A+ ( ) First Edition

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2 A+ ( ) First Edition LearnKey provides self-paced training courses and online learning solutions to education, government, business, and individuals world-wide. With dynamic video-based courseware and effective learning management systems, LearnKey provides expert instruction for popular computer software, technical certifications, and application development. LearnKey delivers content on the Web, by enterprise network, and on interactive CD-ROM. For a complete list of courses visit: All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means now known or to be invented, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage or retrieval system without written permission from the author or publisher, except for the brief inclusion of quotations in a review LearnKey

3 Table of Contents Introduction Using this Workbook 6 Best Practices Using LearnKey s Online Training 7 A+ ( ) Introduction 9 Skills Assessment 10 A+ ( ) Time Tables 12 A+ ( ) Domain 1: Hardware Fill-in-the-Blanks 14 Checking for a Firmware Upgrade 17 BIOS Component and Configuration Information 19 BIOS Configurations and Diagnostics 22 BIOS Monitoring 23 An Introduction to Motherboards 24 Expansion Slots 25 CPU Sockets and Chipsets 26 CMOS Battery 27 Power and Fan Connectors 28 Front Panel Connectors and Indicators 29 Bus Speeds 30 RAM Types 31 RAM Speeds and Compatibility 33 Installing PC Expansion Cards 35 Installing an Optical Drive 37 Magnetic Hard Drives 39 Solid-State and Flash Drives 41 RAID Types 43 Tape Drives and Media Capacity 44 CPU Installations and Socket Types 45 CPU Characteristics 47 CPU Cooling 49 Video and Network Connectors 50 Wireless Connections 52 Connection Characteristics 54 Power Supply Connectors 56 Power Supply Specifications 57 Custom PC Configurations 58 Refresh Rates and Screen Resolution 60 Other Display Device Features 62 Display Cables and Connectors 64

4 Universal Serial Bus (USB) and PS/2 Connections 66 FireWire and SATA Connectors 68 Audio Connectors 70 Computer Adapters and Converters 71 Input Devices 72 Output Devices and Input and Output Devices 74 Installing and Configuring Printers 76 Printer and Device Sharing 78 Laser Printer Technologies 80 Inkjet Printer Technologies 82 Thermal and Impact Printer Technologies 83 Virtual Printing 84 Maintaining Printers 85 A+ ( ) Domain 2: Networking Fill-in-the-Blanks 88 Fiber Cables 91 Twisted-Pair Cables 93 Coaxial Cables 95 IPv4 vs. IPv6 Addressing 96 Setting IP Addresses 98 TCP and UDP Ports 100 Protocols 102 Wireless Network Standards and Encryption Types 103 Installing and Configuring a Wireless Router 105 Internet Connection Types 107 Network Types 109 Hub, Switches, and Routers 110 Other Network Devices 111 A+ ( ) Domain 3: Mobile Devices Fill-in-the-Blanks 114 Laptop Expansion Options 116 Installing Laptop Hardware 118 Types of Display Devices 120 Laptop Components 122 Laptop Function Keys 123 Laptop Accessories 125 Other Mobile Devices 126 Mobile Device Connection Types 128 Mobile Device Accessories 130 A+ ( ) Domain 4: Hardware and Network Troubleshooting Fill-in-the-Blanks 132

5 Common Hardware Problems 135 Hardware Troubleshooting Tools 137 Common Hard Drive Problems 139 Hard Drive Troubleshooting Tools 141 Common Display Problems 143 Wired and Wireless Network Symptoms 145 Using Hardware Tools in Building and Troubleshooting Networks 147 Command Line Tools 149 Common Mobile Device Symptoms 152 Mobile Device Disassembling Processes 154 Common Printer Problems 155 Printer Tools for Troubleshooting 157 Appendix A+ ( ) Domain 1: Hardware Course Map 159 A+ ( ) Domain 2: Networking Course Map 165 A+ ( ) Domain 3: Mobile Devices Course Map 167 A+ ( ) Domain 4: Hardware and Network Troubleshooting Course Map 169 A+ ( ) Domain 1: Hardware Outline 172 A+ ( ) Domain 2: Networking Outline 173 A+ ( ) Domain 3: Mobile Devices 174 A+ ( ) Domain 4: Hardware and Network Troubleshooting Week Sample Lesson Plan Week Sample Lesson Plan Week Sample Lesson Plan 178

6 Using this Workbook The exercises in this manual serve as a companion to LearnKey s training and are organized by session to match the presented concepts. Within each session, exercises are arranged from easiest to most challenging. In the Introduction section of each session, you will find outlines of the training and sample lesson plans which will give you an overview of the training content and help you to structure your lessons. The following sections are included for each session of training: Skills Assessment: The skills assessment will help you and your students to gauge their understanding of course topics prior to beginning any coursework. Each skill listed is tied directly to an exam objective. Understanding where your students feel less confident will aid you in planning and getting the most from the training. Objective Mapping and Shoot File Links: The objective mapping provides a quick reference as to where in the training a specific certification exam objective is covered. The Files column lists the name of the Course Support files (Excel spreadsheets, Photoshop files, etc.) that are used and demonstrated during the training. The files will typically have a starting file containing all data necessary to begin the demonstrated skill, as well as a completed file which shows the final result. Keyboard Shortcuts and Tips: The keyboard shortcuts and tips provide a reference of product-specific keyboard shortcuts and helpful hints to make working more efficient. Short Answer and Matching: The short answer questions facilitate a recall of the basic training concepts to further aid in retention of the course topics and information in preparation for the training s Pre-Assessments, Post Tests, and MasterExam. The matching exercise provides additional learning reinforcement of terms and concepts found throughout the training in the course s glossary. Projects: The projects in this manual are organized by session to match the concepts presented in the LearnKey training. Each project is assigned a difficulty level of either beginner, intermediate, or advanced. Some projects will be noted as beginner-intermediate or other range. Within each session, projects are arranged from easiest to most challenging. Each project includes a description of the task as well as steps required for successful completion. Note that the steps may not indicate each required action but will provide the expectation of what is required, leaving the action to the student. References to the concepts demonstrated in the LearnKey training that are required for successful completion of the project are also included. Each project will also indicate the files and software used to complete the tasks. Some projects may only include a file named ProjectTitle_End. Projects only including an end file typically begin with a new file which is indicated in the first step. The ProjectTitle_End file is included to illustrate a possible correct result. Other projects may include a file named ProjectTitle_Start or other files. Projects with a ProjectTitle_Start file begin with that file instead of a new file. Start files typically contain data required for the project pre-inserted to focus the project on concepts versus data entry. 6 Introduction A+ ( ) Project Workbook

7 Best Practices Using LearnKey s Online Training LearnKey offers video-based training solutions which are flexible enough to accommodate the private student, as well as educational facilities and organizations. Our course content is presented by top experts in their respective fields and provides clear and comprehensive information. The full line of LearnKey products have been extensively reviewed to meet superior standards of quality. The content in our courses has also been endorsed by organizations, such as Certiport, CompTIA, Cisco, and Microsoft. However, it is the testimonials given by countless satisfied customers that truly set us apart as leaders in the information training world. LearnKey experts are highly qualified professionals who offer years of job and project experience in their subjects. Each expert has been certified in the highest level available for their field of expertise. This provides the student with the knowledge necessary to also obtain top-level certifications in the field of their choice. Our accomplished instructors have a rich understanding of the content they present. Effective teaching encompasses not only presenting the basic principles of a subject, but understanding and appreciating organization, real-world application, and links to other related disciplines. Each instructor represents the collective wisdom of their field and within our industry. Our Instructional Technology Each course is independently created, based on standard objectives provided by the manufacturer for which the course was developed. We ensure that the subject matter is up-to-date and relevant. We examine the needs of each student and create training that is both interesting and effective. LearnKey training provides auditory, visual, and kinesthetic learning materials to fit diverse learning styles. The following are three levels of implementation: Standard Training Model The standard training model allows students to proceed through basic training, building upon primary knowledge and concepts to more advanced application and implementation. In this method, students will use the following toolset: Pre-assessment: The pre-assessment is used to determine the student s prior knowledge of the subject matter. It will also identify a student s strengths and weaknesses, allowing the student to focus on the specific subject matter he/she needs to improve most. Students should not necessarily expect a passing score on the pre-assessment as it is a test of prior knowledge. Video training session: Each course of training is divided into sessions that are approximately two hours in length. Each session is divided into topics and subtopics. Post test: The post test is used to determine the student s knowledge gained from interacting with the training. In taking the post test, students should not consult the training or any other materials. A passing score is 80 percent or higher. If the individual does not pass the post test the first time it is taken, LearnKey would recommend the incorporation of external resources, such as the workbook and additional customized instructional material. 7 Introduction A+ ( ) Project Workbook

8 Intermediate Training Model The intermediate training model offers students additional training materials and activities which allows for better retention, review, and interaction. This model includes not only the standard model material, but also includes the following toolset: Study guides: Study guides are a list of questions missed which can help students recognize areas of weakness and necessary focus. They can be accessed from either the pre-assessment or post test. Labs: Labs are interactive activities that simulate situations presented in the training. Step-by-step instructions and live demonstrations are provided. Workbooks: Workbooks have a variety of activities, such as glossary puzzles, short answer questions, practice exams, research topics, and group and individual projects, which allow the student to study and apply concepts presented in the training. Master Training Model The master training model offers the student an additional opportunity to prepare for certification by further examining his/ her knowledge. This model includes the materials used in the standard and intermediate models, as well as the MasterExam. MasterExam: The MasterExam draws from a large pool of questions to provide a unique testing experience each time it is taken. LearnKey recommends a student take and pass the exam, with a score of 80 percent or higher, four times in order to prepare for certification testing. Study guides can also be accessed for the MasterExam. 8 Introduction A+ ( ) Project Workbook

9 A+ ( ) Introduction A+ ( ) is an elite video training tutorial that completely and adequately prepares students to pass the first of two exams needed for the A+ certification. A+ ( ) students will gain the knowledge and skills necessary to install and configure hardware, recommend the best computer configuration for any customer, perform basic networking tasks, configure mobile devices, and troubleshoot hardware and networks. Benefits: Provide a full library of knowledge that can be referenced time and time again Interactive labs, student workbooks, and hundreds of pre/post test questions View your online courseware anytime anywhere Disclaimer on Practice Exercises: Many of the practice exercises in this manual require computer equipment, such as a desktop computer, laptop computer, mobile device, and network equipment such as a switch and a router. Before attempting the practice exercise, check the Required Materials section to see if you have the equipment necessary to complete the exercise. For many of these exercises, a simulated lab can be found at Use the website to get practice for possible test questions and job-related scenarios. Check the website often as it will be frequetnly updated with new lab exercises. One more tip: Pay attention to the Points to Remember reminders at the end of each project. This will help sharpen your knowledge both for the A+ test and for real-life, on-the-job situations. 9 Introduction A+ ( ) Project Workbook

10 Skills Assessment Instructions: Rate your skills on the following tasks from 1-5 (1 being needs improvement, 5 being excellent). Skills Given a scenario, configure settings and use BIOS/UEFI tools on a PC Explain the importance of motherboard components, their purpose, and properties Compare and contrast various RAM types and their features Install and configure PC expansion cards Install and configure storage devices and use appropriate media Install various types of CPUs and apply the appropriate cooling methods Compare and contrast various PC connection interfaces, their characteristics, and purpose Install a power supply based on given specifications Given a scenario, select the appropriate components for a custom PC configuration, to meet customer specifications or needs Compare and contrast types of display devices and their features Identify common PC connector types and associated cables Install and configure common peripheral devices Install SOHO multifunction device/printers and configure appropriate settings Compare and contrast differences between the various print technologies and the associated imaging process Given a scenario, perform appropriate printer maintenance Identify the various types of network cables and connectors Explain the properties and characteristics of TCP/IP Explain common TCP and UDP ports, protocols, and their purpose Compare and contrast various Wi-Fi networking standards and encryption types Given a scenario, install and configure SOHO wireless/wired router and apply appropriate settings Compare and contrast Internet connection types, network types, and their features Compare and contrast network architecture devices, their functions, and features Given a scenario, use appropriate networking tools 10 Introduction A+ ( ) Project Workbook

11 Instructions: Rate your skills on the following tasks from 1-5 (1 being needs improvement, 5 being excellent). Install and configure laptop hardware and components Skills Explain the function of components within the display of a laptop Given a scenario, use appropriate laptop features Explain the charactertistics of various types of mobile devices Compare and contrast accessories and ports of other mobile devices Given a scenario, troubleshoot common problems related to motherboards, RAM, CPU, and power with appropriate tools Given a scenario, troubleshoot hard drives and RAID arrays with appropriate tools Given a scenario, troubleshoot common video, projector, and display issues Given a scenario, troubleshoot wired and wireless networks with appropriate tools Given a scenario, troubleshoot and repair common mobile device issues while adhering to the appropriate procedures Given a scenario, troubleshoot printers with appropriate tools 11 Introduction A+ ( ) Project Workbook

12 A+ ( ) Time Tables Domain 1 Actual Time The BIOS 12:39 Everything about Motherboards 10:21 RAM Features 09:39 Install and Configure Expansion Cards 11:52 Storage Devices 20:09 CPUs and Cooling 12:42 PC Connection Interfaces 19:48 Install a Power Supply 04:18 Custom PC Configuration 06:44 Display Devices 16:23 PC Connector Types 10:55 Peripheral Devices 07:18 Install Printers 11:55 Printer Technologies and Processes 18:04 Printer Maintenance 09:03 Total Time 3:05:00 Domain 2 Actual Time Networking 00:42 Network Cables and Connectors 14:37 TCP/IP Properties and Characteristics 43:14 TCP and UDP 15:37 Wi-Fi Networking 12:43 Install a SOHO Router 20:07 Internet and Network Types 12:02 Network Architecture Devices 11:30 Networking Tools 03:49 Total Time 2:14:21 Domain 3 Actual Time Mobile Devices 0:01:13 Install and Configure Laptop Hardware 0:11:00 Laptop Display Components 0:04:53 Laptop Features 0:08:05 Other Mobile Devices 0:06:20 Mobile Connnections and Accessories 0:07:40 Total Time 0:39:11 Domain 4 Training Time Hardware and Network Troubleshooting 0:00:51 Common Hardware Problems 0:11:22 Common Hard Drive Problems 0:17:28 Common Display Problems 0:08:47 Network Problems 0:15:30 Command Line Tools 0:13:27 Mobile Device Problems 0:17:39 Troubleshooting Printers 0:15:08 Test Prep Tips 0:08:35 Total Time 1:48:47 ***The actual time is calculated based on how long it will take to simply watch the video files. ***The total trianing time (inlcuding watching the videos, completing the labs, projects, and assessments) may double or even triple the actual time. 12 Introduction A+ ( ) Project Workbook

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14 Fill-in-the-Blanks Instructions: While watching A+ ( ) Domain 1: Hardware Training, fill in the missing words according to the information presented by the instructor. [References are found in the brackets.] The BIOS 1. Depending on the computer s BIOS, devices can be enabled and disabled, support can be utilized, and the computer s clock speed can be altered. [BIOS Diagnostics and Monitoring] Everything about Motherboards 2. An motherboard is usually 12 x 9.6 inches. [Motherboard Sizes] 3. A chip interacts with the CPU, RAM, and a slot dedicated for graphics. [Chipsets] 4. Bus speeds are measured in. [Bus Speeds] RAM Features 5. RAM is only used in high-end machines since it is expensive. [RAM Characteristics] 6. In order to determine the PC speed, multiply the number of MHz by. [RAM Compatibility] Install and Configure Expansion Cards 7. A storage card sometimes has built-in support. [Other Expansion Cards] Storage Devices 8. An optical disc can be Memory or Rewritable. [Install an Optical Drive] 9. Magnetic hard disk drive speeds are measured in. [Magnetic Hard Drives] 10. A drive uses traditional HDD technology, however it uses a solid-state drive for cache purposes to speed up overall performance. [Solid-State Drives] 11. One method of backing up data to tapes is the,, method.[tape Drive] CPUs and Cooling 12. BGA and are two types of CPU sockets. [Socket Types] 13. A CPU cache stores data the CPU will need again later in. [CPU Characteristics] 14. Multiple in a computer device does not mean it has multiple processors. [CPU Characteristics] 15. can be cleaned off of a CPU using isopropyl alcohol. [CPU Cooling] 14 Domain 1: Hardware A+ ( ) Project Workbook

15 PC Connection Interfaces 16. The shorter the cable, the higher data transfer speeds can be. [Physical Connections] 17. A 6-pin or 9-pin cable can be used to transfer data and provide power to a device. [Physical Connections] 18. connectors can transfer both audio and video data digitally. [Audio, Video, and Network Connections] 19. Ethernet cables connect using 8-pin connectors. [Audio, Video, and Network Connections] 20. Bluetooth devices are usually. [Wireless Connections] 21. Digital data is sent in as 1s and 0s. [Interface Characteristics] Install a Power Supply 22. connectors are used to power hard disk drives. [Power Supply Connector Types] Custom PC Configurations 23. A virtualization workstation utilizes VM software such as, VMware, or Virtual Box. [Choosing a Workstation] 24. Gaming PCs require a sound card which is compatible with at least a surround system. [Choosing a Workstation] Display Devices 25. LCD monitors use two types of monitor panels, Twisted Nematic or. [Types of Displays] 26. resolution is the default and recommended resolution of a monitor. [Resolution] 27. Brightness is measured in. [Brightness] 28. is the standard analog interface. [Analog vs. Digital] 29. Privacy filters are essential in environments. [Privacy/Anti-Glare Filters] 30. Currently the most common aspect ratio is. [Aspect Ratios] PC Connector Types 31. is compatible with VGA. [Display Connector Types] 32. Up to USB devices can be connected to one port using hubs. [Device Cables and Connectors] 33. USB A,, Mini, and are USB connector types. [Device Cables and Connectors] 15 Domain 1: Hardware A+ ( ) Project Workbook

16 Peripheral Devices 34. A is usually part of a multi-function printer. [Input Devices] 35. Apple TV and Chromecast are examples of a device. [Input and Output Devices] Install Printers 36. can be used to connect a printer to a device up to 10 meters away. [Remote Printing] 37. A is embedded memory which acts as a buffer between the computer and the platter used for storage. [Share Devices] Printer Technologies and Processes 38. A laser printer consists of pickup rollers, separate pads,, transfer rollers and belts, and a fuser assembly. [Laser Printer Parts] 39. During the laser printer image process, toner is applied to the paper during the step. [Laser Printer Process] 40. Inkjet printing can be performed using a thermal or a process. [Inkjet Printer Processes] 41. are used to heat the thermal paper used in a thermal printer. [Thermal Printer Processes] 42. An impact printer uses paper with on the sides. [Impact Printer Processes] Printer Maintenance 43. A thermal printer has a which will need to be cleaned once in a while using isopropyl alcohol. [Thermal Printer Maintenance] 44. If the pins inside of an impact printer stop working, the will need to be replaced. [Impact Printer Maintenance] 16 Domain 1: Hardware A+ ( ) Project Workbook

17 Checking for a Firmware Upgrade Description: Each BIOS manufacturer has a set way for upgrading the firmware on a machine. The most common reason for upgrading a BIOS is to get a feature enhancement only available in the BIOS. For example, a firmware upgrade may be necessary to support a larger hard drive or hard drive partition. Or a feature such as intrusion detection may be available as a result of a firmware upgrade. The most important step in upgrading firmware is to follow the manufacturer s instructions for downloading and upgrading firmware. Some upgrades can only be done on a machine reboot. Others can be done right from Windows. Most of the time, the most important instruction given will be to not turn off or unplug the machine during the firmware upgrade. The most common steps for performing a firmware upgrade are: 1. Checking the version number of the current BIOS. 2. Going to the website of the BIOS manufacturer to see if there is an upgrade available. In this step, the version number of the BIOS is the key component. 3. If an upgrade is needed, downloading and installing the upgrade. Given that manufacturers vary widely in how they handle a firmware upgrade, this project will focus primarily on obtaining the BIOS version on a computer and then checking the manufacturer s website to see if a newer version is available. Steps for Completion: 1. On a Windows machine, click the Start button or press the Start key on the keyboard. 2. Type: msinfo If you are on a Windows Vista or Windows 7 machine, press the Enter key. If you are on a Windows 8 machine, click the msinfo32.exe program link. You will see the following: 4. Look for the BIOS Version/Date information in the middle of the screen. 5. Open Internet Explorer. 6. Navigate to the website of your computer manufacturer. Again, the actual website you browse to will vary. 7. Find a support section. In many cases, the site will be support.<your computer manufacturer>.com. 17 Domain 1: Hardware A+ ( ) Project Workbook

18 8. Find the area that contains the driver downloads for your particular device. Here is an example of what one looks like: 9. If the version number and/or date of the BIOS on the website is newer than the one on your computer, take the time to first read any instructions for updating the BIOS and then download and run the BIOS update. Points to Remember: The first step in possibly upgrading firmware is finding out the current version of the computer BIOS. When upgrading firmware, be sure to follow the manufacturer s instructions exactly as stated. Reference: LearnKey s A Training, Domain 1, Session 1 The BIOS: BIOS Flash Update Difficulty: Intermediate Estimated Time to Complete: 15 minutes [45 if one goes through with the BIOS update] Required Materials: A Windows machine Objectives: 1.0 Hardware 1.1 Given a scenario, configure settings and use BIOS/UEFI tools on a PC 1.1.a Firmware upgrades flash BIOS 18 Domain 1: Hardware A+ ( ) Project Workbook

19 BIOS Component and Configuration Information Description: The Basic Input Output System (BIOS) is code, embedded into a computer s hardware, which provides a computer with basic startup instructions. The BIOS is responsible for making sure a computer has the hardware it needs (CPU, RAM, hard disks, video, and in most cases, a network card) in order to start up and then load an operating system. Occasionally, the BIOS needs to be configured. Sometimes, it is a matter of enabling a new hardware device or disabling one no longer in use. Sometimes, it is a matter of setting a password just to start up a computer or deleting a password when one is no longer needed just to start up a computer. In this project, you will explore the basic components of a BIOS. Different computers will have different BIOS screens, so the actual project steps may vary. However, the different BIOS types do have the following in common: You will need to use the keyboard to navigate through the BIOS. The mouse will not work in a BIOS screen. The BIOS is reached through pressing a key (usually F2, F12, or Delete) when the computer starts up. If you see a Windows logo, it is too late. Shut down, restart the computer, and try again. For most BIOS settings, once the setting has focus, pressing the Enter key will open the setting options. Then the arrow keys or the plus or minus keys on the keyboard will allow for changes in those settings. The screen shots for this project were taken from a virtual machine installation of Windows 8. Again, your screens may vary. Steps for Completion: 1. Restart (or start) a Windows computer. When you see the splash screen, look for the key to press to enter the setup screen. If you press the key in time, the BIOS will appear. If not, restart the computer and try again. The BIOS startup screen will appear and will look similar to this: 19 Domain 1: Hardware A+ ( ) Project Workbook

20 2. The Main tab will tell you the system date and time, the hard disk(s) in use, the optical drives in use, and the amount of RAM on the machine. Sometimes the disks will not show unless the disk is selected. Press the arrow key downward until you see the Primary Master drive selected and then press the Enter key to see a screen similar to the screen on the right: 3. You may notice that the specifications for the disk appear, such as the type (regular hard drive or solid-state drive) and the disk size. Or, as seen in the screen above, the type may be set to Auto, as in an automatic detection of the hard drive. Press the Esc key on the keyboard to exit the hard drive screen. 6. Press the Enter key to examine the I/O configuration screen, as seen here: 4. Press the right arrow key on the keyboard to navigate to the Advanced screen. Here you will see processor, operating system (if applicable), and device configuration, as seen on the left: 5. Press the down arrow key on the keyboard until the I/O Device Configuration (meaning input/output device configuration) area is highlighted. 20 Domain 1: Hardware A+ ( ) Project Workbook

21 7. On this screen, you will see which ports are enabled and which ones are disabled. A common real-life setting to change here involves enabling or disabling USB ports. When you are done viewing this screen, press the Esc key on the keyboard to return to the Advanced screen. 8. Press the right arrow key on the keyboard to move to the Security tab. You will see the screen on the right: 9. On the Security tab, you will see information for setting up BIOS passwords, if applicable. You may also see information on intrusion/detection notification, which notifies a user that the cover has been removed from the computer. When you have finished examining the security area, press the right arrow on the keyboard to move to the Boot screen. You will see a screen that looks similar to the screen on the right: 10. On the Boot screen, you can control the boot order of the computer. For example, if Removable Devices is the first disk type listed in the boot order, and you want the hard drive to be the first disk in the boot order, press the minus key on the keyboard to move removable devices down in the boot order list (or the key the screen instructions tell you to press to move the disk type down in the boot order). 11. To move to the Exit screen, press the right arrow key on the keyboard. A typical exit screen looks like this: 12. From this screen, you can save any changes to the BIOS or discard those changes. Press the down arrow key on the keyboard until the Exit Discarding Changes setting is highlighted. 13. Press the Enter key. If you are prompted to continue, press the Enter key again. Your system will reboot. Points to Remember: BIOS settings vary from computer to computer. Take the time to go through the BIOS settings on one or more computers and make sure to experiment with topics under the test objectives. You always have a chance to discard BIOS changes before making them permanent. Reference: LearnKey s A+ ( ) Domain 1: Hardware Training The BIOS: BIOS Tour; BIOS Configuration Difficulty: Beginner Estimated Time to Complete: 30 minutes [This will depend upon how many changes one makes to the BIOS and then examines those changes after a restart.] Required Materials: A computer Objectives: 1.0 Hardware 1.1 Given a scenario, configure settings and use BIOS/UEFI tools on a PC 1.1.b BIOS component information 1.1.b.i RAM 1.1.b.ii Hard drive 1.1.b.iii Optical drive 1.1.c BIOS configurations 1.1.c.i Boot sequence 1.1.c.ii Enabling and disabling devices 1.1.c.iii Date/time 21 Domain 1: Hardware A+ ( ) Project Workbook

22 BIOS Configurations and Diagnostics Description: In addition to displaying component information, many computer BIOSes also provide for the ability to configure items such as clock speeds, virtualization support, and diagnostics. Here is an example of what one may find when in a BIOS: Item Central Processing Unit (CPU) Virtualization Support Drive Encryption LoJack Secure Boot Diagnostics What it Does Shows the speed of the CPU on the system. Some BIOS versions give people the ability to set clock speeds for the CPU. A faster clock speed can mean better performance but it also tends to dissipate more heat into the system, which could harm the computer s components. If available and enabled, the computer can host 64-bit virtual machines. Without this, a computer can at best host 32-bit virtual machines. Enabling drive encryption requires a password to access any data on the drive should the drive be moved to another machine. A Trusted Platform Module (TPM) chip is a chip that stores encryption keys for hardware authentication. A device that can makes a computer locatable should it be stolen. New in Windows 8. This will prevent a computer from starting up if the boot loader is not digitally signed by Microsoft. This feature is enabled by default on Windows 8 computers. On many computers, a memory diagnostics test can be run in the BIOS. In this project, you will identify the feature that needs to be enabled in the BIOS given a situation. Steps for Completion: 1. For each situation, identify the BIOS feature that needs to be enabled: a. A tester needs to install a 64-bit edition of Windows 7 as a virtual machine: b. An executive wants to make sure a laptop can be located if it is stolen: c. A technician needs to run a memory test on a PC: 2. On a computer, boot into the BIOS and list each feature from the feature list described in this project: Points to Remember: Changing the clock speed in the BIOS can have an adverse effect on the cooling inside of the computer. Drive encryption is usually made possible through a Trusted Platform Module (TPM) chip inside of the computer. Secure boot ensures that the boot loader in Windows 8 (or 8.1) is digitally signed. Reference: LearnKey s A+ ( ) Domain 1: Hardware Training The BIOS: BIOS Tour; BIOS Configurations; BIOS Diagnostics and Marketing Difficulty: Beginner Estimated Time to Complete: 20 minutes Required Materials: A computer Objectives: 1.0 Hardware 1.1 Given a scenario, configure settings and use BIOS/UEFI tools on a PC 1.1.b BIOS component information 1.1.b.iv CPU 1.1.c BIOS configurations 1.1.c.iv Clock speeds 1.1.c.v Virtualization support 1.1.c.vi BIOS security (passwords, drive encryption: TPM, LoJack, secure boot) 1.1.d Built-in diagnostics 22 Domain 1: Hardware A+ ( ) Project Workbook

23 BIOS Monitoring Description: One function of the BIOS is the ability to monitor crucial computer functions. For example, many BIOSes can monitor temperature, fan speeds, bus speeds, voltage readings, and whether the cover has been removed from the computer case. Here are some details on what some BIOSes will display, and the settings to look for when viewing these monitoring features: Feature Temperature Monitoring Fan Speeds Intrusion Detection/ Notification Voltage Clock Bus Speed Details Shows the degrees, usually in Celsius, of the CPU and the hard drive(s) in the computer. For most systems, 40 degrees Celsius or less is ideal. If the temperature is in Fahrenheit, subtract 32 and then divide by 1.8 to get the Celsius equivalent. Shows the computer fans and the speeds at which they are operating. If one fan is much slower than the rest of the fans, it may be a sign that the fan needs to be cleaned or replaced. A feature to alert the next person who starts up the computer that the case cover has been lifted from the computer. Shows voltage settings for 3V (volts), 5V, and 12V wires in the computer. A voltage reading within five percent of the given standard for a wire is considered acceptable. Shows the clock speed of the CPU. If the clock speed is faster than the advertised clock speed of the CPU, the system has been set to overclock and special attention needs to be paid to the system temperature to make sure it is not overheating the system. Shows the speed of the system bus. The bus speed x the multiplier = the overall CPU speed. In the project exercise, you will explore real-life situations using the BIOS monitoring tools. Steps for Completion: 1. For a 12V wire, what would be considered the lowest acceptable voltage? 2. For a 12V wire, what would be considered the highest acceptable voltage? 3. A system BIOS indicates the temperature of the CPU is 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Is this too high? 4. Explore the BIOS in a computer. Use the space below to write down any monitoring tools you discover. Points to Remember: BIOS monitoring can monitor temperature, fan speeds, voltage, clock speeds, and bus speeds. BIOS monitoring can also contain an intrusion detection/notification feature to notify the person booting up the system that the case cover has been removed. Reference: LearnKey s A+ ( ) Domain 1: Hardware Training The BIOS: BIOS Tour; BIOS Diagnostics and Monitoring Difficulty: Beginner Estimated Time to Complete: 20 minutes Required Materials: A computer Objectives: 1.0 Hardware 1.1 Given a scenario, configure settings and use BIOS/UEFI tools on a PC 1.1.e Monitoring 1.1.e.i Temperature monitoring 1.1.e.ii Fan speeds 1.1.e.iii Intrusion detection/notification 1.1.e.iv Voltage 1.1.e.v Clock 1.1.e.vi Bus speed 23 Domain 1: Hardware A+ ( ) Project Workbook

24 An Introduction to Motherboards Description: Motherboards (also known as system boards) are the electrical circuit boards which sit inside of computers of all types. Motherboards are found in desktops, laptops, home theater systems, tablets, smartphones, and many other types of computing devices. Motherboards get their power from the power supply in a computer. With that power, other peripherals, such as memory, hard drives, video cards, network cards, and other expansion cards can function. Without a functioning motherboard, a computer will cease to operate. There are four basic types of motherboards currently used in computing devices. These four types are also the focus of types of motherboards covered in the A+ exam. They are: Advanced Technology Extended (ATX): The most common motherboard for desktop computers. These will typically have several expansion slots for video, network, and similar types of expansion cards. ATX motherboards are typically 12 x 9.6 inches dimension but can vary based on the case for which they are designed. Micro-ATX: A smaller form of the ATX motherboard, typically 9.6 x 9.6 inches size. Because these motherboards are smaller than full-size ATX motherboards, they typically do not have as many expansion slots as the full-size ATX motherboards. Information Technology extended (ITX): Small-form factor boards, also known as embedded boards. The main characteristic of these motherboards is their use of passive cooling. Passive cooling is a fan-less cooling system. ITX motherboards do not use much power, thus the lack of a need for cooling using fans. Mini-ITX: Small-form factor ITX motherboards. These motherboards are usually found in home theater systems and thin client machines. Thin client machines are mini-computers that have the bare minimum needed for computing. In the next project exercise, you will identify the motherboard needed for a given type of system. Steps for Completion: 1. Which type of motherboard is seen on the right of the page? 2. Which type of motherboard would be used in a home theater system? 3. Which type of motherboard is usually square in size? Points to Remember: ATX motherboards are the most common motherboards in desktop computers. ITX motherboards use passive cooling. Both ATX and ITX motherboards have miniature versions for smaller devices (Micro-ATX and Mini-ITX). Reference: LearnKey s A+ ( ) Domain 1: Hardware Training Everything about Motherboards: Motherboard Sizes Difficulty: Beginner Estimated Time to Complete: 5-20 minutes [if one has several motherboards to look at and examine their features] Required Materials: As many motherboards as you can get to examine Objectives: 1.0 Hardware 1.2 Explain the importance of motherboard components, their purpose, and properties 1.2.a Sizes 1.2.a.i ATX 1.2.a.ii Micro-ATX 1.2.a.iii Mini-ITX 1.2.a.iv ITX 24 Domain 1: Hardware A+ ( ) Project Workbook

25 Expansion Slots Description: One of the main characteristics of motherboards is the amount of expansion capability a motherboard possesses. The type of expansion slots which hold network cards, video cards, USB cards, and other expansion cards all belong to the Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) family of expansion slots. Here are the four types of PCI expansion slots, along with their characteristics: PCI: Mostly found on older motherboards but most modern motherboards will have one or two PCI slots for backward compatibility purposes. PCI slots are either 32-bit or 64-bit in architecture and can transmit data at speeds of up to 533 Mbps. The notch on a PCI slot tends to be more toward the center of a motherboard, further away from the edge of the case. PCI Express (PCIe): The newer-generation of PCI expansion slots. Data transmissions can reach speeds of up to 2 Gbps. Unlike PCI, data is sent in a stream instead of in 32-bit or 64-bit blocks. PCIe slots also come in multiple sizes, designated as x1, x2, x4, x8, x16, and x32. This allows for flexibility in expansion slots conducive to the size of a motherboard. The notch for a PCIe slot is close to the edge of the PC case, not closer to the middle of the motherboard (as is the case with a PCI slot). Note that the slot size does not change on the left side of the notch but the size changes dramatically on the right side of the notch (hence the x1 vs. x16 size). In the x1, the space to plug in the expansion card is actually smaller on the right side of the notch than the left. An x16 slot is the same size as a 32-bit PCI expansion slot. A characteristic of PCIe is that a smaller-sized card can plug into a largersized slot. For example, an x1-sized card can plug into an x16-sized slot. minipci: The laptop version of a PCI slot. Its dimensions are smaller than that of a desktop PCI expansion slot. In addition to minipci, minipcie slots are available on most modern laptop motherboards. PCI-Extended (PCI-X): A PCI-type slot that has a 64-bit architecture and is backward-compatible with PCI. PCI-X slots are found mostly in servers, not regular desktops. The other type of expansion slot is a Random Access Memory (RAM) slot. RAM slots hold RAM chips. RAM will be covered in detail in a later project. In this project exercise, you will identify several PCI expansion slot types on a motherboard. Steps for Completion: 1. Look at the following expansion slots. For each picture, identify the type of PCI expansion slot, including for PCIe slots the size (x1 through x32). a. b. c. Points to Remember: PCI slots are still present on most motherboards but the newer expansion slot technology is the PCIe slots. PCIe slots have multiple slot sizes to help accommodate differing motherboard sizes. A small PCIe card (an x1 or x4, for example) can fit into a larger PCIe slot. minipci and minipcie slots are usually found on motherboards designed for laptops. PCI-x slots have a 64-bit architecture and are normally found in servers. Reference: LearnKey s A+ ( ) Domain 1: Hardware Training Everything about Motherboards: Expansion Slots; Slots and Sockets Difficulty: Beginner Estimated Time to Complete: minutes [if one has several motherboards to look at and examine their features] Required Materials: A motherboard with several expansion slots Objectives: 1.0 Hardware 1.2 Explain the importance of motherboard components, their purpose, and properties 1.2.b Expansion slots 1.2.b.i PCI 1.2.b.ii PCI-X 1.2.b.iii PCIe 1.2.b.iv minipci 1.2.c RAM slots 25 Domain 1: Hardware A+ ( ) Project Workbook

26 CPU Sockets and Chipsets Description: Another integral part of the motherboard is the central processing unit (CPU). The CPU processes all of the instructions for the tasks a computer is asked to do. Most of the time, the actual processor is not visible on the motherboard. The reason for this is simple: an exposed CPU will overheat in a matter of seconds and at the very least freeze the computer, if not damage or destroy it. CPUs have pins that line up with a socket that houses the CPU. On top of the CPU sits a heat sink, used to dissipate heat, and a fan, to aid in cooling. CPUs and their installations are covered more in detail in a later project. Chipsets are sets of electronic pieces which manage how data flows among the computer s processor, memory, and peripherals. Chipsets vary from motherboard to motherboard but will have two main parts: Northbridge: A chip which interacts with the CPU, RAM, and, if one exists, an expansion slot dedicated for graphics. On newer computers, the northbridge is part of the CPU. Southbridge: A chip which interacts with anything the northbridge does not interact with. This includes anything integrated into the motherboard for audio, graphics, network capabilities, USB, hard drives, and the system BIOS. In this project, you will identify a CPU location on a motherboard and identify parts of a northbridge and parts of a southbridge. Steps for Completion: 1. On this motherboard, identify the location of the CPU in the image on the right: 2. For each component, identify whether the component is controlled by the northbridge or by the southbridge: a. Audio chip in the motherboard: b. Video card plugged into a PCIe expansion slot: c. BIOS: d. RAM: Points to Remember: A CPU fits into a socket covered by a heat sink and a fan. A northbridge interacts with the CPU, RAM, and a slot used for a dedicated video card. A southbridge interacts with on-board controllers, hard drives, and the BIOS. Reference: LearnKey s A+ ( ) Domain 1: Hardware Training Everything about Motherboards: Slots and Sockets; Chipsets Difficulty: Beginner Estimated Time to Complete: 15 minutes [having a live motherboard to look at will help] Required Materials: A motherboard to observe Objectives: 1.0 Hardware 1.2 Explain the importance of motherboard components, their purpose, and properties 1.2.d CPU sockets 1.2.e Chipsets 1.2.e.i Northbridge 1.2.e.ii Southbridge 26 Domain 1: Hardware A+ ( ) Project Workbook

27 CMOS Battery Description: A computer can be off and unplugged for a long period of time, yet, when it is plugged in and turned on, the system date and time is accurate. This is made possible through a complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) battery, a battery which plugs into the motherboard and is usually round and silver (similar to a watch battery). The CMOS battery stores date, time, and startup information for a computer. The BIOS uses this information as a part of its role in starting up a computer. If a CMOS fails (or is removed from the computer), a computer s date and time will revert back to the original date and time for the BIOS. Another sign of a failing CMOS is a computer system date and time falling behind the real date and time. This is especially noticeable if the computer is off for any appreciable length of time. In either case, the CMOS battery just needs to be replaced. In this project, you will identify the location of the CMOS battery on a motherboard. Steps for Completion: 1. On the picture of the motherboard, where is the CMOS battery? 2. In which situations would a CMOS battery need to be replaced? Points to Remember: A CMOS battery stores information such as the system date and time and information to help a system start up. If the system date and time keeps resetting or is behind the real date and time each time a machine reboots, the CMOS battery needs to be replaced. Reference: LearnKey s A+ ( ) Domain 1: Hardware Training Everything about Motherboards; CMOS Battery Difficulty: Beginner Estimated Time to Complete: 5 minutes Required Materials: A motherboard containing a CMOS battery Objectives: 1.0 Hardware 1.2 Explain the importance of motherboard components, their purpose, and properties 1.2.f CMOS battery 27 Domain 1: Hardware A+ ( ) Project Workbook

28 Power and Fan Connectors Description: Part of putting together a solid, well-functioning computer is to make sure a power supply matches well with the motherboard in two main areas: the amount of wattage needed to supply power to all of the peripherals on the machine and the number of connectors needed for those peripherals. A typical power supply will have at least three types of connectors: Primary: This is a 20-pin or 24-pin connector that plugs into the motherboard and supplies power to the motherboard. If not plugged in properly, the computer will not work. CPU: A 4-pin or 8-pin plug that plugs into the motherboard and supplies power to the CPU. SATA: An L-shaped connector that supplies power to hard drives and optical drives. Most power supplies will have several of these connectors as most computers will have at least two SATA drives if not more than two. In addition to power connectors, connectors are needed from cooling fans to the motherboard so that the cooling fans have power and can effectively cool a computer. The most common fan connector is a Molex connector. A Molex connector is a 4-pin connector with round pins. In the next project, you will identify types of power connectors and types of fan connectors. Steps for Completion: 1. Identify each type of connector: a. b. c. d. Points to Remember: The primary power connector from a power supply to a motherboard is a 20-pin or 24-pin connector. The connector from a power supply to a CPU is usually a 4-pin or 8-pin square connector. SATA connectors are L-shaped and supply power to hard drives and optical drives. Most fan connectors are 4-pin Molex connectors. Reference: LearnKey s A+ ( ), Session 1: Everything about Motherboards: Power Connectors; Fan Connectors Difficulty: Beginner Estimated Time to Complete: 10 minutes [20 minutes if one takes some time to plug these into a motherboard] Required Materials: A power supply and fan connectors Objectives: 1.0 Hardware 1.2 Explain the importance of motherboard components, their purpose, and properties 1.2.g Power connections and types 1.2.h Fan connectors 28 Domain 1: Hardware A+ ( ) Project Workbook

29 Front Panel Connectors and Indicators Description: In order for external peripherals, such as speakers, external drives, scanners, or other peripherals to connect to a computer, the computer needs to have the proper connectors in place for those external peripherals. Some of these connectors are on the front panel of a computer. Other connectors are on the back panel of a computer. On many gaming and other high-end computers, there could be connectors on the top panel. The most common type of connector is a Universal Serial Bus (USB) connector. A USB connector is rectangular-shaped and used to connect many types of peripherals, including mice, keyboards, external drives, network connectors, and scanners. A blue USB plug usually indicates a USB 3.0 connector, which can transfer data at speeds up to 5 Gbps. Most other USB plugs are USB 2.0 connectors, which transfer data at speeds up to 480 Mbps. Front and top panels of computers will also usually have basic audio connectors. The most common type of audio connector connects speakers or headphones to the optical drive. Other audio connectors can connect directly to the system s sound card, allowing for full audio capability without having to plug speakers or headphones into the back of the computer. In addition to USB and audio connectors, most computers will have some buttons and light indicators on the front and/or top panels. In particular, these are the buttons and lights commonly found: Indicator What it Does Power Button Turns on the computer. This is also used to turn off the computer in case the computer cannot be properly shut down or put the computer to sleep, depending upon the computer s power option settings. Power Light An indicator that the computer is up and running. Drive Activity Lights Lights that blink when the hard drive is reading or writing data. This is not always present on a computer. Reset Button Used to restart a computer. While this button is present on older computers, it is not a button usually found on newer computers. In this project, you will identify the connector and/or indicator present given a picture. Steps for Completion: 1. For each picture, identify the type of connector or indicator present. For any USB port, make the distinction between a USB 2.0 port or a USB 3.0 port: a. b. c. Points to Remember: Most USB connectors are color-coded (Blue for 3.0 and Black for 2.0). Power option settings determine what happens to a computer when the power button is pushed while the computer is on. Reference: LearnKey s A+ ( ) Domain 1: Hardware Training Everything about Motherboards: Front/Top Panel Connectors Difficulty: Beginner Estimated Time to Complete: 5 minutes [20 minutes, or more, if one takes the time to see where the connectors are for these inside of a motherboard] Required Materials: A computer Objectives: 1.0 Hardware 1.2 Explain the importance of motherboard components, their purpose, and properties 1.2.i Front/Top panel connectors 1.2.i.i USB 1.2.i.ii Audio 1.2.i.iii Power button 1.2.i.iv Power light 1.2.i.v Drive activity lights 1.2.i.vi Reset button 29 Domain 1: Hardware A+ ( ) Project Workbook

30 Bus Speeds Description: In computer terms, a bus is a connection between two or more components. Here are some examples of buses and their role in processing data in a computer: Address bus: Determines the amount of memory a system can address. A 32-bit address bus has 4 GB of addressable locations (2 32 addressable locations to be exact). A 64-bit address bus has 17 EB (exabytes) of addressable locations (2 64 addressable locations). Universal Serial Bus (USB): A connection between a computer and a USB device, an example being an external hard drive connected to a USB port on a computer. In the case of a USB 2.0 connector and cable, the bus speed is up to 480 Mbps. If the components are all USB 3.0, the speed can reach up to 5 Gbps. Bus speeds can also be measured in hertz (Hz). The number of Hz dictates the number of times a signal goes up, down, and back per second. For example, a 133 MHz CPU can process 133 million cycles per second. A 1 GHz bus speed can process one billion cycles per second. Bus speed limitations on components limit the speeds of data transfer between the two components. When two components have differing speeds, the slowest speed will be the speed in which the data transfer takes place. In this project, you will answer some real-life situation questions as they relate to buses and bus speeds. Steps for Completion: 1. A computer with Windows 7 has 8 GB of physical RAM installed yet when the system properties are viewed, only 4 GB of RAM are in use. Why? 2. A USB 3.0 external hard drive is plugged into a USB 2.0 port on the back of a computer. What is the maximum data transfer for this connection? 3. A 233 MHz processor will have signal cycles per second. Points to Remember: Address buses determine the amount of memory a system can access. Bus speeds are often determined in hertz (Hz), megahertz (MHz), and gigahertz (GHz). Reference: LearnKey s A+ ( ) Domain 1: Hardware Training Everything about Motherboards: Bus Speeds Difficulty: Beginner Estimated Time to Complete: 5 minutes Required Materials: N/A Objectives: 1.0 Hardware 1.2 Explain the importance of motherboard components, their purpose, and properties 1.2.j Bus speed 30 Domain 1: Hardware A+ ( ) Project Workbook

31 RAM Types Description: Random Access Memory (RAM) is memory that is volatile in nature in that RAM temporarily stores instructions a computer needs to process. RAM, unlike data on a hard drive, is erased when a system is turned off, hence the volatility of RAM. RAM has a lot of physical characteristics to be aware of for your being able to choose the correct RAM to install in a system, and, choose the RAM that will provide the best performance enhancements for a system. Most modern RAM modules are synchronous dynamic RAM (SDRAM) modules. SDRAM modules synchronize with a system clock for faster speeds. To enhance the speed advantage of SDRAM modules, double data rate (DDR) modules were created. DDR modules operate at double the speed of SDRAM modules. DDR2 modules then came to fruition, with their speeds doubling that of DDR modules. DDR3 modules, found in many recently built computers, operate at double the speed of DDR2 RAM (four times the speed of DDR RAM). DDR4, which operates at double the speed of DDR3, is the newest SDRAM module on the market. The type of SDRAM module needed will be based strictly on the motherboard. The pin configurations in the bottom of the RAM modules differ among the main types of DDR-based RAM. For example, a DDR3 RAM module will not fit in a DDR2 RAM slot on a motherboard. Here are some specifics about the types of DDR RAM you could be asked about on the exam: Type DDR DDR2 DDR3 Characteristics 184 pins (92 on each side) with 52 pins on one side of the notch and 40 on the other side. 240 pins (120 on each side) with 64 pins on one side of the notch and 56 on the other side. 240 pins (120 on each side) with 48 pins on one side of the notch and 72 on the other side. SDRAM modules come in two main forms: Dual inline memory module (DIMM): RAM modules that are installed primarily in desktop computers. Small outline dual inline memory module (SO-DIMM): Smaller than RAM modules and are usually installed in laptops and similar devices. Memory can also be single-sided or double-sided. For single-sided RAM, the chips are all located on one side of the memory module. Double-sided RAM will have chips on both sides of the module. Single-sided RAM actually performs faster than double-sided RAM because, in double-sided RAM, only one side of the module can be accessed at a time. In order for RAM to properly process data, error-checking needs to take place. There are two main types of error checking: Parity: Data transfers eight bits at a time. In a parity situation, a ninth bit is added. If the bits have an even number of ones (such as ), the parity bit needs to be a 1. If the bits have an odd number of ones (such as ), the parity bit needs to be a 0. This ensures that all bytes have an odd number of ones and if a byte does not, an error has occurred. Error Correction Code (ECC): ECC uses additional circuitry to detect and correct errors. ECC memory is expensive, thus it is normally used only in high-end computers. The final characteristic for RAM to discuss in this project is buffered RAM vs. unbuffered RAM. Buffered RAM has an extra chip on the RAM module to handle large amounts of processing. Though this does help with processing, it slows overall performance. Thus, buffered RAM is usually only found in high-end servers. In this project, you will identify types of RAM and also answer questions pertaining to real-life RAM situations. Steps for Completion: 1. A computer has 8 GB of RAM physically installed but Windows 7 shows only 4 GB is in use. What is the most likely reason for the difference? 31 Domain 1: Hardware A+ ( ) Project Workbook

32 2. Identify the different types of RAM (DIMM vs. SO-DIMM and type of DDR RAM): a. b. c. 3. Obtain a DDR, DDR2, and DDR3 RAM module and compare both the location of the notch and the density of the pins. They will be more densely populated in DDR2 than DDR. This will help identify the types of DDR RAM modules. Points to Remember: Each iteration of DDR RAM processes at double the speed of the previous DDR iteration. DIMM modules fit in desktops while SO-DIMM modules fit in laptops and similar devices. In single-sided RAM modules, the entire chipset can process data. In double-sided RAM modules, only one side of a module at a time can process data. Error-checking in RAM can either use a parity bit or involve ECC. Buffered RAM can handle large amounts of processing but is usually only found in high-end computers. Reference: LearnKey s A+ ( ) Domain 1: Hardware Training RAM Features: RAM Types; RAM Characteristics Difficulty: Beginner Estimated Time to Complete: 10 minutes [20-30 minutes if one researches how DDR, DDR2, and DDR3 evolved] Required Materials: A computer and as many types of RAM chips (DDR, DDR2, and DDR3) as you can get Objectives: 1.0 Hardware 1.3 Compare and contrast various RAM types and their features 1.3.a Types 1.3.a.i DDR 1.3.a.ii DDR2 1.3.a.iii DDR3 1.3.a.iv SO-DIMM 1.3.a.v DIMM 1.3.a.vi Parity vs. non-parity 1.3.a.vii ECC vs. non-ecc 1.3.a.ix Single-sided vs. double-sided 1.3.a.x Buffered vs. unbuffered 32 Domain 1: Hardware A+ ( ) Project Workbook

33 RAM Speeds and Compatibility Description: As discovered in the previous project, not all RAM modules are alike. With specific regard to DDR, DDR2, and DDR3, the number of pins on the RAM module and the location of the notch are different. For this reason, RAM modules must be compatible with the motherboard slots available for installing RAM. For example, a DDR3 slot must be available in order to install a DDR3 RAM module. Although not required for compatibility, RAM modules should have the same clock speed for maximum performance. For example, take a PC with two 2 GB modules of DDR3 PC and two available expansion slots. A technician adding two more RAM modules should make sure that the new RAM modules are also PC modules. The module number (PC number) represents a multiple of the clock speed of the RAM module itself. The formula for matching the clock speed, transfer rate, and module number is as follows: Clock speed x multiplier = transfer rate, measured in millions of transfers per second (MT/s). The multiplier depends on the DDR module. DDR is double the speed of the original SDRAM chip, so the multiplier for DDR is two. Here is a complete list of multipliers: Type of RAM DDR 2 DDR2 4 DDR3 8 Multiplier Then, the transfer rate x the number of bits / 8 = the PC module number. For most RAM, this will involve 64-bit modules. The two names for identifying RAM modules are the chip name, which consists of the type plus the transfer rate, and the aforementioned PC module number, which consists of the letters PC, the DDR number, and the PC module number. With these formulas, the transfer rates and PC modules will always end in 33, 66, 67 or 00. If the multiplication total does not result in one of those numbers, simply round the result to the nearest number. Here are some examples of calculations for transfer rates and then PC module numbers: Clock Speed Type of RAM Multiplier Transfer Rate Module Chip Name Module Name 100 MHz DDR MT/s 200 x 64 / 8 = 1600 DDR-200 PC MHz DDR MT/s 400 x 64 / 8 = 3200 DDR2-400 PC MHz DDR MT/s 800 x 64 / 8 = 6400 DDR PC MHz DDR MT/s 333 x 64 / 8 ~ 2700 DDR-166 PC MHz DDR MT/s 667 x 64 /8 ~5400 DDR2-667 PC MHz DDR MT/s 1333 x 64 /8 ~ DDR PC One other area of compatibility to look for is the amount of channels contained in a motherboard. Motherboards can be singlechannel, dual-channel, or triple-channel in nature. Each channel has a 64-bit communication line. A dual-channel motherboard will double the efficiency of the RAM in the system. For example, DDR3 RAM, as documented earlier, is eight times faster than SD RAM for a single-channel motherboard. With a dual-channel motherboard, however, the DDR3 RAM efficiency doubles to 16 times faster than that of a single-channel motherboard holding SDRAM. A dual-channel motherboard will have two different colors for RAM slots. A triple-channel motherboard will have three different colors for RAM slots. Each color will have a pair of RAM slots. These two same-colored slots make up a bank. For maximum efficiency, make sure to match PC modules within a bank. For example, if you are holding two DDR3-PC modules and two DDR3-PC modules, install the two PC modules in one bank (color) and the other two modules in the other bank. Otherwise, you will get single-channel performance instead of dual-channel performance. In this project, you will calculate transfer rates, chip names, and PC module numbers given characteristics of RAM chips. You will then identify the number of channels in a motherboard. If you have RAM to install on a computer, you will perform that task as well. 33 Domain 1: Hardware A+ ( ) Project Workbook

34 Steps for Completion: 1. The following RAM chips are 64-bit modules. With that information, fill in the blanks in the following table: Chip Type Clock Speed Transfer Rate Chip Name PC Module DDR2 200 MHz DDR3 DDR 266 MHz 133 MHz 2. What is the channel designation for this motherboard? 3. If you have a computer with available RAM slots and RAM to install in those slots, install the RAM and then plug in and start up the computer, making sure the new RAM shows as installed in the system BIOS and/or the operating system. Points to Remember: Clock speed x multiplier = transfer rate. Chip type + transfer rate = chip name. Transfer rate x number of bits / 8 = PC module number. Channels for motherboards are represented by color with each colored pair of RAM slots representing a bank. Have matching pairs of RAM chips for each bank to ensure maximum RAM performance. Reference: LearnKey s A+ ( ) Domain 1: Hardware Training RAM Features: RAM Characteristics; RAM Compatibility Difficulty: Intermediate Estimated Time to Complete: 15 minutes [45-60 minutes if one does one or more installations and then makes sure the RAM works] Required Materials: A computer with RAM slots available to install RAM and RAM to install Objectives: 1.0 Hardware 1.3 Compare and contrast various RAM types and their features 1.3.a RAM features 1.3.a.viii RAM configurations 1.3.a.viii.1 Single channel vs. dual channel vs. triple channel 1.3.b RAM compatibility issues 34 Domain 1: Hardware A+ ( ) Project Workbook

35 Installing PC Expansion Cards Description: One of the best ways to increase performance in a desktop computer is to install an expansion card. With many PCs, motherboards will have integrated (built-in) sound, video, and network components. Often, a PC user will want better performance than what the integrated card offers. For example a desktop computer could come with a 32 MB integrated video card. While that is sufficient for basic computer use, it is not considered sufficient for use with anything requiring high-end performance, such as a high-quality game or program used to draw graphics. With expansion cards, performance can be improved, sometimes dramatically. There is a checklist to go through before installing an expansion card, however. Before installing an expansion card, make sure to do the following: Make sure there is a slot available for the card you want to install (usually a PCI or PCIe slot). Make sure the power supply has enough wattage for the expansion card you wish to add. There are several websites which can help calculate wattage based on the motherboard and expansion components. Have the drivers necessary for the expansion card to be installed. These can usually be found on the card manufacturer s website. Make sure the expansion card will not harm the cooling functions inside of the computer. In most cases, this will not be known until well after the card has been installed. Consider getting an app to monitor the temperature inside of the computer. For any expansion card meant to be an upgrade over an integrated component, you may need to disable the integrated component in the BIOS after the installation is complete. This will ensure that there is no conflict between the integrated component and the expansion card. Here are the types of expansion cards an A+ technician could be called upon to install on a computer along with the reasons for installing these expansion cards: Card Type Sound Video Network USB FireWire Thunderbolt Storage Modem Wireless Cellular TV Tuner Video Capture Riser Reason for Installation To increase the sound quality for both playback and recording. To increase the quality of graphics and video for both viewing and for working with photo-editing and other graphics programs. This will also provide better graphics for gaming. Most modern video cards have their own RAM, Graphics Processing Unit (GPU), and fan for cooling. To increase network speed and throughput. In some cases (especially servers), a second network card will provide for fault tolerance. In fault tolerance, one card failing will not cause a loss of network connectivity as the second network card will take over the workload. Most USB cards have at least four USB ports. This will allow for more USB devices to be connected to the computer. In addition, the USB expansion card will not use the bandwidth of any integrated USB ports. Similar to USB, this will provide additional FireWire ports. To provide a Thunderbolt port. Thunderbolt ports provide both storage and display services. To add support for additional hard drives. Most of the time, these will be SATA hard drives. Often, the storage cards will have built-in RAID support. To provide a means in which one can use a dial-up connection to reach a server or the Internet. To provide a means in which a wireless network connection can be established. This is especially helpful if a computer is in a location in which a wired network connection cannot be obtained. Similar to wireless but a network connection is obtained through a cellular provider. To allow for watching and recording of TV shows. To allow for video capturing from a VCR, DVD, or other video source. A card that contains several expansion slots, thus increasing a computer s expansion capability. In this project, you will identify expansion cards needed given a customer situation. You will also have an opportunity to install an expansion card onto a computer so long as you have an expansion card to install and a computer on which to install it. Steps for Completion: 1. For each situation, identify the type of expansion card to best fit the customer need: a. A graphics designer wants to be able to effectively edit videos: b. A pizza store owner wants to transfer surveillance tapes onto a computer: c. A narrator wants a better quality recording when doing promotional recordings: 35 Domain 1: Hardware A+ ( ) Project Workbook

36 2. If you have a computer and an expansion card to install (and an available expansion slot for the installation), install the expansion card and make sure it functions after rebooting the computer. Points to Remember: The most common reason for an expansion card is to increase a computer s capabilities. Make sure a computer has an available expansion slot, ample cooling, and that you have the drivers needed to install any software or drivers for the expansion card before installing the expansion card. Reference: LearnKey s A+ ( ) Domain 1: Hardware Training Install and Configure Expansion Cards: Obtain Drivers for Expansion Cards; Add a Video Card and Sound Card; Add a Network Card; Other Expansion Cards Difficulty: Intermediate Estimated Time to Complete: 10 minutes; minutes if you count the physical installation [One could spend up to half a day installing cards if there are enough cards to install.] Required Materials: For the installation portion of the project, a computer with an available expansion slot and an expansion card to install. Objectives: 1.0 Hardware 1.4 Install and configure PC expansion cards 1.4.a Sound cards 1.4.b Video cards 1.4.c Network cards 1.4.d USB cards 1.4.e FireWire cards 1.4.f Thunderbolt cards 1.4.g Storage cards 1.4.h Modem cards 1.4.i Wireless/cellular cards 1.4.j TV tuner cards 1.4.k Video capture cards 1.4.l Riser cards 36 Domain 1: Hardware A+ ( ) Project Workbook

37 Installing an Optical Drive Description: Most computers will come with an optical drive. An optical drive is a drive that can play CDs and/or DVDs and/or Blu-ray discs. Sometimes, a computer user needs a higher-performing optical drive than the one in the computer. For example, the computer may have a CD player and a DVD or Blu-ray player is needed. Or, a computer user may need to be able to record onto DVDs and the installed optical drive may not have that capacity. Most optical drives have labels designating the media the optical drive can play and use for recording. Here are the common types of optical drives, along with their characteristics: Optical Drive Type CD-ROM CD-RW DVD-ROM DVD-RW Blu-ray BD-R BD-RE What it Does Plays CDs but has no recording capability. ROM stands for Read-Only Memory. Plays CDs and can record data onto CD-R (recordable) or CD-RW (rewriteable) discs. Plays CDs and DVDs but has no recording capability. Plays DVDs and can record data onto DVD-R (recordable) or DVD-RW (rewriteable) discs. Can play CDs, DVDs, and Blu-ray discs but has no recording capability. A Blu-ray Disc Recordable optical drive. Can play CDs, DVDs, and Blu-ray discs and can record to Blu-ray discs and usually to CDs and DVDs. Each disc can have data recorded onto it just once. A Blu-ray Recordable Erasable optical drive. Can play CDs, DVDs, and Blu-ray discs and can record data to Blu-ray discs and usually to CDs and DVDs and erase data from rewritable discs. Another reason to install a new optical drive is to get one which performs faster than the drive currently installed in the computer. The base speeds for data transfer for optical media are as follows: CD: 150 KBps (1200 Kbps); DVD: 1.39 MBps (11 Mbps); Blu-ray: 4.5 MBps (36 Mbps). Optical drives also have a multiplier to increase the speeds of data transfer. For example, a DVD-RW 4x can transfer speeds at 1.39 x 8 MBps or 5.56 MBps. Many optical drives will have different multipliers for different optical media and speeds will often vary between playing and recording data. Thus, before getting a new optical drive, make sure the speeds of the new drive are faster than the drive being replaced. Installing an optical drive is a relatively easy process, and, unlike the installation of expansion cards, a driver is not usually needed, though before installing an optical drive you should obtain drivers for it just in case the drivers are needed. For installing an optical drive, here is the pre-installation checklist: A space to place and properly mount the optical drive into the system. Screws to mount the optical drive and a screwdriver to use for the mounting step. A SATA cable to connect the optical drive to the motherboard, assuming the optical drive has a SATA and not a Parallel ATA (PATA) slot. Virtually all optical drives use SATA cables now. The computer needs to have a SATA port on the motherboard in order to plug in the SATA cable connected to the optical drive into the motherboard. The power supply needs an available power cable to plug into the optical drive. If there is a front-side audio port associated with the optical drive, make sure the audio cable can connect from the optical drive into the motherboard. In addition, a technician needs to know whether this installation is meant to provide for an additional optical drive or if it is going to replace the existing optical drive. In this project, you will identify optical drive needs given a customer situation and calculate data speeds of optical drives given a multiplier. If you have an optical drive and a computer to install it into, you will do that task as well. Steps for Completion: 1. For each situation, identify the type of optical drive needed to fulfill a customer need: a. A customer needs to play Blu-ray movies but does not need to duplicate any discs nor record material to new Blu-ray discs: b. A business owner needs to back up data weekly to DVD discs that can be reused each month: c. An upstart record company needs to create music CDs that cannot be overwritten: 37 Domain 1: Hardware A+ ( ) Project Workbook

38 2. What are the speeds for an optical drive that has the following specs: CD 24x DVD 8x DVD-RW 8x? a. CD: b. DVD: c. DVD-RW: 3. If you have an optical drive, the supplies needed to install it, and a computer in which you can install one, install the optical drive into the computer. Make sure the computer can see the new optical drive once you restart the computer. Points to Remember: There are three main types of optical drives: CD, DVD, and Blu-ray. Most, but not all optical drives have recording capabilities. Optical drives have base speeds. These base speeds x a multiplier = the data transfer speeds of the drives. Reference: LearnKey s A+ ( ) Domain 1: Hardware Training Storage Devices: Install an Optical Drive Difficulty: Intermediate Estimated Time to Complete: 10 minutes; minutes if you count the physical installation [To add time, install two optical drives.] Required Materials: An optical drive and the necessary cabling and a computer in which it can be installed for the installation project Objectives: 1.0 Hardware 1.5 Storage Devices and Media 1.5.a Installing Optical Drives 1.5.a.i CD-ROM / CD-RW 1.5.a.ii DVD-ROM / DVD-RW / DVD-RW DL 1.5.a.iii Blu-ray 1.5.a.iv BD-R 1.5.a.v BD-RE 38 Domain 1: Hardware A+ ( ) Project Workbook

39 Magnetic Hard Drives Description: Hard drives inside of devices store data. Unlike RAM, hard drives store data even after a device is turned off. There are two main types of hard drives found in devices: magnetic, and solid-state. This project will focus on magnetic hard drives. Magnetic hard drives have been in computers since computers became popular. These hard drives consist of cylinders which contain tracks. These tracks contain sectors, which store the data written to the drive. Magnetic hard drives are usually 3.5 inches in width for desktop hard drives and 2.5 inches in width for laptop hard drives. The capacity of magnetic hard drives varies from 250 GB or less all the way to 4 TB or higher. In addition to capacity, magnetic hard drives have speed characteristics. Most hard drives operate at a speed of 5400 revolutions per minute (rpm), 7200 rpm, or rpm. The faster the speed, the shorter the time it takes to read data from the disk and write data to the disk. Magnetic hard drives also have seek time. Seek time is the time it takes to move from one track to another. Older hard drives use a Parallel ATA (PATA) cable to connect to the motherboard. A PATA cable is thin and wide and usually has a 40-pin connector. Most modern hard drives connect using a Serial ATA (SATA) cable, an L-shaped cable. Data travels through SATA cables faster than through the older PATA cables. SATA connectors on a motherboard are numbered, usually starting with SATA 0. The lowest numbered SATA drive will be the first drive in a computer s boot order unless the boot order is changed in the BIOS. For example, take a computer with a CD drive plugged into SATA 0 and a magnetic hard drive plugged into SATA 1. If a bootable disc is in the CD drive, the computer will attempt to boot to that disc rather than the operating system on the magnetic hard drive. Thus, pay attention when installing hard drives using SATA cables to the SATA connector being used on the motherboard. One other advantage to using SATA cables is that most SATA-based hard drives are hot swappable. Hot swappable hard drives can be unplugged from a system or plugged into a system even while a system is running. Take, for example, a computer with a capacity for three hard drives. The first hard drive is the operating system drive (the C: drive) while the second hard drive is a data drive (a D: drive). The C: drive cannot be unplugged or else the system will fail to operate. However, while the system is running, a third hard drive can be plugged in and data can be copied from the second hard drive to the third hard drive. When the data copying is complete, the third hard drive can be unplugged. When installing a magnetic hard drive, make sure to have the following: A place to install and secure the hard drive. An available SATA power supply cable from the power supply. A SATA cable to connect the hard drive to the motherboard. A screwdriver and screws so that the drive can be properly mounted into the system. In this project, you will identify a SATA port to use for a hard drive installation. If you have a SATA hard drive and the necessary components available to install the hard drive, you will do an installation as well. Steps for Completion: 1. On this motherboard, in which SATA port would you plug in a hard drive so that it is the first drive in the boot order? 2. Name at least one advantage of using a SATA hard drive over a PATA hard drive: 39 Domain 1: Hardware A+ ( ) Project Workbook

40 3. If you have a SATA magnetic hard drive, a computer in which to install the hard drive, and the equipment needed to install the drive, install a SATA magnetic hard drive into a computer. Make sure the computer can see the hard drive when the computer is rebooted. Points to Remember: Magnetic hard drives contain cylinders. Cylinders contain tracks and tracks contain sectors. Data is stored on sectors. A PATA cable is wide and thin while a SATA cable has an L-shaped connector. SATA connectors on a motherboard are numbered. The numbers control the boot order of a system, lowest to highest. Reference: LearnKey s A+ ( ) Domain 1: Hardware Training Storage Devices: Magnetic Hard Drives; Hot Swappable Drives Difficulty: Intermediate Estimated Time to Complete: 10 minutes; minutes if you count the physical installation [To add time, add two SATA drives and then set the boot order in the BIOS.] Required Materials: A SATA hard drive, a SATA cable, and an available computer in which to install the SATA drive. Objectives: 1.0 Hardware 1.5 Install and configure storage devices and use appropriate media 1.5.b Magnetic hard disk drives 1.5.b.i 5400 rpm 1.5.b.ii 7200 rpm 1.5.b.iii 10,000 rpm 1.5.c Hot swappable drives 40 Domain 1: Hardware A+ ( ) Project Workbook

41 Solid-State and Flash Drives Description: Whereas magnetic hard drives have been in computers for more than 20 years, magnetic hard drives tend to have two major issues. First, the cylinders on the hard drives can go bad and thus render a hard drive and its data useless. Secondly, the performance of these hard drives has not completely kept up with faster processors and faster RAM. Over the past few years, a new type of drive, a solid-state drive, has become a popular alternative to the traditional magnetic hard drive. While solid-state drives are often similar in size to magnetic hard drives, they do not have cylinders that spin and can potentially fail. Solid-state drives use non-volatile (meaning non-erasing) flash memory to store data. Solid-state drives also consume less power than that of magnetic hard drives and they perform at a far greater rate than most magnetic hard drives. For example, a computer with a magnetic hard drive that takes 30 seconds to boot up will usually take 7 seconds or less when that same computer uses a solid-state drive. To install a solid-state drive internally into a computer, a SATA power supply cable is needed and, a SATA cable is needed to connect the solid-state drive to the motherboard. Many solid-state drives come in the form of a flash drive, also commonly referred to as a thumb drive. Flash drives can range anywhere from 1 GB to 512 GB in storage capability. Other types of flash drives often store data on devices such as digital cameras and then the drives are inserted into a port on a computer, thus allowing the transfer of data from the flash drive to a computer. Some of these types of solid-state and flash drives are: Type of Drive Size Characteristics Compact Flash (CF) 43 mm x 36 mm Type 1 is 3.3 mm thick while Type 2 is 5 mm thick. CF drives can hold up to 512 GB of data (CF5.0 drives can hold up to 128 PB of data). Secure Digital (SD) 24 mm x 32 mm Can hold up to 2 GB of data. SD High Capacity (SDHC) can hold up to 32 GB of data while SD Extended Capacity (SDXC) can hold up to 2 TB of data. MiniSD 21.5 mm x 20 mm Smaller version of SD card MicroSD 15 mm x 11 mm Smaller version of SD card xd Older flash card used in some digital cameras. Embedded MultiMediaCard (emmc) Flash memory and controller that goes into a small ball grid array as a permanent attachment to circuit boards. Used in mobile phones and tablets. In addition to the solid-state and flash drives available, a solid-state drive can be combined with a magnetic hard drive. This is known as a hybrid drive (or hybrid drives) in a system. In many cases, the solid-state drive (SSD) is used as the operating system disk while the magnetic hard drive (HDD) is used for storage. Here are some specific types of hybrid drives: Dual-drive hybrid system: A logical drive is created through the combination of a physical SSD and a physical HDD. Solid-state hybrid system: both SSD and HDD technologies are in a single physical drive. In this project, you will identify the type of hard drive used given a situation. If you have a solid-state drive to install and a place to install it, you will perform a solid-state drive installation. Steps for Completion: 1. For each situation, identify the type of solid-state or flash drive present or needed: a. Which type of SD card is seen on the right? b. Which type of flash drive is often used in a smartphone? 2. Name at least one advantage of using an SSD over an HDD: 41 Domain 1: Hardware A+ ( ) Project Workbook

42 3. If you have a solid-state drive and the proper tools necessary to install it, install a solid-state drive into a system. Make sure the system can see the solid-state drive once the system is rebooted. Points to Remember: Solid-state drives are more durable and perform faster than magnetic hard drives. Flash drives come in many forms but the purpose is the same: faster and more convenient data transfer. A hybrid consists of either a solid-state drive and a magnetic hard drive or a single drive with both solid-state and magnetic hard drive technologies. Reference: LearnKey s A+ ( ) Domain 1: Hardware Training Storage Devices: Solid-State Drives Difficulty: Intermediate Estimated Time to Complete: 10 minutes; minutes if you count the physical installation [40 plus minutes whatever time it takes to back up the data on the current disk if this is a disk replacement] Required Materials: A solid-state drive and a computer in which it can be installed for the installation portion of the project Objectives: 1.0 Hardware 1.5 Install and configure storage devices and use appropriate media 1.5.d Solid state/flash drives 1.5.d.i Compact flash 1.5.d.ii SD 1.5.d.iii MicroSD 1.5.d.iv MiniSD 1.5.d.v xd 1.5.d.vi SSD 1.5.d.vii Hybrid 1.5.d.viii emmc 42 Domain 1: Hardware A+ ( ) Project Workbook

43 RAID Types Description: A Redundant Array of Independent Disks (RAID), also known as a Redundant Array of Inexpensive Disks, is a disk system by which overall disk speed and/or fault tolerance is improved. Fault tolerance is the means by which a failing device does not compromise an entire system. For example, a computer with a single hard drive is at risk given that if the hard drive fails, the data on the hard drive is most likely lost and the computer will be inoperable until a new hard drive is installed. A RAID adds one or more additional hard drives. In most, but not all cases, a second hard drive will prevent a catastrophic data situation should a single hard drive fail. Here are the RAID types and their characteristics: RAID Known As Disks What it Does 0 Striping 2+ Data is written to both disks at once. This increases speed but there is no fault tolerance. If one drive fails, the entire RAID is useless. 1 Mirroring or Duplexing 2+ Data is written to one disk and then mirrored (if using the same disk controller) or duplexed (if using a different disk controller) to another disk. If a single drive fails, the mirror takes over until another hard drive is installed, thus restoring the RAID. 5 Striping with parity 3+ Data is striped to two disks and then a parity bit is stored on a third disk. This parity bit will restore data on either disk should a disk fail. 10 (1+0) Striping with mirroring 4+ Data is striped to two disks (as in a RAID 0) and then mirrored to another set of two disks (as in a RAID 1). For any RAID, be sure to use disks of the same storage capacity. Otherwise, you will lose the ability to use some disk space. For example, in a RAID 1 with two 500 GB hard disks, you will have 500 GB of available storage. But, in a RAID 1 with one 500 GB hard disk and one 2 TB hard disk, only 500 GB are available as a 2 TB hard disk is too large to mirror to a 500 GB hard disk. In order for a RAID to work in a computer, the computer itself must support a RAID. Sometimes a RAID will be hardware-based and will show in a system BIOS. Sometimes, it will be software-based and created using Disk Management in Windows or a thirdparty software application. In this project, you will identify RAID types needed given a customer situation. Steps for Completion: 1. For each situation, identify the RAID type needed: a. A customer needs data to be backed up automatically when it is saved: b. A customer needs the best possible performance in a database application: c. A customer needs data written as quickly as possible to disks and is fine with a backup to an external drive once a day: Points to Remember: A RAID provides faster performance and/or redundancy of data. A RAID 0 provides no redundancy of data. RAID setups always use multiple disks. In RAID 0 and RAID 1, two disks are needed. In RAID 5, three disks are needed. Reference: LearnKey s A+ ( ) Domain 1: Hardware Training Storage Devices: RAID Types Difficulty: Beginner Estimated Time to Complete: 10 minutes; minutes if you count the physical installation Required Materials: None Objectives: 1.0 Hardware 1.5 Install and configure storage devices and use appropriate media 1.5.e RAID types 1.5.e.i e.ii e.iii e.iv Domain 1: Hardware A+ ( ) Project Workbook

44 Tape Drives and Media Capacity Description: Another type of drive used, though not in most personal computers, is a tape drive. Tape drives can be internal or external but are usually installed in or attached to servers. The main purpose of a tape drive is to back up data. Tape drives are not the fastest means for data transfer but they are considered to be very reliable for holding data and, when necessary, for data retrieval. For an administrator in charge of a company s backup routine, a system should be established for how tapes will be used and rotated through a series of backups. One type of backup system is known as the Grandfather-Father-Son backup system. In this, a backup tape is set aside for each day of the week a backup should take place. Those tapes are the son tapes. Then, another backup is taken once a week, onto a father tape. At this point, each son tape is reused for each day of the week the following week. Once a month, another backup is taken and this is known as the grandfather backup. At this point, each father tape is reused for each week the following month. There are two main types of tape drives: Media Capacity Digital Linear Tape (DLT): has a transfer speed of up to 60 Mbps. CD and CD-RW 700 MB Linear Tape-Open (LTO): has a transfer speed of up to 140 Mbps. Tapes used in a tape drive will usually have a recommended maximum number of uses before the tapes should be replaced. Unlike CDs and DVDs, tapes wear out over a period of time. A worn out tape will not efficiently back up data. Tape drives, similar to optical discs, have a maximum capacity for data. The maximum capacity for tape drives and optical drives are as seen in the table on the right of the page: In this project, you will identify the minimum storage disc or drive needed given a customer situation. DVD and DVD-RW DVD and DVD-RW (dual layer) Blu-ray (single layer) Blu-ray (dual layer) Blu-ray (triple layer) Blu-ray (quad layer) DLT LTO Steps for Completion: 1. For each situation, identify the type of disc or drive needed to store the amount of data given: a. A customer needs to back up 3 GB of photos and videos: b. A writer needs to back up 500 MB of documents: 4.7 GB 8.5 GB 25 GB 50 GB 100 GB 128 GB 800 GB 10 TB c. A small business needs to back up 1 TB of data nightly: 2. If a business is going to use a Grandfather-Father-Son method of using backup tapes, how many tapes need to be purchased? Points to Remember: Tape drives are used mainly for backup purposes. Each type of tape drive and optical drive have a capacity limit for data. Reference: LearnKey s A+ ( ) Domain 1: Hardware Training Storage Devices: Tape Drive; Media Capacity Difficulty: Beginner Estimated Time to Complete: 10 minutes [ if a tape drive is installed and a backup is run] Required Materials: N/A Objectives: 1.0 Hardware 1.5 Install and configure storage devices and use appropriate media 1.5.f Tape drive 1.5.g Media capacity 1.5.g.i CD 1.5.g.ii CD-RW 1.5.g.iii DVD-RW 1.5.g.iv DVD 1.5.g.v Blu-ray 1.5.g.vi Tape 1.5.g.vii DVD DL 44 Domain 1: Hardware A+ ( ) Project Workbook

45 CPU Installations and Socket Types Description: A central processing unit (CPU) is the chip on which the instruction processing takes place. Some servers and high-end computers have multiple CPUs but the majority of computers have a single CPU. CPUs will usually have one of the following three types of sockets for installation: Zero Insertion Force (ZIF): Uses a lever to secure the chip in the socket. Land Grid Array (LGA): The socket has small pins and the CPU is secured using a flip-top mechanism. Ball Grid Array (BGA): The CPU is mounted in a socket and then heated to melt the solder. Pin Grid Array (PGA): The CPU uses a square package with pins mounted on printed circuit boards. The two most common CPU manufacturers are Intel and AMD. With Intel chips, the number on the chip model usually represents the number of pins in the CPU socket. A third type of chip, an Advanced RISC Machine (ARM) chip is found in tablets such as ipads. ARM chips cannot be replaced. Here are some common Intel CPU socket types, the CPUs they support, the system bus types they are compatible with, and the RAM channels that will support these socket types: Socket CPUs Bus Types RAM Channels LGA 775 (Socket T) Pentium IV Xeon Front Side Single Channel DDR2 and DDR3 RAM Pentium D Core 2 Duo Core 2 Quad Celeron LGA 1150 (Socket H3) Core i3, i5, i7 Pentium DMI Dual Channel DDR3 RAM Celeron Pentium LGA 1155 (Socket H2) Core i3, i5, i7 Pentium DMI Dual Channel DDR3 RAM Celeron LGA 1156 (Socket H or H1) Core i3, i5, i7 Xeon DMI Dual Channel DDR3 RAM Celeron Pentium LGA 1366 (Socket B) Core i7 Xeon Triple Channel DDR3 RAM Celeron QPI LGA 2011 (Socket R) Core i7 Xeon QPI, DMI Quad Channel DDR3 RAM Here are some common AMD CPU socket types, the CPUs they support, the system bus types they are compatible with, and the RAM channels that will support these socket types: Socket CPUs Bus Types RAM Channels AM3 (941 pins, PGA) Phemon II Athlon II Sempron Opteron FSB with Hyper- Transport version 3 Single channel DDR2 RAM Dual channel DDR3 RAM AM3+ (942 pins, PGA) AM3 can fit in these FM1 (905 pins, PGA) Used for APUs FM2 (904 pins, PGA) Used for APUs FM2+ (906 pins, PGA) Backward compatible with FM2 Phemon II Athlon II Sempron Opteron Fusion Athlon II Trinity Richland Kaveri FSB with Hyper- Transport version 3 FSB with Hyper- Transport version 3 FSB with Hyper- Transport version 3 FSB with Hyper- Transport version 3 Dual channel DDR3 RAM Dual channel DDR3 RAM Dual channel DDR3 RAM Dual channel DDR3 RAM Though installing a CPU is not a common task for computer technicians, one still needs to know how to install one. Installations vary 45 Domain 1: Hardware A+ ( ) Project Workbook

46 by manufacturer but most CPU installations follow these pre-installation steps: Make sure any new CPU is compatible with the motherboard on which it will be installed. Make sure the CPU will fit properly into its allotted slot on the motherboard. If needed, have thermal paste ready so that it can be applied during the installation. Once the pre-installation steps are complete, most CPU installations follow or similarly follow these steps: Unscrew the fan and heat sink holding down the current CPU. Remove the fan and heat sink. Remove the CPU. On the new CPU, place a couple of drops of thermal paste on the back side (the side that does not face the socket). Insert the CPU into the CPU slot. Place the fan and heat sink on top of the CPU. Screw in the fan and heat sink to the motherboard. In this project, you will identify the socket needed given a motherboard setup. If you have a CPU and a computer in which it can be installed, you will perform a CPU installation. Steps for Completion: 1. For each RAM type, identify the CPU socket(s) that will work with the given RAM type: a. Triple channel DDR3 RAM: b. Quad channel DDR3 RAM: c. Single channel DDR2 RAM: 2. If you have a CPU, a computer in which the CPU can be installed, and the necessary parts to install the CPU, install the CPU, making sure that the computer recognizes the new CPU when the computer is rebooted. Points to Remember: CPU sockets have many different socket types (ZIF, BGA, LGA, and PGA). For Intel chips, the number on the chip model indicates the number of pins in the socket. Follow the manufacturer s instructions for the exact method for installing a CPU. Reference: LearnKey s A+ ( ) Domain 1: Hardware Training CPUs and Cooling: Socket Types Difficulty: Advanced Estimated Time to Complete: 5 minutes for the project; 60 minutes if the CPU installation is done [to lengthen this project, install both an Intel and an AMD CPU] Required Materials: A CPU, a computer in which it can be installed, and the necessary parts to install the CPU Objectives: 1.0 Hardware 1.6 Install various types of CPUs and apply the appropriate cooling methods 1.6.a Socket types 1.6.a.i Intel: 775, 1155, 1156, 1366, 1150, a.ii AMD: AM3, AM3+, FM1, FM2, FM2+ 46 Domain 1: Hardware A+ ( ) Project Workbook

47 CPU Characteristics Description: In addition to needing to fit in the correct sockets, CPUs have several characteristics which define their speeds and overall processing capabilities. When choosing a CPU, besides making sure it is compatible with the socket and RAM channels on a motherboard, the CPU also needs to be compatible with the speeds allowed on the motherboard. The speed of a CPU is defined as: Crystal speed x multiplier = total speed. For example, a 133 MHz processor with a multiplier of 20 constitutes a 2.66 GHz processor. In some instances, the speed and or multiplier can be manipulated in the BIOS. Doing so, however, can make the cooling in the computer ineffective. CPUs also have one or more cores. Each core can run a task. Thus, a dual core processor can run two tasks at once while a quad core processor can run four tasks at once. Understand that multiple cores does not equate to multiple processors. CPUs have a cache. A cache stores instructions that the CPU thinks it will need again. These instructions are stored in static RAM (SRAM). Without SRAM, instructions need to be stored in dynamic RAM (DRAM). There are three main types of caches for CPUs: L1 cache: Fast and located closest to the CPU. An L1 cache is present on each core in a processor. L1 caches are small (32 KB to 64 KB). L2 cache: Cache which is shared by all cores of the CPU. L2 caches are a little slower than an L1 cache. L2 caches range in size from 256 KB to 1 MB. L3 cache: Cache for which its use is processor-dependent. L3 cache sizes range from 2 MB to 8 MB. In addition to speed, the number of cores, and caches, here are other characteristics which define the overall performance of a CPU: Characteristic Hyperthreading Virtualization support Architecture Integrated Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) Disable Execute Bit feature Definition Doubles the number of instructions to be processed at once. This is present on some Intel CPUs and can be enabled or disabled in the BIOS. Known as VT-x for Intel CPUs and AMD-V for AMD-V CPUs. When enabled (sometimes manually in the BIOS), 64-bit virtual machines are supported. 32-bit CPUs support 4 GB of RAM. 64-bit CPUs support 17 EB of RAM. A 32-bit operating system can be installed on a 64-bit processor but a 64-bit operating system cannot be installed on a 32-bit processor. Also known as an accelerated processing unit (APU) on AMD processors. A GPU/APU is located on the CPU and processes graphics instructions. Present on Intel processors with a J after the model number. When enabled in the system BIOS, this disables code execution in the buffer when a worm tries to insert code into the buffer. In this project, you will identify the CPU characteristic present given a description. Then, you will discover the number of cores in a CPU. Steps for Completion: 1. A CPU has a crystal speed of 166 MHz and a multiplier of 15. What is the CPU speed? 2. Which CPU characteristic, when enabled, doubles the number of instructions which can be processed at once? 3. What needs to be enabled in the BIOS on an Intel processor in order for a computer to host a 64-bit Windows 8.1 virtual machine? 4. What determines the amount of tasks a CPU can perform simultaneously? 5. On a Windows machine, click the Start button and type: msinfo Press the Enter key. The System Information screen will appear. 7. Look for the Processor item. It will look like this: 47 Domain 1: Hardware A+ ( ) Project Workbook

48 Points to Remember: Crystal speed x a multiplier = CPU speed. A CPU can have multiple cores. Multiple cores allow a CPU to process multiple tasks at once. Hyperthreading doubles the number of instructions to be processed at once. A CPU can have an Integrated GPU (APU on AMD processors) to help process graphics instructions. Reference: LearnKey s A+ ( ) Domain 1: Hardware Training CPUs and Cooling; CPU Characteristics Difficulty: Beginner Estimated Time to Complete: 15 minutes for the project [lengthen the project through doing steps 5-7 on multiple systems] Required Materials: A Windows computer Objectives: 1.0 Hardware 1.6 Install various types of CPUs and apply the appropriate cooling methods 1.6.b Characteristics 1.6.b.i Speeds 1.6.b.ii Cores 1.6.b.iii Cache size/type 1.6.b.iv Hyperthreading 1.6.b.v Virtualization support 1.6.b.vi Architecture (32-bit vs. 64-bit) 1.6.b.vii Integrated GPU 1.6.b.viii Disable execute bit 48 Domain 1: Hardware A+ ( ) Project Workbook

49 CPU Cooling Description: In order for a CPU to function properly, the CPU and the computer it is in must avoid overheating. Several possible methods are used to keep a CPU from overheating. The method used depends upon the type of computer a CPU is running. For most desktop computers, there are three pieces of equipment which work with the CPU to keep the CPU from overheating. They are: Heat sink: A piece of metal which draws heat from the CPU and dissipates the heat. Air flows through flared fins. Fans: Attached to the heat sink. The hotter the CPU gets, the more the fans spin. In laptops, the CPU will often throttle down when the temperature rises, thus slowing down the laptop s performance. Thermal paste: A compound that helps fill gaps in the metal on the CPU and heat sink to help draw heat from the CPU into the heat sink. For high-end systems, such as gaming systems, fans may not be sufficient to properly cool a CPU and the computer as a whole. For those systems, liquid cooling is used. Liquid cooling uses a pump to flow cooling liquid through the heat sink. One who uses a liquid cooling-based system needs to make sure the cooling mechanism is leak-proof. Other systems, such as thin client machines and home theater systems, use fanless cooling, also known as passive cooling. In fanless cooling, metal attached to any part that needs cooling performs the needed cooling instead of a fan or fans doing the cooling. In this project, you will identify the type of cooling needed given a computer description. Steps for Completion: 1. For each type of system, identify what is needed to ensure the CPU does not overheat: a. A computer used for gaming and intensive graphics programs: b. A home theater system used to catalog and play movies: c. A desktop computer used for business purposes: 2. In the photo on the right, which letter represents a heat sink? Points to Remember: Most desktops need a fan and heat sink to properly cool a CPU. High-end desktops, such as gaming desktops, need a liquid cooling system to cool the CPU. A fanless or passive cooling system uses metal rather than a fan to cool the system. Reference: LearnKey s A+ ( ) Domain 1: Hardware Training CPUs and Cooling: CPU Cooling Difficulty: Beginner Estimated Time to Complete: 5 minutes Required Materials: N/A Objectives: 1.0 Hardware 1.6 Install various types of CPUs and apply the appropriate cooling methods 1.6.c Cooling 1.6.c.i Heat sink 1.6.c.ii Fans 1.6.c.iii Thermal paste 1.6.c.iv Liquid-based 1.6.c.v Fanless/passive 49 Domain 1: Hardware A+ ( ) Project Workbook

50 Video and Network Connectors Description: In previous projects, you learned about connectors such as USB, FireWire, and SATA connectors. In this project, the focus will shift to video and network connectors. There are three main types of video connectors: Video Graphics Array (VGA), High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI), and Digital Visual Interface (DVI). Here are the standard data types and resolutions for these video connectors and their variations: Connector Data Resolution VGA Analog 640 x 480 is the standard, but can go higher depending upon what a monitor/video card will support HDMI Digital HDMI 1080 supports up to 1920 x 1080 HDMI 720 supports up to 1280 x 720 DVI Analog for DVI-Analog (DVI-A) Digital for DVI-Digital (DVI-D) Both Analog and Digital for Integrated (DVI-I) Single-link DVI supports up to 1920 x 1200 Dual-link DVI supports up to 2560 x 1600 DVI connectors are identified through their pin configuration. DVI-I connectors have all pins in use, while DVI-D connectors do not have the four analog pins on the left in use. Single-link connectors do not use the middle six pins of the DVI connector. Here are examples of the five types of DVI connectors: DVI-A DVI-D Single Link DVI-D Dual Link DVI-I Single Link DVI-I Dual Link HDMI connectors are unique in that they can digitally transfer both video and audio. Network connectors come in two main forms: RJ-45: an eight-pin connector used for Ethernet cables. RJ-11: a four-pin connector used for standard phone jacks. Network connectors (especially the RJ-45 connector) will be covered in more detail in a later project. One connector that provides multiple services is a Thunderbolt connector. A Thunderbolt connector combines PCIe and DisplayPort into one serial signal. Thunderbolt connectors also provide power to the devices which connect to a computer using Thunderbolt. A connector that is proprietary to Apple devices is a Lightning connector A Lightning connector is an eight-pin connector used to connect Apple mobile devices to computers, monitors, cameras, chargers, and other peripherals. Lightning connectors use digital signals to carry data. In this project, you will first identify types of connectors. Then, you will identify which types of connectors are needed given a customer situation. Steps for Completion: 1. For each connector, identify the connector type: a. b. 2. Which connector(s) will this plug fit into? Points to Remember: VGA, HDMI, and DVI are all popular video connectors. HDMI can transmit both audio and video data digitally. 50 Domain 1: Hardware A+ ( ) Project Workbook

51 RJ-45 and RJ-11 connectors are both network connectors. A Thunderbolt connector can transmit data, video, and/or power. Reference: LearnKey s A+ ( ) Domain 1: Hardware Training PC Connection Interfaces: Audio, Video, and Network Connections Difficulty: Beginner Estimated Time to Complete: 10 minutes Required Materials: None but having audio, video, and network connectors to examine would help Objectives: 1.0 Hardware 1.7 Compare and contrast various PC connection interfaces, their characteristics and purpose 1.7.a Physical connections 1.7.a.iv Other connector types 1.7.a.iv.1 VGA 1.7.a.iv.2 HDMI 1.7.a.iv.3 DVI 1.7.a.iv.4 Audio 1.7.a.iv.4.1. Analog 1.7.a.iv.4.2. Digital (Optical connector) 1.7.a.iv.5 RJ a.iv.6 RJ a.iv.7 Thunderbolt 51 Domain 1: Hardware A+ ( ) Project Workbook

52 Wireless Connections Description: Wireless connections do not just involve connecting a computer or tablet to a wireless access point. The types of wireless connections you will use at any given time depend upon the equipment used, the technologies available, and the distance between the two devices needing a connection. There are four main types of wireless connections: Bluetooth, Near Field Communication (NFC), Radio Frequency (RF), and Infrared (IR). Bluetooth connections are connections made between two devices. These two devices will make, during the connection, a Personal Area Network (PAN) between the two devices. Examples of a Bluetooth connection include: A keyboard to a tablet. A smartphone to a car app. A smartphone to a smartwatch. For most connections, a Personal Identification Number (PIN) is used to pair the two devices which are being connected. In some cases, one device or neither device will have a PIN, in which case devices are paired through discovering each other. Bluetooth connections have three possible classes, each with a possible distance: Class 1: 100 meters (328 feet) Class 2: 10 meters (approximately 33 feet) Class 3: 5 meters (approximately 16 feet) Most Bluetooth connections are Class 2 connections, though newer devices, such as smartwatches, are capable of Class 1 connections. NFC communications also take place between two devices. Unlike Bluetooth, NFC communication does not require a PIN to pair devices. The two devices, rather, need to be NFC-capable and then, to communicate, need to be within 10 centimeters of each other. There are three types of NFC communications: NFC Card emulation: An NFC-enabled device can act like a smart card. Examples of this are smartphones equipped to use services such as Apple Pay or Android Pay. NFC Reader/Writer: An NFC-enabled device that can read information stored on NFC tags embedded in labels. NFC peer-to-peer: Two NFC-enabled devices can communicate with each other, ad hoc style. This type of communication is common between two smartphones. For typical wireless connections, including a device connecting to a wireless access point, RF signals are used. The stronger the RF signal, the better the connection quality. RF signal strength may need to be adjusted on a wireless access point to control the signal and its distance from the access point. For example, an RF signal strength may need to be lowered in order to get a signal to stay within the confines of a building. IR wireless connections involve line-of-sight wireless communications between two devices. IR needs to be enabled on both devices in order for IR communication to take place. IR is more common on smartphones than desktop or laptop computers but often a wireless mouse will communicate with a device through IR. In this project, you will identify the type of wireless connection taking place given a situation in which two devices are connected. If you have a Bluetooth keyboard and a Bluetooth device, you will pair the two Bluetooth devices. Steps for Completion: 1. For each situation, identify the most likely type of wireless connection being used: a. A smartphone communicating with a smartwatch to relay caller ID information to the smart watch: b. A wireless mouse used to navigate on a laptop: c. A customer scanning a smartphone on a reader in a store to pay for groceries: 2. To pair two devices using Bluetooth, make sure to first have two Bluetooth-enabled devices (a Bluetooth keyboard and a tablet will be used in this example). On the tablet, navigate to the settings area. 3. If Bluetooth is turned off, turn Bluetooth on. 4. Take your other Bluetooth device and make sure the device is on and Bluetooth is enabled. 52 Domain 1: Hardware A+ ( ) Project Workbook

53 5. If the device you wish to connect to a tablet has a connect button, push the connect button. Your tablet should look like this: 6. On the tablet, tap the device you wish to connect. You will see the following: 7. Follow the instructions given to enter the PIN code on the device you are connecting to the tablet. You should then see the following on the tablet: Points to Remember: Bluetooth connections allow for devices to pair up and transfer data between each other. The pairing is usually done through a PIN code. Near Field Communication (NFC) is a wireless connection involving two NFC-enabled devices coming within 10 centimeters of each other to enable communication. Radio Frequency (RF) signals are wireless signals used for typical wireless network connections. Infrared (IR) signals for short-distance, line-of-sight communication between two wireless devices. Reference: LearnKey s A+ ( ) Domain 1: Hardware Training PC Connection Interfaces: Wireless Connections Difficulty: Intermediate Estimated Time to Complete: 15 minutes [longer if one pairs multiple devices] Required Materials: A Bluetooth keyboard and a device with which to pair the keyboard Objectives: 1.0 Hardware 1.7 Compare and contrast various PC connection interfaces, their characteristics and purpose 1.7.b Wireless connections 1.7.b.i Bluetooth 1.7.b.ii RF 1.7.b.iii IR 1.7.b.iv NFC 53 Domain 1: Hardware A+ ( ) Project Workbook

54 Connection Characteristics Description: Along with having many types of connectors (peripheral, audio, video, and network connectors, for example), the connectors themselves have characteristics such as distance limitations, data transfer speeds, frequencies, and signal types. An A+ technician needs to know which connectors will work given a space in which to install equipment and the equipment needed to install. Many of these distances and speeds are shown in other projects. Here, then, is a reference to common connectors, their distance limitations, and their data transfer speeds (note that some of these are actually wireless connections): Connector Distance Limitation Data Transfer Speeds USB 5 meters (3 meters recommended for USB 3.0) USB 1.1: 12 Mbps USB 2.0: 480 Mbps USB 3.0: 5 Gbps FireWire 4.5 meters for FireWire meters for FireWire 800 FireWire 400: 400 Mbps FireWire 800: 800 Mbps SATA 1 meter (2 meters for esata) SATA 1: 1.5 Gbps SATA 2: 3 Gbps SATA 3: 6 Gbps Bluetooth Class 1: 100 meters Class 2: 10 meters Class 3: 5 meters Bluetooth 3.0: 25 Mbps Bluetooth 4.0: Up to 250 Mbps Infrared Typically 6 feet Up to 1 Gbps RJ meters Up to 10 Gbps depending upon the Ethernet cable to which the RJ-45 connector is attached Here are some other overall characteristics for connectors and the means in which they conduct data: Analog vs. Digital: For analog transmissions, data is sent as a modulation on an alternating current sine wave. For digital transmissions, data is sent in binary 1s and 0s. Quality: The quality of any connector is dependent upon factors which can cause interference. For example, RJ-45 connectors usually work with unshielded twisted pair (UTP) cable, which is susceptible to electromagnetic interference (EMI). Wireless connections can be affected by line-of-sight issues, objects such as microwave ovens, or merely having too long of a distance between two connected devices. Digital Rights Management (DRM): As it pertains to connectors, DRM is part of a 56-bit High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection (HDCP) protocol for data transmission through a DisplayPort. Frequencies: The higher the frequency, the more data which can be transferred at once. In this project, you will identify the connector needed given a customer situation. Steps for Completion: 1. For each situation, identify the connector needed, assuming that any connector is available to plug into a computer: a. A student needs to plug a camera sitting 45 feet from a computer into a computer: b. A student has an external drive and a 15-foot USB cable to use to plug it into a computer: c. A wireless keyboard needs to connect to a computer 10 feet away: Points to Remember: Different connectors have different speeds and distance limitations. Analog data transfers happen in waves, while digital data transfers happen as binary 1s and 0s. The quality of data transmissions is affected by signal interference and exceeding distance limitations. Reference: LearnKey s A+ ( ) Domain 1: Hardware Training PC Connection Interfaces: Interface Characteristics Difficulty: Beginner 54 Domain 1: Hardware A+ ( ) Project Workbook

55 Estimated Time to Complete: 5 minutes Required Materials: None Objectives: 1.0 Hardware 1.7 Compare and contrast various PC connection interfaces, their characteristics and purpose 1.7.c Characteristics 1.7.c.i Analog 1.7.c.ii Digital 1.7.c.iii Distance limitations 1.7.c.iv Data transfer speeds 1.7.c.v Quality 1.7.c.vi DRM 1.7.c.vii Frequencies 55 Domain 1: Hardware A+ ( ) Project Workbook

56 Power Supply Connectors Description: Many different types of connectors originate from a computer s power supply. Knowing which connectors are needed (and the amount of each connector) for a motherboard and for computer peripherals (such as hard drives) will partially dictate the power supply needed for a computer. Here is a guideline to the different types of power supply connectors, their voltages, and their characteristics: Connector Voltages Characteristics SATA 3.3, 5, and 12V 15 pins and provides power to SATA drives. Molex 5 and 12V Provides power to Parallel ATA (PATA) drives and, in some cases, fans. PCIe Determined by Power Supply 6 or 8 pins and used for PCIe power. Unit (PSU) 20-pin or 24-pin 3.3, 5, and 12 V Provides primary power to the motherboard. Often called the P1 connector. On some 24-pin connectors, the last four pins can be detached in case the motherboard needs a 20-pin connector instead of a 24-pin connector. In addition to having pins, connectors use different voltages. The voltages are indicated via the colors of the wires coming from the power supply to the connector. Each voltage has a corresponding wire color, as seen here: 0V: Black; 3.3V: Orange; 5V: Red; 12V: Yellow; (-12V): Blue. In this project, you will identify types of power supply connectors. Steps for Completion: 1. Identify each type of power supply connector: a. b. c. 2. When can a 24-pin power supply connector be used in a 20-pin power slot on a motherboard? Points to Remember: When choosing a power supply, make sure there are enough power cables of each type for what is needed for the motherboard and for peripherals needing power. The color of a power supply wire determines its voltage. Reference: LearnKey s A+ ( ) Domain 1: Hardware Training Install a Power Supply: Power Supply Connector Types Difficulty: Beginner Estimated Time to Complete: 10 minutes [15 if one takes the time to plug these connectors into the motherboard and/or peripherals] Required Materials: None Objectives: 1.0 Hardware 1.8 Install a power supply based on given specifications 1.8.a Connector types and their voltages 1.8.a.i SATA 1.8.a.ii Molex 1.8.a.iii 4/8-pin 12v 1.8.a.iv PCIe 6/8-pin 1.8.a.v 20-pin 1.8.a.vi 24-pin 56 Domain 1: Hardware A+ ( ) Project Workbook

57 Power Supply Specifications Description: When installing a power supply into a computer, there are a number of factors to take into consideration. In the previous project, you learned that a power supply needs to have enough power connectors of each type (SATA for example) in order to be compatible with the computer s motherboard and peripherals. There are several other specifications to consider for power supply specifications when obtaining and installing a power supply. Here are these specifications, along with specification details: Specification Size Number of connectors ATX vs. Micro-ATX Dual voltage options Wattage Detail The new power supply has to match the size of the power supply being replaced so that it fits properly in the case. The new power supply should have the same number of connectors (and for each type of connector) of the power supply being replaced. At the very least, there needs to be enough connectors for the peripherals and motherboard connections to be used. The power supply needs to be compatible with the size of the motherboard it will be connected to. Not all motherboards are the standard size of ATX or Micro-ATX motherboards. If the power supply is going to be in a machine that may be shipped overseas, a dual voltage switch to allow the power supply to operate at either 115V (U.S.) or 230V (Europe) is needed. Must be sufficient to handle all peripherals and motherboard connections. Most ATX-based power supplies need watts of power while most Micro-ATX-based power supplies need watts of power. In addition to making sure a computer has the proper voltage for its location if it is leaving the US, a proper plug adapter is also needed. This especially applies to laptops as they are more likely than desktops to travel overseas. In this project, you will identify an important part of a power supply. You will then find out how much wattage you need on a power supply given a machine specification. Steps for Completion: 1. Identify the location of the dual voltage switch in the power supply on the right: 2. Using a search engine tool, search for a website that hosts a power supply calculator. Then, using the calculator, calculate the power supply unit (PSU) wattage needed a computer with the following specs: Intel Core i7 quad-core processor, desktop motherboard, integrated video, 8 GB DDR3 RAM, a DVD- RW optical drive, and a 10,000 RPM HDD. What is the recommended wattage? Points to Remember: Factors to consider when replacing a power supply include size, connectors, voltage, and wattage. In addition to voltage, any computer going overseas (including laptops) need to have the proper AC adapter for the location in which the computer will be used. Reference: LearnKey s A+ ( ) Domain 1: Hardware Training Install a Power Supply: Power Supply Specifications Difficulty: Beginner Estimated Time to Complete: 10 minutes [20 if one does multiple search configurations] Required Materials: None Objectives: 1.0 Hardware 1.8 Install a power supply based on given specifications 1.8.b Specifications 1.8.b.i Wattage 1.8.b.ii Dual rail 1.8.b.iii Size 1.8.b.iv Number of connectors 1.8.b.v ATX 1.8.b.vi Micro-ATX 1.8.b.vii Dual voltage options 57 Domain 1: Hardware A+ ( ) Project Workbook

58 Custom PC Configurations Description: An A+ technician needs to properly analyze customer needs for a computer and then be able to recommend one or more possibilities for a computer that will suit a customer. The customer could be an individual, a small business with several computer needs, or a department in a medium to large-sized company. Specific to the A+ exam, you need to be able to match up computer parts with recommended configurations. For example, you need to know that a quad core i7 processor is needed for a CAD workstation while a Pentium IV processor is sufficient for a thin client. Here are eight possible PC configurations, needs specific to those configurations, and examples of equipment which will satisfy those needs: Configuration Needs Examples Graphic/CAD/CAM design workstation Multicore processor High-end video card Maximum RAM Quad core processor Video card w/gpu and 2+ GB of RAM 16GB DDR3 RAM or more Audio/video editing workstation Specialized audio and video card Large fast hard drive Dual monitors High-end sound card Video card w/gpu and 2+ GB of RAM 15,000 RPM 2TB hard drive Virtualization Workstation Maximum CPU and RAM cores Quad-core i7 processor 16GB DDR3 RAM or more Gaming PC Home Theater PC (HTPC) Standard thick client Thin client Home Server PC Multicore processor High-end video/specialized GPU High definition sound card High-end cooling Surround sound audio HDMI output HTPC compact form factor TV tuner Desktop applications Recommended OS requirements Basic applications Minimum OS requirements Network connectivity Media streaming File sharing Print sharing Gigabit NIC RAID array Quad core processor Video card w/gpu and 2+ GB of RAM HD sound card Liquid cooling 5.1 or 7.1 speaker system Micro-ATX motherboard TV tuner card Dual core processor 4 to 8 GB RAM Integrated video is sufficient Pentium IV processor 2 GB RAM NIC for network connection 1G or higher-speed NIC Two hard drives for RAID 0 or RAID 1 Three hard drives for RAID 5 Four hard drives for RAID 10 In this project, continued on the next page, you will identify specific parts to be loaded inside of computers geared toward satisfying customer needs. 58 Domain 1: Hardware A+ ( ) Project Workbook

59 Steps for Completion: 1. A customer needs to purchase two computers. Computer #1 will be located in a living room and needs to be able to run an Office suite, the Internet, and a few low-end games. Computer #2 will be located in a home office and needs to be able help create highquality commercial videos as the customer is a self-employed video production artist. For each computer part type, indicate which part will be installed in computer #1 and which part will be installed in computer #2: Parts Computer #1 Computer #2 4 GB RAM 8 GB RAM 500 GB 7,200 RPM HDD 2 TB 15,000 RPM HDD Two 26-inch Monitors One 21-inch Monitor 3 GB video card with a GPU Integrated video Points to Remember: There are eight custom PC configurations defined by CompTIA. For each custom configuration, know what separates one configuration from the others on a needs basis. Reference: LearnKey s A+ ( ) Domain 1: Hardware Training Custom PC Configurations: Choosing a Workstation Difficulty: Intermediate Estimated Time to Complete: 10 minutes [longer if the project is expanded to include three systems and three sets of parts] Required Materials: None Objectives: 1.0 Hardware 1.9 Given a scenario, select the appropriate components for a custom PC configuration, to meet customer specifications or needs 1.9.a Graphic / CAD / CAM design workstation 1.9.a.i Multicore processor 1.9.a.ii High-end video 1.9.a.iii Maximum RAM 1.9.b Audio/Video editing workstation 1.9.b.i Specialized audio and video card 1.9.b.ii Large fast hard drive 1.9.b.iii Dual monitors 1.9.c Virtualization workstation 1.9.c.i Maximum RAM and CPU cores 1.9.d Gaming PC 1.9.d.i Multicore processor 1.9.d.ii High-end video/specialized GPU 1.9.d.iii High definition sound card 1.9.d.iv High-end cooling 1.9.e Home Theater PC 1.9.e.i Surround sound audio 1.9.e.ii HDMI output 1.9.e.iii HTPC compact form factor 1.9.e.iv TV tuner 1.9.f Standard thick client 1.9.f.i Desktop applications 1.9.f.ii Meets recommended requirements for selected OS 1.9.g Thin client 1.9.g.i Basic applications 1.9.g.ii Meets minimum requirements for selected OS 1.9.g.iii Network connectivity 1.9.h Home Server PC 1.9.h.i Media streaming 1.9.h.ii File sharing 1.9.h.iii Print sharing 1.9.h.iv Gigabit NIC 1.9.h.v RAID array 59 Domain 1: Hardware A+ ( ) Project Workbook

60 Refresh Rates and Screen Resolution Description: Two aspects of controlling a monitor display are to control the refresh rate and the screen resolution. The refresh rate defines the number of times per second a screen is redrawn. For example, a refresh rate of 60 Hz will make a screen redraw itself 60 times per second. Generally, a higher refresh rate will increase the quality of a monitor display. However, setting a refresh rate that is too high for what a monitor supports will cause a monitor to lose its display. If that happens, a computer needs to be rebooted into Safe Mode or VGA Mode in order to allow the refresh rate to be reset. As opposed to refresh rate, frame rate defines the number of screen frames per second. Frame rate is usually dependent upon a video producing application s frame rate settings. For example, in programs such as Adobe Flash and Adobe Premiere, a frame rate can be set when a video is created. A setting that is changed far more often than a refresh rate is a screen resolution. The screen resolution defines the number of pixels to show on a screen. As an example, a 1024 x 768 screen resolution has 1024 pixels of width and 768 pixels of height for screen display. A screen resolution can be changed but every effort should be made to keep a screen resolution at a monitor s native resolution. A native resolution is the recommended screen resolution for a monitor. If a screen resolution does not match the monitor s native resolution, the screen image can be distorted. Here are some common screen resolutions for common types of video display types: Name Abbreviation Resolution Video Graphics Array VGA 640 x 480 Super VGA SVGA 800 x 600 Extended GA XGA 1024 x 768 Extended VGA EVGA 1024 x 768 Super XGA SXGA 1280 x 1024 Ultra XGA UXGA 1600 x 1200 Wide UXGA WUXGA 1920 x 1200 High-Definition Multimedia Interface HDMI 1920 x 1080 HDMI x 720 In this project, you will explore a screen s refresh rate and screen resolution. Steps for Completion: 1. On a Windows-based computer, display the desktop. 2. Right-click the desktop and click Screen resolution. You will see the screen on the right: 3. Click the drop-down arrow on the Resolution field and look over the possible resolution settings. If the resolution is not at the recommended setting, choose the recommended setting. 4. Click Advanced Settings. The video card settings will appear. 5. Click the Monitor tab. You will see the following: 6. Click the drop-down arrow on the Screen refresh rate field and observe the available refresh rates. If you want, choose a slightly higher refresh rate than the current rate, if one is available. 7. Close all open windows. 60 Domain 1: Hardware A+ ( ) Project Workbook

61 Points to Remember: A display s refresh rate determines the number of times it will redraw per second. Screen resolution is measured in pixels and is indicated in width x height. Native resolution is the recommended screen resolution for a display. Reference: LearnKey s A+ ( ) Domain 1: Hardware Training Display Devices: Refresh Rates; Resolution Difficulty: Beginner Estimated Time to Complete: 10 minutes [this project can be lengthened through doing these exercises on multiple screens] Required Materials: A Windows-based computer Objectives: 1.0 Hardware 1.10 Compare and contrast types of display devices and their features 1.10.b Refresh / frame rates 1.10.c Resolution 1.10.d Native resolution 61 Domain 1: Hardware A+ ( ) Project Workbook

62 Other Display Device Features Description: In addition to refresh rates and screen resolutions, there are several other features which apply to display devices. Here are those features, along with a description of each: Brightness: The degree in which the overall lighting will be on a display, usually on a scale of 0 to 100, with 100 being the brightest. Lumens: Used in lieu of brightness, lumens are measured units which dictate the amount of light output. Unlike brightness, lumens are not measured by percentage or scale. Analog vs. Digital: In analog transmissions, data is transferred in sine waves. VGA uses analog transmission. In digital transmissions, data is transferred in binary 1s and 0s. DVI and HDMI use digital transmission. For those who are sensitive to light, an antiglare filter (also known as a privacy filter) can fit over the display screen and soften some of the light emanating from the display. An antiglare filter also lessens the angles from which others can see what a person has on a display. Antiglare filters are strongly recommended or even mandatory in some high-security environments. For many computer users, a single display is insufficient for getting work done efficiently. Many computer users use two or more displays for a single computer. The two most common multiple display setups are: A laptop with a built-in display plus an external monitor A desktop with two or more monitors connected to the computer. To connect multiple monitors, the computer s video card must support having multiple monitors. Many video cards have multiple VGA or DVI ports (or a VGA and a DVI port). In addition, a higher-end video card will have an HDMI port available. If a video card supports multiple monitors but only has one video port available, a cable splitter is needed to connect both monitors to the splitter and then the splitter to the video port. For laptops, just one port is needed for connecting a second display. There are two common settings for a multiple-monitor display: Duplicated: The images on the main display are mirrored on the second display. This works well for presentations such as a presenter using a laptop and wanting the same image on a screen. Extended: This takes the two (or more) displays and makes them appear as if a user is just seeing one big display. This setup is good for those who need to view multiple applications at once. Displays will have one of three possible aspect ratios. Aspect ratios determine the ratio of pixels covering the width of a screen to the number of pixels covering the height of a screen. Here are the three most common aspect ratios, along with common screen resolutions for each aspect ratio, in order of newest and most common to oldest and least common: Aspect Ratio Common Resolutions 16:9 (1.78 to 1) 1024 x 576, 1280 x 720, 1600 x 900, 1920 x 1080, and 2560 x (1.6 to 1) 1280 x 800, 1680 x 1050, and 1920 x :3 (1.33 to 1) 1024 x 768, 800 x 600, 640 x 480 A common screen resolution for 15-inch laptop screens is 1366 x 768, which is close to a 16:9 aspect ratio but technically is a 683:384 aspect ratio. Changing a screen resolution to something other than a display s native resolution will cause at least some form of image distortion. However, the distortion is lessened if the screen resolution chosen has the same aspect ratio as that of the native resolution. In this project, you will connect and configure multiple displays for a computer. You will also change the screen resolution on a display to one that matches with the screen s aspect ratio. Steps for Completion: 1. On a Windows-based machine, right-click a blank area of the desktop and click Screen Resolution. 2. Change the screen resolution to one that is different but matches the aspect ratio of the native (recommended) resolution. 3. Close the Screen Resolution window. 4. Connect a second monitor to the computer. 5. Re-open the Screen Resolution window. It should resemble the screen on the right: 62 Domain 1: Hardware A+ ( ) Project Workbook

63 6. Click the drop-down arrow on the Multiple displays field and change the setting from Extend these displays (or Duplicate these displays) to Duplicate these displays (or, if the setting is at Duplicate these displays, change the setting to Extend these displays). 7. Click the OK button. Points to Remember: Brightness is usually measured in percentage. Lumens are units of measurement. A privacy/antiglare filter not only reduces glare but it also makes a screen tougher to view from multiple angles, thus slightly increasing security. Multiple displays can be configured to duplicate the same desktop on multiple screens or extend a single desktop to multiple screens. Aspect ratios define the width-to-height ratio for pixels on a display. Reference: LearnKey s A+ ( ) Domain 1: Hardware Training Display Devices: Brightness; Analog vs. Digital; Privacy/Antiglare Filters, Multiple Displays; Aspect Ratios Difficulty: Intermediate Estimated Time to Complete: 10 minutes [15 if one disconnects the second monitor, rescans for displays, reconnects the second monitor, and then again, rescans for displays] Required Materials: A computer and two available displays to connect or a laptop with an external monitor available to connect Objectives: 1.0 Hardware 1.10 Compare and contrast types of display devices and their features 1.10.e Brightness/lumens 1.10.f Analog vs. digital 1.10.g Privacy/antiglare filters 1.10.h Multiple displays 1.10.i Aspect ratios 1.10.i.i 16: i.ii 16: i.iii 4:3 63 Domain 1: Hardware A+ ( ) Project Workbook

64 Display Cables and Connectors Description: For connecting displays to computers, an A+ technician needs to be familiar with many different types of display cables and connectors. Furthermore, while most display connectors transmit video some are capable of transmitting both video and audio, thus saving the need for an audio cable. Some of these connectors were mentioned and displayed in the Video, Audio, and Network Connectors project earlier in this workbook. This project will go into more detail on some of the earlier-mentioned video connectors and introduce other display connectors. Earlier in this workbook, three types of Digital Visual Interface (DVI) connectors were covered: DVI-D (Digital), DVI-I (Integrated), and DVI-A (Analog). DVI-D connectors are compatible with HDMI connectors through the use of an adapter. DVI-I connectors are compatible with both HDMI and VGA connectors (again, through the use of an adapter) while DVI-A connectors are compatible with VGA. DVI connectors do not transmit audio on their own. Here are several other connectors which directly or indirectly work with displays, along with their characteristics: Connector mindin-6 RCA HD15 DisplayPort Bayonet Neill-Concelman (BNC) HDMI minihdmi Characteristics 6-pin mini-din (Deutches Inftitut fur Normung) standard electrical connector. An example of this is a PS/2 connector, used for mice and keyboards. For component connectors, three RCA jacks are used, each carrying a separate analog signal. For composite connectors, one (or sometimes two) RCA jacks are used for audio. A typical VGA connector. The official name for a 15-pin VGA connector is DE15 but the connector is commonly known as DB15. The D stands for shape and E for shell size. The default number of pins for each shell size is as follows: DA-15, DB-25, DC-37, DD-50, DE-9. VGA transmits colors in red, green, and blue streams. Transmits audio, video, and USB signals for monitors with USB connectors. The connector has a wide U-shape. DisplayPort is only compatible with DVI or HDMI though the use of an adapter. Used with RG-59 (coaxial) cables. Coaxial cables are used mostly for cable TV transmissions. RG-59 is the original standard for cable TV while RG-6 is a newer standard and is used for both cable and satellite systems. High-definition transmission for both digital video and eight-channel digital audio. HDMI is compatible with DVI-D and DVI-I but not DVI-A. An HDMI connector known as a type C connector. minihdmi is smaller than the typical type A HDMI connector (10.42mm x 2.42mm vs. 13.9mm x 4.45mm) With RCA connectors, the two types of cables (component and composite) each have a distinct purpose for each colored connector: Component: An analog cable with three jacks: Y, P b, and P r. The green connector is used for Y, which carries luma (amount of brightness). The blue connector is used for P b and carries the difference between blue and luma. The red connector is used for P r and carries the difference between red and luma. Composite: The yellow connector is used for composite video while red and white connectors are used for audio. In this project, you will identify different types of display connectors. Steps for Completion: 1. Identify each type of display connector: a. b. c. d. 64 Domain 1: Hardware A+ ( ) Project Workbook

65 2. Which connector(s) transmit both video and audio? Points to Remember: DVI connectors can transmit video through either digital or analog signals, depending upon the type of DVI connector (DVI-D, DVI-I, or DVI-A). RCA connectors can be component or composite in nature. DisplayPort connectors can transmit both audio and video signals. Reference: LearnKey s A+ ( ) Domain 1: Hardware Training PC Connector Types: Display Connector Types Difficulty: Beginner Estimated Time to Complete: 10 minutes Required Materials: None Objectives: 1.0 Hardware 1.11 Identify common PC connector types and associated cables 1.11.a Display connector types 1.11.a.i DVI-D 1.11.a.ii DVI-I 1.11.a.iii DVI-A 1.11.a.iv DisplayPort 1.11.a.v RCA 1.11.a.vi HD15 (i.e. DE15 or DB15) 1.11.a.vii BNC 1.11.a.viii minihdmi 1.11.a.ix minidin b Display cable types 1.11.b.i HDMI 1.11.b.ii DVI 1.11.b.iii VGA 1.11.b.iv Component 1.11.b.v Composite 1.11.b.vi Coaxial 65 Domain 1: Hardware A+ ( ) Project Workbook

66 Universal Serial Bus (USB) and PS/2 Connections Description: Computers and similar devices have many different capabilities to host peripheral devices. For example, most computers can have thumb drives, phone chargers, digital cameras, web cameras, external hard drives, and a host of other devices plugged into them. One key benefit of USB connectors is that a computer will usually recognize a USB device when it is plugged into the computer. The most common type of physical connection is a Universal Serial Bus (USB) connection. Mice, keyboards, printers, scanners, external hard drives, and other peripherals all commonly use USB connections to connect to a computer. Here are the four common types of USB connectors: Type A B Mini Micro Characteristics The most common USB connector and rectangular in shape. These connectors usually plug into the back or front of a computer. Square in shape. Usually plugs into a peripheral (like a printer, for example). Smaller than USB A and trapezoid-shaped. These also usually plug into a peripheral. These have been deprecated in favor of micro-usb connectors. Flatter than mini-usb connectors. Often used in external drives and phone chargers. In addition to USB types, there are USB standards for speed and distance. These are the three standards and speeds for data transfer: Standard Speed 1.1 Up to 12 Mbps 2.0 Up to 480 Mbps 3.0 Up to 5 Gbps The length of a USB cable can be up to 5 meters (16 feet). However, for USB 3.0, the recommended cable length is 10 feet as higher speeds tend to travel well over shorter distances. USB 3.0 connectors are also usually blue, thus separating their look from USB 1.1 or USB 2.0 connectors. For any USB connection between two devices with different speeds, the slower speed prevails. For example, a USB 3.0 external drive connected to a USB 2.0 port will function at USB 2.0 speed. One other characteristic of USB connectors is that a single USB port can hold up to 127 USB devices through the use of USB hubs. Multiple USB connections sharing one port will share the bandwidth of that port. For example, if four devices are plugged into a USB hub and that hub is plugged into a USB 2.0 port, the four devices will share the 480 Mbps available. Specific to USB drives such as thumb drives, avoid disconnecting a USB drive from a computer when a file stored on the drive is open. This causes a dirty bit, which is a situation in which an open, unsaved file has no drive to go to because the drive has been removed. This often causes a Do you want to scan and fix Removable disk? error message the next time the external drive is connected to a computer. One type of connector USB connectors is slowly phasing out is the PS/2 connector. PS/2 connectors are round connectors used for mice and keyboards. The mouse connectors are green while the keyboard connectors are purple. Many newer desktop computers do not have PS/2 ports. In this project, you will identify types of USB ports and connectors. You will then determine what is needed given a situation involving USB connectors. Steps for Completion: 1. For each port or connector, identify the type of USB port or connector being used: a. b. c. d. 2. A computer user has only two USB ports available, but needs to plug in six USB devices. What can be used to satisfy the user s need? 66 Domain 1: Hardware A+ ( ) Project Workbook

67 3. If you have a USB-enabled device, plug it into a running computer and see if the computer recognizes the device. Points to Remember: USB has three standards for speeds and four standards for types of connectors. USB is the most common type of connector for peripheral devices. USB hubs can be used to plug up to 127 devices into a single USB port. Reference: LearnKey s A+ ( ) Domain 1: Hardware Training PC Connection Interfaces: Physical Connections PC Connector Types: Display Cable Types; Device Cables and Connectors Difficulty: Beginner Estimated Time to Complete: 10 minutes [longer if there are multiple USB devices available to plug in] Required Materials: A USB-enabled device, a computer, and a USB cable that can connect the device to the computer Objectives: 1.0 Hardware 1.7 Compare and contrast various PC connection interfaces, their characteristics and purpose 1.7.a Physical connections 1.7.a.i USB 1.1 vs. 2.0 vs a.i.1 Connector types: A, B, mini, micro 1.11 Identify common PC connector types and associated cables. 1.11c Device cables and connectors 1.11.c.iii USB c.v PS/2 67 Domain 1: Hardware A+ ( ) Project Workbook

68 FireWire and SATA Connectors Description: Though USB connectors are very popular, they are not the only types of connectors for peripheral devices. Two other types of peripheral connectors are often used: FireWire, and Serial ATA (SATA). FireWire connectors, also known as IEEE 1394 connectors, are used to connect devices such as external hard drives, video cameras, and music players. FireWire connectors are more commonly used on Apple computers rather than PCs, but are still used on many types of PCs. Up to 63 devices can be connected to one FireWire port through the use of FireWire hubs. There are two FireWire connector standards: IEEE 1394a: These support speeds of up to 400 Mbps and cable lengths of up to 4.5 meters (15 feet). This is also known as the FireWire 400 standard. IEEE 1394b: These support speeds of up to 800 Mbps and cable lengths of up to 100 meters (328 feet), which is the same length supported for Ethernet unshielded twisted-pair cables. This is also known as the FireWire 800 standard. Along with these two standards, FireWire cables have three pin configurations: 4-pin: This supports the FireWire 400 standard and does not supply power from a computer to a device. This connector supports the IEEE 1394a standard. 6-pin: Able to supply power from a computer to a device. This connector supports the IEEE 1394a standard. 9-pin: Able to supply power from a computer to a device. This connector supports both the IEEE 1394a and IEEE 1394b standards. 9-pin connectors can support speeds of up to 1.6 Gbps for an S1600 connector and up to 3.2 Gbps for an S3200 connector. In addition to FireWire connectors, devices can be connected through Serial ATA (SATA) connectors. SATA connectors are used primarily to connect hard drives, both internal and external. SATA connectors are L-shaped connectors and are used both on power supplies to power hard drives and to connect hard drives to motherboards. SATA connectors come in two distinct types. The wider L-shaped connectors originate from a power supply and plug into a hard drive. These connectors are SATA power connectors and have 15 pins. The pins match up with color and voltage settings as follows: Color Voltage Pins Orange 3.3 V 1,2,3 Black Ground to 4,5,6 Red 5 V 7,8,9 Black Ground to 10, 11, 12 Yellow 12 V 13,14,15 When needed, a 4-pin Molex connector can be connected to a SATA connector with a Molex-to-SATA adapter. The other type of SATA connector is a SATA data connector. This connector is a 7-pin connector and is narrower than a SATA power connector. Similar to FireWire, SATA connectors have different data transfer speeds, depending upon the standard present for a connection. The three SATA standards, their speeds, and their names are as follows: Name Bits/Sec Bytes/Sec Known as SATA Gbits 150 Mbps SATA 1.5G, SATA 1.5Gb/s, SATA 1.5Gbit/s, SATA 150 SATA Gbits 300 Mbps SATA 3G, SATA 3Gb/s, SATA 3Gbit/s, SATA 300 SATA Gbits 600 Mbps SATA 6G, SATA 6Gb/s, SATA 6Gbit/s, SATA 600 Even with these standards, most SATA drives do not exceed 157 Mbps for a transfer speed. SATA cables have a maximum standard length of one meter. Another type of SATA connector is an external SATA (esata connector). esata connectors connect external drives to esata ports on a computer. esata cables can be up to two meters in length. A type of esata connector is an esatap (powered esata) connector. An esatap connector is an esata/usb combination port, also known as a hybrid port. esatap ports support both esata and USB connections. In this project, you will identify types of SATA and FireWire connectors. You will also decide on a type of connector needed given a computer user situation. 68 Domain 1: Hardware A+ ( ) Project Workbook

69 Steps for Completion: 1. Identify each of these connectors, including the amount of pins in these connectors: a. b. c. 2. A user needs to install a second SATA hard drive in a computer. Which cable(s) must be available in order to properly install the hard drive and make sure it works? Be specific: 3. A user needs a FireWire cable which will provide power to an external drive. Both a 4-pin FireWire port and a 9-pin FireWire port are available on the back of the user s computer. Which port(s) will work? Points to Remember: FireWire connectors come in two speeds (400 Mbps and 800 Mbps) and three pin types (4-pin, 6-pin, and 9-pin). 4-pin FireWire connectors do not provide power to an external device. The two types of SATA connectors are 15-pin connectors for power and 7-pin connectors for data. Reference: LearnKey s A+ ( ) Domain 1: Hardware Training PC Connection Interfaces: Physical Connections PC Connector Types: Display Cable Types; Device Cables and Connectors Difficulty: Beginner Estimated Time to Complete: 5 minutes [15-20 if there are FireWire and/or esata devices to plug in] Required Materials: None but having FireWire and SATA cables to explore would help with the project Objectives: 1.0 Hardware 1.7 Compare and contrast various PC connection interfaces, their characteristics and purpose 1.7.a Physical connections 1.7.a.ii FireWire 400 vs. FireWire a.iii SATA1 vs. SATA2 vs. SATA3, esata 1.11 Identify common PC connector types and associated cables c Device cables and connectors 1.11.c.i SATA 1.11.c.ii esata 1.11.c.iv FireWire (IEEE1394) 69 Domain 1: Hardware A+ ( ) Project Workbook

70 Audio Connectors Description: There are two main types of audio connector: analog and digital. Most analog audio connectors reside in the back (sometimes front) of a computer. Analog audio sets of connectors on a computer usually fall into one of these three categories: 2.1: Three connectors; two for stereo and one for a subwoofer. 5.1: A surround sound system with connectors for five speakers and a subwoofer. 7.1: A surround sound system with connectors for seven speakers and a subwoofer. Most analog audio connectors are round Tip Ring Sleeve (TRS) connectors. They are color-coded as follows: Color Pink Lime green Light blue Brown Orange Black Silver Purpose Microphone Speakers or headphones Line in Middle speakers on a 7.1 system Subwoofer and center speaker on a 5.1 or 7.1 system Rear speakers Side speakers on a 7.1 system There are two main types of digital audio: HDMI: HDMI cables are capable of transmitting both video and audio digitally. Sony/Philips Digital Interconnect Format (S/PDIF):This connector is often found on the back of a computer. In this project, you will identify several analog audio connectors. Steps for Completion: 1. For each analog audio connector, identify the type of connector: a. b. c. d. e. Points to Remember: Analog audio connector sets have three categories: 2.1, 5.1, and 7.1. An S/PDIF connector is a common digital audio connector. HDMI transfers both digital video and digital audio. Reference: LearnKey s A+ ( ) Domain 1: Hardware Training PC Connection Interfaces: Audio, Video, and Network Connections PC Connector Types: Display Cable Types; Device Cables and Connectors Difficulty: Beginner Estimated Time to Complete: 5 minutes [15-20 if there are multiple speaker configurations available to plug in] Required Materials: None Objectives: 1.0 Hardware 1.7 Compare and contrast various PC connection interfaces, their characteristics and purpose 1.7.a Physical connections 1.7.a.iv Other connector types 1.7.a.iv.4 Audio 1.7.a.iv.4.1. Analog 1.7.a.iv.4.2. Digital (Optical connector) 1.11 Identify common PC connector types and associated cables c Device cables and connectors 1.11.c.vi Audio 70 Domain 1: Hardware A+ ( ) Project Workbook

71 Computer Adapters and Converters Description: There will be occasions to where a connector is available on a device and one or more cables are available, but the cables do not match with the available connector on the machine. For example, a monitor may have a DVI connector and a DVI cable may be present, but the monitor needs to connect to a laptop which does not have a DVI connector but does have an HDMI port. Fortunately, there are many converters available to accommodate these types of situations, along with a description of each: Converter Description DVI to HDMI Connects a DVI-D cable to an HDMI cable (or port). USB A to USB B Connects a USB A cable end-to-end with an adapter that then plugs into a USB B port. These are used mostly to connect printers and scanners to computers. USB to Ethernet This plugs into a USB port on a device and then allows for an Ethernet cable to connect to the other end to provide network connectivity. This is useful when a device has a USB port but no Ethernet port and needs to establish a network connection through Ethernet. DVI to VGA Connects a DVI-A cable to a VGA cable (or port). Thunderbolt to DVI One end of this converter has a Thunderbolt adapter to use to plug a Thunderbolt cable into it while the other end has a DVI connector for a DVI cable. PS/2 to USB Allows for a USB cable to plug into one end of this converter and then the other end is a PS/2 adapter that plugs into a machine. HDMI to VGA An HDMI cable plugs into one end of this converter and a VGA cable plugs into the other end. In this project, you will identify converters and choose a converter to apply given a situation. Steps for Completion: 1. Identify each of these converters: a. b. 2. For each situation, indicate the converter needed to fulfill a computer user s need. a. A device has a USB port but no network ports and needs to connect to a wired network: b. A mouse and keyboard have PS/2 connectors but the computer to plug them into has no PS/2 ports: Points to Remember: Converters are used to establish connections when the correct adapters or ports are not always available. DVI-D adapters plug into DVI to HDMI converters while DVI-A adapters plug into DVI to VGA converters. Reference: LearnKey s A+ ( ) Domain 1: Hardware Training PC Connector Types: Adapters and Converters Difficulty: Intermediate Estimated Time to Complete: 10 minutes Required Materials: None but having converters to examine would help Objectives: 1.0 Hardware 1.11 Identify common PC connector types and associated cables 1.11.d Adapters and converters 1.11.d.i DVI to HDMI 1.11.d.ii USB A to USB B 1.11.d.iii USB to Ethernet 1.11.d.iv DVI to VGA 1.11.d.v Thunderbolt to DVI 1.11.d.vi PS/2 to USB 1.11.d.vii HDMI to VGA 71 Domain 1: Hardware A+ ( ) Project Workbook

72 Input Devices Description: Input devices are devices used to send information to a computer for processing. Any human interaction with a computer, such as typing in a document, clicking with a mouse, or touching a screen is considered an input. An A+ technician needs to be familiar with these devices and the processes by which these devices are installed on a computer. Some input devices just need to be plugged into a computer port. Others require some configuration. Use either the disc that came with the input device or, better yet, check the manufacturer s website for the most recent drivers and download those drivers before connecting an input device. The table below shows a list of input devices and their input characteristics: Device Mouse Keyboard Scanner Barcode reader Biometric device Game pads Touch pads Digitizer Digital camera Microphone Webcam Camcorder Motion sensor Smart card reader Purpose(s) Controls activity on a computer. Left-clicks usually select items or create action, right-clicks display shortcut menus, double-clicks open a file or folder, and click and drag or hover actions perform specific operating system or application tasks. Inputs information into a program. Windows and Function keys perform specialized operations. Drivers are only needed for unique keys (such as a key that connects to the Internet, for example). Used to make copies of on-screen documents and pictures. Many scanners can digitize text and make it editable through optical character recognition (OCR). Reads and processes information from barcode. An example of this is the Quick Response (QR) code reader on a smartphone. Uses physical information on a person (eyes, fingerprints, retinas) to input information. This is often used for authentication purposes. Used as gaming devices. Most have multiple buttons and joysticks. Before game pads existed, single joysticks were used to control game action. Used in lieu of a mouse on a laptop. Somewhat similar to a touchpad but specializes in use on graphics applications. For example, applying more pressure on the digitizer pad can lead to a thicker brush being used to paint on the screen. Camera which stores pictures on a flash memory device and then allows for those pictures to be transferred to a computer. Used to record information for input into a program. Many computers have built-in microphones. Some headsets have microphones. Usually, a desktop microphone or studio microphone provides for the best recording quality. A camera attached to a computer or built into a mobile device. Used for recording audio and video and for conducting live meetings. Records live audio and video. The film is stored on a memory stick and can easily be transferred to a PC. A device which reacts based on sensing movement. An example of this is lights turning on in a room when someone enters the room. Processes information on smart cards. For example, a smart card reader can be installed on a laptop and then an employee can use a badge as part of a login process. In this project, you will identify input devices and then determine which input device is needed given a workplace situation. Steps for Completion: 1. Identify each of these input devices: a. b. 72 Domain 1: Hardware A+ ( ) Project Workbook

73 2. For each situation, name the input device needed: a. A device which turns the lights off when everyone leaves a room: b. A device graphic artists use to control drawings and photo edits: c. Video from a conference needs to be recorded and then uploaded to an intranet site: Points to Remember: Many input devices will work soon after they are connected to a computer. Always have the drivers for the input device ready just in case those drivers are needed. Recording devices such as camcorders and digital cameras store their data on flash memory, enabling the media to then be transferred to a computer. Reference: LearnKey s A+ ( ) Domain 1: Hardware Training Peripheral Devices: Input Devices Difficulty: Beginner Estimated Time to Complete: 10 minutes [The project can be made much longer if there are some of these input devices available to install and configure.] Required Materials: None Objectives: 1.0 Hardware 1.12 Install and configure common peripheral devices 1.12.a Input devices 1.12.a.i Mouse 1.12.a.ii Keyboard 1.12.a.iii Scanner 1.12.a.iv Barcode reader 1.12.a.v Biometric devices 1.12.a.vi Game pads 1.12.a.vii Joysticks 1.12.a.viii Digitizer 1.12.a.ix Motion sensor 1.12.a.x Touch pads 1.12.a.xi Smart card readers 1.12.a.xii Digital cameras 1.12.a.xiii Microphone 1.12.a.xiv Webcam 1.12.a.xv Camcorder 73 Domain 1: Hardware A+ ( ) Project Workbook

74 Output Devices and Input and Output Devices Description: Whereas input devices send information to a computer s CPU and RAM for processing and store some of that information on hard drives, output devices display information generated as a result of that processing. For example, inputting 20 x 20 in a calculator app will output an answer of 400 on the screen. There are many different types of input devices but there are not as many types of output devices. There are three main types of output devices. They are: Printers: These render information on paper. Common types of printers include laser printers, inkjet printers, impact printers, and thermal printers. Speakers: Provide sound output. Speakers can be built into a computer or speaker sets include a two-speaker setup, a 2.1 setup (two speakers and a subwoofer for deep bass sounds), a 5.1 setup (five speakers and a subwoofer) or a 7.1 setup (seven speakers and a subwoofer). Display devices: Provide visual output. Common display devices include LCD monitors, plasma displays, projectors, and OLED displays. Some devices function as both input and output devices. For example, a touchscreen receives input through touch and then immediately outputs information on a screen as a result. Here are the main types of input and output devices: Touch screen: Allows for interaction without the use of a mouse, touch pad, or keyboard. Keyboard, video, and monitor (KVM) switch: Allows for multiple computers to share a keyboard, monitor, and mouse. A button on the KVM switch or a keyboard combination switches the focus from computer to computer. A common use for a KVM switch is for an administrator managing multiple physical servers in close proximity. Musical Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI) device: Allows for musical instruments to be played through a computer. Smart TV: TV with apps used for a more interactive TV experience. For example, a TV could have a sports app used to watch out-of-market games through one s Internet connection. Set-Top box: A device which allows for both TV watching and Internet-based content, usually using a digital media device. Examples include Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, Google Chromecast, Roku, and gaming systems such as Xbox One. In this project, you will identify input and output devices. You will then determine which device is needed given a customer situation. Steps for Completion: 1. Identify each of these input and output devices: a. b. 2. For each customer situation, identify the device needed: a. A small business owner needs to easily switch back and forth between two computers: b. A customer wants an interactive TV but does not want a separate device for that TV: Points to Remember: Output devices print, display, or sound results from information that has been input and processed. Input and output devices take a user s input and outputs feedback quickly, even instantly in many cases. Reference: LearnKey s A+ ( ) Domain 1: Hardware Training Peripheral Devices: Output Devices; Input and Output Devices Difficulty: Beginner 74 Domain 1: Hardware A+ ( ) Project Workbook

75 Estimated Time to Complete: 5 minutes [15-30 if there is a KVM and/or MIDI device available to connect and test] Required Materials: None Objectives: 1.0 Hardware 1.12 Install and configure common peripheral devices 1.12.b Output devices 1.12.b.i Printers 1.12.b.ii Speakers 1.12.b.iii Display devices 1.12.c Input & Output devices 1.12.c.i Touch screen 1.12.c.ii KVM 1.12.c.iii Smart TV 1.12.c.iv Set-Top Box 1.12.c.v MIDI enabled devices 75 Domain 1: Hardware A+ ( ) Project Workbook

76 Installing and Configuring Printers Description: Installing a printer is a straightforward process. As with installing other devices, the key to a successful installation is to have the correct drivers for the printer as the printer is being installed. While many printer drivers are built into Windows, they are very unlikely to be the most recent drivers. There are two types of printer drivers: Universal: Drivers that work for many printers from the same manufacturer but lack printer-specific features such as paper tray features or eco-printing features. Specific: Drivers specific to the printer being installed and the operating system for which it will be installed. All available features for the printer will be present. The steps for a successful printer installation vary slightly among manufacturers, but the basic steps for installing a printer are: 1. Obtain the latest drivers for the printer from the printer manufacturer s website. 2. If there is a read me file, read it to find out whether the printer should be connected before the drivers are installed or after. If that information is not present, you will find out the sequence of steps when running the installation file. 3. Run the installation file. At the point you are asked to connect the printer or find the printer on the network, perform the task. 4. The installation will complete. If you have the option to print a test page and wish to do so, print the test page. Having the correct driver for a printer installation is essential. An incorrect printer driver can cause the printer to output garbled text, disable printer features, or just prevent the printer from being installed properly. When installing a printer, any computer user can install the printer if the printer uses drivers provided in Windows. For downloaded drivers or drivers on installation media such as a CD or DVD, administrative privileges are needed for the installation. Once the printer is installed, configuration settings will be available on the printer. The exact configuration settings available vary among printers, but these configuration settings will fall into one of these categories: Duplex: The ability to print to both sides of a page. Collate: The ability to print pages in sequence (1, 2, 3) for multiple copies rather than all the page 1s then all of the page 2s and so forth. Orientation: The ability to control whether a print job is portrait (tall) or landscape (wide). These settings are often controlled within the application trying to print. Quality: The ability to choose a high-quality print, which uses more toner, or a lower-quality print, which uses less toner. In this project, you will install and configure a printer. The steps for the printer may vary from the printer used in the project. Steps for Completion: 1. For the printer you are going to install, navigate to the manufacturer s website and find the drivers page for your printer. More than likely, there will be a support section and the drivers will be found there. The downloads page will resemble the screen on the right: 2. Download the driver to match your printer and operating system. It will go to your Downloads folder unless you specify others. 3. Run the installation file. At some point in the installation, you will see a screen resembling this: 76 Domain 1: Hardware A+ ( ) Project Workbook

77 4. Choose the connection your printer is to use or select the Select if you want to install the software without connecting the printer. 5. Click the Next button. 6. Complete the installation. 7. Click the Start button. 8. Type: notepad and press the Enter key. Notepad will appear. 9. Type a phrase of text. 10. Click the File menu. 11. Click Print. 12. Select the printer you just installed. 13. Click the Preferences button. You will see a screen resembling the one on the right: 14. Click through each of the settings tabs and see if the printer has each of the four configuration settings covered in this project (duplex, collate, orientation, and quality). 15. Close the printer settings screen. 16. Click the Cancel button to cancel the print job. 17. Close Notepad without saving changes. Points to Remember: The first step to any printer installation is to make sure to possess the correct driver for the printer and operating system. A universal print driver will work for many printers but will lack some printer-specific features. The four main configuration settings for printers are duplex, collate, orientation, and quality. Reference: LearnKey s A+ ( ) Domain 1: Hardware Training Install Printers: Add Printer Drivers Difficulty: Intermediate Estimated Time to Complete: 20 minutes [the project can be extended if there are multiple printers to install] Required Materials: A printer to install though in most cases the installation can complete without a printer being present Objectives: 1.0 Hardware 1.13 Install SOHO multifunction device / printers and configure appropriate settings 1.13.a Use appropriate drivers for a given operating system 1.13.a.i Configuration settings 1.13.a.i.1 Duplex 1.13.a.i.2 Collate 1.13.a.i.3 Orientation 1.13.a.i.4 Quality 77 Domain 1: Hardware A+ ( ) Project Workbook

78 Printer and Device Sharing Description: Once a printer is installed, there is a good chance multiple devices will need to connect to it and use it to print documents. By default, when a printer is shared, everyone who can see the printer can print to it but cannot manage the printer. Several types of both wired and wireless connections will allow for a printer to be shared with others. Any one of these wired connections will allow for printer sharing: USB: A printer is connected to a computer using a USB cable, with the end connected to the printer most likely a USB B connector and the end connected to the computer a USB A connector. Serial: A printer is connected to a computer using a DB9 or DB25 cable. With the advent of USB, this type of connection is rare. Ethernet: A printer is connected to a server, router, or switch using an Ethernet cable. In the case of a USB or serial connection, a local share can be set up. The drawback to this setup is that should the computer be turned off or disconnected from the network, the printer will be unavailable. These types of wireless connections will allow for printer sharing: Bluetooth: A device within 10 meters of the printer can pair itself with the printer : Using a standard wireless network, a printer can connect to a wireless access point and then share itself on the wireless network. This is also known as an infrastructure connection. Ad hoc: A printer can make a wireless connection to a device without the need of a wireless access point. For larger networks with several printers, an integrated print server is often used as a central management point for setting up printers and their permissions. A print server role is available in Windows Server. For Windows 7, Vista, 8, 8.1, a Print Management console can be used to manage printers a computer is sharing. Many printers also offer remote printing, also known as cloud printing. Once remote printing is turned on, anyone with a connection to the printer can print from a remote device, including a mobile device such as a tablet or smartphone in many cases. For example, a person with an ipad at a remote workplace can print to a printer back at a main office even if the person does not have a direct connection to the corporate network. There are three main types of networks on which printers and other devices (such as scanners) can be shared from a local connection or a network connection: TCP: The standard for sharing printers in most Windows and Linux environments. Bonjour: An Apple service for a locating devices on a network. AirPrint: An Apple feature used for printing in a wireless local area network (LAN) through a wireless access point to AirPrintcompatible printers, or, through non AirPrint-compatible printers through a Mac, Windows, or Linux computer. Once a device is shared, a user must authenticate to the device in order to be able to use it. Authentication is the process by which a server or device obtains proof the account logging into the device is what the account claims to be. For example, a user may have to enter a username and password to access a scanner which has been shared on the network. If the username and password match a combination stored on the device, the user is logged in to the device. As a computer interacts with a device, certain tasks can be stored in a hard drive cache on the computer. Hard drive cache is embedded memory in a hard drive which acts like a buffer between the computer and the storage disk. A cache can range from 8 to 128 MB for a magnetic hard drive and up to 1 GB in a solid-state drive. Data in any cache is lost if there is a system failure. In this project you will share a printer and then view the print management console on a Windows system. In order to best complete this project, make sure you have installed a printer on the computer being used for this project. Refer to the previous project on installing and configuring printers should you need to install a printer. Steps for Completion: 1. On a Windows computer, click the Start button. 2. Type: Control Panel. Press the Enter key. The Control Panel will appear. 3. If the Control Panel view is set to Category, click the drop-down arrow on the View by field and click Large icons. 4. Click Devices and Printers. 5. Find the printer you installed in the previous project or a different installed printer. 6. Right-click the printer and click Printer Properties. The Printer Properties dialog box will appear. 78 Domain 1: Hardware A+ ( ) Project Workbook

79 7. Click the Sharing tab. You will see the screen on the right side of the page: 8. If the Share this printer check box is not selected, select it. 9. Click the Security tab. 10. In the Group or user names field, click the Everyone group. 11. In the Permissions for Everyone area, make sure the Allow check box is selected for the Print permission. 12. Click the OK button to finish the process of sharing the printer. 13. To view the Print Management console, click the Start button. Type: Administrative Tools. When the Administrative Tools link appears, click it. 14. In the Administrative Tools window, double-click Print Management. You will see a screen similar to this: 15. Click the Custom Filters folder on the left side of the screen. 16. Click the All Printers folder on the left side of the screen. You will see all of the installed printers on the computer, each printer s status, and the number of jobs being processed for each printer. 17. Close all open windows. Points to Remember: Several wired and wireless printer connections allow for a printer to be shared. In the case of a local printer share, the device the printer is connected to must be online in order for the printer to be accessible. The three main network types on which printers are shared are TCP, Bonjour, and AirPrint. When a printer is shared, the default share is that everyone on the network can print to the printer. Reference: LearnKey s A+ ( ) Domain 1: Hardware Training Install Printers: Share Printers; Remote Printing; Share Devices Difficulty: Intermediate Estimated Time to Complete: 15 minutes [the project can be extended if there are multiple printers to share] Required Materials: A Windows computer with an installed printer Objectives: 1.0 Hardware 1.13 Install SOHO multifunction device / printers and configure appropriate settings 1.13.b Device sharing 1.13.b.i Wired 1.13.b.i.1 USB 1.13.b.i.2 Serial 1.13.b.i.3 Ethernet 1.13.b.ii Wireless 1.13.b.ii.1 Bluetooth 1.13.b.ii (a,b,g,n,ac) 1.13.b.ii.3 Infrastructure vs. adhoc 1.13.b.iii Integrated print server (hardware) 1.13.b.iv Cloud printing/remote printing 1.13.c Public/shared devices 1.13.c.i Sharing local/networked device via Operating System settings 1.13.c.i.1 TCP/Bonjour/AirPrint 1.13.c.ii Data privacy 1.13.c.ii.1 User authentication on the device 1.13.c.ii.2 Hard drive caching 79 Domain 1: Hardware A+ ( ) Project Workbook

80 Laser Printer Technologies Description: Laser printers are widely considered to be the fastest and highest-quality printers used in most homes and businesses. The role of an A+ technician, as it relates to laser printers and all other types of printers, is to understand the parts of each type of printer and the processes needed to render a print job. Some basic terms that apply not only to laser printers but all types of printers are: PPM: Pages per minute. DPI: Dots per inch. The higher the dots per inch, the higher quality the output from the printer. Duplexing assembly: A hardware piece, usually located on the back of the printer, which allows for printing on both sides of the page. Print queue: A list of print jobs currently processing. On a server, this can be a list of print jobs for all printers on a network. On an individual user s device, the print queue shows print jobs the user is currently processing. Though individual parts among laser printers vary, most laser printers have a set of common parts, inside the printer, which are used to process a print job. Here are those parts, in the order in which they are needed to process a print job: Pickup rollers: Rollers which pick up a sheet of paper and start to feed the paper through the printer. Separate pads: Tabs which ensure that the pickup rollers only pick up one piece of paper at a time. Imaging drums: Light-sensitive rotating cylinders. A laser writes an image onto the drum using light. Transfer rollers: Rollers that charge the paper so the paper attracts the toner needed to write the image onto the paper. Transfer belts: On color laser printers, colors go onto the transfer belt and then the paper. This mostly applies to high-end color laser printers. Fuser Assembly: Heats the toner and melts it onto the paper. These parts of a laser printer employ a seven-step process to render a printed sheet of paper. If one of these steps fails, the output will have a very low quality or no print at all. The seven steps, in the order in which they happen, are: 1. Processing: Stage that determines how the dots on the page should be printed for color and brightness. For example, for a 600 x 600 dpi print job, 360,000 dots per square inch need to be rendered. If a computer is low on memory, the printer may not have enough memory to process that high-quality of a print job and the dpi setting may need to be lowered. 2. Charging: A roller first removes a residual charge from a previous print job and then applies a high-voltage negative charge to the imaging drum to prepare it to accept the image from the laser. 3. Exposing: The laser beam hits the drum with the image and in doing so neutralizes the negative charge previously applied to the imaging drum. This step is also known as writing. 4. Developing: Toner is applied to the imaging drum. This is done through giving the toner a negative charge. The toner then is applied to the parts of the imaging drum containing a negative charge. 5. Transferring: The toner is applied to the paper. The pickup rollers start the paper process here. Transfer rollers then charge the paper so that it will pick up the toner. The static charge is then eliminated. 6. Fusing: The toner is heated and then melted onto the paper. 7. Cleaning: Excess toner is scraped off of the drum and an erase lamp neutralizes the charge on the drum. On some printers, the cleaning step is actually the first step in the print process, not the last. In this project, you will identify which printer parts are being used and which processes are taking place during a print job. Steps for Completion: 1. Identify which printer part is being used, given a description of the part s role: a. Without these, pickup rollers can easily pick up multiple pages of paper: b. These charge the paper in order for the toner can properly write to the paper: 2. For each situation, identify which part of the printing process is taking place: a. Excess toner is being scraped off of the drum: b. The printer is determining how the dots should render to the page: 3. How many dots per square inch are needed for a 300 x 300 dpi print job? 80 Domain 1: Hardware A+ ( ) Project Workbook

81 Points to Remember: Laser printers use a seven-step process to render a print job: processing, charging, exposing, developing, transferring, fusing, and cleaning. Electrical charges are used to capture an image and then render the toner for the image onto a page. Cleaning can be the last or first step in the printing process. Reference: LearnKey s A+ ( ) Domain 1: Hardware Training Printer Technologies and Processes: Laser Printer Parts; Laser Printer Processes Difficulty: Beginner Estimated Time to Complete: 10 minutes [20-30 if there is a laser printer to open and examine for parts] Required Materials: None Objectives: 1.0 Hardware 1.14 Compare and contrast differences between the various print technologies and the associated imaging process 1.14.a Laser 1.14.a.i Imaging drum, fuser assembly, transfer belt, transfer roller, pickup rollers, separate pads, duplexing assembly 1.14.a.ii Imaging process: processing, charging, exposing, developing, transferring, fusing and cleaning 81 Domain 1: Hardware A+ ( ) Project Workbook

82 Inkjet Printer Technologies Description: Inkjet printers provide for high-quality color and grayscale printouts. Though the quality and speed of inkjet printers is typically below that of laser printers, inkjet printers are normally lower in price and maintenance costs when compared to laser printers and the quality of prints they produce is usually just fine for most home and office users. When inkjet printers print, tiny streams of ink are sent from the printhead to the paper. This is usually done in one of two ways: Thermal: Ink heats up and creates a small bubble which then ejects onto the paper. Piezoelectric: A crystal vibrates when voltage is applied and causes the ink to break into minute droplets which are either charged and stuck to paper or dropped into a reservoir and recycled. Piezoelectric heads rarely clog as ink is sent through the printhead in a constant stream. Printheads for inkjet printers can either be fixed into the printer for the life of the printer, or disposable, in which case they are built into an ink cartridge. These printheads are attached to a carriage located on a belt inside of the inkjet printer. This carriage and belt are controlled with a stepper motor and pulley with sensors which detect the position of the printhead and paper. The detailed process for inkjet printing varies from printer to printer but the basic steps are as follows: 1. Paper, kept in a tray or inserted into a feeder, is pulled into the printer using rollers. 2. As the paper rolls through the printer, an assembly moves the printheads side to side. Ink cartridges eject the ink onto the page as the sensors on the pulley detect the position of the printhead and paper. 3. If duplex printing is taking place, the duplexing assembly runs the paper back through the printer and the other side of the page gets the ink it needs. 4. Ink cartridges, which consist of a black ink cartridge, color ink cartridges for color inkjet printers, and often a photo ink cartridge, frequently need to be replaced. Always replace the cartridge. Never refill the cartridge with ink as this can produce a poor quality in print. When cartridges are replaced, a printer is first installed, or when the lines on a printout are uneven, the printheads need to be calibrated. Many inkjet printers have a button on an LED panel (if one is present) to run calibration. Otherwise, the software installed with the printer should have a calibration function. When white lines appear on printouts, the printheads need cleaning. Again, there should be a button on an LED panel or a setting in the printer s software available to run the cleaning process. In this project, you will identify the part of an inkjet printer used for a part of a print job. Steps for Completion: 1. For each part of a print job, identify the part of an inkjet printer being used: a. Printing occurs on both sides of the paper: b. This part controls the manner in which the paper moves through the printer: c. The tool run to align the printheads on a printer: Points to Remember: For inkjet printers, printheads can be part of an ink cartridge or can be a permanent part of a printer. Inkjet printers use tiny droplets of ink to render a print job. Inkjet printers are not quite as high-quality as laser printers but are typically less expensive than are laser printers. Reference: LearnKey s A+ ( ) Domain 1: Hardware Training Printer Technologies and Processes: Inkjet Printer Processes Difficulty: Beginner Estimated Time to Complete: 5 minutes [15-20 if there is an inkjet printer to open and examine for parts] Required Materials: None Objectives: 1.0 Hardware 1.14 Compare and contrast differences between the various print technologies and the associated imaging process 1.14.b Inkjet 1.14.b.i Ink cartridge, print head, roller, feeder, duplexing assembly, carriage and belt 1.14.b.ii Calibration 82 Domain 1: Hardware A+ ( ) Project Workbook

83 Thermal and Impact Printer Technologies Description: Two other types of printers used in home and business offices are thermal printers and impact printers. Though these printers are not as common as laser and inkjet printers, thermal printers and impact printers each have a defined role in fulfilling the printer needs of an office. Thermal printers use a special, chemically-covered, waxy-like paper. These printers are usually used to print receipts and tickets. This same paper used to be prevalent on fax machines before the advent of plain-paper fax machines. Thermal paper is usually kept on a roll and feeds through the printer as a print job is being rendered. Here are the steps which make up the printing process of a thermal printer: 1. A feed assembly feeds the paper through the printer. 2. Paper is advanced through the sprocket in the center of the roll. 3. Printheads have a heating element to heat the paper to get it to change color and render a print. Another type of printer is an impact printer. Impact printers used to be the most common printers used before laser and inkjet printers became prominent. One advantage of an impact printer is that it allows printing on multi-part forms. Whether the paper is in a single part or multiple parts for duplication purposes, paper for impact printers often has holes on the side, known as sprocket holes. When loading impact paper, the holes need to fit around the teeth on the rollers on the sides of the paper rollers. These teeth make up what is known as a tractor feed. The major components of an impact printer are: Platen: A hard material that serves as a back for the printhead. Ribbon: A long strip of cloth with ink. Printhead: A mechanism with pins which hammer the ribbon to press ink from the ribbon to the paper. The functionality of a printhead is similar to that of a typewriter. To render a print job, the tractor feed grabs the paper and advances the paper line by line. As this is happening, a motor-and-carriage assembly moves the printhead side-to-side while it prints. In this project, you will identify whether a thermal or impact printer should be used for a customer requirement. Steps for Completion: 1. For each customer requirement, identify whether a thermal printer or an impact printer should be used: a. A retail business needs to print receipts: b. A construction company needs to print multiple copies of invoices: c. A mail-order firm needs to print orders received via fax: Points to Remember: Thermal printers render print jobs on waxy-like paper. These printers are often used to print receipts and faxes. Impact printers can print on multiple forms at once. Reference: LearnKey s A+ ( ) Domain 1: Hardware Training Printer Technologies and Processes: Thermal Printer Processes; Impact Printer Processes Difficulty: Beginner Estimated Time to Complete: 5 minutes [15-20 if there is a thermal and/or impact printer available to open and examine for parts] Required Materials: None Objectives: 1.0 Hardware 1.14 Compare and contrast differences between the various print technologies and the associated imaging process 1.14.c Thermal 1.14.c.i Feed assembly, heating element 1.14.c.ii Special thermal paper 1.14.d Impact 1.14.d.i Print head, ribbon, tractor feed 1.14.d.ii Impact paper 83 Domain 1: Hardware A+ ( ) Project Workbook

84 Virtual Printing Description: Printing, by definition, used to always result in a printout, output onto paper coming from a printer. Now printing can mean two possibilities: either a traditional print on paper, or the information printed is actually printed digitally and saved to a file. There are four main possibilities for printing not to a printer, but to a file: Print to file: The file being printed actually saves as a text file. This option will work if the file is a basic text file. But if the file contains graphics or is heavily formatted, the text result will be unreadable. Print to PDF: The file being printed saves as an Adobe PDF file and can be read with Adobe Acrobat Reader or similar PDF reader application. Print to XPS: The file being printed saves as an XML Paper Specification (XPS) file. This is a Microsoft technology that behaves similarly to Adobe PDF for print rendering. XPS is natively available with Windows, so those without a PDF reader will tend to use this format. Print to image: The file being printed saves as a GIF, JPEG, or PNG file and can then be opened in any picture-displaying app. Some apps, when installed, install a virtual printer driver allowing files to be printed to that app s format. This will add to the four virtual printing capabilities described above. In this project, you will test some of these virtual printing capabilities. Steps for Completion: 1. On a Windows computer, click the Start button. 2. Type: WordPad and press the Enter key. WordPad will launch. 3. In the blank file, type a phrase. 4. Click the File tab. 5. Click Print. You will see a screen similar to the screen shot on the right: 6. Click the Microsoft XPS Document Writer printer. 7. Click the Print button. A Save As dialog box will appear. 8. Name the file and save it to your Documents folder. 9. Close WordPad without saving your changes. 10. Open Windows Explorer (File Explorer for Windows 8 or 8.1) and navigate to your Documents folder. 11. Locate the file you saved and double-click to open it. It will open in the Windows XPS reader. 12. When you are done viewing the file, close the XPS reader. Points to Remember: Virtual printing involves starting a print job but saving the file to one of any number of formats (file, PDF, XPS, image, or other app-specific format). The options for virtual printing depend upon the apps installed on a computer. XPS is native to Windows, meaning that it comes with Windows. Reference: LearnKey s A+ ( ) Domain 1: Hardware Training Printer Technologies and Processes: Virtual Printers Difficulty: Beginner Estimated Time to Complete: 10 minutes [15 if one can print to PDF if there are multiple print to options and they are tried] Required Materials: A Windows computer with WordPad Objectives: 1.0 Hardware 1.14 Compare and contrast differences between the various print technologies and the associated imaging process 1.14.e Virtual 1.14.e.i Print to file 1.14.e.ii Print to PDF 1.14.e.iii Print to XPS 1.14.e.iv Print to image 84 Domain 1: Hardware A+ ( ) Project Workbook

85 Maintaining Printers Description: Printers, no matter what type, require regular maintenance. This maintenance can range from replacing toner when needed to cleaning printheads or aligning print cartridges. The most common maintenance tasks on laser printers include: Replacing toner: Most laser printers will give an indication when the toner is running low and/or has run out. Remove the old toner cartridge and dispose of it properly (usually through recycling). Unwrap the new toner cartridge, remove any strips that seal the toner, shake the cartridge slightly, and then install it. Cleaning: Follow the manufacturer s directions for the printer you wish to clean. One standard cleaning method is to use isopropyl alcohol with a lint-free cloth and/or cotton swabs. Use a toner vacuum to remove extra toner from inside the printer. Applying a Maintenance Kit: If a message appears indicating maintenance is needed on either the printer or the printer s home page, follow the directions given to complete the maintenance task. Calibration: A common maintenance task for color laser printers as with multiple colors the colors can get misaligned. As part of a printer installation, calibration software is usually included. When in question, follow the manufacturer s instructions for performing maintenance tasks. The most common maintenance tasks on thermal printers include: Replacing paper: Most thermal paper is on a roller. Open the printer, remover the empty roll, and replace it with a full roll of paper. Cleaning the heating element: When the heating element needs cleaning, use isopropyl alcohol and a lint-free cloth. Removing debris: Use compressed air and/or an electrostatic discharge (ESD)-safe vacuum to clean out the printer. Make sure the thermal printer has been turned off and had a chance to cool off before attempting any cleaning maintenance on the printer. The most common maintenance tasks on impact printers include: Replacing the ribbon: When the ink on the ribbon runs out, remove the old ribbon and replace it with a new ribbon. Replacing the printhead: If too much dust collects in the printhead, it can become jammed. Use compressed air to clean the area out. If the pins on the printhead stop working, replace the printhead. Replace paper: If the printer uses paper with perforated holes on the side, make sure the paper fits correctly into the sprocket holes. In addition to these maintenance tasks, the platen can get dirty over time. Use isopropyl alcohol to clean it. The last of the four major types of printers, inkjet printers, have common maintenance tasks, too. They are: Cleaning heads: This is usually done through pressing a button on the printer or running an app in the printer s software. If the printheads are still clogged, follow the manufacturer s instructions to attempt to unclog them. Replacing cartridges: When a cartridge has run out of ink, remove it and replace it with a new cartridge. Never attempt to refill a cartridge as for many inkjet printers, this will void the printer s warranty. Calibration: Over time, printheads can get misaligned. Run the calibration software on the printer (or press the calibration button on the printer if it is available) to realign the printheads. Clearing paper jams: If paper jams become a common occurrence, check the paper rollers to see if they need cleaning. Usually, isopropyl alcohol and a soft, lint-free cloth will clean them. As with any printer maintenance tasks, follow the manufacturer s instructions for maintaining inkjet printers, especially when it comes to cleaning any parts of any inkjet printer. In this project, you will perform common maintenance tasks on a printer. You need either an inkjet or laser printer and a compressed air can for this project. Steps for Completion: 1. Take either a laser printer or inkjet printer and make sure it is unplugged. 2. Open the cover on the printer. 3. Using a compressed air can, blow out any dust in the printer. 4. If you are using a laser printer and have a toner vacuum, use it to clean out any loose toner from the printer. 5. Plug the printer in, reconnect it to the network or device it was connected to, and turn the printer back on. 85 Domain 1: Hardware A+ ( ) Project Workbook

86 6. If available, load the printer app and run the calibration tool. This screen shot is an example of where the calibration tool can be found (on this screen, aligning the printheads calibrates them): Points to Remember: For any maintenance on printers, follow the manufacturer s instructions, especially for what should be used to clean the printer and its parts. Common maintenance tasks include blowing out dust and debris, vacuuming excess toner, and calibrating printheads. When changing out toner, follow any local guidelines for proper disposal of old ink and toner cartridges. Many printer manufacturers will provide a means in which to send back used ink and toner cartridges. Reference: LearnKey s A+ ( ) Domain 1: Hardware Training Printer Maintenance: Laser Printer Maintenance; Thermal Printer Maintenance; Impact Printer Maintenance; Inkjet Printer Maintenance Difficulty: Beginner Estimated Time to Complete: 15 minutes [30 if this is done on both a laser printer and an inkjet printer] Required Materials: A laser or inkjet printer, a compressed air can, a toner vacuum, and the ability to run calibration on a printer Objectives: 1.0 Hardware 1.15 Given a scenario, perform appropriate printer maintenance 1.15.a Laser 1.15.a.i Replacing toner, applying maintenance kit, calibration, cleaning 1.15.b Thermal 1.15.b.i Replace paper, clean heating element, remove debris 1.15.c Impact 1.15.c.i Replace ribbon, replace print head, replace paper 1.15.d Inkjet 1.15.d.i Clean heads, replace cartridges, calibration, clear jams 86 Domain 1: Hardware A+ ( ) Project Workbook

87

88 Fill-in-the-Blanks Instructions: While watching the A+ ( ) Domain 2: Networking Training course, fill in the missing words according to the information presented by the instructor. [References are found in the brackets.] Network Cables and Connectors 1. wires always go into odd-numbered pins. [Twisted-Pair Cables] 2. and are types of coaxial connectors. [Crossover and Coaxial Cables] 3. The in a fiber cable is much larger than a twisted-pair cable. [Fiber Characteristics] 4. A twisted-pair cable provides protection from electromagnetic interference. [Twisted-Pair Characteristics] 5. is a direct side effect of electromagnetic interference. [Twisted-Pair Characteristics] 6. and are types of coaxial cables. [Coaxial Characteristics] TCP/IP Properties and Characteristics 7. In IPv4, the largest number of any octet is. [IPv4 vs. IPv6] 8. The best practice for counting binary numbers is to count. [Binary and Decimal] 9. Originally, there were close to IP addresses available with IPv4. [IPv6 Addresses] 10. A only works with one group of zeros. [IPv6 Addresses] 11. Devices on a network with private IP addresses access the Internet using a device. [Public and Private IP Addresses] 12. is the beginning of an APIPA address. [APIPA] 13. Dynamic IP addresses are assigned to devices from a server. [Static vs. Dynamic] 14. A subnet mask designates the and the portion of an IP address. [Subnet Masks] 15. If the first number of an IP address is between 1 and 126, it is a class network. [Subnet Classes] 16. Classless is used to create subnetworks within the three classes of networks. [CIDR] 17. IPv6 utilizes a, whereas IPv4 uses subnet masks. [CIDR] 88 Domain 2: Networking A+ ( ) Project Workbook

89 TCP and UDP 18. There are over ports that are in use today. [Ports] 19. The FTP protocol runs on port and it is used to upload and download files. [File Transfer and Encryption Ports] 20. Port 23 is used to run which is used to connect remote systems. [Remote Connectivity Ports] 21. is used on port 25 for outgoing s. [ Ports] 22. In order to manage and communicate with network devices, must be used. [Protocols] 23. While TCP is a -based protocol, UDP is completely. [TCP and UDP Differences] Wi-Fi Networking 24. A is centered around a wireless access point. [Wi-Fi Standards] a, b,, n, and are Wi-Fi standards. [Wi-Fi Standards] 26. The ac Wi-Fi standard runs on the frequency. [Wi-Fi Standards] 27.,, and are types of wireless encryption protocols. [Wi-Fi Encryption Types] Install a SOHO Router 28. Port triggering is used to open an port in order to receive traffic from an port. [Port Triggering] 29. A DMZ is a layer of security between an internal and external. [Configure DMZ] 30. NAT is used to private addresses to public addresses and vice versa. [Set NAT] 31. UPnP is used to automatically find on a network and recognize their basic functions. [Configure UPnP] Internet and Network Types 32. Internet connections are split into two different types, asymmetric and symmetric. [Internet Connection Types] 33. In order to use satellite Internet, there must be a clear to the satellite. [Fiber and Satellite] 34. A interface or a primary rate interface is required in order to use an ISDN connection. [ISDN and Cellular] 89 Domain 2: Networking A+ ( ) Project Workbook

90 35. A mobile hotspot is generated using a portable device, such as a or a smartphone. [Tethering and Mobile Hotspots] 36.,,, and are the four different network types. [Network Types] Network Architecture Devices 37. Hubs and switches help direct traffic inside of a network, but a router can be used to direct traffic on the. [Hubs, Switches, and Routers] 38. Bridges have been almost completely replaced by. [Bridges] 39. The primary purpose of a firewall is to block harmful from coming into a network. [Firewall] 40. carries power and data on Ethernet cables. [Ethernet and Power] Networking Tools 41. A tone generator and probe are used to troubleshoot cables. [Cable Tools] 42. A Wi-Fi analyzer will locate any in the surrounding area. [Wi-Fi Analyzer] 90 Domain 2: Networking A+ ( ) Project Workbook

91 Fiber Cables Description: Fiber cables (also known as fiber optic cables) offer the fastest and longest data transmissions over a network. Fiber optic cables are usually used for wide-area networks (WANs) as the cables are far more expensive than that of twisted-pair cables, cables normally used for a network inside of a building. Data signals travel through fiber cables as light pulses, thus making fiber cables immune to electromagnetic interference (EMI) and radio frequency interference (RFI). Most fiber cables use a glass core, so care must be taken to make sure to not bend fiber cables too much when laying down the cable in a network. This is another reason fiber cables are not used nearly as much inside of buildings as they are outside of buildings. Fiber cables have several types of connectors, with these three being the main connector types: Square connector (SC): Connector is shaped like a square. Lucent connector (LC): A miniature version of the SC connector. Straight tip (ST): Round-shaped connector. There are two modes of fiber cables: Single-mode (SMF): A single signal travels through the cable at a time, through a glass core. Multimode (MMF): Multiple signals can travel through a cable simultaneously, using a plastic core which is larger than the glass core used in single-mode fiber cable. Because multiple signals pass through at once, multi-mode fiber cables typically do not carry a signal as far as that of single-mode fiber cables. There are several different standards for fiber cables, each with a maximum speed and distance. Most standards use either MMF or SMF with the exception being the 1000Base-LX standard, as seen in this table: Standard Speed Distance Cable 100Base-FX 100 Mbps 2 km MMF 1000Base-LX 1 Gbps 5 km MMF/SMF 1000BaseLH 1 Gbps 10 km SMF 1000Base-ZX 1 Gbps 70 km SMF 10GBaseSR 10 Gbps m MMF 10GBase-LR 10 Gbps 10 km SMF 10GBase-ER 10 Gbps 40 km SMF In this project, you will test your knowledge of fiber cables and their characteristics. Steps for Completion: 1. Identify the connector on the end of the fiber cable on the right: 2. A telecommunications technician needs to make sure a signal covers 15 miles. Which standard(s) would work? 3. Name at least one disadvantage of using fiber cables in a small office network environment: Points to Remember: Fiber cables carry signals at very fast speeds over long distances. Fiber cables are far more expensive than are twisted-pair cables. Many fiber cables use a glass core so care must be taken to make sure the cables are not bent to the point where the glass breaks. 91 Domain 2: Networking A+ ( ) Project Workbook

92 Reference: LearnKey s A+ ( ) Domain 2: Networking Training Network Cables and Characteristics: Introduction to Cables; Fiber Characteristics Difficulty: Beginner Estimated Time to Complete: 5 minutes Required Materials: None Objectives: 2.0 Networking 2.1 Identify the various types of network cables and connectors 2.1.a Fiber 2.1.a.i Connectors: SC, ST and LC 2.2 Compare and contrast the characteristics of connectors and cabling 2.2.a Fiber 2.2.a.i Types (single-mode vs. multi-mode) 2.2.a.ii Speed and transmission limitations 92 Domain 2: Networking A+ ( ) Project Workbook

93 Twisted-Pair Cables Description: Twisted-pair cables are the most common cables used for wired networks which cover the inside of a building. There are two types of twisted-pair cables: shielded twisted-pair (STP) and unshielded twisted-pair (UTP). UTP cables are far more common than STP cables as they are less expensive than that of STP cables. There are three main types of STP cables: STP: Shielding is around all four pairs of wires. S/UTP: Shielding is around each pair of wires. S/STP: Shielding is around each pair of wires and then another shield is around all four pairs of wires. One drawback of UTP cable is that, due to a lack of shielding, UTP cable is more susceptible to electromagnetic interference (EMI), especially if the cable is exposed to light, near a power cable, or near magnets or motors. In addition to EMI, crosstalk can be a problem if two cables are too close to each other as with crosstalk, data from one cable can crossover to another cable. There are two main types of twisted-pair cables: RJ-11: These cables are standard phone line cables. There are two pairs of wires used for the cable, with the wires surrounded by a jacket which protects the wires from signal interference. RJ-45: The standard cable for Ethernet networks. There are four pairs of wires used Pin T568A T568B for the cable. The wire configuration determines the type of cable and where it can be 1 Green/White Orange/White used, as we will cover in detail during this project. 2 Green Orange RJ-45 cables have two wiring standards: T568A and T568B. The wiring standards determine where the wires will line up in relation to the pins on the RJ-45 connectors. The 3 Orange/White Green/White two standards for wire colors and pin locations is found on the table on the right: 4 Blue Blue If both ends of the cable use the same standard (usually T568B), the cable is a straightthrough cable. Straight-through cables are the most commonly used cables in Ethernet networks and are used to connect computers to wall ports, computers to switches, and computers to routers. If one end of the cable used the T568A standard and the other end uses a T568B standard, the cable is a crossover cable. Crossover cables are used to connect computers to computers, switches to switches, and switches to routers. 5 Blue/White Blue/White 6 Orange Green 7 Brown/White Brown/White 8 Brown Brown Sometimes, a straight-through cable can be used where a crossover cable would be otherwise needed. This is possible if the port on the switch or router receiving the cable is a Medium Dependent Interface Crossover (MDI-X) port. This port will take a straightthrough cable and mimic a crossover cable. Twisted-pair cables have two types of jacket coverings: Plenum: A jacket for cable which needs to be run through open space (between walls, through raised floors, or through ceilings). In case of fire, this type of jacket does not give off toxic fumes. PVC: A cable with a jacket made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC). This type of jacket gives off toxic fumes when burned. For UTP cables, the standard distance a signal will travel without losing quality is 100 meters (328 feet). If two devices are further apart than that and need to be connected, a repeater needs to sit in between those two devices. Repeaters boost signals. For example, if two switches 500 feet apart need to be connected, a repeater needs to be installed no more than 328 feet from one of the switches. One twisted-pair cable will connect a switch to the repeater and another twisted-pair cable will connect the repeater to the other switch. While there is one standard for distances for UTP cables, there are several standards for speeds and transmissions. Speeds and transmissions are defined by categories. Here are the most common UTP categories, their speeds, frequencies, and characteristics: Category Speed Frequency Characteristics CAT 3 10 Mbps 16 MHz Not used much as it is an older standard. CAT Mbps 100 MHz Used for equipment capable of 100 Mbps transmissions. CAT 5e 1000 Mbps 100 MHz Used for equipment capable of 1 Gbps transmissions. CAT 6 10 Gbps 250 MHz Used with 10GBase-T networks CAT 6e 10 Gbps 500 MHz Official standard is CAT 6a, not 6e. CAT 7 10 Gbps 600 MHz Shielding is added for individual wire pairs. With some network setups, splitters are used to split data over two connections. For example, with a DSL Internet connection, a 93 Domain 2: Networking A+ ( ) Project Workbook

94 splitter is used to split voice frequencies from data frequencies and thus avoid signal interference and increase the quality of both voice and data transmissions. However, if a data transmission alone is split, the two entities sharing the split also share the frequency, thus lowering the overall quality of data transmissions. In this project, you will identify characteristics of twisted-pair cable. You will then choose the correct type of twisted-pair cable given a customer situation. Steps for Completion: 1. Identify the T568A standard used on the connector on the top right of the page: 2. Identify the type of twisted-pair cable, shown in the second picture on the page, as either a straight-through or crossover cable. 3. A customer has gigabit NICs in a company s computers and gigabit switches to use in the company s network. What category of twisted-pair cable is the minimum standard needed to take full advantage of the speed of the equipment? Points to Remember: Twisted-pair cables can be either shielded twisted-pair (STP) or unshielded twisted-pair (UTP). Ethernet cables use T568A and T568B standards for wiring. These standards dictate the colors of the wires to match up with each connector pin. Ethernet networks have multiple standards for categories. These standards dictate speed and frequency. Plenum-based cable is needed for wiring cable though open spaces. It does not give off an odor if burned. Reference: LearnKey s A+ ( ) Domain 2: Networking Training Network Cables and Connectors: Introduction to Cables; Twisted-Pair Cables; Crossover and Coaxial Cables; Twisted-Pair Characteristics Difficulty: Beginner/Intermediate Estimated Time to Complete: 10 minutes [20-30 if a straight-through cable is plugged in where a crossover cable is needed (one needs to figure out why there is no connection)] Required Materials: None but having twisted-pair cables to examine will help complete the project Objectives: 2.0 Networking 2.1 Identify the various types of network cables and connectors 2.1.b Twisted Pair 2.1.b.i Connectors: RJ-11, RJ b.ii Wiring standards: T568A, T568B 2.2 Compare and contrast the characteristics of connectors and cabling 2.2.b Twisted pair 2.2.b.i Types: STP, UTP, CAT3, CAT5, CAT5e, CAT6, CAT6e, CAT7, plenum, PVC 2.2.b.ii Speed and transmission limitations 2.2.b.iii Splitters and effects on signal quality 94 Domain 2: Networking A+ ( ) Project Workbook

95 Coaxial Cables Description: Coaxial cables used to be the primary cables used in networking. With the advent of faster twisted-pair cables and even faster fiber cables, the role of coaxial cables in networking has been greatly reduced. However, coaxial cables still have a role in networking, especially as it pertains to Internet service providers and cable TV providers. There are two main types of coaxial cables: RG-6: An RG-6 coaxial cable has a large center conductor. It is the current standard for cable and satellite systems and is very efficient at transmitting digital signals. RG-6 cables are used in home networks with multiple TV boxes. This setup allows for recording a program in one room and then watching it in another room. RG-59: The original standard for cable TV. Though this is an older standard than is RG-6, RG-59 cable is still efficient in transmitting data between a TV and VCR or a TV and DVD player. In addition to cable standards, there are two main types of connectors used with coaxial cables: F-connector: Resembles a cylinder and is a screw-on connector. This connector is used with RG-6 cables. Bayonet Neill-Concelman (BNC) connector: This connector has a neck and is a push-and-turn connector. This connector is used with RG-59 cables. Another primary role for coaxial cables is to connect a cable modem with a unit that leads to a cable Internet service provider. To split the TV signal from streaming data, a coaxial splitter is used. This helps the signal quality of both the TV and Internet data streams as the split helps to prevent signal interference. Coaxial cables have two basic standards for speeds and transmissions: Standard Speed Distance Note that the 2 in 10Base2 represents a distance of approximately Base2 (Thinnet) 10 Mbps 185 meters meters but the actual signal distance is 185 meters. 10Base5 (Thicknet) 10 Mbps 500 meters In this project, you will identify type of coaxial cable needed given a network situation. Steps for Completion: 1. A business is setting up closed circuit television for surveillance and needs to be able to record data on one TV and play it on another TV in a control center on the other side of the building, 700 feet away from the area in which the surveillance is being recorded. Name the coaxial cable type, connectors, and standard needed in order to fulfill this need: a. Cables: b. Connectors: c. Standard: Points to Remember: Coaxial cable has a maximum transmission speed of 10 Mbps, thus making it far slower than that of twisted-pair or fiber cables. RG-6 is newer and more versatile than RG-59 coaxial cable. Reference: LearnKey s A+ ( ) Domain 2: Networking Training Network Cables and Connectors: Crossover and Coaxial Cables; Coaxial Characteristics Difficulty: Beginner Estimated Time to Complete: 5 minutes Required Materials: None Objectives: 2.0 Networking 2.1 Identify the various types of network cables and connectors 2.1.c Coaxial 2.1.c.i Connectors: BNC, F-connector 2.2 Compare and contrast the characteristics of connectors and cabling 2.2.c Coaxial 2.2.c.i Types: RG-6, RG c.ii Speed and transmission limitations 2.2.c.iii Splitters and effects on signal quality 95 Domain 2: Networking A+ ( ) Project Workbook

96 IPv4 vs. IPv6 Addressing Description: Any device connected to any network needs an Internet Protocol (IP) address. The IP address allows the device to communicate with other devices on the network. Sometimes, the network can consist of a small handful of devices, such as in a small office/home office (SOHO) network. Or the device may need to communicate with hundreds or even thousands of devices on the Internet. The original and still current standard for IP addressing is IPv4 (IP version 4). IPv4 addresses are 32-bit addresses, meaning a combination of 32 binary 1s and 0s. An IP address is expressed in four octets of eight binary numbers each, with the binary number translated into decimals. To translate a binary number into a decimal, always start with the furthermost-right binary number. That number represents 1 in decimal terms. As you move left on the binary scale, double each decimal number. Here is a table to use as a guide for translating eight-bit binary numbers: Binary Decimal Notice that as the binary numbers move right to left, the decimal equivalents double. For example, a binary number of = = 255. This in fact is the highest decimal number available for any IPv4 octet. To try another calculation, take the binary number The right-most number is a 0, so the decimal equivalent is a 0. The next right-most number is a 1, so the decimal equivalent is 2. Continuing to add up decimal equivalents where binary numbers = 1, the result is = 174. Originally, close to 4 billion IP addresses were made available. However, with 7 billion or so people on the planet, this is not even enough IP addresses for one IP address per person even though many IP addresses for devices are private and are reused. To combat this ever-growing problem the IPv6 standard was released. Eventually, IPv6 will be the main standard for all IP addressing, though no one knows exactly when that will happen. IPv6 addresses, as opposed to IPv4 addresses, are 128-bit IP addresses, meaning they consist of 128 binary 1s and 0s. IPv6 has approximately 340 undecillion IP addresses available, or, in terms of scientific notation, 3.4 x IP addresses. IPv6 addresses are displayed in eight blocks of four hexadecimal numbers each, for a total of 32 hexadecimal numbers. Hexadecimal numbers count from 0 to 9 and A through F. Here is an example of an IPv6 address: 2001:34ea:89ac:d001:0000:0000:e421:0001. IPv6 addresses seem long and unwieldy. Fortunately, there are two significant addressing shortcuts which can be used for IPv6 addresses. They are: Omitting leading zeros: In any block of four hexadecimal numbers, leading zeros can be omitted. For example, 0001 can become 1. Multiple groups of zeros: A single group of four zeros or consecutive groups of four zeros can be rewritten as two colons (::). This can only happen once per IPv6 address. Having two :: in an IPv6 address would be ambiguous as one would not know how many zeros were replaced for each :: in an IPv6 address. Thus, the IPv6 address displayed above can be written as 2001:34ea:89ac:d001::e421:1. The 0001 can become 1 through eliminating the leading zeros. The two blocks of 0s can be replaced with a double colon. With IP addresses there are different types of IP address traffic. Here are the types of IP traffic, along with their details: Unicast: One-to-one traffic between two devices. Broadcast: One-to-all traffic on a network. For example, a server may send a patch to every machine on its network. Multicast: One-to-many (but not all) traffic on a network. For example, a server may send a patch to every Windows 8 machine on its network but not every Windows 7 machine. In this project, you will identify parts of IP addresses for both IPv4 and IPv6 addresses. Steps for Completion: 1. What is the decimal equivalent of the binary number ? 96 Domain 2: Networking A+ ( ) Project Workbook

97 2. For each of the following IP address situations, indicate whether the IP address is legitimate or illegitimate: a : b : c. 2001:32g3:1029:52a3:0010:1505:aab3:f325: d. ::1: 3. Rewrite the IPv6 address 2000:5352:1304:0000:0000:0000:aa32:0002 using addressing shortcuts: Points to Remember: IPv4 addresses are 32-bit IP addresses displayed as four numbers from 0 to 255. IPv6 addresses are 128-bit IP addresses displayed as eight groups of four hexadecimal numbers. A single group of one or more consecutive blocks of four 0s in an IPv6 address can be written as a double colon. Leading zeros in a block of an IPv6 address can be removed. Reference: LearnKey s A+ ( ) Domain 2: Networking Training TCP/IP Properties and Characteristics: IPv4 vs. IPv6; Binary and Decimal; IPv6 Addresses Difficulty: Beginner Estimated Time to Complete: 15 minutes [30 if one attempts a few binary-decimal translations] Required Materials: None Objectives: 2.0 Networking 2.3 Explain the properties and characteristics of TCP/IP 2.3.a IPv4 vs. IPv6 97 Domain 2: Networking A+ ( ) Project Workbook

98 Setting IP Addresses Description: On a network, devices have two ways in which to receive an IP address: Static: The IP address is physically assigned to a device. Any device which will be accessed by multiple devices in a network should have a static IP address. For example, all servers, routers, access points, and printers should have a static IP address assigned to them. Dynamic: The IP address is assigned through a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) service on either a DHCP server (more common in larger networks) or an access point (as in the case of a SOHO network). When using DHCP, a device will lease an IP address for a defined period of time and then attempt to renew the lease during the lease duration. If the lease expires, the device could get a new IP address the next time it logs into the network. If a device such as a printer uses DHCP and then has an IP address which changes, network users will lose their connection to the printer. This is the main reason devices such as printers should get a static IP address. One way in which an IP address can be permanently assigned to a device through DHCP is through a DHCP reservation. To do this, an administrator needs to know the MAC address of the device which needs a reserved IP address. In order to have DHCP set an IP address on a client machine, the network adapter needs to be configured to find a DHCP server. Furthermore, in order for computer names and Internet addresses to resolve correctly to the IP addresses of those computers and websites, the DNS settings for the network adapter need to be correct. Normally, a DNS server is located automatically but depending upon the desired network configuration for a network environment, a DNS server address may be set manually as a network administrator may want a machine to point to a specific DNS server with specific DNS entries. In order to reach computers on other networks, including the Internet, a network adapter needs to point to a default gateway, which is usually the IP address of a router or, in the case of a small business or home office, a wireless access point. Again, this IP address can be set automatically or manually. In this project, you will configure the IP address and DNS server address for a network adapter. Steps for Completion: 1. On a Windows computer, click the Start button. 2. Type: network and sharing. When you see the Network and Sharing link, click it. The network and sharing center will launch and look similar to the screen on the right: 3. Click the Change adapter settings link. 4. Right-click the network adapter you wish to change and click Properties. The screen on the right will appear: 5. Scroll down and click the Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) setting 6. Click the Properties button. You will see the following: 7. Document the current setup on the network adapter in case you need to put the settings back to where they were following this project. 98 Domain 2: Networking A+ ( ) Project Workbook

99 8. If the Obtain an IP address automatically option is not selected, select it. This tells the adapter to obtain an IP address from a DHCP server. 9. If the Obtain DNS server address automatically option is not selected, select it. 10. Click the Advanced button. You will see the screen on the right: 11. If you wish to add a default gateway, click the Add button and then enter an IP address for the default gateway. 12. Click the OK button. 13. Click the Close button to close the network properties. 14. If necessary, re-open the network properties and change the adapter configuration back to where it was. Points to Remember: The network adapter properties show the IP address, DNS server, and gateway and allows one to configure those settings. Servers, printers, and other devices receiving multiple connections in a network should all have static IP addresses. Reference: LearnKey s A+ ( ) Domain 2: Networking Training TCP/IP Properties and Characteristics: Static vs. Dynamic; Client-Side DNS and DHCP Settings; Gateway Difficulty: Intermediate Estimated Time to Complete: 10 minutes [20 if a static IP address is set on one machine and a dynamic one is set on a different machine] Required Materials: A Windows computer with a network adapter than can be configured Objectives: 2.0 Networking 2.3 Explain the properties and characteristics of TCP/IP 2.3.c Static vs. dynamic 2.3.d Client-side DNS settings 2.3.e Client-side DHCP 2.3.g Gateway 99 Domain 2: Networking A+ ( ) Project Workbook

100 TCP and UDP Ports Description: When data packets transmit from a source to a destination on a network, two parts of the packet that identify the packet are the destination address and the port number of the destination. The port number helps to determine the type of data being transmitted. Most data transmissions occur over Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) or User Datagram Protocol (UDP). TCP is a connectionoriented protocol to where every data packet sent from a source to a destination is acknowledged by the destination as being received (assuming the data is received). By contrast, UDP data is sent as a common stream with no acknowledgement. UDP is known as a connectionless protocol. To understand this further, think about data that needs acknowledgement when transmitted. If a Word document is broken up into packets and then transmitted, the sender needs to know that all of the packets were received. If not, some of those packets will be resent. On the other hand, for live audio or video streaming, a loss in the signal for a half-second will not trigger a demand to resend the stream of audio or video. Thus, live streaming is better-suited for being transmitted over UDP as UDP, with the lack of a need for a receipt acknowledgement, has less overhead than does TCP. It is important for an A+ technician to know the most common ports and the data they represent, because many network administrators will allow or block traffic based on the port number. For example, a network administrator can block outgoing traffic on every computer except for a mail server simply by blocking the port number for traffic on every computer except for the mail server. Network traffic can use one of a possible 65,535 ports for network traffic. As a general guideline, here are the three categories of port numbers and their uses: Numbers Name How they are used 0 to 1023 Well-known Used for specific protocols and services. Assigned by the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA) to Registered Used for applications. Some are assigned by the IANA to Dynamic Used for internal services and processes. As an example, many of these ports are used for Internet connections. For an A+ technician, here are the common ports one needs to know, along with the protocol which operates on the port, the type of data which transmits on the port, and an explanation of what the protocol does: Port Protocol Type What it does 21 FTP File Transfer Used to upload and download files from FTP servers. Port 20 could also be used. 22 SSH Encryption Used for secure transmission of data between two systems. An example of this is secure FTP (SFTP). 23 TELNET Remote Connectivity Used to connect to remote systems. This protocol is not used much as data is not encrypted, meaning a username and password is sent as clear text. 25 SMTP Used for outgoing DNS Name Resolution Maps hostnames to IP addresses. 69 TFTP File Transfer Trivial File Transfer protocol. Uses UDP, not TCP. 80 HTTP Web Primary protocol for unencrypted web traffic. 110 POP3 Used for incoming mail. The original default was to delete the message from the server once a device downloaded it. 143 IMAP Used for incoming mail. stays on the server even after a device has read it. 443 HTTPS Encryption and Web , 445 Used for Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) for encrypted web traffic. Transport Layer Security (TLS) is SSL s replacement SMB File Transfer Used mostly on Microsoft networks. Used to transfer files over a network. Ports use NetBIOS over TCP while port 445 is used directly over TCP. 427, 548 AFP File Transfer Offers file services in a Mac environment. Primary protocol for file services in Mac OS 9 and prior (now it is SMB). 100 Domain 2: Networking A+ ( ) Project Workbook

101 Port Protocol Type What it does 465 SMTPS SMTP with SSL or TLS. 993 IMAPS IMAP with SSL or TLS. 995 POP3S POP3 with SSL or TLS RDP Remote Desktop Microsoft network protocol used for Remote Desktop Connection and Remote Assistance. In this project, you will identify a port number and protocol used given a network traffic event. Steps for Completion: 1. For each network traffic event, indicate which port and protocol are being used: Event Port Protocol A user enters in a web browser and gets taken to An administrator connects remotely to a user s desktop computer: A web server administrator hosts a server to where clients can download files: A customer places an order via a secure web page: Points to Remember: Ports help define the type of traffic going from a network source to a destination. Lower-numbered ports are well-defined and map to a specific network protocol or service. Higher-numbered ports (over port number 49152) are normally used for Internet traffic. Reference: LearnKey s A+ ( ) Domain 2: Networking Training TCP and UDP: Ports; File Transfer and Encryption Ports; Remote Connectivity Ports; Ports; TCP and UDP Differences Difficulty: Intermediate Estimated Time to Complete: 10 minutes [20 if a static IP address is set on one machine and a dynamic one is set on a different machine.] Required Materials: None Objectives: 2.0 Networking 2.4 Explain common TCP and UDP ports, protocols, and their purpose 2.4.a Ports 2.4.a.i 21 FTP 2.4.a.ii 22 SSH 2.4.a.iii 23 TELNET 2.4.a.iv 25 SMTP 2.4.a.v 53 DNS 2.4.a.vi 80 HTTP 2.4.a.vii 110 POP3 2.4.a.viii 143 IMAP 2.4.a.ix 443 HTTPS 2.4.a.x 3389 RDP 2.4.a.xi , SMB 2.4.a.xii 548 or 427 AFP 2.4.c TCP vs. UDP 101 Domain 2: Networking A+ ( ) Project Workbook

102 Protocols Description: An A+ technician needs to be familiar with common networking protocols. Here is a list of common network protocols, along with their role in networking: Protocol Name What it does DHCP Dynamic Host Configuration Used to assign IP addresses to devices on a network. Protocol DNS Domain Name Server Resolves host names to IP addresses. LDAP Lightweight Directory Access Protocol A directory database for networks. Active Directory Domain Services uses LDAP. SNMP Simple Network Management Protocol Manages and communicates with network devices, such as routers and switches. SNMPv3 is the newest and most secure. SMB Server Message Block Used mostly on Microsoft networks to transfer files over a network. CIFS Common Internet File System A cross-platform file-sharing protocol. SSH Secure Shell Used for encrypted data transfer between two systems. AFP Apple Filing Protocol Primary file services protocol in Mac OS 9 and prior. In this project, you will identify the network protocol being used given a network situation. Steps for Completion: 1. For each network situation, identify the protocol in use: a. A webmaster securely transfers files to a web server: b. A user obtains an IP address automatically when logging onto a network: c. An administrator receives a message from a router that a port has stopped working: d. A software app accesses a user s group membership in Active Directory to see if the user has sufficient app permissions: Points to Remember: Network protocols have distinct roles in managing all aspects of a network. Many protocols deal with data transfer while some protocols deal with network management. Reference: LearnKey s A+ ( ) Domain 2: Networking Training TCP and UDP: Protocols Difficulty: Beginner Estimated Time to Complete: 5 minutes Required Materials: Windows 8.1 Objectives: 2.0 Networking 2.4 Explain common TCP and UDP ports, protocols, and their purpose 2.4.b Protocols 2.4.b.i DHCP 2.4.b.ii DNS 2.4.b.iii LDAP 2.4.b.iv SNMP 2.4.b.v SMB 2.4.b.vi CIFS 2.4.b.vii SSH 2.4.b.viii AFP 102 Domain 2: Networking A+ ( ) Project Workbook

103 Wireless Network Standards and Encryption Types Description: Wireless networks are based on the standards as developed by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). Wireless standards determine the frequency, speed, and distance in which wireless networks operate. The most important compatibility factor with wireless networks is the frequency on which the wireless networks operate. For example, if a wireless access point is an ac access point operating on the 5 GHz frequency, any device connecting to it must also operate on the 5 GHz frequency. The two frequencies on which wireless networks operate are: 2.4 GHz: Works with the b, g, and n standards. This frequency is susceptible to interference from cordless phones and microwave ovens. 5 GHz: A frequency which is mostly interference-free but does not travel as far as the 2.4 GHz frequency. Here are the different wireless standards, their frequencies, speeds, and approximate indoor signal distances: Standard Frequency Speed Approximate Indoor Distance a 5 GHz 54 Mbps 30 meters/100 feet b 2.4 GHz 11 Mbps 35 meters/115 feet g 2.4 GHz 54 Mbps 38 meters/125 feet n 2.4 or 5 GHz 300 Mbps but up to 600 Mbps on a dual link 70 meters/230 feet ac 5 GHz Up to 1300 Mbps 27 meters/90 feet n uses multiple antennas, known as multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) technologies to achieve higher speeds. The actual likely top speed of an n network is 240 Mbps ac also uses multiple antennas, each with speeds of up to 400 Mbps. Most devices have between one and four antennas. Smartphones typically have one antenna while desktop wireless network adapters typically have four antennas. The actual likely top speed of an ac network is 400 Mbps. Most wireless antennas are omnidirectional, meaning they beam in all directions ac uses beamforming, which concentrates signals in the directions of the identified devices on the network. In addition to these wireless standards, here are some concepts that apply directly to wireless networks, along with their definitions: Wireless local area network (WLAN): A wireless, local area network centered around a wireless access point. Wireless router: A wireless access point with routing capabilities, wired ports, switch capabilities, DHCP capabilities, firewall capabilities, and Network Address Translation (NAT) capabilities. NAT allows devices connected to the wireless router to share one public IP address. Wireless networks can run in wireless isolation mode. In this mode, devices can connect to the wireless router but not to each other. This is usually set up as a security measure to keep individual machines isolated from each other. One other consideration to make for wireless networks is the wireless network encryption type. Encryption helps to ensure the data from being hacked into as it travels through the wireless network. There are three main types of encryption protocols in wireless networks: Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP): An older encryption standard that has been cracked. It may be available, but it should not be used. Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA): Newer than WEP. On older wireless access points, a firmware update may be needed in order for WPA to be available. WPA uses Temporal Key Integrity Protocol (TKIP). Wi-Fi Protected Access 2 (WPA2): The newest and strongest encryption protocol. This should be used whenever possible. WPA2 uses Advanced Encryption Standard (AES), a very strong encryption standard. WPA and WPA2 support two modes: Personal: Used in most SOHO networks. Devices use a passphrase to connect to the wireless network. Enterprise: Requires an authentication server known as a Remote Authentication Dial-In User Service (RADIUS) server to authenticate clients. A username and password is needed to connect to the network. In this project, you will identify the wireless standard and/or encryption needed given a customer situation for a wireless network. 103 Domain 2: Networking A+ ( ) Project Workbook

104 Steps for Completion: 1. A small business owner has been working on an a wireless network but realizes most new machines on the business network do not have the a standard. Which standard should the business owner switch to for maximum compatibility? 2. A small business owner hears that an ac wireless router would make for a fast wireless network. Which standard(s) do the machines on the network need in order to be compatible with the new wireless router? 3. A small business owner wants to upgrade the wireless router from g to n. Will the network s devices, mostly in the g standard, see the new n router? 4. A small business owner wants the best possible encryption for a SOHO wireless network. Which encryption protocol should be used? Points to Remember: The most important consideration for compatibility in wireless standards is the frequency on which the wireless networks operate. Wireless networks operate on the 2.4 GHz and the 5 GHz frequencies. Whenever possible, WPA2 should be used for encryption in a wireless network. WEP should not be used as it has been cracked. Reference: LearnKey s A+ ( ) Domain 2: Networking Training Wi-Fi Networking: Wi-Fi Standards Difficulty: Beginner Estimated Time to Complete: 10 minutes [25-30 if one logs into an existing wireless access point and looks over the current settings/standards] Required Materials: None Objectives: 2.0 Networking 2.5 Compare and contrast various Wi-Fi networking standards and encryption types 2.5.a Standards 2.5.a.i a/b/g/n/ac 2.5.a.ii Speeds, distances and frequencies 2.5.b Encryption types 2.5.b.i WEP, WPA, WPA2, TKIP, AES 104 Domain 2: Networking A+ ( ) Project Workbook

105 Installing and Configuring a Wireless Router Description: Before allowing devices to connect to a wireless network, a wireless router needs to be configured properly. Configuration aspects include items related to security, controlling port traffic, and whether the wireless router will serve a DHCP role. Here is a list of the most common aspects of a wireless network a technician should consider configuring before connecting devices to the router, along with some details of each aspect: Wireless Network Aspect Channels Port forwarding Port triggering Turning DHCP on or off Demilitarized zone (DMZ) Network Address Translation (NAT) Basic Quality of Service (QoS) Firmware Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) Details On a 2.4 GHz network in the U.S., channels 1, 6, and 11 should be used as these channels do not overlap. Most wireless routers are set to automatically choose a channel. Devices must use the same channels as the channel used on the wireless access point. Allows an outside device to connect to a specific device in a network. For example, port 3389 (remote desktop) can be set to forward to a specific machine on the network. Opens a specific incoming port (or a range of ports) in response to traffic on a specific outgoing port (or a range of ports). For example, outgoing traffic on port 9999 for traffic going to a specific online app could trigger opening port 9998 for anticipation of receiving incoming traffic from that app. Only one device on a network should serve the role of DHCP. If the wireless access point is to serve that role, DHCP should be turned on. If a DHCP server is already fulfilling the role, DHCP should not be turned on. An area of the network which contains devices that need to communicate directly with both private machines on the network and public-facing machines. For example, a web server needs to send information to public requests yet also be accessible by the webmaster in a private network. Translates private IP addresses in data packets to a public IP address so information can be routed to and from other networks. When more than one public address is used, this is known as Dynamic NAT (DNAT). Allows for prioritization of network traffic. For example, more bandwidth can be allocated to business apps while less bandwidth can be allocated to games. Instructions written directly into device hardware. Occasionally, a wireless router will need a firmware upgrade to enhance its capabilities and/or fix hardware flaws and security deficiencies. Always back up the current configuration before doing a firmware upgrade. Allows for automatic discovery of network devices and then, basic services of those devices. For example, a UPnP media server provides media library storage and streaming to network clients. In this project, you will identify the aspect of a wireless router which needs to be configured in order to fulfill a customer request. Steps for Completion: 1. For each situation, identify the aspect of a wireless router that needs to be configured: a. The wireless router should not give out IP addresses to devices connecting to it: b. A store owner needs to access a specific computer when connecting to the network from home: c. A network administrator wants to discourage game-playing during work hours: If you have a wireless router and access to the configuration page of it, log on to the wireless router and see how many of these wireless router aspects are present on your wireless router. Not every wireless router will have every aspect to configure. Points to Remember: Different wireless routers have different wireless router aspects available. DHCP is one of the most important aspects to configure as if it is turned on when it is not supposed to be, machines will obtain an IP address from the wrong source. To control bandwidth allocation in a wireless network, use QoS. Reference: LearnKey s A+ ( ) Domain 2: Networking Training Install a SOHO Router: Configure Channels; Port Forwarding; Port Triggering; Set DHCP Role; Configure DMZ; Set NAT; Set QoS; Update Firmware; Configure UPnP 105 Domain 2: Networking A+ ( ) Project Workbook

106 Difficulty: Beginner Estimated Time to Complete: 30 minutes [45 if one tries different settings (such as changing DHCP from off to on and then seeing a connecting device obtain an IP address)] Required Materials: A wireless router and access to configure the router Objectives: 2.0 Networking 2.6 Given a scenario, install and configure SOHO wireless/wired router and apply appropriate settings 2.6.a Channels 2.6.b Port forwarding, port triggering 2.6.c DHCP (on/off ) 2.6.d DMZ 2.6.e NAT / DNAT 2.6.f Basic QoS 2.6.g Firmware 2.6.h UPnP 106 Domain 2: Networking A+ ( ) Project Workbook

107 Internet Connection Types Description: When homes and offices first started connecting to the Internet, the two main ways of connecting were either through a slow dial-up phone line connection or an expensive leased line from a telecommunications company. Fortunately, there are many high-quality and reasonably-priced ways to connect to the Internet. The choice one makes make for an Internet connection depends on availability, reliability, and pricing. Here is a list of the most common Internet connection types and details on each: Internet Connection Cable Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) Details Internet service through a cable TV company. The signal is split between TV and Internet. The speeds tend to be high but vary as the bandwidth is shared with other cable Internet customers in the area. Uses digital signals over phone lines for a high-speed Internet connection. The speed is not typically as high as that of cable Internet but tends to be more consistent than cable Internet. The closer the connection to the phone company equipment, the higher the speed. Asymmetric DSL (ADSL) is the most common DSL subscription, with much faster download speeds than upload speeds. Symmetric DSL (SDSL) has the same upload and download speeds. Dial-up Older type of connection using a modem with a phone line (RJ-11) cable. Maximum speed is 56 Kbps. Fiber Newer, higher-speed connection. Not available in all areas. Satellite Used when other avenues of high-speed Internet are not available. Quality is subject to latency (delay). A clear line of sight to the satellite is needed. Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) Cellular Tethering Hotspot Line-of-sight The first upgrade over a dial-up connection. Uses two 64 Kbps channels for a Basic Rate Interface (BRI) or Kbps channels for a Primary Rate Interface (PRI). Uses a cellular subscription. 4G LTE is the most common cellular network. Speeds are often comparable to cable Internet speeds. The use of a USB cable with a cellular connection to obtain Internet access. An app on a smartphone or a standalone device that, when activated, allows others to use the smartphone s cellular connection to get Internet access. Internet service with a modem which uses a wireless connection from a wireless tower. The signal varies based on interference from outside sources. In this project, you will determine the best possible Internet connection for a customer given the knowledge of a customer s situation. Steps for Completion: 1. For each customer situation, determine the best possible Internet connection type: a. A customer wants high-speed Internet but cannot get cable nor DSL in the area: b. A customer can get Internet via a smartphone but is in a building with no wired or wireless Internet: c. A home office customer has a satellite dish for TV and is close to the local phone company equipment headquarters: Points to Remember: Internet connection speeds vary depending upon the type of Internet connection used. When available, fiber Internet is typically the fastest Internet connection. Cable and DSL are the two most common high-speed Internet connections. Cable tends to be faster but the bandwidth is shared, thus speeds will vary. DSL runs on a dedicated line. Reference: LearnKey s A+ ( ) Domain 2: Networking Training Internet and Network Types: Internet Connection Types; Fiber and Satellite; ISDN and Cellular; Tethering and Mobile Hotspots; Create a Mobile Hotspot 107 Domain 2: Networking A+ ( ) Project Workbook

108 Difficulty: Beginner Estimated Time to Complete: 5 minutes [15 if one takes the time to investigate which type of Internet connection is being used in the building] Required Materials: None Objectives: 2.0 Networking 2.7 Compare and contrast Internet connection types, network types, and their features 2.7.a Internet Connection Types 2.7.a.i Cable 2.7.a.ii DSL 2.7.a.iii Dial-up 2.7.a.iv Fiber 2.7.a.v Satellite 2.7.a.vi ISDN 2.7.a.vii Cellular 2.7.a.vii.1 Tethering 2.7.a.vii.2 Mobile hotspot 2.7.a.viii Line of sight wireless internet service 108 Domain 2: Networking A+ ( ) Project Workbook

109 Network Types Description: When networks are built, the networks themselves have a network type. The network type designation for a network will depend on the network s size and area of coverage. When working on an existing network, a technician needs to know if the network is confined to a single building, for example, or, if the network encompasses several offices, located in different cities, states, or even countries. There are four well-defined network types. As you read through these, remember for the A+ exam to focus on the network types and their definitions as many real-life networks could fall into more than one of these types. Here are the four network types, their definitions, and examples of each: Network Type Definition Example Local Area Network (LAN) Wide Area Network (WAN) Personal Area Network (PAN) Metropolitan Area Network (MAN) A network in which devices are connected together through wired and/or wireless connections in a single area (like a building). A network consisting of multiple LANs in separate locations A short-distance connection between two personal devices. A connection of multiple LANs in a metropolitan area, such as a city. A SOHO network, which usually has 10 or fewer devices. Another example could be a 1000-device network in a single building. A company with LANs in three major cities, all connected through WAN links, usually leased from a telecommunications provider. A Bluetooth connection between a tablet and a keyboard or a smartphone and an earpiece. A university with multiple locations within a city. Another example is a city-wide wireless network. Many people argue a MAN is a form a WAN. Technically, that is correct. For definition purposes, a MAN is kept within the confines of a city or similar municipality while a WAN covers a much larger territory. In this project, you will identify the network type given a network description. Steps for Completion: 1. For each network description, identify the network type (LAN, WAN, PAN, or MAN): a. A network covering three buildings for a business campus with offices in the same city, six blocks apart: b. A two-story office building with 100 devices: c. A network with a headquarters office in Dallas, connected to satellite locations in Denver and Tampa: Points to Remember: LANs are confined to a single location. WANs are a collection of LANs across multiple locations. PANs are networks connecting two personal devices. MANs are networks that have multiple locations but within the same municipality. Reference: LearnKey s A+ ( ) Domain 2: Networking Training Internet and Network Types: Network Types Difficulty: Beginner Estimated Time to Complete: 5 minutes Required Materials: None Objectives: 2.0 Networking 2.7 Compare and contrast Internet connection types, network types, and their features 2.7.b Network Types 2.7.b.i LAN 2.7.b.ii WAN 2.7.b.iii PAN 2.7.b.iv MAN 109 Domain 2: Networking A+ ( ) Project Workbook

110 Hub, Switches, and Routers Description: Computers rarely connect directly to each other in order to exchange data. Rather, they go through a network device. The network device used depends upon the size of the network and the desire to transmit data to and from the network (like the Internet, for example). For networks using wired connections, there are three major types of devices used: Hub: For any computers and other devices connected to a hub, a hub can transmit data from one computer to another. However, hubs are not common in modern networks for one main reason: Hubs do not save any data on its connected devices. So every time data comes in from a computer to a hub, the hub broadcasts that data to every device connected to it and then each computer connected to the hub has to figure out if the data is meant to reach that computer. This creates a lot of unnecessary traffic on a network. Switch: Whereas a hub does not know where data should go on a network, a switch is far more intelligent in that role. A switch identifies and remembers devices connected to it and then can send data from a sender to a recipient on the network. Thus, data is not broadcast unnecessarily to every device on the network. Router: Hubs and switches help to control traffic within a network but only within a network. Routers connect and route traffic between networks. For example, a computer trying to retrieve data from the Internet can only do so if the computer has a connection to a router. Routers build tables to direct traffic as data passes through them. Some physical devices can act both as switches and routers. All of these devices have activity lights on each port. For these lights, a green link light typically means a connection to another device has taken place. A fast-blinking green light indicates activity, such as a data transfer. For devices which can transmit data at different speeds, activity lights can change color depending upon the speed of the activity. As an example, an orange light can indicate a 100 Mbps connection while a green light can indicate a 1000 Mbps connection. These devices can have anywhere from 4 to 48 (or more) for connecting different computers, printers, other devices, and neighboring hubs, switches, or routers. If a physical port malfunctions, the port can be disabled. In this project, you will identify which device (hub, switch, or router) should be used given a group of computers and other devices in a network. Steps for Completion: 1. For each situation, identify whether a hub, switch, or router should be used: a. A network with three desktop computers and a printer: b. A network with two laptops, four desktops, and a file server: c. A network with four desktops and a need to connect this network to another network in the building: Points to Remember: Hubs connect devices to each other but do not remember anything about the devices and thus will broadcast data from one device to every other device on the network. Switches connect devices to each other and learn the devices so that switches can direct data from one device on the network to another. While hubs and switches connect devices to each other, routers route traffic between networks. Reference: LearnKey s A+ ( ) Domain 2: Networking Training Network Architecture Devices: Hubs, Switches, and Routers Difficulty: Beginner Estimated Time to Complete: 10 minutes [15-20 if the hardware is available to plug in and test] Required Materials: None Objectives: 2.0 Networking 2.8 Compare and contrast network architecture devices, their functions, and features 2.8.a Hub 2.8.b Switch 2.8.c Router 110 Domain 2: Networking A+ ( ) Project Workbook

111 Other Network Devices Description: Hubs, switches and routers are very important devices in a network infrastructure but they are not the only devices which help make up a network infrastructure. For example, hubs, switches, and most routers are great for wired aspects of networks, but not so much for networks which are mostly or completely wireless. Here are several other types of network devices and the roles they fill in a network infrastructure: Network Device Access Point Bridge Modem Firewall Patch Panel Repeaters Role Provides wireless network access to devices. Also known as a wireless router. Most wireless access points have wired ports for Ethernet cables. The first slight improvement over hubs. Bridges isolate groups of devices on a network and then bridges communicate with each other. Wireless access points can serve to bridge two ends of a LAN where wiring the two ends would be difficult. Used to reach an external network. Modems used to be mostly dial-up through phone lines but now are mostly dedicated DSL or cable connections. A hardware-based device or software-based app that controls network traffic though filtering ports, protocols, and programs. A device in which cables used in a network converge. This is usually located in a network closet. Patch cables connect from a hub or switch port to the patch panel. Patch panels provide a connection point between hubs or switches and the ports to which computers are connected. Also known as extenders. These boost network signals so they can travel a longer distance. Repeaters can be wired or wireless. In addition to these network architecture devices, Ethernet networks can use, when needed, existing electrical wiring in order to transmit data. Conversely, devices needing power can sometimes use Ethernet cables instead of electrical wiring for their power. There are two specific devices which allow Ethernet and electrical power to share the same medium: Ethernet over power: An adapter which allows for an Ethernet connection using existing electrical wiring in a building. Power over Ethernet injector: A device which uses Power over Ethernet (PoE) to transmit electrical power over Ethernet cables. For example, a camera may need power and an Ethernet cable may be nearby but not an electrical wall plug. If the camera supports PoE, an Ethernet connection can supply power to the camera. In this project, you will identify network architecture devices and choose which network architecture device should be used given a customer situation. Steps for Completion: 1. Identify each of these network architecture devices: a. b. 2. For each customer situation, name the network architecture device needed: a. A customer needs to make sure unwanted network traffic does not enter the business: b. A customer needs power to a voice over IP (VoIP) phone but does not have an electrical outlet nearby: c. A customer needs to connect two switches using twisted-pair cable. The switches are 450 feet apart: 111 Domain 2: Networking A+ ( ) Project Workbook

112 Points to Remember: Access points provide both wired and wireless access to a network, though most devices will connect wirelessly to the access point. Most modern modems are dedicated DSL or cable modems. Repeaters boost a data signal, thus allowing networks to overcome physical distance limitations presented by cables and wireless standards. Reference: LearnKey s A+ ( ) Domain 2: Networking Training Network Architecture Devices: Access Points and Modems; Bridges; Firewall; Patch Panel; Repeaters and Extenders; Ethernet and Power Difficulty: Beginner Estimated Time to Complete: 10 minutes [20-30 if some of these devices are available to examine and test (or walk around a building and discover)] Required Materials: None Objectives: 2.0 Networking 2.8 Compare and contrast network architecture devices, their functions, and features 2.8.d Access point 2.8.e Bridge 2.8.f Modem 2.8.g Firewall 2.8.h Patch panel 2.8.i Repeaters/extenders 2.8.j Ethernet over Power 2.8.k Power over Ethernet injector 112 Domain 2: Networking A+ ( ) Project Workbook

113

114 Fill-in-the-Blanks Instructions: While watching the A+ ( ) Domain 3: Mobile Devices Training course, fill in the missing words according to the information presented by the instructor. [References are found in the brackets.] Install and Configure Laptop Hardware 1. A chip is an easy way to increase RAM on a laptop. [Expansion Options] 2. are used to add USB, esata, network, and FireWire ports to a mobile device. [Expansion Options] 3. Before installing memory into a laptop, it is important to remove the. [Install Memory] 4. The should line up correctly before attempting to finish installing a laptop hard drive. [Install a Hard Drive] 5. If a laptop is plugged in for long periods of time, it is prudent to remove the. [Other Installations] 6. The on a laptop may need to be removed in order to install a new DC jack. [Other Installations] Laptop Display Components 7. An inverter is required for LCD monitors that use a. [Mobile Display Types] 8. displays do not require a backlight. [Mobile Display Types] 9. A is a good example of a mobile device media component. [Media Components] 10. Built-in mobile microphones are often used to capture audio using relevant. [Mobile Device Microphones] 11. If an inverter malfunctions, the whole will need to be removed. [Inverters and Digitizers] 12. A digitizer is used to scan information from books and other real world items and convert it to digital data. [Inverters and Digitizers] Laptop Features 13. A laptop will often have a built-in key that will close a on the screen. [Function Keys] 14. The function key is used to change the display of the screen with the press of a button. [Function Keys] 15. is not always affected by a function key. It may be the result of a low battery. [Function Keys] 16. Docking stations are built specifically according to the of the laptop. [Docking Station] 114 Domain 3: Mobile Devices A+ ( ) Project Workbook

115 17. Unlike a docking station, simply add ports to a laptop not expansion slots or a monitor. [Docking Station] Other Mobile Devices 18. In order for a device to be considered a phablet, its dimension must be in between 5 ½ and 6.99 inches. [Tablets, Phablets, and Smartphones] 19. In order to zoom in on a mobile device, the user can the screen. [Mobile Device Gestures] 20. Wearable devices include fitness monitors, smart watches,, and headsets. [Wearable Devices] 21. An e-reader has a specialized screen which makes it easier to read in direct. [Wearable Devices] 22. GPS will not function properly if there is no or if the GPS services are not turned on. [GPS] Mobile Connections and Accessories 23. works as long as the two smartphones are within 10 centimeters of each other. [Mobile Device Connection Types] 24. is a mobile connection type which works on line of sight. [Mobile Device Connection Types] 25. An is used to increase the memory of mobile devices. [Mobile Device Accessories] 26. a mobile device can help protect it from the elements. [Mobile Device Accessories] 115 Domain 3: Mobile Devices A+ ( ) Project Workbook

116 Laptop Expansion Options Description: While laptops typically do not have the expansion capabilities desktops do, laptops still have some expansion capabilities, especially in the area of memory and storage. Most of the storage expansion capabilities are external and temporary. In addition to memory and storage expansion capabilities, USB ports on laptops offer versatility in that network devices can use USB ports to connect to networks when, without the USB ports, that would not be possible. For example, a laptop may not have a functioning RJ-45 port for an Ethernet cable. But, if the laptop has a USB port, a USB-to-RJ-45 connector can be plugged in and then an RJ-45 cable can be plugged into the USB-to-RJ-45 dongle and create an Ethernet connection. One type of expansion option is an Express card. Express cards are adapters which allow for the addition of USB, esata, network, or FireWire ports. Express cards have the same thickness as a type II Personal Computer Memory Card International Association (PCMCIA) card, a card popular years ago but not as much for modern laptops. There are two main types of express cards: Express card /34: 34 millimeter wide with 26 pins. Express card /54: 54 millimeter wide with 26 pins. The /54 express card has more space, so more components can be added through the express card, such as a 1.8-inch hard drive. The /54 express card also has more space in which to dissipate heat, which is very important in laptops to prevent them from overheating. To add memory to a laptop, one or more SO-DIMM RAM chips is needed. As is the case with adding RAM to desktops, make sure the SO-DIMM to be installed is compatible with the motherboard on the laptop. Another type of expansion which can take place is a flash memory upgrade, specifically upgrading a magnetic hard disk drive to a solid-state drive. Solid-state drives use flash memory to store data and are much more energy-efficient and run at a lower temperature than do magnetic hard disk drives. Many of the expansion options within a laptop are done through existing ports on the laptop, specifically USB, DisplayPort, and Thunderbolt ports. DisplayPort and Thunderbolt ports are found primarily on an Apple device. With USB, many adapters are available to give laptops the capabilities they would not ordinarily have. Here is a specific list of laptop ports and USB adapters and their role in expanding a laptop s capabilities: Port/Adapter Thunderbolt DisplayPort USB to RJ-45 dongle USB to Wi-Fi dongle USB to Bluetooth USB Optical Drive Role in Laptop Expansion A Thunderbolt port can host many different adapters, including Thunderbolt to Ethernet and Thunderbolt to FireWire. Many adapters are available for DisplayPort, including DisplayPort to VGA, DisplayPort to DVI, and Display- Port to HDMI. Plug-in for USB port that allows for an RJ-45 (Ethernet) connector on the other end. Allows a device to connect to an Ethernet network without having an RJ-45 port. A USB adapter with wireless capability so that one can connect to a wireless network when a wireless adapter is not present on the laptop. An adapter that plugs into a USB port and then allows for a Bluetooth connection. External CD, DVD, or Blu-ray drive which plugs into a device through its USB port. In this project, you will identify expansion options and then choose the expansion device needed given a customer situation. Steps for Completion: 1. Identify each of these laptop expansion options: a. b. 116 Domain 3: Mobile Devices A+ ( ) Project Workbook

117 2. For each situation, indicate the expansion option which best fits the customer need: a. A customer needs to play DVDs but does not have an optical drive built-in to a laptop: b. A customer needs to have a laptop perform well enough to edit high-end videos: Points to Remember: Thunderbolt and DisplayPort interfaces offer several expansion options for a laptop. If upgrading memory, make sure there is room to upgrade memory and the SO-DIMM chips are compatible with the laptop motherboard. USB ports offer a wide range of expansion capabilities for a laptop. Reference: LearnKey s A+ ( ) Domain 3: Mobile Devices Training Install and Configure Laptop Hardware: Expansion Options Difficulty: Beginner/Intermediate Estimated Time to Complete: 10 minutes [20-30 if some of these expansion options (especially the USB ones) are available to plug in and test] Required Materials: None Objectives: 3.0 Mobile Devices 3.1 Install and configure laptop hardware and components 3.1.a Expansion options 3.1.a.i Express card / a.ii Express card / a.iii SO-DIMM 3.1.a.iv Flash 3.1.a.v Ports/Adapters 3.1.a.v.1 Thunderbolt 3.1.a.v.2 DisplayPort 3.1.a.v.3 USB to RJ-45 dongle 3.1.a.v.4 USB to Wi-Fi dongle 3.1.a.v.5 USB to Bluetooth 3.1.a.v.6 USB Optical Drive 117 Domain 3: Mobile Devices A+ ( ) Project Workbook

118 Installing Laptop Hardware Description: When installing laptop hardware, some of the components can be reached through removing one or more parts of the cover at the bottom of the laptop. On other occasions, installing laptop hardware is a far more arduous task. In some cases, the keyboard has to be removed in order to expose the part which needs replacing. For each hardware piece to be replaced, there is a typical set of steps to follow, as seen in the table below: Hardware Piece Memory Hard drive Battery Keyboard Smart card reader Optical drive Mini-PCIe card Wireless card Screen DC jack Touchpad Plastic wedge Speaker System board CPU Information on Replacing it Make sure to have the correct SO-DIMM chips and that there is room for expansion. RAM chips are usually kept under a cover at the bottom of the laptop. SO-DIMM chips are often inserted at an angle and then snapped into place. Make sure the hard drive fits in the spot in which it will be installed. Laptop hard drives are typically 1.8-inch wide or 2.5-inch wide. Pull the old hard drive out and then place and secure the new hard drive. Batteries are usually locked in with a latch. Move the latch, remove the old battery and replace it with a new battery. Lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries are the most common laptop batteries. The bottom cover often needs to be removed to access a large screw holding the keyboard in place. Then, a plastic wedge can pop the keyboard out and a new one can be put in. Pay close attention to the way in which the keyboard is connected to the motherboard. Usually found under the palm rest, meaning that many parts have to be moved in order to replace a smart card reader. Most are held in place with one screw. It should be easy to remove and upgrade. Similar to a PCIe expansion slot except it is smaller. These offer a rare expansion opportunity for a laptop. Will have two or three wires attached to use and will usually be in a mini-pcie slot. Label the wires before replacing a wireless card so that the new card will be properly connected. If there is an extra cable available, it is most likely a multiple input multiple output (MIMO) cable. Replacing the screen almost always involves first removing the keyboard. Make sure everything is disconnected before attempting to remove a screen. This is often hard to reach. Keep track of every piece moved to reach the DC jack. On the inside of a laptop, this is usually nestled near the keyboard and held in with a clip. Again, document every piece and screw taken out before the touchpad is reached. This is not a hardware piece. Rather, it is often used to pry something open (like a keyboard). Technicians often use a flathead screwdriver to pry something open. Screwdrivers scratch areas. Plastic wedges do not scratch areas. Speakers are usually placed behind a keyboard. Start with removing the components from the back of the laptop. Then, remove the components from the front of the laptop, keeping track of every step and every screw. Usually, the CPU is soldered to the motherboard, thus making it not replaceable. If it is replaceable, consult the motherboard manual for instructions. Specific to hard drives, a common upgrade is from a traditional hard drive disk (HDD) to a solid-state drive (SSD). Or, a solid-state drive is added to the laptop, sometimes replacing the optical drive. Solid-state drives perform much faster and much more efficiently than that of hard disk drives. Having an HDD and an SSD creates a hybrid of drives in a laptop. In this project, you will identify needs for hardware installations in a laptop. Steps for Completion: 1. What is the most important consideration for upgrading memory on a laptop? 2. What is an important consideration for upgrading a hard drive? 3. Which laptop component is the least likely to be upgraded? 4. What should be used when lifting a laptop keyboard? 118 Domain 3: Mobile Devices A+ ( ) Project Workbook

119 5. Besides RAM, which upgrade stands to have the best chance of improving overall laptop performance? Points to Remember: Laptops do not have as many opportunities to upgrade components as do desktops. Two of the most common installations on laptops involve adding RAM and switching a hard disk drive for a solid-state drive. For any installation, be sure to keep track of every step and every screw while taking apart any laptop components. Reference: LearnKey s A+ ( ) Domain 3: Mobile Devices Training Install and Configure Laptop Hardware: Expansion Options; Install Memory; Install a Hard Drive; Other Installations Difficulty: Intermediate Estimated Time to Complete: 10 minutes [Add minutes for each piece of hardware available to install (an SSD, for example)] Required Materials: None Objectives: 3.0 Mobile Devices 3.1 Install and configure laptop hardware and components 3.1.b Hardware/device replacement 3.1.b.i Keyboard 3.1.b.ii Hard Drive 3.1.b.ii.1 SSD vs. Hybrid vs. Magnetic disk 3.1.b.ii.2 1.8in vs. 2.5in 3.1.b.iii Memory 3.1.b.iv Smart card reader 3.1.b.v Optical drive 3.1.b.vi Wireless card 3.1.b.vii Mini-PCIe 3.1.b.viii Screen 3.1.b.ix DC jack 3.1.b.x Battery 3.1.b.xi Touchpad 3.1.b.xii Plastics/frames 3.1.b.xiii Speaker 3.1.b.xiv System board 3.1.b.xv CPU 119 Domain 3: Mobile Devices A+ ( ) Project Workbook

120 Types of Display Devices Description: With the proliferation of mobile devices such as laptops, tablets, and smartphones, there are many different types of displays used in these devices. The key to learning about these device displays is knowing which devices in which they are primarily used, the characteristics that separate one display type from another, and, where applicable, parts within these displays which can be identified as a possible cause for malfunction. The most common type of display is a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) panel. This is the type of display used for most desktop monitors. LCD panels are thinner, lighter, and more energy-efficient than their predecessors, the larger, bulkier cathode ray tube (CRT) monitors. There are two main types of LCD panels: Twisted Nematic (TN): TN panels have a short response time and use light emitting diode (LED) backlighting to display information. The color quality decreases when viewing a display with a TN panel at an angle. In-plane switching (IPS): IPS has better color reproduction and better viewing angles than does TN. IPS is often found in smaller devices such as smartphones. In addition to having two types of panels, LCD panels have two different ways of displaying light: Fluorescent: Light shines through liquid crystals through a backlight, the backlight consisting mostly of a cold cathode fluorescent lamp (CCFL). LED Backlighting: In this configuration, an LED monitor uses LEDs for the backlight, not CCFL. LEDs have brighter displays and a better contrast than CCFL. They also consume less power than non-led monitors as there is no CCFL using power. In addition to LCD panels, there are three other types of common display devices. Here they are, along with their characteristics: Plasma Projector Display Type Organic Light Emitting Diode (OLED) Characteristics Display quality is high but plasma uses more electricity than do LCD monitors. Light is emitted through voltage in small, gas-filled cells. Used to show a screen on a wall or canvas. Projector brightness is measured in lumens. The higher the number of lumens, the brighter the display. A display which does not need a backlight. These are usually found in mobile devices. One negative to plasma displays is a problem called burn-in. In burn-in, having the same image on the screen for too long could cause the image to burn itself into the screen and look like it is there even when the display is turned off. With projectors, the optimal distance a projector needs to be from a wall or canvas is determined through the projector s throw ratio. A throw ratio is the ratio of distance from a projector to its screen and the size of the projection. For example, if a presenter desires for a projection to be 10 feet wide and the throw ratio of the projector is 2:1 (usually displayed as 2 with the :1 being implied), the projector needs to be 10 x 2 = 20 feet from the screen. In this project, you will identify a type of display. You will then identify which type of display is being used given a description. Steps for Completion: 1. Which type of display is this display? 2. Which type of LCD display is often found in smartphones? 120 Domain 3: Mobile Devices A+ ( ) Project Workbook

121 3. Which type of display is often found in mobile devices due to its lack of need for a backlight? 4. You are setting up a projector for a conference. The presenter has indicated that the display screen should be eight feet wide. The throw ratio of the projector is 2.4. How far does the projector need to be from the screen to achieve the desired screen width? Points to Remember: The four most common types of display devices are LCD, plasma, projector, and OLED. LCD displays have two types of panels: TN and IPS. Displays which use LED backlighting consume less power than displays using a CCFL for a backlight. Plasma screens are subject to burn-in. Reference: LearnKey s A+ ( ) Domain 1: Hardware Training Display Devices: Types of Displays Difficulty: Beginner Estimated Time to Complete: 5 minutes [15-20 if there is a projector available to test the throw ratio] Required Materials: None Objectives: 1.0 Hardware 1.10 Compare and contrast types of display devices and their features 1.10.a Types 1.10.a.i LCD 1.10.a.i.1 TN vs. IPS 1.10.a.i.2 Fluorescent vs. LED backlighting 1.10.a.ii Plasma 1.10.a.iii Projector 1.10.a.iv OLED 3.0 Mobile Devices 3.2 Explain the function of components within the display of a laptop 3.2.a Types 3.2.a.i LCD 3.2.a.i.1 TTL vs. IPS 3.2.a.i.2 Fluorescent vs. LED backlighting 3.2.a.ii OLED 121 Domain 3: Mobile Devices A+ ( ) Project Workbook

122 Laptop Components Description: With laptops, many components have to be crammed into a smaller physical space than the space available in desktops. For this reason, a few components are either inside of the display or connected to the display. This makes replacing these parts difficult as usually the laptop has to be taken apart to the extent to where the display is accessible. When working with laptop hardware components, here are the parts to be aware of which are most likely in close proximity to the display or connected to the display, along with the purpose they serve in a laptop: Laptop Part Wi-Fi Antenna Connector Webcam Microphone Inverter Digitizer Purpose Usually located inside the display and contains wires which run to a laptop wireless card. The wireless card is usually situated near the bottom cover of the laptop. Usually built into the top part of a laptop display. Webcams are used for video chats, demonstrations, online meetings, and similar activities. Used to record audio and is usually attached to the display. Necessary for LCDs which use CCFL as a backlight to convert DC voltage from the motherboard to AC voltage the CCFL needs. Input device inside of a touchscreen display and responds to touch. In this project, you will identify the component being used inside of a laptop display to perform a particular task. Steps for Completion: 1. For each situation, identify the laptop component being used: a. A manager is conducting a video-based online meeting: b. A brush stroke gets larger as a graphic designer holds a finger down on the screen: c. A salesperson records a verbal reminder to call a client the next day: Points to Remember: A few laptop components are either connected to a display or are placed inside of a display. If these components need to be replaced, great care must be taken to make sure everything is reconnected to the display properly. Reference: LearnKey s A+ ( ) Domain 3: Mobile Devices Training Laptop Display Components: Mobile Display Types; Media Components; Mobile Device Microphones; Inverters and Digitizers Difficulty: Beginner Estimated Time to Complete: 5 minutes [20 if there is a laptop that has been opened up enough to see these parts] Required Materials: None Objectives: 3.0 Mobile Devices 3.2 Explain the function of components within the display of a laptop 3.2.b Wi-Fi antenna connector/placement 3.2.c Webcam 3.2.d Microphone 3.2.e Inverter 3.2.f Digitizer 122 Domain 3: Mobile Devices A+ ( ) Project Workbook

123 Laptop Function Keys Description: Many laptops and full-sized keyboards for tablets have extra functionality options using the function keys (F keys) on the keyboard. With some keyboards, there is a function (fn) key which needs to be held down to take advantage of the special function. With other keyboards, the function key needs to be held down for the key to have normal functionality (such as for help using the F1 key, for example). The placement of special function keys from the F1 key to the F12 key will vary depending upon the keyboard present. Not every function is available on every keyboard, but here are the most common functions possibly found on the function keys: Function Key Dual displays Wireless (on/off ) Cellular (on/off ) Volume settings Screen brightness Bluetooth (on/off ) Keyboard backlight Touchpad (on/off ) Screen orientation Media options GPS (on/off ) Airplane mode Purpose Controls the behavior of a dual display, in similar fashion to a desktop with multiple monitors. Quickly enables or disables a device s wireless adapter. Sometimes, this key is pressed by accident. Not a very common key on a keyboard. This will enable or disable a device s cellular connection. Keys which raise or lower the volume or toggle the volume between mute and not mute Keys which raise or lower the brightness of a device display. When pressed, the key enables or disables Bluetooth. Turns on a light that shows through the keyboard keys, helping a user see the keys when the room is dark. A key which enables or disables the touchpad. A key which will change the screen orientation from landscape to portrait and vice versa. On a Windows device, Ctrl+Alt+ an arrow key will manipulate the direction of the display. Keys that play, stop, fast forward, or reverse a video. A key which turns GPS and/or location awareness on or off. A key which disables all network connectivity for a device. Often, this is pressed by accident. For controlling a dual display, there are four usual options for rendering the external display, with the external display most commonly a monitor or projector: Computer only: Display shows on laptop but not an external display. Duplicate: The display is the same on both the laptop and the external display. Extend: The display stretches across both the laptop and the external display. Projector only: The display only appears on the external display. In this project, you will identify the function of a key if it is pressed. Steps for Completion: 1. For each function key displayed, briefly explain what happens if the key is pressed: a. b. 2. A user calls a technician to explain that all network connectivity has been lost. The user was just typing up a Word document. Which special key may have been pressed? Points to Remember: Function keys on a laptop can serve multiple purposes. Some keyboards require the fn key be held down to get the special function to work when a function key is pressed. Some function keys can inadvertently cause an unintended problem when pressed. Examples of this include the wireless key and, if present, an airplane mode key. 123 Domain 3: Mobile Devices A+ ( ) Project Workbook

124 Reference: LearnKey s A+ ( ) Domain 3: Mobile Devices Training Laptop Features: Function Keys Difficulty: Beginner Estimated Time to Complete: 5 minutes [10-15 if one experiments with these keys] Required Materials: None, but having a keyboard with special function keys will help Objectives: 3.0 Mobile Devices 3.3 Given a scenario, use appropriate laptop features 3.3.a Special function keys 3.3.a.i Dual displays 3.3.a.ii Wireless (on/off ) 3.3.a.iii Cellular (on/off ) 3.3.a.iv Volume settings 3.3.a.v Screen brightness 3.3.a.vi Bluetooth (on/off ) 3.3.a.vii Keyboard backlight 3.3.a.viii Touch pad (on/off ) 3.3.a.ix Screen orientation 3.3.a.x Media options (fast forward/rewind) 3.3.a.xi GPS (on/off ) 3.3.a.xii Airplane mode 124 Domain 3: Mobile Devices A+ ( ) Project Workbook

125 Laptop Accessories Description: In addition to expansion options, laptops have a number of available accessories to help improve laptop capabilities, security, and performance. To make the laptop have the look and feel of a desktop, the laptop can connect to a docking station. A docking station usually has ports that allow for the plugin of an external monitor, full-size keyboard, mouse, network connectivity, and other expansion slots. Docking stations are built specifically for the laptop models they support. A lesser type of expansion device available for a laptop is a port replicator. Similar to a docking station, a laptop plugs into a port replicator. Port replicators usually include USB ports, sound ports, and network ports but not expansion slots nor a place to plug in an external monitor. To better secure a laptop in an office, a laptop can use a cable lock. A cable lock functions in a similar manner to a bicycle lock. To use a cable lock, connect the laptop to something that cannot be moved, plug the cable into the laptop and set the combination. Many laptops have some tablet functionality. These laptops, known as 2-in-1 laptops, have detachable screens that when detached, turns the laptop into a fully-functional tablet. When the device is in tablet mode, the screen rotates depending upon the orientation of the user to the device. In this project, you will identify which laptop accessory best fits a customer situation. You will also explore some of these laptop accessories if you have access to these accessories. Steps for Completion: 1. For each situation, identify the best laptop accessory for a customer request: a. A customer wants to be able to use a 27-inch monitor and a full-size keyboard with a laptop: b. A customer wants to make sure a laptop is safe when the customer leaves the laptop in the office: c. What type of functionality does a laptop with a detachable screen have once the screen is detached? Points to Remember: Docking stations provide for laptop expansion in that the laptop can have the look and feel of a desktop computer. Cable locks work in a similar way to bicycle locks to help secure laptops. A laptop which has a detachable screen and has tablet functionality is known as a 2-in-1 laptop or a hybrid laptop. Reference: LearnKey s A+ ( ) Domain 3: Mobile Devices Training Laptop Features: Docking Station; Rotating/Removable Screens Difficulty: Beginner Estimated Time to Complete: 5 minutes [20-30 if there is a docking station or port replicator available to test] Required Materials: None Objectives: 3.0 Mobile Devices 3.3 Given a scenario, use appropriate laptop features 3.3.b Docking station 3.3.c Physical laptop lock and cable lock 3.3.d Rotating / removable screens 125 Domain 3: Mobile Devices A+ ( ) Project Workbook

126 Other Mobile Devices Description: Laptops are far from the only mobile devices available for computing. Computing has become far more personalized with devices which can track just about anything desired, including, for example, steps one walks per day. The device closest in look and performance to a laptop is a tablet. A tablet is a device which does not require the use of a keyboard or mouse as interaction is done through gestures on a touch screen. Here are some of the more common gestures used on a tablet: Tap: Similar to a mouse click. Double-tap: Similar to a double-click with a mouse. Flick: Sometimes called a fling, this scrolls one up or down a tablet screen. Touch and hold: Also called a long press, performs different activities depending upon the device. Drag: Sometimes called a pan, a drag moves items on a screen. Pinch: Zooms in on a screen. Spread: Zooms out on a screen. Pinch and spread: A pinch on one area of the screen and a spread on another area of a screen. Touch flow: Moving gesture across or down a screen (similar to a flick). Tablets usually range in size from a 7-inch diagonal screen to a 12-inch diagonal screen. Tablets use solid-state drives to consume less power and thus extend battery life. Most tablets have Wi-Fi capability. Some tablets have cellular capability. With the exception of micro SD cards for expanded storage, tablets tend to not be upgradable nor do they have serviceable parts. Smartphones are mobile devices that do much more than just make calls. Most smartphones can browse the Internet, manage contacts and calendars, take pictures and video, synchronize with other personal devices, take notes, and obtain a wealth of information through the use of apps. Smartphones are basically hand-held mini computers. Smartphones have a screen size of up to 5.5-inch. Phablets are smartphones with tablet-like capabilities. First, the screen size of a phablet ranges from 5.5-inch to 6.99-inch. Most phablets also have a stylus one can use to take notes (or draw simple pictures). In addition to tablets, smartphones, and phablets, many mobile devices fall into the category of wearable technology devices. There are three main types of wearable technology devices: Fitness monitor: An app on a smartphone which tracks items such as steps taken, miles jogged, time on a bicycle, and other fitness aspects. Smart watch: A watch with smartphone-like capabilities, including the ability to talk on the phone, set reminders, and listen to music. Many smart watches also possess fitness monitoring capabilities. Glasses and headsets: Smart glasses have a built-in camera and smart app features which add to what the glasses wearer sees. For example, a smart glasses wearer can see a restaurant and then instantly obtain information on the restaurant, such as the menu, pricing, and reviews. Headsets have features such as tracking sleep and even providing slight electrical currents to the cerebral vortex to stimulate game-playing ability short-term. Other types of mobile devices have singular, unique features, such as storing books and navigating one through traffic from their homes to their workplaces. Here are three other types of mobile devices and their descriptions: e-reader: A mobile device with a main purpose of storing electronic copies of books and periodicals. Most e-readers have a screen which tolerates sunlight well so people can read outside. Smart camera: A camera with picture-taking, app-running, and in many cases, Bluetooth and wireless capability. This allows the smart camera to instantly share photos taken with another device (like a smartphone or tablet) or upload pictures to a cloud storage location. Some smart cameras can be controlled from another mobile device, such as a smartphone. Global Positioning System (GPS): A standalone device which routes one from a starting point to a destination. Many GPS devices can route multiple stops on a trip. In this project, you will identify the mobile device needed given a customer situation. Steps for Completion: 1. For each situation, identify the best fit for a mobile device for a customer situation: a. An executive needs a phone which is easier to read than a small-screen smartphone: b. A salesperson needs a hand-held device which allows for note-taking and for running basic apps: 126 Domain 3: Mobile Devices A+ ( ) Project Workbook

127 c. A retiree wants to read magazines electronically: d. A person wants to keep track of the number of steps taken per day and be able to easily answer the phone while out on a walk: Points to Remember: Tablets, phablets, and smartphones are all mobile devices which contain many features available to a full-sized computer. Wearable technology devices track personal goals such as fitness goals. e-readers store digital copies of books and periodicals. Smart cameras allow for easy sharing of photos and for remote control of the camera itself. Reference: LearnKey s A+ ( ) Domain 3: Mobile Devices Training Other Mobile Devices: Tablets, Phablets, and Smartphones; Mobile Device Gestures; Wearable Devices; GPS Difficulty: Beginner Estimated Time to Complete: 10 minutes [up to 30 if some of these devices are physically available to test out] Required Materials: None Objectives: 3.0 Mobile Devices 3.4 Explain the characteristics of various types of other mobile devices 3.4.a Tablets 3.4.b Smartphones 3.4.c Wearable technology devices 3.4.c.i Smart watches 3.4.c.ii Fitness monitors 3.4.c.iii Glasses and headsets 3.4.d Phablets 3.4.e e-readers 3.4.f Smart camera 3.4.g GPS 127 Domain 3: Mobile Devices A+ ( ) Project Workbook

128 Mobile Device Connection Types Description: Mobile devices need to be able to connect to other mobile devices and, occasionally, desktop computers in order to send and receive information from other devices. With many different types of mobile devices (ios, Android, and Windows), some mobile device connection types are common to all three while some are proprietary. Here are the most common types of mobile device connections, along with a description of each: Connection Type Near-Field Communication (NFC) Micro-USB/Mini-USB Lightning Bluetooth Infrared (IR) Hotspot Tethering Description Used with two NFC-enabled devices. The devices need to be within 10 centimeters of each other in order to communicate with each other. Found mostly on connections for phone chargers (especially on Android phones) and for connections to external hard drives. An Apple-proprietary eight-pin connector, used to connect devices to host computers, external monitors, cameras, battery chargers, and other peripherals. A wireless connection between two paired devices. A typical maximum distance between the two devices is 10 meters (33 feet). A line-of-sight communication between two devices, usually with a distance of six or fewer feet. An app on a mobile device that, when turned on, allows other devices to connect to the Internet through the device s cellular connection. The use of a USB connection from a mobile device to a laptop or desktop. The laptop or desktop then uses the mobile device s cellular connection for Internet access. In addition to the common connection types mentioned above, there are a host of proprietary, vendor-specific ports used for communication. Most of these are prevalent on Apple devices but some Android devices have proprietary ports to use for tasks such as charging a device battery. In this project, you will identify the type of mobile device connection being used. Then, you will choose a mobile device connection type given a customer situation. Steps for Completion: 1. Identify the mobile device connections taking place: a. b. 2. For each situation, identify which mobile device connection would be best for the situation: a. The Internet service shuts down in a five-person office but the manager still has Internet via a cell phone: b. A connector used to charge an iphone: c. A wireless keyboard needs to pair up with a tablet: Points to Remember: Some mobile device connection types are proprietary to a vendor while others will work across multiple vendors. A hotspot uses a cellular connection wirelessly for Internet access while tethering uses a USB connection between a computer and a mobile device for Internet access. 128 Domain 3: Mobile Devices A+ ( ) Project Workbook

129 Reference: LearnKey s A+ ( ) Domain 3: Mobile Devices Training Mobile Connections and Accessories: Mobile Device Connection Types Difficulty: Beginner Estimated Time to Complete: 10 minutes [up to 30 if some of these connections are physically available to test] Required Materials: None, but having some of these connection types with which to practice will sharpen one s skills Objectives: 3.0 Mobile Devices 3.5 Compare and contrast accessories & ports of other mobile devices 3.5.a Connection types 3.5.a.i NFC 3.5.a.ii Proprietary vendor specific ports (communication/power) 3.5.a.iii microusb/miniusb 3.5.a.iv Lightning 3.5.a.v Bluetooth 3.5.a.vi IR 3.5.a.vii Hotspot / tethering 129 Domain 3: Mobile Devices A+ ( ) Project Workbook

130 Mobile Device Accessories Description: The capability of mobile devices is enhanced through the use of one or more mobile device accessories. These accessories can enhance a user s audio, video, gaming, and working experience with a mobile device. Here are some of the most common accessories used with mobile devices along with the main uses for these accessories: Accessory Headsets Speakers Game pads Docking stations Extra battery packs and chargers Protective covers Credit card readers Memory/MicroSD cards Purpose Used to listen to audio. Used to listen to audio at a higher quality than that of the built-in speakers on a mobile device. Used for game-playing. Most game pads have multiple joysticks and multiple buttons. A device a mobile device plugs into. A docking station has expansion ports for a full-size monitor, a full-size keyboard, and other expansion ports. Provides for a backup battery in case the original battery fails to work or simply runs out of battery life. Used to help waterproof a device. Sometimes this is a thin sheet of covering on a mobile device screen. Sometimes this is a back cover on a smartphone. A small device that plugs into the speaker port on the phone and then allows one to swipe credit cards and record transactions in a credit card app. Used to expand storage capabilities on a mobile device. In this project, you will help customers choose mobile device accessories. Steps for Completion: 1. For each customer situation, indicate which mobile device accessory best fits the situation: a. A customer has a tendency to drop smartphones and wants to minimize the risk of damage: b. A customer is not happy with the sound quality of the music playing on a tablet: c. A customer has 8 GB of storage on a smartphone but wants to be able to download more music files: Points to Remember: Mobile device accessories enhance the capabilities of mobile devices. Mobile device accessories offer expansion, extra protection, storage, and the capability for business transactions. Reference: LearnKey s A+ ( ) Domain 3: Mobile Devices Training Mobile Connections and Accessories: Mobile Device Accessories Difficulty: Beginner Estimated Time to Complete: 5 minutes [15-20 if some of these accessories are physically available to plug in and test] Required Materials: None Objectives: 3.0 Mobile Devices 3.5 Compare and contrast accessories & ports of other mobile devices 3.5.b Accessories 3.5.b.i Headsets 3.5.b.ii Speakers 3.5.b.iii Game pads 3.5.b.iv Docking stations 3.5.b.v Extra battery packs/battery chargers 3.5.b.vi Protective covers / water proofing 3.5.b.vii Credit card readers 3.5.b.viii Memory/MicroSD 130 Domain 3: Mobile Devices A+ ( ) Project Workbook

131

132 Fill-in-the-Blanks Instructions: While watching the A+ ( ) Domain 4: Hardware and Network Troubleshooting Training course, fill in the missing words according to the information presented by the instructor. [References are found in the brackets.] Common Hardware Problems 1. In the event that a computer will not turn on at all, it is more than likely a issue. [Startup Problems] 2. Before taking any maintenance actions on a device, the user should make sure to follow the if it still applies. [Common PC Problems] 3. If there is no issue with the computer s power connectors and it still will not power up, the user should perform the. [Common PC Problems] 4. A loud clicking sound is a sign of a failing. [Common PC Problems] 5. A bad fan can cause unexpected shutdowns,, and overheating. [Troubleshooting Fans] 6. A can be used to check a power supply. [Tools for Hardware Problems] 7. Use a power supply tester to check any power supply outside of a. [Computer Tools] Common Hard Drive Problems 8. It is important to double-check the of a computer if it has been worked on recently. [Single Hard Drive Symptoms] 9. The most common cause of a malfunctioning RAID is a failure. [RAID Problems] 10. An is used to hold hard drives. [Hard Drive Tools] 11. The command is a DISKPART subcommand which will display any hard disks on a system. [DISKPART and CHKDSK] 12. The FORMAT command is used to reformat a computer. [FORMAT] 13. Items deleted from a location will not be sent to the recycle bin. [Recycle Bin] 14. File History is a feature built-in to which will automatically copy files to a separate hard drive. [File History] 15. Any drive on a computer can be defragmented by right-clicking the drive, clicking Properties, and going to the Common Display Problems tab. [Defragment Drive] 16. When there is no image on the screen, it usually means the is out. [Troubleshoot Monitors] 132 Domain 4: Hardware and Network Troubleshooting A+ ( ) Project Workbook

133 17. A dead pixel is always. [Troubleshoot Monitors] 18. A distorted image may be displayed on a monitor if it is not set to its. [Troubleshoot Monitors] Network Problems 19. The first step to troubleshooting an connection issue is to make sure all the required devices are properly connected. [Connectivity Problems] 20. In order to make sure a network card is working correctly, the user can utilize the command. [Connectivity Problems] 21. Limited network connectivity is usually the result of an in the system. [Connectivity Problems] 22. Network is the main cause of slow transfer speeds. [Speed Problems] 23. A loopback plug is used to make sure a is working. [Hardware Tools] Command Line Tools 24. The PING command is often used to test the between two devices. [PING Command] 25. The symbol is used to output a text file using the PING command. [Output PING to a Text File] 26. The IPCONFIG command is used to show information about a device s. [IPCONFIG Command] 27. The TRACERT command is used to show how a device is to other devices. [TRACERT Command] 28. NETSTAT is a command which is used to display the and connections of a device. [NETSTAT command] 29. The NET command can be used to map a. [NET Command] 30. The main purpose of NSLOOKUP is to find servers. [NSLOOKUP Command] Mobile Device Problems 31. When using multiple monitors, the needs to be able to recognize that there is more than one monitor. [Video Problems] 32. If the laptop is plugged in and it will not power on, the will likely need to be replaced. [Mobile Power Problems] 33. Some common Bluetooth troubleshooting actions include, repairing the devices, making sure Bluetooth is, and ensuring the devices are not too far apart. [Mobile Connectivity Problems] 34. on a keyboard can sometimes be fixed using compressed air or alcohol. [Mobile Performance Problems] 133 Domain 4: Hardware and Network Troubleshooting A+ ( ) Project Workbook

134 35. Digital certificates and are used to decrypt . [Mobile Performance Problems] 36. If there is no sound coming from a mobile device s speakers, the speakers may not be plugged in, or they are muted, or the is set to zero. [Mobile Performance Problems] Troubleshooting Printers 37. If the toner has been replaced in a laser printer and there are still faded prints coming out of it, it means that the is malfunctioning. [Physical Printing Problems] 38. Streaks on a print from a laser printer are usually caused by scratches in the. [Printing Paper Problems] 39. One software related printing solution is to restart the. [Software Printing Problems] 40. A common inkjet printer issue relates to the alignment of the. [Printer Tools] 134 Domain 4: Hardware and Network Troubleshooting A+ ( ) Project Workbook

135 Common Hardware Problems Description: Most common hardware problems in a computer will affect the ability of the computer to start up properly. Some hardware problems manifest themselves as a computer is running. With any hardware troubleshooting, here are some basic starting principles: Always follow the warranty. If opening the computer case is going to break the warranty, keep the case closed and use the warranty to your advantage. Never try to fix a power supply. Electricity conducts well after a power supply is unplugged, causing a risk. Replacing a power supply is much easier than trying to fix one. For the A+ exam, many questions revolve around the best first step to take when troubleshooting a problem. Use the troubleshooting exercises in this domain as a solid guide, but when you get a test question on troubleshooting, picture yourself in the situation and think through the best first step to take. With those concepts, let s take a look at some of the most common computer hardware problems and the best first step to take to troubleshoot the problem: Problem No power Blank screen on boot up Continuous reboots Indicator lights Distended capacitors Power on self-test (POST) code beeps BIOS time and settings resets Attempts to boot to incorrect device Loud noise Intermittent device failure Smoke Burning smell Blue screen of death (BSOD) Unexpected shutdowns System lockups Overheating Fans spinning but no other devices have power First Step If there is no light on the motherboard, the power supply is most likely the problem and needs to be replaced. If a light does appear on the motherboard, make sure the power is properly connected to the motherboard. If that is not the problem, it could be a bad CPU. Try plugging in a different monitor. If that does not solve the problem, try a new video card. If there still is no screen, it may be the motherboard. This usually happens before a system is completely booted up. See if any hardware has recently been added or software recently installed. Try booting into safe mode and then check Device Manager for any hardware abnormalities. If no indicator lights come on, either the power supply is not properly connected to the motherboard or the power supply has gone bad and needs replacing. Motherboard capacitors are bulging or worn. These need to be replaced. Beeps often mean faulty RAM but this is not always the case. Consult the motherboard manual for guidance on what the number of beeps indicate. The system goes back in time each time it is booted up. The CMOS battery is failing. Replace the battery. This causes a boot disk not found error message. Make sure the DVD drive is empty and no flash drives are plugged in. If that does not solve the problem, boot into the BIOS or boot order setup and make sure the boot order is correct. Check to see if a screw or other object is loose inside the case. A loud clicking noise usually indicates a failing hard drive. If that is happening, back up your data as soon as possible. Usually a sign of overheating or a loose connector. Check the connection on components which have just been installed on the computer. Usually comes from the power supply. Unplug the machine and replace the power supply right away. Similar to smoke, unplug the machine and replace the power supply right away. A screen that shows an error message and then reboots the computer. When it reboots, use the Event Viewer to view the message and use that information to troubleshoot the problem. The Mac version of the BSOD is the Spinning Pinwheel of Death (SPoD) Usually due to heat. Make sure the system is cooling properly. Similar to unexpected shutdowns, this is also usually due to heat. Check to make sure the video card is not overheating. Caused by a failing fan in the system. Clean the fans of any dust and debris. Check the CPU, video card, and case fans. Installing a new piece of hardware can affect the cooling in the system. Try uninstalling the new hardware piece to see if that alleviates the problem. This is usually an indication of a voltage problem or a bad power supply connection to the motherboard. Check the power supply connectors to make sure they are properly connected. A general order for troubleshooting startup problems is to remember the order in which components start up on a computer (power supply, CPU, RAM, peripherals, and then bootable media). In this project, you will identify the best first step for troubleshooting a hardware problem. 135 Domain 4: Hardware and Network Troubleshooting A+ ( ) Project Workbook

136 Steps for Completion: 1. For each situation, identify the best first step for troubleshooting the hardware problem. The choices are: Check the power supply connectors; Check the system cooling; Plug in different monitor; Remove the USB flash drive and reboot. Situation A user says a machine boots up but there is no display on the monitor. Best First Step When booting a machine, an Incorrect boot disk error message appears. The fans spin when a machine turns on but that is all that happens. A system freezes up after being on for a few hours. Points to Remember: With hardware and all other forms of troubleshooting, the key is to identify the best first step to take to attempt to solve the problem. When troubleshooting, check for the obvious first. For example, make sure everything is plugged in and turned on properly. When computers experience freezes or shutdowns after being on for a long time, some form of overheating is the usual cause. Reference: LearnKey s A+ ( ) Domain 4: Hardware and Network Troubleshooting Training Common Hardware Problems: Hardware Problems; Startup Problems; Startup Connector Problems; POST Problems; Common PC Problems; Problems on a Running Machine; Troubleshooting Fans Difficulty: Beginner Estimated Time to Complete: 10 minutes [30-60 if some of these problems can be replicated] Required Materials: None Objectives: 4.0 Hardware and Network Troubleshooting 4.1 Given a scenario, troubleshoot common problems related to motherboards, RAM, CPU and power with appropriate tools 4.1.a Common symptoms 4.1.a.i Unexpected shutdowns 4.1.a.ii System lockups 4.1.a.iii POST code beeps 4.1.a.iv Blank screen on boot up 4.1.a.v BIOS time and settings resets 4.1.a.vi Attempts to boot to incorrect device 4.1.a.vii Continuous reboots 4.1.a.viii No power 4.1.a.ix Overheating 4.1.a.x Loud noise 4.1.a.xi Intermittent device failure 4.1.a.xii Fans spin no power to other devices 4.1.a.xiii Indicator lights 4.1.a.xiv Smoke 4.1.a.xv Burning smell 4.1.a.xvi Proprietary crash screens (BSOD/pin wheel) 4.1.a.xvii Distended capacitors 136 Domain 4: Hardware and Network Troubleshooting A+ ( ) Project Workbook

137 Hardware Troubleshooting Tools Description: Part of the challenge of troubleshooting hardware components in computers is isolating the hardware part that a technician thinks is causing the problem. Once a hardware component is isolated, one or more tools can be used to diagnose and/or verify a problem with a hardware component. There are four main tools technicians use to diagnose hardware problems with computer components. Here are the four main tools and descriptions for what each tool does for troubleshooting hardware: Tool Multimeter Power supply tester Loopback plug POST card Role in Troubleshooting Hardware Used to test voltage. As an example, a voltage wire on a power connector can be tested to see if it is giving the proper voltage. Used to check a power supply when it is not connected to a motherboard. Plug the power supply cables into the tester and turn on the tester. A plug used to test an interface (port) to make sure it is working. Specifically, this applies to network card interfaces and interfaces on network devices such as switches and routers. A card which plugs into a PCI or PCIe slot an returns a code through an LED display. This runs as a machine is attempting to boot. Match the POST code with a list of code on a motherboard s manufacturer to identify a startup problem. When using a multimeter to test voltage, the voltage reading should not be more than 5% higher or lower than the prescribed voltage of a wire. For example, if a 5V wire is being tested, the voltage should read between 4.75V and 5.25V. One way to prevent hardware problems is to make sure the system cooling is always working. In addition to regularly cleaning and examining fans to make sure they are properly cooling a computer, a software-based temperature monitor can also keep a computer user aware of the temperature of the CPU, hard drive, and other components inside of a computer. In this project, you will identify the tool needed to troubleshoot a specific hardware problem. Steps for Completion: 1. Identify this hardware troubleshooting tool on the right: 2. For each hardware situation, identify the tool a technician will use to troubleshoot the problem: a. A computer will not start up and the technician is trying to figure out if the power supply or CPU is at fault: b. A technician is trying to figure out which hardware component is preventing a complete startup: c. A technician is testing interface ports on a switch: 3. When testing a 3V power wire, calculate the lowest and highest acceptable voltage for the wire: a. Lowest: b. Highest: Points to Remember: Multimeters are used to test voltage on power wires and other electrical components. Power supply testers test power connectors. A loopback plug tests the workability of a network interface. A POST card uses an LED to indicate an error number for a cause of an incomplete startup on a computer. Reference: LearnKey s A+ ( ) Domain 4: Hardware and Network Troubleshooting Training Common Hardware Problems: Tools for Hardware Problems; Computer Tools; Temperature Monitoring Software Difficulty: Beginner/Intermediate 137 Domain 4: Hardware and Network Troubleshooting A+ ( ) Project Workbook

138 Estimated Time to Complete: 10 minutes [30 if some of these tools are available to use] Required Materials: None but having the hardware tools mentioned in this project would help Objectives: 4.0 Hardware and Network Troubleshooting 4.1 Given a scenario, troubleshoot common problems related to motherboards, RAM, CPU and power with appropriate tools 4.1.b Tools 4.1.b.i Multimeter 4.1.b.ii Power supply tester 4.1.b.iii Loopback plugs 4.1.b.iv POST card / USB 138 Domain 4: Hardware and Network Troubleshooting A+ ( ) Project Workbook

139 Common Hard Drive Problems Description: Whereas hardware problems on a computer can affect the CPU, RAM, power supply, motherboard, or expansion cards or slots, hard drives have their own unique set of problems. For any hard drive problems, the key first step in troubleshooting is to back up the data as soon as possible. For many hard drive problems, a hard drive failure is soon to follow, at which point it will most likely be too late to retrieve data cleanly. Here are the most common hard drive problems and the symptoms that define these problems. Where applicable, a possible solution is also listed: Problem Failure to boot Drive not recognized Operating system (OS) not found Blue screen of death (BSOD) or pinwheel Loud clicking noise Read/write failure Slow performance Self-monitoring, analysis, and reporting technology (S.M.A.R.T) errors RAID not found RAID stops working Symptoms/Possible Solution Check to make sure the drive is properly connected to power and the motherboard. If the connections look good, the hard drive might be failing. Try putting the drive in another system to see if it is readable. Check to make sure the cabling is correct and the SATA port the drive is plugged into is enabled. The computer could be booting to the wrong disk. Check the BIOS to make sure the boot order is correct. Check the error message to see what is causing the error, then boot into Safe Mode and replace the driver for the device causing the error. If this does not work, disk recovery may be needed. The hard drive is failing. Back up the data as soon as possible and replace the hard drive. Usually the result of one or more bad sectors. Back up the disk contents and then run CHKDSK to either turn off or fix the bad sectors. The drive could be close to full or it could be fragmented. If the drive is a magnetic hard disk drive, run the defragmentation tool. S.M.A.R.T. is a monitoring tool which can notify a user of a hard drive problem. Research the message to see which actions should be taken. The RAID may not be set up properly. The RAID functionality may not be enabled in the BIOS. RAID may not be supported on the system or RAID drivers may be needed. The most common cause is a failed hard drive, especially in the case of a RAID 0. For any other RAID, swap out the bad hard drive for a good one. In this project, you will identify the best first step to take to try to identify and solve a hard drive problem. Steps for Completion: 1. For each situation, identify the best first step in troubleshooting a hard drive problem. The choices are: Replace the bad drive with a good one; Make sure the boot order is correct; Check to make sure the cabling is correct; Replace the hard drive as soon as possible. Situation An error message appears indicating a drive in a RAID 5 array has failed. First Step A hard drive is not recognized after it is installed. A hard drive is making a clicking noise. An incorrect boot drive error appears when starting up the system. Points to Remember: If a hard drive is making a clicking noise, the drive is failing. Back up the data and replace the hard drive as soon as possible. Most performance problems with a hard drive can be traced to a full hard drive, a fragmented hard drive, one or more bad sectors, or a combination thereof. If a hard drive does not appear, check the cable connections to make sure they are correct. 139 Domain 4: Hardware and Network Troubleshooting A+ ( ) Project Workbook

140 Reference: LearnKey s A+ ( ) Domain 4: Hardware and Network Troubleshooting Training Common Hard Drive Problems: Single Hard Drive Symptoms; RAID Problems Difficulty: Beginner Estimated Time to Complete: 10 minutes [30 if there is a bad hard drive available to troubleshoot] Required Materials: Windows 8.1 Objectives: 4.0 Hardware and Network Troubleshooting 4.2 Given a scenario, troubleshoot hard drives and RAID arrays with appropriate tools 4.2.a Common symptoms 4.2.a.i Read/write failure 4.2.a.ii Slow performance 4.2.a.iii Loud clicking noise 4.2.a.iv Failure to boot 4.2.a.v Drive not recognized 4.2.a.vi OS not found 4.2.a.vii RAID not found 4.2.a.viii RAID stops working 4.2.a.ix Proprietary crash screens (BSOD/pin wheel) 4.2.a.x S.M.A.R.T. errors 140 Domain 4: Hardware and Network Troubleshooting A+ ( ) Project Workbook

141 Hard Drive Troubleshooting Tools Description: Given that hard drives have a unique set of problems, it stands to reason that hard drives have a unique set of tools to be used for troubleshooting. Often, hard drives cannot be repaired and need to be replaced, as in the case of a hard drive making a clicking noise indicating a failing platter. However, if the hard drive problem is merely performance-related, there is a set of software tools which can diagnose and fix the hard drive problem. Two hardware tools used to help troubleshoot hard drives are: Screwdriver: A screwdriver is not used to open a hard drive. Most hard drives are mounted inside of desktops and thus a screwdriver is needed to unscrew and dismount the hard drive from the desktop computer. For laptop hard drives, a screwdriver is needed to remove the case protecting the hard drive. External enclosure: A unit used to hold a hard drive so that it can be used as an external hard drive. External enclosures include power and SATA connectors for a drive and either a DC jack for power or its power is received through a USB connection to a computer. For example, a hard drive can be removed from a decommissioned laptop, placed in an external enclosure, and then plugged into another computer, thus allowing retrieval of the hard drive s data. There are several software tools which can be used to diagnose and solve hard drive problems. One of the tools is the bootrec command. Bootrec is a command run during a system recovery in Windows. When a computer boots, a user needs to hold down F8 (Shift+F8 in Windows 8) and then select Repair your Computer in Windows 7 or Troubleshoot in Windows 8 and then choose to display a command prompt. From there, a technician can enter one of four bootrec commands: Command Bootrec /fixmbr Bootrec /fixboot Bootrec /rebuildbcd Bootrec /scanos What it Does Attempts to fix the master boot record. This is necessary when a virus corrupts the master boot record. Writes a new boot sector onto the system partition. Rebuilds the boot configuration data file through scanning all disks to find bootable operating systems. Scans for operating systems on a computer. Note that bootrec does not run in a regular Windows environment. It only runs when Windows is in recovery mode. Another hard drive troubleshooting tool is the DISKPART tool. DISKPART runs from a command prompt and allows one to format, convert, expand, or shrink a disk volume. DISKPART is used primarily during a Windows installation as the Disk Management tool in Windows can perform many of the tasks DISKPART performs. The most common command used to check a hard drive for errors is the CHKDSK command. CHKDSK finds and, when called upon, fixes errors in disk sectors. CHKDSK often runs automatically if a computer is not shut down properly or, if Windows detects a possible problem with a disk sector. CHKDSK can be run from a command prompt several different ways, but the two most common are: CHKDSK /f: Fixes errors on the disk. CHKDSK /r: Fixes errors and recovers readable information when fixing errors. A command used to erase the data on a hard drive is the FORMAT command. A full format scans for and marks bad sectors on a disk while a quick format does not scan for and mark bad sectors on a disk. Being that the format command erases data on a hard drive, the data should be backed up before formatting the drive. When formatting a hard drive, the file system can also be determined. For example, a FORMAT D: /fs:ntfs command formats the D: drive with the NTFS file system. In addition to commands used to troubleshoot hard drives, there are many third-party file recovery software programs which can attempt to recover corrupt or even deleted data from a hard drive. On some computers running Windows 8, a tool called File History can be turned on and used to automatically back up copies of data to a different drive. Then, the files can be recovered if need be. The best prevention against losing data is to back up data frequently to a different drive. In addition, when files are deleted from a local hard drive, the files move to the Recycle Bin. So long as the recycle bin has not been emptied, the files are still recoverable. One tool that can be used to speed up performance is a defragmentation tool. As data is saved onto a magnetic hard disk drive, the data is saved in fragments. The more fragmented the hard drive becomes, the slower it will perform. Defragmentation organizes the data on the hard drive so that the drive is not as fragmented. Note that this problem does not occur on solid-state drives. In this project, you will explore some hard drive troubleshooting tools. 141 Domain 4: Hardware and Network Troubleshooting A+ ( ) Project Workbook

142 Steps for Completion: 1. On a Windows computer, open Windows Explorer (File Explorer in Windows 8). 2. Right-click a hard drive other than the C: drive (or the C: drive if that is the only hard drive present). Notice that the format command is available (but do not click on it). 3. Click Properties. The properties window will appear. 4. Click the Tools tab. You will see the image on the right: 5. Click the Optimize button. A window will show indicating the fragment percentage of each of the hard drives on the system. 6. Close the optimization window. 7. On the Tools tab in the disk properties, click the Check button. You will see a screen resembling this: 8. To scan the drive, click Scan drive. The scan could take several minutes. Points to Remember: Some hard drive troubleshooting tools are hardware tools but most are software tools. DISKPART can format, convert, increase, or shrink a disk volume. CHKDSK scans for and fixes disk sector errors. FORMAT erases a hard drive. Reference: LearnKey s A+ ( ) Domain 4: Hardware and Network Troubleshooting Training Common Hard Drive Problems: Hard Drive Tools; DISKPART and CHKDSK; FORMAT; Recycle Bin; File History; Defragment Drive Difficulty: Intermediate Estimated Time to Complete: 15 minutes [20 if there is a disk available to format, 30 if one boots into recovery mode and runs any bootrec commands] Required Materials: A Windows computer Objectives: 4.0 Hardware and Network Troubleshooting 4.2 Given a scenario, troubleshoot hard drives and RAID arrays with appropriate tools 4.2.b Tools 4.2.b.i Screwdriver 4.2.b.ii External enclosures 4.2.b.iii CHKDSK 4.2.b.iv FORMAT 4.2.b.v File recovery software 4.2.b.vi Bootrec 4.2.b.vii Diskpart 4.2.b.viii Defragmentation tool 142 Domain 4: Hardware and Network Troubleshooting A+ ( ) Project Workbook

143 Common Display Problems Description: When a display (a monitor or built-in display inside of a mobile device) fails to function or shows signs of degrading performance, the key for a technician is to determine whether the cause of the problem is the display itself or the video card on the device with the display. Furthermore, the technician needs to assess whether the display can be repaired or if it needs to be replaced. With that knowledge, take a look at the most common display problems, their likely causes, and the best first step in troubleshooting these problems: Problem Symptom(s) Causes and First Steps VGA mode Display in 640 x 480 resolution with no option for change. No image on screen Overheat shutdown Dead pixels Stuck pixels Artifacts Color patterns incorrect Dim image The screen displays nothing. Spontaneous shutdown and possible reboot. A few monitor pixels are always black. Pixels which always show one color. Any of the following appear: lines that do not belong, repeating patterns of small rectangles, wobbly vertical lines, or random dots. Colors are not displaying correctly. Screen image is dim or faded. Usually a result of an incorrect video driver. Download and reinstall the correct video driver. Check to make sure everything is plugged in. Try plugging in a different monitor. If the new monitor works, the original display has a failing backlight or inverter. For a system that has both an integrated and installed video card, make sure the video cable is in the correct port. Many video cards have sensors to shut down the system if the temperature is too high. Check the system cooling. If this becomes a bigger problem, replace the monitor. Obtain a tool that flashes the screen. This will usually get the pixels unstuck. An overheating video card, a bad video card driver, or a faulty DVI interface could all be causes. The video card may need to be replaced. If the video card has two DVI interfaces, switch the interface. Re-calibrate the monitor using a test image or a calibration tool. Check the on-board brightness controls. If the brightness is set to a high level, the backlight is failing. Flickering image Image flickers in and out Typically just a problem on CRT monitors when the resolution is too low. Increase the resolution. Distorted image Burn-in Oversized images Image looks disproportional and somewhat fuzzy. An image faintly appears on a screen even after the image is no longer displayed (as in the monitor is off ). Images look very, very large. Make sure the monitor is set to its native resolution. If it is, try plugins in another monitor. If that does not work, check for overheating on the video card or an incorrect video card driver. On plasma and CRT screens, an image can burn into the screen when the same image is on the screen for too long. Use a screen saver to keep changing the image on the screen. Resolution is set too high for the monitor to display. Lower the screen resolution. You may need to boot the computer into VGA mode in order to do this. One other problem that is prevalent in old, CRT monitors is a monitor with distorted geometry. There are three forms of distorted geometry: Pincushion Distortion: Lines bend inward. Barrel Distortion: Lines bend outward. Trapezoid Distortion: Vertical lines are straight but not parallel with each other. Adjusting the trapezoid settings on the monitor itself often fixes this In this project, you will examine a symptom with a display and then choose the best first step to take to try to resolve the problem. 143 Domain 4: Hardware and Network Troubleshooting A+ ( ) Project Workbook

144 Steps for Completion: 1. For each situation, identify the best first step to take to troubleshoot the problem. The choices are: obtain a tool that will flash the screen; plug in a different monitor; check the monitor resolution; monitor the system temperature. Situation A user states a monitor is on but shows no picture. First Step A user states that the picture is slightly distorted and slightly fuzzy. A user s machine spontaneously shuts down on occasion. A user s monitor has parts of the screen that never change color. Points to Remember: The first step in troubleshooting a display often involves making sure everything is properly connected and turned on. Another possible first step in troubleshooting is to plug in a different monitor. This will indicate whether the video card is the problem or just the monitor. For mobile device displays, a failing display usually indicates a failing backlight or inverter. Reference: LearnKey s A+ ( ) Domain 4: Hardware and Network Troubleshooting Training Common Display Problems: Troubleshooting Monitors Difficulty: Beginner/Intermediate Estimated Time to Complete: 10 minutes [20-30 if there is a monitor available to troubleshoot] Required Materials: None Objectives: 4.0 Hardware and Network Troubleshooting 4.3 Given a scenario, troubleshoot common video, projector and display issues 4.3.a Common symptoms 4.3.a.i VGA mode 4.3.a.ii No image on screen 4.3.a.iii Overheat shutdown 4.3.a.iv Dead pixels 4.3.a.v Artifacts 4.3.a.vi Color patterns incorrect 4.3.a.vii Dim image 4.3.a.viii Flickering image 4.3.a.ix Distorted image 4.3.a.x Distorted geometry 4.3.a.xi Burn-in 4.3.a.xii Oversized images and icons 144 Domain 4: Hardware and Network Troubleshooting A+ ( ) Project Workbook

145 Wired and Wireless Network Symptoms Description: Networks, both wired and wireless, will have failures at some point. The key in finding and fixing network problems is to figure out where the problem is happening. A network problem could be caused by a failing network architecture device, such as a hub, switch, router, or access point. A user s network card could be failing. In the case of a wireless network, there could be signal interference. A list of the most common network problems and suggested first steps to fix these problems are in the table below. Bear in mind that many A+ exam questions ask what the best first step is to take in troubleshooting a problem, hence the emphasis on first steps here. The most common network symptoms, then, are: Symptom Description First Step(s) No connectivity Device cannot connect to any Make sure everything is plugged in and that network adapters are enabled. network. Try to ping to make sure the NIC is working. APIPA or link local address Limited connectivity Local connectivity only Intermittent connectivity IP conflict Slow transfer speeds Device cannot reach a DHCP server as evidenced by a x.x IP address. A device can reach some but not all devices on a network. A device cannot get out to the Internet. A device experiences reduction or temporary stoppage in a network connection. Two devices on a network have the same IP address. Network activity is slower than normal. Try setting a static address. If that works, the problem is with the DHCP server. Restart the DHCP server service. Check for an outage somewhere in the network. Check the default gateway to make sure it is working. Make sure the device has the correct IP address for the default gateway. This is a common problem with wireless networks. Look for items which can cause signal interference, such as microwaves, cordless phones, magnetic devices, and water tanks. The device could also be too far from the wireless access point. The usual cause is a DHCP server assigning an IP address which has already been assigned statically. The DHCP scope should be fixed to not include any static IP addresses. The main cause is interference. The wireless router may also not be set to the highest possible speed. Low RF signal A wireless signal is weak and slow. The power level on the wireless access point may have been adjusted in order to shorten the range to the confines of a building. Doing this weakens the signal. SSID Not Found A network name cannot be located See if the SSID changed. If it has not, move the device colser to the wireless access point. Make sure the wireless access point is working. In this project, you will identify the best first step to take given a network problem. Steps for Completion: 1. For each situation, indicate the best first step to take to troubleshoot the problem. The choices are: move the device closer to the wireless access point; check the status of the default gateway; make sure network adapters are enabled. Situation A user can see a network printer but not the Internet. Troubleshooting Step A user cannot see a network printer or the Internet. A user is seeing only two bars on a wireless connection instead of the normal five bars. Points to Remember: The best first step in network troubleshooting is to make sure everything is plugged in, turned on, and running. When troubleshooting, isolate the scope of the problem. Is it network-wide? Or is it just a problem with one user? Reference: LearnKey s A+ ( ) Domain 4: Hardware and Network Troubleshooting Training Network Problems: Connectivity Problems; Speed Problems 145 Domain 4: Hardware and Network Troubleshooting A+ ( ) Project Workbook

146 Difficulty: Beginner/Intermediate Estimated Time to Complete: 10 minutes [30 or more if any of these network problems can be replicated] Required Materials: None Objectives: 4.0 Hardware and Network Troubleshooting 4.4 Given a scenario, troubleshoot wired and wireless networks with appropriate tools 4.4.a Common symptoms 4.4.a.i No connectivity 4.4.a.ii APIPA/link local address 4.4.a.iii Limited connectivity 4.4.a.iv Local connectivity 4.4.a.v Intermittent connectivity 4.4.a.vi IP conflict 4.4.a.vii Slow transfer speeds 4.4.a.viii Low RF signal 4.4.a.ix SSID not found 146 Domain 4: Hardware and Network Troubleshooting A+ ( ) Project Workbook

147 Using Hardware Tools in Building and Troubleshooting Networks Description: When working on desktop computers, a technician s tools will consist of a screwdriver with multiple non-magnetic heads (or multiple non-magnetic screwdrivers), a pair of pliers, a pair of tweezers, and not much more. When working on other networks, another set of tools is needed. Sometimes, these tools will be used to build components and sometimes they will be used to troubleshoot components. Here is a list of tools needed for building and troubleshooting networks and the purposes these tools serve: Tool Crimper Cable (Wire) stripper Multimeter Cable tester Tone generator and probe Loopback plug Punchdown tool Wi-Fi analyzer Wireless locator Purpose Used to attach an RJ-45 connector onto the end of a twisted-pair cable. Strips the jacket off of a twisted-pair cable and then strips the insulation off of each wire. Ideally, 2-inch of the jacket should be stripped and ½-inch to ¾-inch of each wire should be stripped. Used to test for electrical current. A multimeter can be used to test two ends of a cable for continuity. It can also be used to test voltage for a voltage wire on a power supply connector. Used to test the twisted-pair wires in a twisted-pair cable and can identify any pairs which do not work, thus allowing a technician to focus on a specific part of a cable to repair. Used to find an opposite end of a cable and the signal strength of the cable. The generator sends a signal from one end of a cable. The probe receives the signal and if it is a good signal, sounds a tone. Plugs into a network jack and loops signals from output pins to input pins. Once this is plugged in, a machine can be pinged to make sure the NIC is working. Used to connect a cable to a punchdown block and to the back of an RJ-45 jack. Used to reveal Wi-Fi hotspots and detect wireless network access. It does this through scanning for 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz RF signals. A device with a directional antenna. When plugged into a laptop, it looks for wireless access points, both legitimate and rogue. A rogue wireless access point is one placed in a network without an administrator s permission. In this project, you will identify these network tools and also identify which tool needs to be used given a situation. Steps for Completion: 1. Identify each of these hardware tools: a. b. c. 2. For each situation, name the hardware tool that should be used to troubleshoot the situation: a. A NIC needs to be tested to see if it is working: b. A technician needs to know which cable in a patch panel connects to a wall port in a manager s office: c. A power supply wire may or may not be functional: Points to Remember: Crimpers and wire strippers help build and repair network cables. A cable tester tests to make sure a cable is functional while a tone generator and probe finds the opposite end of a cable and tests its signal strength. 147 Domain 4: Hardware and Network Troubleshooting A+ ( ) Project Workbook

148 Wi-Fi analyzers and wireless locators help find and identify wireless networks. Reference: LearnKey s A+ ( ) Domain 2: Networking Training Networking Tools: Cable Tools; Wi-Fi Analyzer LearnKey s A+ ( ) Domain 4: Hardware and Network Troubleshooting Training Network Problems: Hardware Tools Difficulty: Beginner/Intermediate Estimated Time to Complete: 5 minutes Required Materials: Windows 8.1 Objectives: 2.0 Networking 2.9 Given a scenario, use appropriate networking tools 2.9.a Crimper 2.9.b Cable stripper 2.9.c Multimeter 2.9.d Tone generator & probe 2.9.e Cable tester 2.9.f Loopback plug 2.9.g Punchdown tool 2.9.h Wi-Fi analyzer 4.0 Hardware and Network Troubleshooting 4.4 Given a scenario, troubleshoot wired and wireless networks with appropriate tools 4.4.b Hardware tools 4.4.b.i Cable tester 4.4.b.ii Loopback plug 4.4.b.iii Punch down tools 4.4.b.iv Tone generator and probe 4.4.b.v Wire strippers 4.4.b.vi Crimper 4.4.b.vii Wireless locator 148 Domain 4: Hardware and Network Troubleshooting A+ ( ) Project Workbook

149 Command Line Tools Description: One suite of tools for troubleshooting networks is the suite of command line tools. Commands are run in a command prompt. These commands can give network information, test network connectivity, or, in some cases, both. Commands are learned through practice, practice, and more practice, some of which you will get in this project. To get help on a command in Windows, type the name of the command, a space, a slash, and a question mark. This will display the ways in which the command in question is used. Specifically, the help feature will display attributes and switches, which both control how a command is run. Attributes have a dash in front of them while switches have a slash in front of them. There are several network commands, their purpose, and their most important attributes and switches listed in the table below: Command Purpose Important Attributes/Switches PING Used to see if a destination can be reached by name or IP address. -t: time to live. This runs PING constantly until one presses Ctrl+C to stop the ping -4: for IPv4 addresses -6: for IPv6 addresses IPCONFIG Used to obtain a device s IP address. /all: gets more information /release: releases the IP address /renew: renews the IP address /displaydns: displays DNS entries /flushdns: flushes the DNS cache TRACERT NETSTAT NBTSTAT NET NETDOM Used to trace a path from source to destination. TRACERT helps to diagnose where a data transmission is failing. Used to show inbound and outbound TCP/ IP connections. Used to troubleshoot Network Basic Input/ Output System (NetBIOS) name resolution. Has many network uses but is mostly related to network shares. Used on Windows XP machines to join a computer to a domain -d: lists IP addresses only /4: for IPv4 addresses /6: for IPv6 addresses -a: shows all connections and ports -b: shows the application for each connection -s: shows protocol statistics -c: shows names and IP addresses -r: shows resolved names -R: purges and reloads remote cache from lmhosts file -RR: Release/Refresh for name registration Use: maps a drive View: shows remote shares Share: shows local shares Statistics workstation: shows sent and received statistics No significant switches or attributes On newer systems, NETDOM has been replaced with the add-computer PowerShell command. For example, opening PowerShell and typing add-computer -credential sammyssnacks.local\administrator -domainname sammyssnacks.local adds a computer using the administrator account on sammyssnacks.local to join the sammyssnacks.local domain. After entering that command it will prompt for a password and then, assuming the information is correct, the computer will join the domain. Note that for many command-line tools, the attributes and switches are case-sensitive, as is the case, for example, with the NBTSTAT tool. A tool that is not a pure command-line tool but is a shell application is the NSLOOKUP tool. NSLOOKUP shows DNS servers for a domain and troubleshoots DNS name resolution. A non-authoritative answer means the DNS server does not have a host record for the machine you are using but the host name and IP address were resolved though querying other DNS servers. In this project, you will get plenty of hands-on practice with the command-line tools introduced in this project. Steps for Completion: 1. On a Windows computer, click the Start button. 2. Type: cmd and press the Enter key. The command prompt will appear. 149 Domain 4: Hardware and Network Troubleshooting A+ ( ) Project Workbook

150 3. To get all of the possible attributes for the PING command, type: ping /?. Press the Enter key. You will see the following: 4. Scroll up or down if necessary to ensure you see all of the possible ping attributes. 5. To test connectivity to a website, type: ping and press the Enter key. You will see results similar to this: 6. To see how you reach the destination you just sent ping commands to, type: tracert and press the Enter key. You will see results similar to the following: 7. To find out your IP address, type IPCONFIG. Press the Enter key. You will see results similar to these: 150 Domain 4: Hardware and Network Troubleshooting A+ ( ) Project Workbook

151 8. To find out more information such as your DHCP and DNS servers, type: IPCONFIG /all. Press the Enter key to see results resembling these: 9. To see the available switches for the IPCONFIG command, type: IPCONFIG /?. Press the Enter key and the IPCONFIG switches will display. 10. To see all of the ports with currently established network connections, type: NETSTAT. Press the Enter key and the network connections will display, as seen here: 11. To see the available switches for the NETSTAT command, type: NETSTAT /?. Press the Enter key and the NETSTAT switches will display. 12. To see the available switches for the NBTSTAT command, type: NBTSTAT /?. Press the Enter key and the NBTSTAT switches will display. 13. To see the available switches for the NET command, type: NET /?. Press the Enter key and the NET switches will display. 14. To see the DNS server to which you are connected, type: NSLOOKUP. Press the Enter key and you will see your DNS server, similar to the output on the right. 15. Notice the change in the command prompt. NSLOOKUP is a shell application so any command entered at this point will be interpreted as an NSLOOKUP command. Type: comptia.org. Press the Enter key. You will see the DNS servers for comptia.org. 16. To exit the NSLOOKUP shell application, type: exit. Press the Enter key. 17. Close the command prompt window, but before you do so, take the time to test other commands with switches and attributes you learned in this project. Use the table in this project as your guide. Points to Remember: Several command-line tools are used for network information discovery and troubleshooting. To get a list of switches and attributes for any command line, type the command, a space, a slash, and a?. NSLOOKUP is a shell application and as such needs to have the Exit command run in order to return to the command prompt. Reference: LearnKey s A+ ( ) Domain 4: Hardware and Network Troubleshooting Training Command Line Tools: PING Command; Output PING to a Text File; IPCONFIG Command; TRACERT Command; NETSTAT Command; NBTSTAT Command; NET Command; NETDOM Command; NSLOOKUP Command Difficulty: Intermediate Estimated Time to Complete: 20 minutes [30-40 if all of the command/attribute/switch combinations are explored] Required Materials: A Windows computer Objectives: 4.0 Hardware and Network Troubleshooting 4.4 Given a scenario, troubleshoot wired and wireless networks with appropriate tools 4.4.c Command line tools 4.4.c.i PING 4.4.c.ii IPCONFIG/IFCONFIG 4.4.c.iii TRACERT 4.4.c.iv NETSTAT 4.4.c.v NBTSTAT 4.4.c.vi NET 4.4.c.vii NETDOM 4.4.c.viii NSLOOKUP 151 Domain 4: Hardware and Network Troubleshooting A+ ( ) Project Workbook

152 Common Mobile Device Symptoms Description: Mobile devices, just like desktop computers, have many common problems technicians need to be able to identify. However, unlike desktop computers, many of these problems cannot be easily fixed by a technician. In many cases, the mobile device needs to be sent back to the manufacturer for repair or replacement. This is especially true for smartphones, phablets, and tablets. Here are the most common types of mobile device problems, along with a description of each and a possible solution, where applicable: Problem Type No display Dim display Cannot display to external monitor Ghost cursor/pointer drift Flickering display Battery not charging No power Intermittent wireless signal No wireless connectivity No Bluetooth connectivity Sticking keys Num lock indicator lights Non-responsive touchscreen Apps not loading Slow performance Unable to Decrypt Extremely short battery life Overheating Frozen system Description/Possible Solution Plug in an external monitor. Make sure the display is not configured to only show the external monitor. If the display only works on the external monitor, the LCD has failed. If neither the built-in nor the external displays work, the most likely problem is a failed video card. Check the brightness setting. If it is set to high and the display is still dim, the backlight or inverter could be failing. Check to make sure projection settings are correct and that both monitors are showing in the display properties. Disconnect and reconnect the external monitor, if necessary. If the laptop has a pointing stick, it might be stuck and the area may need to be cleaned. If not, make sure the touchpad is not being touched accidentally. Lower the sensitivity of the touchpad, if necessary. Often, there is a loose connection within the laptop display area. Take apart the laptop and reconnect the display connectors. If that does not work, the CCFL or inverter is starting to fail. Make sure the AC adapter is plugged in properly. If the battery still will not charge, replace the battery. For a laptop, make sure it is plugged in as the battery may be discharged. If needed, reseat the battery. If that does not work, the DC jack may need to be replaced. There could be interference with the wireless signal. The device could be too far from the wireless access point. A very unlikely cause is loose wireless connectors inside the device. Make sure the wireless adapter has not been disabled as most laptop keyboards have a function key that, when pressed, disables the wireless adapter. Try reconnecting to a wireless connection. If the device cannot connect to any wireless network even though the wireless adapter is enabled, replace the adapter or use a USB-to-wireless dongle to get a connection. Make sure Bluetooth is enabled on the devices trying to connect. Make sure that the two devices are not too far apart (33 feet in most cases). Try re-pairing the devices. Usually the result of a dirty keyboard. Use compressed air and/or isopropyl alcohol to clean the keyboard. Some mobile devices have a num lock indicator and some do not. A user just needs to be trained on what to look for if the numeric pad is not working. If the touchscreen has a protective cover, try removing it. If that solves the problem, clean the screen and the cover before putting the cover back on the screen or replace the cover. Another remedy is to restart the device. If that does not work, the touchscreen may need to be replaced. The app may need to be updated. Uninstall and reinstall the app. Check to make sure the device has enough memory for the app. Too many apps may be running. Or, the device could be running low on RAM and/or disk space. Check for malware to rule out or discover malware as the cause. A digital certificate and/or private key is missing. If these are stored on a smart card, insert the smart card into the device. Otherwise, obtain the necessary digital certificate from the server s certificate authority (CA). Try a different charger (if applicable) to discover or rule out a bad charger. The battery may need replacing. The more running apps on the device, the shorter the battery life. For a laptop, consider getting a laptop cooling fan. Avoid using the laptop on clothing or a carpet. Use a compressed air can to clean existing fans. If a laptop freezes, make sure it is not overheating. If a smartphone or tablet freezes, plug it into a charger. Power off the device and restart it. Try uninstalling any recently installed apps. A last resort is to reset the device to its factory settings (after backing up the data, of course). 152 Domain 4: Hardware and Network Troubleshooting A+ ( ) Project Workbook

153 Problem Type No sound from speakers GPS not functioning Swollen battery Description/Possible Solution Check to make sure the speakers are plugged in properly. Make sure neither the speakers nor the volume on the device are muted. Try a different set of speakers to ensure the speakers and not the sound card are the problem. Device may be out of range for a GPS signal. Location services could be turned off. If the signal is on but not receiving anything, get and run an app which will flush the GPS data. Caused by battery cells being overcharged. Do not try to puncture the battery. If you can remove the battery, do so and then dispose of the battery properly and get a new battery. In this project, you will identify the best first step to take in troubleshooting a mobile device problem. Steps for Completion: For each mobile device problem, identify the first best step to troubleshoot the problem. The choices are: move closer to the wireless access point; make sure the wireless adapter is enabled; check the brightness setting; plug in an external monitor; plug in the AC adapter; plug in a different charger. Problem A user charges a smartphone for five hours but the battery is still at 10%. Resolution A user calls and says their Internet connection on their laptop is going in and out. A user brings you a smartphone and the display is so dark it is barely noticeable. A laptop will not power on. A user is typing into a document and the Internet connection suddenly stops. A laptop is not showing any kind of display. Points to Remember: The key to troubleshooting mobile devices is to know the first step to take when presented with a problem. Not all mobile devices problem can be solved without returning the device to the manufacturer. When troubleshooting, often the obvious fix is indeed the correct fix. Reference: LearnKey s A+ ( ) Domain 4: Hardware and Network Troubleshooting Training Mobile Device Problems: Mobile Display Problems; Video Problems; Mobile Power Problems; Mobile Connectivity Problems; Mobile Performance Problems Difficulty: Beginner Estimated Time to Complete: 10 minutes [30 if any of these problems can be replicated] Required Materials: None Objectives: 4.0 Hardware and Network Troubleshooting 4.5 Given a scenario, troubleshoot and repair common mobile device issues while adhering to the appropriate procedures 4.5.a Common symptoms 4.5.a.i No display 4.5.a.ii Dim display 4.5.a.iii Flickering display 4.5.a.iv Sticking keys 4.5.a.v Intermittent wireless 4.5.a.vi Battery not charging 4.5.a.vii Ghost cursor/pointer drift 4.5.a.viii No power 4.5.a.ix Num lock indicator lights 4.5.a.x No wireless connectivity 4.5.a.xi No Bluetooth connectivity 4.5.a.xii Cannot display to external monitor 4.5.a.xiii Touchscreen non-responsive 4.5.a.xiv Apps not loading 4.5.a.xv Slow performance 4.5.a.xvi Unable to decrypt 4.5.a.xvii Extremely short battery life 4.5.a.xviii Overheating 4.5.a.xix Frozen system 4.5.a.xx No sound from speakers 4.5.a.xxi GPS not functioning 4.5.a.xxii Swollen battery 153 Domain 4: Hardware and Network Troubleshooting A+ ( ) Project Workbook

154 Mobile Device Disassembling Processes Description: Hardware repairs and upgrades are not as common on laptops as they are on desktops. Hardware repairs and upgrades on laptops, however, present a unique challenge in that laptops contain many small parts in a small amount of space and more disassembling is typically required on laptops than on desktops. Before opening any cover on a laptop, make sure to unplug the laptop and remove the battery to minimize any chances of electrical shock. Make sure to also take proper measures to avoid electrostatic discharge, such as wearing an anti-esd wrist strap. Then, use these four major points as your guide to successfully disassembling and reassembling a laptop: Document and label screw locations: Screws are different lengths, so make sure to mark each screw and location. Some laptops will have coded labels near the screws. Use those to your advantage. If needed, take pictures as you remove screws from the laptop cover. Organize parts: One of the best ways to organize screws is to have an egg carton or similar tray, with labels, and to put screws with the matching labels. Other parts you remove should also be labeled. Refer to manufacturer resources: Before attempting to work on the inside of a laptop, get as much documentation as possible from both the laptop manufacturer and the manufacturer of the laptop s motherboard. Print these out or have these up on another computer screen or tablet as you are working on the laptop. Use appropriate hand tools: Most of the work done in disassembling a laptop will involve the use of one or more screwdrivers. Make sure to have the correct sizes for screwdriver heads. The screwdriver heads need to non-magnetic as to avoid damage to any laptop components, especially hard drives. Most laptops screws are tiny. Having the screws threaded due to the lack of the correct screwdriver will make it nearly impossible to remove a screw from a laptop cover. In this project, you will explore disassembling and reassembling a laptop. Steps for Completion: 1. Name at least two things that should be done before removing the cover of a laptop: 2. If you have a laptop that can be disassembled, remove the cover from the bottom of the laptop, using the steps given in this project. After exploring the inside of the laptop, reassemble the laptop. Points to Remember: Make sure to have a safe place for any parts of a laptop that are going to be removed, especially for screws. Have the correct, non-magnetic screwdriver heads to use for the screws in the laptop. Document each step of the disassembling process. Reference: LearnKey s A+ ( ) Domain 4: Hardware and Network Troubleshooting Training Mobile Device Problems: Disassembling Processes Difficulty: Beginner Estimated Time to Complete: 10 minutes [60 or more if a laptop is disassembled and reassembled] Required Materials: A laptop which can be disassembled Objectives: 4.0 Hardware and Network Troubleshooting 4.5 Given a scenario, troubleshoot and repair common mobile device issues while adhering to the appropriate procedures 4.5.b Disassembling processes for proper re-assembly 4.5.b.i Document and label cable and screw locations 4.5.b.ii Organize parts 4.5.b.iii Refer to manufacturer resources 4.5.b.iv Use appropriate hand tools 154 Domain 4: Hardware and Network Troubleshooting A+ ( ) Project Workbook

155 Common Printer Problems Description: Every printer will eventually have one or more problems that either prevent the printer from working at its optimal capacity or prevent the printer from working at all. Fortunately, most of these printer problems fall into one of several common categories. Here are the most common types of printer problems, along with their symptoms and, where applicable, remedies to solve these problems: Problem Faded prints Creased paper Paper not feeding properly Paper jam No local connectivity Low memory errors Printer will not print Error codes No image on printer display Unable to install printer Streaks Ghost images Toner not fused to the paper Garbled characters on paper Vertical lines on page Colors print in wrong print color Printing blank pages Backed up print queue Access Denied Symptoms and Solutions This is most likely due to low toner. However, on an impact printer this could signify a stuck ribbon. On a laser printer, the fuser could be malfunctioning. Usually caused by bonded paper (thicker than normal paper). Use the manual feeder instead of the paper tray. Either no paper is being fed or multiple sheets are being fed from the paper tray. Check the rollers as they may need to be cleaned or replaced. Make sure nothing is impeding the paper path when clearing a paper jam. If this happens consistently, either get higher-quality paper or check the rollers for damage. To help prevent paper jams, keep paper in a low-humidity area. Make sure the cables are connected properly. Try unplugging and replugging in the cables. If possible, add more RAM to the printer. If that is not a viable solution, lower the resolution of the print job causing the low memory error. Check to make sure everything is properly connected and that the printer is not offline. Try printing a test page from the printer itself to make sure the printer is not the problem. Check the error code on the printer s LED panel and/or look up the error code on the printer s webpage or via a search engine to obtain possible solutions. Check to make sure the printer is properly connected, plugged in, and turned on. Make sure the correct printer drivers (operating system and version and 32-bit vs. 64-bit) and that the user installing the printer has sufficient permissions to do the installation. On a laser printer, the most likely cause is scratches in the drum. Replace the drum. On an inkjet printer, the printheads need to be re-aligned and/or cleaned. On a laser printer, this can happen after printing a very dark page. Print a blank page in between the dark page and the next page. If that does not solve the problem, the drum may not be getting enough of a charge and may need to be replaced. Replace the fuser. A message will usually appear indicating the fuser needs replacing. Make sure the correct driver is installed for the printer. Another cause is a cable that is too long (a USB cable over five meters long, for example). On an inkjet printer, the toner may be clogged. Try removing and shaking the toner cartridge. If that is not the solution, the drum could be scratched. On an inkjet printer, try re-aligning and cleaning the print heads. Ink cartridges are most likely in the wrong spot. Note that even after putting the cartridges in the correct slot, it will take time for print jobs to look normal. The printer may be out of toner, the toner may have been installed without removing the toner seals, or, the printer cannot render an image due to a problem with the charging process. Make sure the printer spooler service is running. Try restarting the service. If that does not work, restart the printer. Make sure the printer is shared with the users and groups needing the printer. In this project, you will identify the best first step to take when a printer is exhibiting a problem. 155 Domain 4: Hardware and Network Troubleshooting A+ ( ) Project Workbook

156 Steps for Completion: 1. For each printer situation, choose the best answer for the first step a technician would take to try to solve the problem. The four solutions are: update the printer driver; restart the printer spooler; check the rollers; check the printer s IP address. Situation Paper has jammed three times in the last hour. Solution Print jobs are building on a user s machine but not printing. A network printer is on and will print test pages but users cannot print to the printer. Printer is printing garbled characters. Points to Remember: Most printer problems involve either physical problems with the printer or connectivity issues. Some printer problems are the result of having an incorrect printer driver installed. The key concept in solving a printing problem is knowing the first step to take given any situation. Reference: LearnKey s A+ ( ) Domain 4: Hardware and Network Troubleshooting Training Troubleshooting Printers: Physical Printing Problems; Printing Paper Problems; Software Printing Problems Difficulty: Beginner Estimated Time to Complete: 10 minutes [30 if there is an actual printer problem to troubleshoot] Required Materials: None Objectives: 4.0 Hardware and Network Troubleshooting 4.6 Given a scenario, troubleshoot printers with appropriate tools 4.6.a Common symptoms 4.6.a.i Streaks 4.6.a.ii Faded prints 4.6.a.iii Ghost images 4.6.a.iv Toner not fused to the paper 4.6.a.v Creased paper 4.6.a.vi Paper not feeding 4.6.a.vii Paper jam 4.6.a.viii No connectivity 4.6.a.ix Garbled characters on paper 4.6.a.x Vertical lines on page 4.6.a.xi Backed up print queue 4.6.a.xii Low memory errors 4.6.a.xiii Access denied 4.6.a.xiv Printer will not print 4.6.a.xv Color prints in wrong print color 4.6.a.xvi Unable to install printer 4.6.a.xvii Error codes 4.6.a.xviii Printing blank pages 4.6.a.xix No image on printer display 156 Domain 4: Hardware and Network Troubleshooting A+ ( ) Project Workbook

157 Printer Tools for Troubleshooting Description: Once a problem with a printer is diagnosed, there are four main tools used to attempt to fix these problems. Two of these tools are hardware tools, one is an operating system tool, and one could be hardware, software, or a combination of both. The two common hardware tools used to fix a minor problem with a printer are: Toner vacuum: This should be a small, electrostatic discharge (ESD)-safe vacuum. Never use a wet cloth or anything close to it to attempt to clean toner out of a printer as a wet cloth will just smudge the toner. Compressed air: This usually comes in the form of an air can with a nozzle and is used to clear the printer of dust and similar debris. A tool that could be hardware-based but also software-based is a printer maintenance kit. Maintenance kits vary by printer and manufacturer. An example of a maintenance kit is a tool that can be run on inkjet printers to clean and/or align the printheads. Sometimes, this is initiated through pushing a button on the printer console or LED panel. At other times, this process is initiated through printer software installed on a computer. One of the most common software tools used to attempt to reconnect a user to a printer is to reset the user s printer spooler. The printer spooler processes print jobs. If everyone in an office can print to a printer except for one user, the most likely cause of this is a stuck print spooler on the user s machine and thus the print spooler just needs to be reset. In this project, you will use hardware tools to clean a printer and reset a printer spooler on a computer. Steps for Completion: 1. On a printer that is not currently in use, open the printer and use a compressed air can to blow the dust out of the printer. 2. On a Windows computer, click the Start button (if using Windows 8, press the Start button on the keyboard). 3. Type: services.msc and press the Enter key. The Services window will launch and look like the picture on the right. 4. Scroll down to the Print Spooler service. 5. Right-click the Print Spooler service and click Restart. Wait for the print spooler service to restart. Points to Remember: A toner vacuum should also be an ESD-free vacuum. Printer maintenance kits can be hardware or software-based. Restarting the print spooler should be a technician s first attempted fix for a user who has print jobs which are stuck but other users can still print to the printer. Reference: LearnKey s A+ ( ) Domain 4: Hardware and Network Troubleshooting Training Troubleshooting Printers: Printer Tools Difficulty: Intermediate Estimated Time to Complete: 10 minutes [20 if a toner vacuum and/or compressed air can are available] Required Materials: A printer, a compressed air can, and a Windows-based computer Objectives: 4.0 Hardware and Network Troubleshooting 4.6 Given a scenario, troubleshoot printers with appropriate tools 4.6.b Tools 4.6.b.i Maintenance kit 4.6.b.ii Toner vacuum 4.6.b.iii Compressed air 4.6.b.iv Printer spooler 157 Domain 4: Hardware and Network Troubleshooting A+ ( ) Project Workbook

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