopping two computers to work on, but it worked well, I think. Hopefully, word of mouth will spread and we'll get lots more!

Homework:
* No homework!

Marketing - 11/14/2006

Tonight was a weird night, thanks for playing along. We did Chapter 8, which was about the product, and all of the things -- including the tangible thing -- that go into the product. Since I had to be out the first hour of class, we had a period where you guys worked on the homework, and then when I got to class, we discussed it (make sureyou still turn it in next week!!!!)

Homework:
* Chapter 8 - Discussing the Concepts Questions 1-6.

CompTIA A+ Software - 11/14/2006

In today's class you received your Transcender software and we went through a trial run of using it. I would HIGHLY recommend you guys use this software to prepare for your certifications! (Remember, if you pass a certification before the class is over, you get an A for that class!!!)

Homework:
* No homework!

CompTIA A+ Hardware -- 11/14/2006

Ben’s Blog is Back!

Woo-hoo! I finally have everything fixed on the laptop and I am proud to say that I’m back up running again. Sorry for the couple of weeks of dead air.

Today’s class was devoted to getting our quarterly schedules all squared away. I believe I’ve talked to everyone in the class and everyone should be ready to go

Homework:
No homework!