how does one become an expert on the computer ?

[fozzer14]

so for example being able to fix computer problems and dealing with viruses. I was hoping if you guys could put me on the path so i could gain this knowledge. any resources you could suggest.

any help much appreciated.

thanks in advance

 

[bryonhowley]

Just read and learn. That is what I did many years ago. When I started I wanted a PC but could not afford to buy one and so I had to learn how they work and build one myself. There is info out there for just about anything you want to know search for it read and learn. The best way to learn is to do it yourself and learn as you go.

 

[J_E_D_70]

Probably any CompTIA A+ certification book or site would be a good start.

Read the articles on this site and if you don't know what something is or how it works, google it.

 

[USAFRet]

It only comes with practice and experience.
Depending on where you are, you may be able to get quite a lot of hardware for very little $$.

Take it apart, put it back together, make it work.
Take 3 broken machines apart, and make one working one. My son and his friend did this with 3 broken 1st gen Xboxes when they were 11.

For free OS, see Linux. Costs nothing to get a machine to a bootable state, no Windows license ($$) needed.

 

[TheAshigaru]

Upgrading and Repairing PCs (21st Edition) by Scott Mueller is a pretty comprehensive introduction to all hardware aspects of a PC. It's about 1100 pages though, so settle in for a good, long read.

I'm working my way through it now, and it's very enlightening. It gives the history of each component and explains how to install it, how to repair it, etc.

Just consistently reading Tom's Hardware and other sites like it is a good resource too. Ask questions on the forum (like the one you just did) and get answers about things you don't quite understand.

I recently discovered an interesting YouTube channel called "Computerphile" which is pretty cool as well. You might want to give that a search and see what you think.

There's a ton of stuff to learn, so don't get discouraged!

 

[USAFRet]

There's a ton of stuff to learn, so don't get discouraged!

+1.
None of us were born knowing this stuff.

 

[fozzer14]

Just read and learn. That is what I did many years ago. When I started I wanted a PC but could not afford to buy one and so I had to learn how they work and build one myself. There is info out there for just about anything you want to know search for it read and learn. The best way to learn is to do it yourself and learn as you go.

thanks for the reply. So is the best way to start learning about computers is to buy an old computer and strip it down and then try and put it back together again and make sure it still works.
also am from the uk is there any good places where I can buy used pc's.
also is there an specific websites that you use for computer related things.

just trying to find a good starting point for learning more about computers.

thanks in advance.

 

[USAFRet]

Just read and learn. That is what I did many years ago. When I started I wanted a PC but could not afford to buy one and so I had to learn how they work and build one myself. There is info out there for just about anything you want to know search for it read and learn. The best way to learn is to do it yourself and learn as you go.

thanks for the reply. So is the best way to start learning about computers is to buy an old computer and strip it down and then try and put it back together again and make sure it still works.
also am from the uk is there any good places where I can buy used pc's.
also is there an specific websites that you use for computer related things.

just trying to find a good starting point for learning more about computers.

thanks in advance.

A good concept for that is to take it all apart.
Put it in a box
Leave it for a month
Then come back to it and put it together

If you just take it apart and put it back together the same afternoon, you know where everything went
Come back to it a month later, and you look at it....WTF?

UK being not much different than US, you can often find people tossing out mostly good parts and PC.
Literally on the side of the road.