SkillsTrain Reviews from Students

I had basic computer skills at first but since I began studying this course I feel very confident in using the computer and explainig some terms which I probably would never have known, I have also helped people in using a PC.

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Over the past 3 months I have had to manage to find the time to study, while under pressure from working up to 12 hours per day, coming home and doing all the house work and cooking as my wife is pregnant and has a disorder called SPD (symphysis pubis dysfunction), and giving up smoking while still attaining high marks on my TMA.

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I started my MCSE course a month ago (January 2007). I am a single mother and live with my 21 months baby. My first language is French. I am learning English at the same time (four hours a week). I have achieved very good my assignments. I am working very hard because I need to pass the course and start a good job which will help me to take care of my little son.

Thanks to Skills Train for it's brillant idea to provide this kind of course.

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I have completed two assingments so far. This first assingment was not the best result but after resubmitting it I achieved 93%. On my second assingment I received 90%. For me this is a major achievement as before this course I have never used a computer. My partner purchased this computer in September an I have been slowing exploring the computer and now I can send email, surf the net (knowing what all the icons mean), type (not very fast but not taking 5 minutes to find the last letter typed). I have learnt how to set up my own personal setting, download music and pictures.
I am loving each day of my course as I am learning what makes my computer function. My partnes laughs at me as I now correct her or point her in the right direction when using the computer.

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My mum is a mobile hair dresser and she has a customer just over the road from us. She is deaf and has dificulty moving around and she is also on a pension. She has a daughter about the same age as my mum, but she has a mental disability. They asked my mum whether I could come over and look at their printer as it wasn't working. Now I have to work and study during the week and also find time for my girlfriend as well, but managed to free up some time for them. Now I thought it would be simple (eg a paper jam), oh no. For some reason it just did n't want to work I tried everything and then eventually had to say to them that they needed a new printer. They asked if I could get it for them and I did. A HP deskjet 300 series. Now I forgot to mention that they have only got windows 98 as their OS and so it wanted updates which it could n't get as the computer was n't on the internet. So I went home found the updates that should have made it work with windows 98. Didn't work. I call the help line. They told me to use a different update, but when I looked at the file name it was exactly the same. As every one was getting frustrated and the ladies daughter was having withdrawal symptons as she likes to use it for drawing, typeing and for playing on. So I found my copy of Windows ME and installed it onto their computer and now the printer works. This all took about three weeks, but that was due to the fact I had around thre hours a week I could give them. I 'm glad I could help some one out like that with my busy schedule and I 'm glad to say that they were very pleased with the end product. Also her daughter keeps telling my mum how she keeps finding new things to play with. I 'm now striving even harder to finish my courses as now I want to do more and get out into the world, so I can help every one.

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When I erolled on the course I wasn't quite sure, I had my douts and felt quite frighten. Didn't really know what I was doing, then I started reading my foundation book and I got really excited, I managed to understand things that where completly alien to me and managed to reach my 6TM Assignment in quite a short time and I am still very excited and ego to learn more.

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I am managing my time to get in the study of my course though it is very difficult regarding the nature of my current job. I recently deployed out in the field for 2 weeks as manager of 35 person. Which was very hard to manage time for study however I took my course book to keep continuation of study. that is way I have submitted TMA3 straight away on my return in home. Because I want to finished this course while I m still in this job (Army). So that I can start my 2nd carrer straight out of this job.

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Hi just started and loving the chance to start again been out of work for the last 4yrs due to illness (m.s). I have a wife and 2 children so study time is limited but glad to say I enjoy learning somthing new and was happy to say I got 95% on my tma01 hoping next month is as good

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I often used to upgrade my PC and spending lots of money on motherboards etc. I used to think the more you spend the better the PC. In some respects this is true as we are using moore's law and components are getting more powerful by the day! However after getting through the first two assesments, I have begun to appreciate components a lot more. And that it's not worth forking out hundreds of pounds on upgrades when I have a great PC already!!

I've managed to get mum to use the internet. She couldn't even swith on a PC before!!

Even though my Grandfather passed away on 16 Feb 07, I have managed to get through to the second assesment (even though a little delayed). I'm hoping for a good score.

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I suffered a left sided paralyzing stroke the next day after the london bombing in July 05. until nowI'm still desperately recovering. although my left hand and foot are still not completely ok. my mind is still doing ok and struggled and really did my best to make the most of whatI have in life henceI decided to study in this cyber college. I will make it through. I know I will.

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For managing to do up the new house up will still doing my course and then join a band as a bass player, even if it means having to learn the insturment!
Life is for living and 20 hours a day thats what I do.

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I GOT 95% ON MY 1st TMA I NEVER THOUGHT I WOULD GET THAT SCORE. I AM REALY PROUD OF MYSELF & I FEEL LIKE I HAVE LEARN'T ALOT .& IT HAS GIVEN ME MORE CONFIDENCE.

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I FEEL THAT I HAVE ACHEIVED A LOT OVER THE PAST FEW MONTHS SINCE STARTING THE COURSE THAT I`M ON. I WORK LONG HOURS AS A CHEF AND I COME HOME LATE AT NIGHT TO DO AN HOUR OR SO STUDY TIME ,EVEN THOUGH I HAVE HAD TO RESUBMIT A COUPLE OF MY TMA`S I`M REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO REST OF MY COUSRE AND MY FUTURE IN COMPUTERS.

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HI MY NAME IS DAVE AND I`M STUDYING MY A+ N+ AND CCNA. AT THE MINUTE I`M FINISHED MY A+ WHICH I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO MY EXAM IN MARCH AND NOW ON TO MY N+ PLUS WITH I AM GETTING A COUPLE OF 100% AND JUST UNDER. I`M VERY HAPPY THAT I AM GETTING THESE RESULTS BECAUSE I AM WORKING 2 JOB TO PROVIDE FOR MY FAMILY WHICH IS AT NIGHT AND IN THE DAY SO VERY TYRING BUT PLOD A LONG I ALSO HAVE 2 KIDS MY GIRLS 2 AND SON IS 4 TOMORROW WHICH HE CAN`T I HAD A BIT OF BACK GROUND INFORMATION WHEN I STARTED TO STUDY BUT HAVE LOADS NOW I EVEN HELP MY FRIENDS TO FIX THERE COMPUTERS ALL THE TIME WHICH MAKES ME HAPPY. I HAVE A LOT OF FAMILY PROBLEMS GOING ON AT THE MOMENT AND ALSO MY CAR HAS BROKE DOWN 3 TIMES IN 2 MONTHS SO VERY STRESSFUL TIME AT THE MOMENT BUT HOPEFULLY I WILL GET SOME GOOD NEWS FROM MY A+ EXAM. FOR ALL THE PEOPLE OUT THERE WHO HAVE DEAD END JOB I RECOMMENED IF YOU HAVE A SPARE 15 HOURS A WEEK GIVE THIS COURSE A SHOT.

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I hav completed my assignment in couple of days, its very hard for me to find time but I still make efforts because I am doing a very busy job but I never compromise on my motivation to become skilled and more knowledgeable in computer science.

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I have been studying very hard over the past few months as one day it just became clear to me that I had to progress further and achieve something. As you can see from my N+ TMA scores I have not had to resubmit any of the assignments. I have done all this whilst doing DIY in 3 bedrooms, the garden and my garage. I also have 3 kids and a job that requires me to work a 12 hour shift twice a week. It has been hard but I now feel as though I am getting there and the dream of becoming a CCNP is getting closer every week.. Thank you.

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I have a firm belief in myself and I know that I can make my carrer in computers even though I work 9hrs a day still I make it a point to study atleast 2hrs day and I have recently started my cource and planning to make my brighter future in the field of computers

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Fixed friends computers for pleasure and extra study.. upgraded my achievements by far.

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As a student of A+ (PC hardware and Maintenance) I have studied throughout and finished most of the assignments with nearly 100% marks. Even though I haven't taken the exams, I am still able to get a job as a CSO (Computer Support Officer). Where I solve problems on the computers and help out processing staff on IT applications. This is like dream come true. This would have been impossible without doing the course with the collage. Now I can imagine, passing the exams will boost my chance to gain a decent job in IT field. I intended to pass my exam by end of February but I had to rearrange it for some personal reason. Hopefully I will pass exams with good marks within next couple of months.

I know a few people, who have done this course with different organisations; they are still finding it difficult to understand the important part of the course. Also they had fewer assignments then what I have completed with the college. When I checked with them and their material, I found that they weren't given the course material with the necessary details. The lack of the information is costing them in terms of the knowledge they obtained for the A+ part.

All the admin staffs and tutors are always helpful to me. I have noticed on many occasions that the tutors are always willing to go the extra mile to help me out on any problem with my study and in any practical work I carry out on my home pc, even though some time my work is not completely related to the course.

I must say that by joining the “Skills Train” I have taken a big step forward for a bright future.

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In a short time of starting this course I have achieved something I never dreamt about good results in my assignments. Being a one parent family I have to put the effort I have into this to achieve the best for my family and to do this and look after my family on my own is an achievement on its own. My family are proud and they are right behind me in everything I do. They wish me luck.

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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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