How did you gain your technical expertise?

Because I am such a curious person, I though I would poll the members here to see how they came about their technical knowledge. The poll is multiple choice, so pick as many as you want.

For myself, I have an A+ certification in Hardware, have taken basic and intermediate programming courses at the local community college (Java and VB), learned through trial and error much to the dismay of my ex. I have also learned quite a bit from the esteemed membere here at TechSpot.

So, please share with us all how you attained your knowledge!

Nice idea ! I don't know if anyone remembers when I first joined, but I didn't know that much....I thought that a Celeron D was like a Pentium IV.....I'd never heard of L2 Cache (nor L1 :haha: )....and I thought that an FX5500 video card was really good :blush: .

I did learn most of what I know today through TechSpot....and I have many people to thank (you know who you are :grinthumb ).

Self taught + work.

Believe it or not, I do remember when you joined. Ah, the questions you had! lol

I`ve learned more through Techspot and it`s members, than any other source of information.

Regards Howard

Mostly Techspot, Howard, Trial and Error and other Internet sources.

I still have ALOT to learn from the members here though. Especially hardware as I'm an utter noob in that.
(I do not know what's L2 cache now either cfitzarl. lol)

Regards,
momok =)

like nickslick74, did A+ and VB at nighschool. Currently work as IT Manager but its experience learned by myself, with the help of an external IT support company. Am also studying for my MSCE, and going over old ground with the A+ and N+ courses.
Have only been on Techspot for a few days, but i've made plenty of posts, simply because its very friendly and i know what i have to offer will visit me back in return advise.
Yay Techspot \o/
Ps....why dont i have smilies? They are enabled in my profile!

The smilies aren`t available via the quick reply window, unless you know the code for the particular one you want to use. If you click the reply button, rather than using the quick reply feature, you will see the smilies option at the top of the reply window.

Regards Howard

I'll second that.

loving the "Howard" option

i'd say i got a whole load of the stuff i know from here but wikipedia and research when looking into buying something are to be mentioned as well.

Nodsu, Nodsu, Howard, SNGX1275, Tedster, jobeard & Rage_3K_Moiz

I'm amazed that nobody checked College Degree :blush: !

I started about 15 years ago in computers with Windows 3.1 on an Olivetti 286 PC it had a 20meg HD and 1 meg of memory.

I worked my way up to a 386 to a 486 then to a pentium 75mhz then to a pentium 100mhz, all these were scrap machines I scrounged from the local refuse tip and built up.

I finally saved up enough money to buy a proper machine about 7 years ago, its been because of this that I had a good knowledge of putting PC's together.

Over the years I read a lot and experimented a lot, lets face it if you break windows (any version) its not the hardest thing to reinstall (although I use nortons ghost now to save the time)

My Job for the last 4 years is a PC tech for an EPOS company, repairing PC's and peripherals on site and I spent 2 years on a Software support desk, it was on that that I picked up all my knowledge of NT based products.

I picked up XP about 18 months ago having always been loyal to windows 2K as our company were moving more towards it. I dont like it much but you have to move with the times.

I now have a 7PC house, 4 laptops 2 desktops and a machine running 2K server, as well as a wireless network (fully protected against hackers).

So like the poll shows "Trial and error" and "Techspot"

Regards

Ok, I am 17, so I have never been trained, all my "training" has come from hands on "experiments" with about 5 old windows 3.1, 95a&b and 98. I have mastered 98se, know lots about nt4 sp6, and XP sp2. I have installed 98 more times then you can count, NT4 about 10 times, and UBUNTU 2 times. And I have seriously screwed up 98 and NT about 1 time less then each install (I like to try out all the settings! ). Oh, and I have taken apart and re-built about 3 computers about 20 times over.




So, I think I know more then the adventure teen, by just experimenting around with old computers, now withing the next year, I am going to take what I learned and custom build my first own TOP of the line computer....

Nice Daniel ! I'm kind of started out in the same boat as you, being a year younger, but I started pretty late, getting my first computer in 2001 ! I just started to become interested in computers around 14 months ago. As a matter of fact, I learned most of my technical expertise in the past year (since I joined TechSpot.....one year this 26th :unch. I have to say, that I am very happy with my hobby......it can help out in most situations and/or jobs . I have everyone here to thank for the knowledge that I have gained (still somewhat small compared to a lot of the people here, but I'm learning more each day, and trying to help people out when I can). This is why sometimes I make stupid posts, but I realize it was stupid after someone who knew the problem has answered :suspiciou (). I need to refrain on trying to answer things I don't know and stick to my specialty sections of the forum (most active in Audio/Video and CPU/Mobo). Sorry to talk about myself so much in this post as I am very interested in what other people have to say.

I was studying at TAFE (below uni) Certificate IV - Network and Technical Support for 6 months when I was lucky enough to land a junior Network Technician job.
TAFE was moving too slow, so I decided to buy MCP Exam book 70-270 and study at my own pace. 3 months later I was MCP and bought the 4 core Microsoft Server 2003 exam books. I became MCSA in 1 year and passed 2 more exams (Design and Exchange 2003) to become MCSE.
I am studying CISCO at present, after purchasing the Sybex CCNA exam book, but I don't get enough hands-on experience.

After CCNA I'll study towards LCP (Linux) or possibly MS SQL, but I am not interested in SQL to be honest!

I had a really old PC and opened it. I looked around, then when to www.pcmech.com and read the computer building process. Since then I've become an enthusiat and have gained knowledge that I'd never think I'd know.

My first computer was in about 2001 I guess. I don't even know what it was. Found that the only decent thing in it was a 4X Cd burner. I messed it up bad.. :X I think I deleted most of the os files to the point only dos would open.

I am a computer God and know all!