A+ Computer Objectives

Hardware

Source: Andrews, Jean, Enhanced A+ Guide to Managing and Maintaining Your PC.

Identify basic terms, concepts, and functions of system modules, including how each module should work during normal operation.

  • System Board
  • Power Supply
  • Processor
  • Memory
  • Storage Devices
  • Monitor
  • Modem
  • Firmware
  • Boot Process
  • BIOS
  • CMOS
  • LCD Portable System

Identify basic procedures for adding and removing field serviceable modules for both desktop and portable systems.

  • System Board
  • Power Supply
  • Processor
  • Memory
  • Input Devices
    Portable System Devices
  • AC Adapters
  • Hard Drive
  • Keyboard
  • Processor Board
  • Video Board
  • DC Controller
  • LCD Panel

Identify available IRQs, DMAs, and I/O addresses and procedures for configuring them for device installation.

  • Standard IRQ settings
  • Modems
  • Floppy Drives
  • Hard Drives
  • USB Ports
  • Infrared Port

Identify common peripheral ports, associated cabling and their connections.

  • Cable Types
  • Cable Orientation
  • Serial versus Parallel
  • Pin Connection
  • DB-9
  • DB-25
  • RJ-11
  • RJ-45
  • BNC
  • PS2/Mini-DIN
  • USB
  • IEEE-1394

Identify proper procedure for installing and configuring IDE/EIDE devices.

  • Master/Slave
  • Devices per channel

Identify proper procedures for installing and configuring SCSI devices

  • Address/Termination Conflicts
  • Cabling
  • Types
  • Internal versus External

Identify proper procedure for installing and configuring peripheral devices

  • Monitor/Video Card
  • Modem
  • Storage Devices
  • USB peripherals and hubs
  • IEEE-1394
  • Docking Stations
  • Keyboard
  • Mouse
  • NIC

Identify Hardware methods of upgrading system performance, procedures for replacing basic subsystem components, unique components and when to use them.

  • Memory
  • Hard Drives
  • CPU
  • Upgrading BIOS
  • Batteries
  • PCMCIA Cards

Identify common symptoms and problems associated with each module and how to troubleshoot and isolate the problem.

  • Processor/Memory symptoms
  • Mouse
  • Floppy Drive failures
  • Parallel ports
  • Hard Drives
  • Sound Card/Audio
  • Monitor/Video
  • Motherboards
  • Modems
  • BIOS
  • USB
  • CMOS
  • Power Supply
  • Slot Covers
  • POST audible/Visual error codes
  • Tools

Identify basic troubleshooting procedures and good practices for eliciting problem symptoms from customers.

  • Problem determination procedures
  • Hardware versus software problems
  • Information gathering
    • Environment
    • error codes
    • unique situations

Identify the purpose of various types of preventive maintenance products and procedures and when to use/perform them.

  • Liquid cleaning compounds
  • Connection cleaning
  • Vacuum systems

Identify procedures and devices for protection within the computing environment, including people, technology and the ecosystem.

  • UPS and suppressers
  • Power Issues
  • Storage of components
  • High voltage equipment
  • Power Supply
  • CRT
  • Disposal procedures
    • Batteries
    • CRT
    • Toner cartridges
    • Chemical solvents
    • MSDS
  • ESD dangers
  • ESD protections
  • Common sense and watching for hazards

Distinguish between the popular CPU chips in terms of their basic characteristics.

  • Popular models
  • Characteristics
  • Physical Size
  • Voltage
  • Speeds
  • Cache or not
  • Sockets
  • Pins

Identify the categories of RAM, terminology, locations, and physical characteristics.

  • Terminology
    • EDO RAM
    • DRAM
    • SRAM
    • RIMM
    • VRAM
    • WRAM
    • DDRAM
  • Memory Bank
  • Chip types (8 bit, 16 bit etc.
  • SIMMS
  • DIMMS
  • Parity versus non-parity

Identify the most popular types of motherboards, their components, and their architecture.

  • Types
    • AT
    • ATX
    • Proprietary
  • Components
    • Comm Ports
    • SIMM and DIMM
    • Processor Sockets
    • External Cache
  • Bus Architecture
    • ISA
    • EISA
    • PCI
    • AGP
    • 4AGP
    • USB
    • VESA
    • PCMCIA
  • Compatibility issues

Identify the purpose of CMOS, what is contains and how to change its basic parameters.

  • Printer parallel port
    • uni./bidirectional
    • disable/enable
    • ECP, EPP
  • COM/Serial port
    • Memory address
    • interrupt address
    • disable
  • Floppy drive
    • enable/disable
    • boot
    • speed
    • density
  • Hard drive size and type
  • Memory parity
  • Boot Sequence
  • Date/Time
  • Passwords
  • Plug and Play BIOS

Identify basic concepts, printer operations and printer components.

  • Paper feed mechanisms
  • Types
    • Laser
    • Inkjet
    • Dot Matrix
  • Type of connections
    • Parallel
    • Network
    • USB

Identify care and service techniques and common problems with primary printer types.

  • Feed and output
  • Errors
  • Paper Jam
  • Print Quality
  • Safety precautions
  • Preventive maintenance

Identify basic networking concepts, including how a network works and the ramifications of repairs and the network.

  • Installing and configuring network cards
  • Network access
  • Protocol
  • Full duplex/half duplex
  • Cabling
    • Twisted Pair
    • Coaxial
    • Fiber optic
    • RS232
  • Ways to network
  • Topographies
  • Increasing bandwidth
  • Loss of data
  • Network slowdown
  • Infrared
  • Wireless

A+ Computer Objectives

Operation Systems

Identify the operating systems functions, structure, and major systems files to navigate the operating system and how to get needed technical information.

  • Major functions
  • Major components
  • Contrast between the various system
  • Major system files, what, where, how used.
  • IO.sys
  • boot.ini
  • msdos.sys
  • autoexec.bat
  • config.sys
  • Command line prompts
  • Memory management
    • Conventional
    • Extended/Upper
    • High memory
    • Expanded memory
    • Virtual memory
  • himem.sys
  • emm386.exe
  • Windows 9x
    • io.sys
    • win.ini
    • user.dat
    • sysedit
    • system.ini
    • msconfig (98)
    • command.com
    • regedit.exe
    • system.dat
    • run command
    • Mscommnad line prompts.sys
  • Windows 2000
    • Computer Management
    • boot.ini
    • regedit32
    • regedit
    • run cmd
  • dir
  • attrib
  • ver
  • mem
  • scandisk
  • defrag
  • edit
  • xcopy
  • copy
  • format
  • fdisk
  • mscdex

Identify basic concepts and procedures for creating, viewing and managing files and directories, including procedures for changing file attributes and the ramifications for those changes.

  • File attributes
  • File naming conventions
  • Windows 2000 compress, encrypt

Identify the procedures and basic disk management.

  • ScanDisk
  • IDE/SCSI
  • Internal/External
  • Backup/Restore
  • Defragmenting
  • Using disk management utilities
  • Partitioning/formatting
  • File systems
    • FAT
    • FAT16
    • FAT32
    • NTFS4
    • NTFS5
    • HPFS

Identify the procedures for installing windows 9x, and Windows 2000 for bringing the software to a basic operational level.

  • Dos to Win 3.1
  • To Win 9x (new or upgrade)
  • To Win 2000 (new or upgrade)

Identify the basic system boot sequences and boot methods, including the steps to create an emergency boot disk with utilities installed for DOS, Win 3.1, Win9X, Win 2000.

  • Startup disk
  • Safe Mode
  • DOS Mode
  • NTLDR (NT Loader)
  • Files required to boot
  • Creating an emergency repair disk

Identify procedures for loading/adding and configuring device drivers, applications, and the necessary software for certain devices.

  • Windows 9x Plug and Play
  • Installing and configuring windows and non-Windows applications.
  • Setting default printers
  • Installing/spool settings
  • Network printing

Recognize and interpret the meaning of common error codes and startup messages from the boot sequence, and identify steps to correct the problems.

  • Safe Mode
  • No operating system found
  • Error in config.sys linexx
  • Bad or missing command.com
  • Himem.sys not loaded
  • Missing or corrupt himem.sys
  • SCSI
  • Swap file
  • NT boot issues
  • Dr. Watson
  • Failure to start GUI
  • Windows Protection Error
  • Event Viewer-Event log is full
  • A device referenced in system.ini, win.ini, registry could not be found.

Recognize common problems and determine how to resolve them.

  • Gathering problem symptoms from customers
  • Reproducing the error
  • Identifying recent changes to the system that may have caused the error
  • Windows specific printing problems and how to correct them
    • print spool is stalled
    • incorrect/incompatible printer driver
    • incorrect parameters
  • General protection fault
  • Illegal operation
  • Invalid working directory
  • System lockup
  • Option (sound card, modem, input device) will not function
  • Application will not start or load
  • Cannot log on to the network
  • TSR programs and virus
  • Applications don't install
  • Sacn disk
  • device manager
  • system manager
  • Computer Manager
  • MSconfig.exe
  • regedit.exe
  • regedit32.exe
  • attrib.exeextract.exe
  • defrag.exe
  • edit.com
  • fdisk.exe
  • sysedit.exe
  • scanreg
  • wswrite.exe
  • hwinfor.exe
  • ask.exe
  • cvt1.exe
  • Viruses
    • What are they
    • Sources
    • Determining presence
    • Fixing the proble

Identify the networking capabilities of Windows including procedures for connecting to the networks.

  • Protocols
  • ipconfig.exe
  • winiocfg.exe
  • Sharing disk drives
  • Sharing print and file services
  • Network type and network card
  • Installing and comfiguring browsers
  • Configure OS for network connection

Identify concepts and capabilities relating to the Internet and basic procedures for setting up a system for Internet access.

  • Concepts and terminology
  • ISP
  • TCP/IP
  • Email
  • Ping
  • HTML
  • HTTP://
  • FTP
  • Domain names
  • Dial-up access

 

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