Introduction. How This Book Helps You. A+ Core Hardware Service Technician Examination Blueprint. A+ Operating System Technologies Examination Blueprint. Hardware and Software You Will Need. Advice on Taking the Exam.
Study and Exam Prep Tips 99 Learning As a Process. Study Tips. Exam Prep Tips.
I. CORE HARDWARE SERVICE TECHNICIAN.
1. Basic Terms and Concepts. Introduction. PC Standards. The PC System. Inside the System Unit. Storage Devices. Peripherals and Ports. System Software.
2. Adding and Removing FRU Modules in Desktop Systems. Introduction. Replacing System Boards. Replacing System Board Devices. Power Supplies. Installing Video/Monitor Systems. Input Devices. Installing Storage Devices. Installing Adapter Card-Based Peripherals. Modems. Universal Serial Bus. IEEE-1394 FireWire Bus. Installing Wireless LAN Components.
3. Adding and Removing FRU Modules in Portables. Introduction. Portable System Components. External Portable I/O. Portable Peripherals. PC Cards. Networking Portables. Expanding Portable Peripheral Capabilities.
4. System Resources. Introduction. Extended I/O.
5. Peripherals and Ports. Introduction. Standard I/O Ports. Parallel Ports. Serial Ports. USB Architecture.
6. Installing Disk Devices. Introduction. Integrated Drive Electronics Interface. Small Computer System Interface. RAID Systems.
7. Installing and Configuring Peripheral Devices. Introduction. Video/Monitor Systems. Installing External Dial-up Modems. Peripheral Storage Devices. Installing Uninterruptible Power Supplies.
8. System Upgrading and Optimizing. Introduction. System Board Upgrading. HDD Upgrading. Upgrading Adapters. Upgrading Peripheral Devices. Power-Supply Upgrade Considerations. Portable System Upgrading.
9. Symptoms and Troubleshooting. Introduction. Isolating Power-Supply Problems. Troubleshooting the System Board. Troubleshooting Keyboard Problems. Troubleshooting Mouse Problems. Troubleshooting Video. Troubleshooting Monitors. Troubleshooting Floppy-Disk Drives. Troubleshooting Hard-Disk Drives. Troubleshooting CD-ROM and DVD Drives. Troubleshooting Tape Drives. Troubleshooting Other Removable Storage Systems. Troubleshooting Port Problems. Troubleshooting Modems. Troubleshooting Sound Cards. Troubleshooting Network Cards. Troubleshooting Portable Systems.
10. Basic Troubleshooting Techniques. Introduction. Diagnostic and Repair Tools. Information Gathering. Initial Troubleshooting Steps.
11. Preventive Maintenance. Introduction. Cleaning. Preventive Maintenance Procedures. Power-Line Protection.
12. System Protection. Introduction. Electrostatic Discharge. Protection During Storage. Disposal Procedures. Avoiding High-Voltage Hazards. Avoiding Laser and Burn Hazards.
13. Microprocessors. Introduction. The Pentium Processor. Advanced Pentium Architectures. Socket Specifications. Microprocessor Clock Speeds. Power-Supply Levels. Heat Sinks and Fans. Configuring Microprocessors.
14. Random Access Memory. Introduction. Memory Systems. Memory Overhead. Cache Memory. SIMMs, DIMMs, and Banks. RAM Speeds.
15. Motherboards. Introduction. System Board Form Factors. Pentium Chipsets. Expansion Bus Architectures. I/O Connections. Universal Serial Bus. Onboard Disk-Drive Connections.
16. CMOS RAM. Introduction. CMOS Setup Utilities.
17. Basic Printer Concepts. Introduction. Printer Types. Fonts. Printer Mechanics. Dot-Matrix Printers. Ink-Jet Printers. Laser Printers. Printer Installation.
18. Servicing Printers. Introduction. General Printer Troubleshooting. Troubleshooting Dot-Matrix Printers. Troubleshooting Ink-Jet Printers. Troubleshooting Laser Printers. Preventive Maintenance and Safety Issues.
19. Basic Networking Concepts. Introduction. Local Area Networks. Network Transmission Media. Installing and Configuring LANs.
20. Network Media. Introduction. Coaxial Cable Specifications. Twisted-Pair Cabling. IDC Connections. UDC Connections. Fiber-Optic Cables. Plenum Cable. Ethernet Specifications. Network Repair.
21. Internet Connectivity. Introduction. The Internet. Internet Service Providers. Internet Access Methods.
II. OPERATING SYSTEM TECHNOLOGIES.
22. Microsoft Windows Operating Systems. Introduction. Windows 9x Products. Windows NT. Major Operating System Components. Major Operating System Interfaces. Navigating Windows NT/2000/XP.
23. Major Operating System Files. Introduction. Microsoft Disk Operating Systems. Basic Memory Management. CONFIG.SYS. AUTOEXEC.BAT. Windows Initialization Files. Windows 9x Startup. Windows NT Startups.
24. Using Command-Line Functions. Introduction. Disk Operating System Organization. Accessing the Command Prompt. Working from the Command Line. Command-Line Shortcuts. Command-Line Utilities.
25. Managing Disks, Directories, and Files. Introduction. FAT-Based Disk Structures. Files and Filenames. Windows 9x/Me Files. Windows NT/2000/XP Files.
26. Operating System Utilities. Introduction. Operating System Utilities. Disk-Management Tools. System-Management Tools. File-Management Tools.
27. Installing and Upgrading Operating Systems. Introduction. Disk Preparation. Installing Windows 95. Installing Windows 98. Installing Windows Me. Installing Windows NT/2000/XP. Troubleshooting Setup Problems. Upgrading the Operating System. Dual-Booting.
28. Starting the System. Introduction. The Boot Process. Plug and Play. FAT System Bootup. Windows 9x/Me Startup. Windows NT/2000/XP Startup. Dual-Booting. Windows XP System Restore. Self-Booting Disks. Windows XP Automated System Recovery.
29. Working with Devices, Applications, and Printers. Introduction. Loading and Adding Device Drivers. Working with Applications. Printing in Windows. Optimizing Windows Performance.
30. Troubleshooting OS Startup Problems. Introduction. Gathering User Information. Troubleshooting Startup Problems. Conducting ASR Backups. Network Startup Problems. Other Information and Troubleshooting Resources.
31. Common OS Operational Problems. Introduction. Common OS Operational Problems. Windows-Related Printing Problems. Viruses.
32. Networking with Windows. Introduction. Network Hardware. Resource Sharing. Windows Network Protocols. Networking with Windows 9X. Networking with Windows 2000/XP. Networking with Novell NetWare. Installing Other Network Protocols. Network Troubleshooting Tools.
33. Internet Concepts. Introduction. The Internet. Internet Resources. Internet Application Protocols. Configuring Internet Options. Wide Area Networking with Windows 9x/Me. Wide Area Networking with Windows NT/2000/XP.
III. FINAL REVIEW.
Fast Facts: Core Hardware Service Technician Exam. 1.0 Installation, Configuration, and Upgrading. 2.0 Diagnosing and Troubleshooting. 3.0 Preventive Maintenance, Safety, and Environmental Issues. 4.0 Motherboard/Processors/Memory. Printers. Basic Networking.
Fast Facts: Operating Systems Technologies Exam. 1.0 Operating System Fundamentals. 2.0 Installation, Configuration, and Upgrading. 3.0 Diagnosing and Troubleshooting. 4.0 Networks.
Practice Exam: Core Hardware Service Technician. Exam Questions. Answers to Exam Questions.
Practice Exam: Operating System Technologies. Exam Questions. Answers to Exam Questions.
IV. APPENDICES.
Appendix A: Glossary. Appendix B: Overview of the Certification Process. About the A+ Certification Program.
Appendix C: What's on the CD-ROM. PrepLogic Practice Exams, Preview Edition. The Lab Guide. Reference Shelf. Two Hours of Video from Scott Mueller.
Appendix D: Using PrepLogic Practice Exams, Preview Edition Software. Exam Simulation. Question Quality. Interface Design. Effective Learning Environment. Software Requirements. Installing PrepLogic Practice Exams, Preview Edition. Using PrepLogic Practice Exams, Preview Edition. Get More Exams. Customer Service.
Index. 