In LearnKey's A+ 2009 Certification course, learn to install, repair, upgrade, configure, optimize, troubleshoot and perform preventative maintenance on personal computers and operating systems. Understand principles of implementing LAN's and internet access. The A+ certification by CompTIA is an international and vendor neutral certification that has been endorsed and recognized by industry computing manufacturers and organizations. LearnKey's revolutionary approach to combining entertainment and education makes this course the most amazing learning program on the market today
This course includes study guide
Course outline
Session 1
Section A: Technician Professionalism
Introduction
Hygiene
What to Wear
Operational Procedures
Professional Appearance
Honesty and Integrity
Dependability and Responsibility
Authorization of Work
Adaptability and Versatility
Sensitivity
Section B: Successful Communication
What Not to Do
Assertive Communication
Computer Technician Etiquette
Electrostatic Discharge
Antistatic Mats and Wrist Straps
Antistatic Bags
Electromagnetic and RF Interference
Physical Safety
Building Services
Section C: The Visible PC
The System Unit
Standard Peripherals
Connecting the Monitor
USB and FireWire
Network Connections
Audio Connections
Additional Connections
Legacy Connectors
VGA Connectors
PC Tips
Section D: Inside the System Unit
Working in the System Unit
CPU and RAM
Motherboard
Power Supply and Connections
Drives
Cooling the System
System Unit Tips
Section E: Visible Windows
Windows Only
Workgroups and Domains
Window Tips
Windows 2000 Pro
Windows XP Versions
Windows Vista Versions
Media Center
Section F: 64-Bit Windows
64-Bit Computing
Measuring CPU/RAM Capacity
32-Bit vs. 64-Bit
64-Bit Versions of Windows
64-Bit Tips |
Session 2
Section A: Windows: The Grand Tour
Mouse Clicking
Modern Login Screens
Windows Desktop
Task Manager
Compatibility Mode
Desktop Icons
Windows Explorer
Windows XP Desktop
Windows Vista Desktop
Section B: Hot Keys, Function Keys, and Aero
Function Keys and Hot Keys
Windows Logo Key
Function Keys
CTRL+ESC
ALT and SHIFT Key Combinations
Cut, Copy, Paste, and Undo
Section C: Critical System Files
System Folder Location
Fonts and Offline Items
System32 Folder
Temp Folder
Program Files
Documents and Settings
Common User Folders
My Documents
Application Data
Start Menu
Vista System Files
Vista Users Folder
Folder Memorization
Section D: Registry and System Tools
System Registry
User Account Control
Registry Keys
Other Registry Items
Registry Editor 32
The Control Panel
Administrative and System Tools
Disk Management and Services
MMC
System Tools
Section E: Understanding Microprocessors
Man in the Box
Code Book and Registers
Binary
Section F: Machine Language
Machine Language Introduction
Program Commands
Clock Speed
RAM
Bits and Bytes
What RAM Is
The Data Bus and RAM
The MCC and RAM
Determining RAM Size
Address Registers
Section G: Pipelines
Four-Stage Pipeline
Prefetch and Decode
Execute and Write
The Pipeline at Work
Pipeline Stalls
Modern Pipelines
Caching
RAM Cache
L1 Cache
L2 Cache
L3 Cache
RAM Caches at Work |
Session 3
Section A: Clock Multiplier
System Crystal
Clock Multiplier
Front Side Bus
Multiple Pipelines
Processes
Threads
Hyperthreading
Tips
Section B: CPUs
CPU Overview
Sockets
CPU History - Intel®
CPU History - AMD®
Socket Types
Intel® Information
Multiple Cores Concept
AMD® Information
Dual-Core Families
Phenom™ CPUs
Core™ i7and i5
Mobile Processors
Server Processors
Section C: Installing and Upgrading CPUs
Installing a CPU
Fan Installation
Connecting the Fan
Additional Considerations
Fins, Fans, and Heat Pipes
Liquid Cooling
Phase Change Cooling
CPU Troubleshooting Tips
CPU Fan Troubleshooting Tips
Upgrade Troubleshooting Tips
CPU-Z
Section D: RAM
Transistors and Capacitors
RAM Tech Tip
Memory Chips
Synchronous Dynamic RAM (SDRAM)
RAMBUS
DDR
DDR2 and DDR3
Motherboard RAM Capacity
Installing RAM
Dual Channel
Triple Channel
Recap
Upgrading RAM
Specialized Memory
Single vs. Double-Sided
Maintaining and Repairing RAM
RAM Count
Testing RAM
Section E: BIOS and CMOS
Chipset
BIOS
BIOS, POST, and CMOS
CMOS Setup
Advanced Chipset Features
Power Management
Frequency and Voltage Control
Discard/Save Changes
BIOS Security
TPM
CMOS Battery
BIOS Version
POST
Beep Error Codes
Text Error Codes
Section F: Expansion Bus
Beyond the EDB
Northbridge
PCI
AGP
PCIe
AMR and CNR |
Session 4
Section A: Motherboards and Cases
Form Factors
ATX
MicroATX
BTX
NLX
Motherboard and Accessories
Inside the Case
Front Panel Connections
The Motherboard Book
Coarse/Fine
Installing the Motherboard
Attaching Front Panel Connections
Expansion Card Tips
Section B: Powering the PC
Electricity
Measuring Electricity
Wattage Ratings
DC/AC
Testing Tools
ATX Power Supply
P4 Connector
Standard Power Cable
Soldering Irons
ATX 12 V Connectors
Additional Connectors
Larger Power Supply
Modular Connections
Power Supply Rails
AC Adapters
Power Supply Maintenance
Intermittent Rebooting
Power Supply Tips
Testing Power Supplies
Surges/Sags
UPS
Section C: The Physical Hard Drive
Inside the Hard Drive
Read/Write Armatures
Data Scale
Flux Reversal
CHS Values
Section D: Understanding ATA
ATA
IDE
Connecting ATA/IDE Drives
Master/Slave Drives
DMA
ATA-2
Logical Block Addressing
ATA-3 and S.M.A.R.T.
ATA-4
ATA-5 and Ultra DMA
ATA-6
ATA-7 and SATA
Hard Drive Configuration/Boot Priority
Attaching Multiple Drives
Warning Sounds
Section E: Advanced ATA
IDE/EIDE/ATA Tips
Drive Sizes
Solid-State Drives
eSATA |
Session 5
Section A: The World of SCSI
SCSI
Termination
SCSI IDs
Section B: RAID
RAID Overview
RAID O
RAID 1
Parity
RAID 5
RAID 0+1
RAID Controllers
Motherboard RAID Support
Configuring RAID
RAID Array
Hardware RAID vs. Software RAID
Swapping Drives in RAID
Expansion Cards
Section C: Partitioning
Partitioning Overview
Disk Management
Change Drive Letters
Boot Sector
File Formats
NTFS
Section D: Mounting and Formatting
Mount Points
Formatting the Drive
Allocation Units
Quick vs. Standard Formatting
Dynamic Disks
Simple Volumes
Spanned Volumes
Striped Volumes
Extending and Shrinking Volumes
Section E: Managing and Maintaining Drives
Defragmenting
Defragmentation Defined
Check Disk
Missing and Failed Drives
Section F: Removable Media
Removable Media
Floppy Drives
Optical Media
CD-ROM
CD-R
CD-RW and DVD
DVD+/-R and DVD+/-RW
Double-Sided and Dual-Layer DVD
Optical Media and the A+ Exam
Blu-ray
Installing Optical Drives
Cleaning Optical Media
Flash Media |
Session 6
Section A: Installing and Configuring Windows
Installation Steps
Requirements
Compatibility
Backup/Restore
Installation Methodologies
Automation of Installation
Image Installation
Partitions
Network Options
Region and Language
Post Install Jobs
Set Up During Install
Windows Update
Activation
Third Party Device Tips
Section B: Troubleshooting Windows
Boot Files
Boot.ini
Boot Manager
Troubleshooting Boot Problems
Blue Screen of Death
XP Recovery Console
Vista System Recovery
Windows Startup Problems
MSConfig
Windows Advanced Boot Options
Event Viewer
Services
Restore Points
Safely Remove Hardware
Troubleshooting Applications
Recovery Partitions
Section C: Command Prompt
The Command Prompt
Directory Commands
Creating and Removing Directories
MSConfig Via Command Prompt
DOS Command: EDIT
DOS Command: COPY
Switches
Copy by Extension
Copying as an ASCII File
Verify
Overwrite Without Prompting
DOS Command: XCOPY
Formatting from Command Prompt
Section D: Users and Groups
Authentication and Authorization
SIDs in Action
Biometric Devices
Smart Cards
Creating Users
Administrators
Groups and Users
Power Users
Managing Users and Groups
Creating Groups
Section E: NTFS
NTFS Permissions
Networking Shares
Folder Permissions
Setting User Permissions
Inheritance
NTFS File Attributes
File Encryption
UAC/Create Password
Section F: Backing Up the System
File Attributes
Backups
Full Backup
Incremental vs. Differential Backup
ERD/Automated System Recovery
Performing Backups
Vista Backup and Restore Center
Migrating Data
Migration and Recycling |
Session 7
Section A: General Purpose I/O
Serial Ports
USB
Human Interface Devices
FireWire
Keyboards
Regional/Language Options
ASCII/Unicode
Accessibility Options
Repeat Settings/Typematic Buffer
The Mouse
Windows Mobile Devices
KVM Switch
Section B: Video
Video Cards
CRT Monitors
Refresh Rates
Pixel Aspect Ratio
Safety Considerations
Degaussing
Carrying a CRT
LCD Monitors
Polarity of Light
How an LCD Works
LCD Pixels
CCFL
Brightness/Contrast
Section C: Managing and Maintaining Video
Resolution
Color Depth
Native Resolution
Video Card Considerations
CrossFire/SLI
Installing Cards/Drivers
DirectX
Drivers
Display Settings
Dual Monitors
Troubleshooting Video Problems
VGA/DVI
HDMI
Analog Video Connections
Monitor Cleaning
Section D: Multimedia
Sound Waves/Compression
MIDI/FM Synthesis
Codecs/Player Association
SC Standards/Initial Outputs
Surround 5.1
Additional Outputs
S/PDIF
Video/Compression
Video Capture Devices
Windows Media Center
Personal Video Recorders
Web Cams
Multimedia Installation Processes
Sound Card Drivers
Port Assignment within Device Manager
Sound Settings
Headsets
Front Panel Connectors
Individual Application Considerations
Volume Control |
Session 8
Section A: Computer Assembly
Parts Checklist
Motherboard/CPU Assembly
POST
Assembling within the Case
Second Self Test
Installing Drives
Additional Considerations
CMOS Clear Jumper
Installing Windows
Drive Lock
Post-Installation Tips
Section B: Network Cabling
Cabling
Coaxial Cable
Twisted-Pair Cable
Category Levels
Fiberoptic Cable
Fire Ratings
Network Connections
Cable Nomenclature Tips
Section C: Ethernet
Early Networks
Ethernet Recipe Book
Packets
Physical Addresses
Addressing a Packet
10Base-T
100Base-T
Switch
1000Base-T
Link Lights
Speed Indications
Section D: Network Protocols and TCP/IP
NetBIOS/Broadcasting
TCP/IP
Logical Addressing
Network IDs
Default Gateway
Subnet Mask
Configuring a Static IP Address
ipconfig Commands
Ping
DHCP
Configuring a Dynamic IP Address
DCHP Issues
Repair
Section E: Getting Online
IP Class Tips
Class A, B, and C
Dial-up
DSL
ADSL
Cable
Satellite
ISDN
Fiber
WAN/LAN Connections
DNS
DNS Server
IP Address Resolution
DNS Troubleshooting
nslookup
DIG
Configuring a Router
Private IP Addresses/NAT
Section F: Troubleshoot Networking Connections
First Rule of Problems on the Internet
Loopback Plugs
Cable Testers
Other Troubleshooting Options
Troubleshooting Commands
Ping -l
Traceroute |
Session 9
Section A: Internet Applications Part I
Ports
Netstat
Using TCPView
Proxy Server
Configuring a Proxy Server
Pop-ups and Filters
HTTPS
Section B: Internet Applications Part II
Well-Known Port Tips
E-mail
Configuring E-mail Accounts
File Transfer Protocol
Telnet
Secure Shell
VoIP
Single Inline Package
Remote Desktop Protocol
Shared Folders
Section C: Threats and Firewalls
Malware
Viruses
Trojans and Worms
Spam
Spyware
Phishing
Configuring a Software Firewall
Open Ports
Hardware and Software Firewalls
Configuring a Hardware Firewall
Port Forwarding
DMZ
Section D: Anti-Malware
Anti-Malware Tips
Microsoft Security Essentials
System File Checker
Remediation
Social Engineering/Phishing Tips
Section E: Wireless
Wireless Technologies
802.11
802.11b
802.11a
802.11g
802.11n
Configuring a Wireless Access Point
Configuring SSIDs
Wireless Encryption Options
Wireless Setup Considerations
Physical Placement
Installing NICs and Drivers
Netbook and Laptop Considerations
Configuring a Wireless Client
Connection Control
WLAN/DHCP Server Configuration
Bluetooth
Types/Profile Functions
Configuring Bluetooth
Section F: Printers
Dot Matrix
Ink-Jet
Laser
Toner
Laser Printer Diagram
Thermal and Solid Ink Printers
Parallel Cables and Ports
Port Modes
USB Printers and Cables
Network Printer Connections
Outdated Connection Tips |
Session 10
Section A: Installing and Maintaining Printers
Print Drivers and Languages
Adding Printers
Printer Properties
Sharing Printers
Printer Maintenance
Material Safety Data Sheets
Troubleshooting Printers
Paper Jams
Drum Issues
Lines
Smearing and Garbage Printout
Section B: Portable Computing
Portable Computing Options
External and Video Ports
Function Key
Docking Stations
ExpressCards and PC Cards
Media and USB Ports
Wireless
Laptop Batteries
AC Adapters
Section C: Laptop Repair and Power Management
Power Management
CMOS Power Settings
Wake On Settings
Power On Alarm
Windows Power Management
Power Management Tip
Laptop Repair
Laptop Repair Tools
Laptop RAM
Mini PCI
Fans and Hard Drives
Screens and Keyboards
Touch Pads
CPUs and Motherboards
CMOS Batteries and Speakers |
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