Rant! Why the hell do they ask about Win95 and 98 on the A+ OS test?

[MichaelD]

[rant]

For cryin' out cotton-pickin' loud, why the HELL do they ask so many questions about Windows95 and Windows98 on the A+OS test?

I am taking the test this Wednesday and bought the study guide (exam cram) yesterday. The Hardware part I've got nailed.

The OS part? Half the %(*&!!* book is about Win95/98! Who give a damn about them?

I mean, how many freakin' people are still using Windows95 worldwide? Two, maybe?

I have yet to see a BUSINESS out in the real corporate world that runs anything but NT or W2K in the past four years, at least.

They ask all kinds of questions about recovery floppies for Win95...I got news for 'ya; if YOUR PC that runs Windows95 or 98 crashes, know how I'm gonna help your sorry @ss?

I'm gonna WIPE your drive and put W2K Professional on there and that will solve 100% of you problems, you pathetic little weenie man. If you run Windows95, you obviously live at home. And are 35 years old. If you run Windows98, you have been locked inside since 1998 with no radio or TV...or oxygen, apparently. :disgust:

My mother is 71 years old and even SHE knows that Windows 95 and 98 suck.

Why do I need to know the Hexadecimal address of the config.sys file for Windows98? How is that going to help me? This sucks. I am going to have to memorize a lot of useless info that I'm only going to have to brain dump 2 seconds after I pass the test.

How pathetic. Thanks for listening.

[/rant]

 

[Zorro]

 

[PoPPeR]

no problem... now give me my 10$

 

[Hartford]

probably because they are both OS's and it is an OS test

 

[spanky]

i heard the new A+ test was more centered around win2k. maybe u bought the wrong study guide?

 

[minendo]

Several of the computers here are still running win98. 2k/XP migration has yet to occur.

 

[MichaelD]

Originally posted by: Hartford
probably because they are both OS's and it is an OS test

Nobody_uses_them_anymore.

It would be like testing a Ford service technician on how to repair a Model T. I mean, it's a FORD...but cripes!!

 

[MichaelD]

Originally posted by: spanky
i heard the new A+ test was more centered around win2k. maybe u bought the wrong study guide?

Nope. I checked the print date on it (used to work in a library.) January 2003.

 

[Ns1]

high schools use them

alot of older classes at my school use them (damn budget cuts)

i see win95/98 at ALOT of businesses that i go to (my optometrist for one, can't think of any other off the top of my head)

 

[Zugzwang152]

Originally posted by: MichaelD

Originally posted by: spanky
i heard the new A+ test was more centered around win2k. maybe u bought the wrong study guide?

Nope. I checked the print date on it (used to work in a library.) January 2003.

the test is being reworked this fall to be more up to date i hear...or at least thats what CompTIA says.

 

[MichaelD]

Maybe I'm just spoiled by the fact that my primary job has over 2K systems in the building and all are W2K or NT4...I haven't touched a 98 box since....1999.

 

[yoda291]

many firms will use software that is not compatible with the nt kernel

 

[mrCide]

once you get it nothing will matter

 

[HappyPuppy]

Win 95/98 are still widely used throughout the business world, not to mention privately. I will make a wild guess that half the computers in the U.S. still use them.

 

[MichaelD]

Originally posted by: HappyPuppy
Win 95/98 are still widely used throughout the business world, not to mention privately. I will make a wild guess that half the computers in the U.S. still use them.

I guess I am spoiled, then. I was taking the pretest and every other question was about 95/98. To say I said "WTF?" would be putting it mildly.

I have mucho studying to do.

 

[Zim Hosein]

Originally posted by: MichaelD

Originally posted by: Hartford
probably because they are both OS's and it is an OS test

Nobody_uses_them_anymore.

It would be like testing a Ford service technician on how to repair a Model T. I mean, it's a FORD...but cripes!!

MichaelD, maybe because the A+ Cert. is based on fundamentals IMO. I remember you asking ATOT what was the best book to read to prepare for the A+ Cert. and myself and other ATOT members suggested, the A+ Certification by Myers would be a good book to read. You know what, that book covers DOS, and even though it's not on the A+ Cert.; w/o the basics and fundamentals, you should not hold an A+ Cert. IMHO, that's why I have yet to take the exam. You may disagree w/ my opinion, but that's your right, I hope this helps in some way.

 

[Looney]

Originally posted by: MichaelD

Originally posted by: Hartford
probably because they are both OS's and it is an OS test

Nobody_uses_them_anymore.

People sure do still use them. I would say probably 30% of people still use them.

 

[Spyro]

Nobody_uses_them_anymore.

Thats got to be the best joke that I've read all day. Ha ha ha.

 

[HappyPuppy]

Also, you would be amazed at how many businesses are still using the DOS OS.

 

[MichaelD]

Originally posted by: Zim Hosein

Originally posted by: MichaelD

Originally posted by: Hartford
probably because they are both OS's and it is an OS test

Nobody_uses_them_anymore.

It would be like testing a Ford service technician on how to repair a Model T. I mean, it's a FORD...but cripes!!

MichaelD, maybe because the A+ Cert. is based on fundamentals IMO. I remember you asking ATOT what was the best book to read to prepare for the A+ Cert. and myself and other ATOT members suggested, the A+ Certification by Myers would be a good book to read. You know what, that book covers DOS, and even though it's not on the A+ Cert.; w/o the basics and fundamentals, you should not hold an A+ Cert. IMHO, that's why I have yet to take the exam. You may disagree w/ my opinion, but that's your right, I hope this helps in some way.

Oh, it's cool. I'm not bothered by anything you said. IMHO, DOS is still important. You can't TRACERT or PING without DOS! I guess I just wasn't expecting this, that's all.

 

[gentobu]

heh when I took the A+ OS test in 2001 there were questions about windows 3.11 on it

 

[MichaelD]

Originally posted by: gentobu
heh when I took the A+ OS test in 2001 there were questions about windows 3.11 on it

Suddenly, I don't feel so badly.

 

[XMan]

Why are you wasting your time getting A+ certified, anyway? Paper certs mean diddly-poo, IMO.

 

[flot]

Welcome to "Why certifications are worthless, volume I" ... because if you pass and you don't know basics about Win95/98, then you don't deserve the certificate.

 

[LAUST]

I think there should be some Win 9X on there just because some environments (gov especially) are slow about moving, but I do think it should only take up 1/4 or 1/3rd TOPS of the OS test.