CompTIA A+ Certification (2003 Objectives)

Section 1 - Overview and Terminology

Overview

Hardware Terminology

Software Terminology

How Software and Harware Work Together

The Boot Process

Key Files for OS's

Key Resources for Devices Continued

The System Board

The System Board Overview

Components

The Evolution of the CPU

Challenges to Overcome

Buses and the Bus Evolution

Setting Speeds and Summary

Memory

Types of Memory

DRAM vs. SRAM

How OS's View Memory

Memory Management

DOS Memory Management

Window 9X Memory Management

Tips on Upgrading Memory

Data Storage

Logical and Physical on Floppy Disks

Formatting Floppy Disks

Managing Data Storage with DOS

Managing Data Storage with Windows 9X

Supporting Floppy Drives

Replacing Damaged Floppy Drives

Removable Drives

Hard Drive Terminology

IDE Hard Drives

SCSI Hard Drives

Installing SCSI Hard Drives

Other Types of Hard Drives

How Hard Drives Hold Data

How Hard Drives Communicate with BIOS and the OS

Commands and Utilites to Manage Data Storage

How to Install a Hard Drive

Considerations and Precautions

Configuring the System for a Hard Drive

Partitioning and Installing Programs

Maintenance and Troubleshooting

Utility Programs

Hard Drive Troubleshooting Guidelines

Troubleshooting Tools

Troubleshooting Tools

Troubleshooting Viruses

Troubleshooting Fundamentals

Problems That Keep a Computer from Starting

Troubleshooting Memory

Troubleshooting the OS

Problems After a Computer Boots

Problems with the Keyboard and Monitor

Troubleshooting Printers

PC Maintenance

Adding and Changing Hardware

Basic Principles of Installation

Device Drivers

Using Ports and Expansion Slots

The UART Chip

Univeral Serial Bus Ports

1394 Firewire

PCI Expansion Slots

Resource Conflicts

Small Computer Systems Interface

Multimedia Technology

Multimedia Technology Defined

Requirements and Sampling Fundamentals

Standardization and Technologies

Stages of Computerization of Sound

MPEG Standards

Video Reproduction

Electricity

Electricity Terminology

AC vs. DC Current

Common Electronic Components

Troubleshooting a Power Supply

Surge Protection and Battery Backup

Fire Safety

Supporting Windows 9X

Bridging the Gap

Configuration

Performation the Installation

Windows 9X Setup

Plug and Play

The Registry

Built-In Tools

Supporting Windows NT

Windows NT vs. Windows 9X

Minimum Requirements and Upgrading NT

FAT16 vs. NTFS

NT Architecture and Design

Preparing for the Installation

The Boot Sequence

Troubleshooting the Boot Process

Customizing an NTVDM for DOS

The Windows NT Registry

Windows NT Tools

Windows NT Networking

Supporting Windows 2000

The Windows 2000 Family

Comparing to Windows NT and Windows 98

New Features

Installing Windows 2000

Understanding the Boot Process

Troubleshooting Tools

File Maintenance Tools

Management Consoles and Support

Communication Over Telephone Lines

Layered Communication and Modems

Modem Properties

Modem Features

Terminology

Installing and Configuring Modems

Troubleshooting Modems

Communication on an Intranet

Communication Layers and the OSI Model

Network Technologies - Ethernet

Network Technologies - Token Ring & FDDI

Networking Hardware

Using Resources on Networks

Communication Over the Internet

What the Internet Is and How it Works

TCP/IP and IP Addressing

Routing Using TCP/IP

Default Gateways and Subnets

Internet Services

Printers

Laser Printers

Ink-Jet Printers and Dot Matrix Printers

Troubleshooting Printers

Sharing Printers on a Network

Notebook Computers

Power Management

Connecting Peripheral Devices

Supporting Notebooks

Preventative Maintenance

The Goals of Preventative Maintainence

What is a Virus?

Where Viruses Hide

Virus Prevention

Backups and Fault Tolerance

Backup Technology and Strategies

Fault Tolerance

Summary and Study Tips

A+ Certification Test Tips

Section 2 - What Has changed on the Tests?

Overview

Command Line functions

Management Commands pt. 1

Management Commands pt. 2

Troubleshooting Commands pt. 1

Troubleshooting Commands pt. 2

Windows XP Operating System

Similarities to Other Windows Systems

Differences from Other Windows Systems Overview

New Interfaces and Look

New Fault Tolerance (Restore Points)

New Security

Windows XP (Clean Installation)

Upgrading to Windows XP

Managing and Navigating Files and Folders

Networking

New and Old Cables and Connectors

New Internet Connectivity

Networking with Windows XP

Tips and Tricks

Tips for Taking the Tests

Credits

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