CompTIA A+ 2007 Essentials Course Number: 220-601 Course Length: 5 Days Certification Exam This course will help you prepare for the following exam: CompTIA Exam 220-601: A+ Essentials Course Overview The course provides a general introduction to computer hardware and operating systems. Skills covered include installation, configuration, diagnosing, preventive maintenance and basic networking. The material also covers security, safety and environmental issues and communication and professionalism. Prerequisites This is an entry-level course. Audience This course is appropriate for entry-level service technicians. Course Outline Course Introduction Course Introduction Chapter 1 - Before We Start. Before We Start. Hardware Toolkits Live Demo: Hardware Toolkit Hardware Live Demo: External Components Live Demo: Internal Components Live Demo: Notebook Computer Software Software Toolkits Firmware Basic Stages of Troubleshooting Documentation 1m 16s 45m 40s Chapter 2 - Operating Systems Fundamentals Operating Systems Fundamentals Windows 3h 09m
Demo: Microsoft Windows XP Mac OS X Demo: Windows 2000 Professional RedHat Linux OS Basics XP Stability Improvements Application Failure Reduction Security Features Demo: Windows Security Center Software Management Hardware Support IT Assistance and Management IT Troubleshooting and Tools Mobile User Features Networking Features Demo: Network Wizard Windows XP Professional Features Windows XP Pro Features (Cont.) Demo: GP Console / File Security Windows XP Pro Networking Demo: Windows XP Professional and Computer Management System Tools MS-DOS Navigation Commands Demo: Command/cmd Demo: /a:attributes Demo: /o:sortorder Demo: Chdir/cd command Mkdir/md command Navigating in Windows Explorer Demo: Windows Explorer Creating a Directory in Windows Explorer Copying in Windows Explorer Deleting in Windows Explorer File Types File Extensions File Extensions (cont.) File-Name Limits Creating a Text File Demo: File Attributes Attrib Command Attrib Switches Demo: Editing a File in Notepad and DOS File Permissions NTFS File Permissions NTFS Folder Permissions Chapter 2 Review Chapter 3 Electricity Electricity Electrical Characteristics Safety Precautions 18m 05s
Safety Digital Multimeter Calculating Current Static Electricity Static is Caused by. Before Working.. Live Demo: Typical Internal Components PC Power Supply Live Demo: PC Power Supply Installing a Power Supply Typical Power Requirements Standard Outputs Live Demo: Peripheral Power Connector Floppy Power Connector SATA Power Connector Motherboard Power Connector Live Demo: Wire Colors Live Demo: Motherboard Power Connector Power-Supply Form Factors How to Protect your Equipment Power Issues UPS Live Demo: Voltage Selection Switch Troubleshooting Symptoms Chapter 3 Review Chapter 4 - CPU and Motherboards CPU and Motherboards BIOS Demo: Determine Bios Version When You Need BIOS Updates BIOS Issues Flashing the BIOS Minimizing BIOS Upgrade Risks Recovering From a Failed Update CMOS Battery Central Processing Unit (CPU) Installing a CPU CPU Performance CPU Characteristics Live Demo: CPU Packaging CPU s Live Demo: A Motherboard Cooling Method - Fins Cooling Method - Cooling Fins and a Fan Live Demo: Cooling Method - Fan Installing a Motherboard Riser Cards Motherboard/CPU Failures Chapter 4 Review 23m 08s
Chapter 5 - BIOS BIOS Demo: Determine Bios Version When You Need BIOS Updates Shadowing BIOS Issues Flashing the BIOS Minimizing BIOS Upgrade Risks CMOS CMOS Battery Chapter 5 Review Chapter 6 - Memory Systems Memory Systems Memory Measured Units Installation Notes Proper Handling Demo: Show Memory Mods Live Demo: Show Memory Mods Notebook Memory Live Demo: Notebook Memory Testing Memory Demo: Testing Memory Memory Types: Volatile vs. Non-Volatile Memory Types: Dynamic vs. Static Memory Memory Types: Asynchronous & Synchronous Speed Ratings Individual Chips SIMM Memory Error Recovery Parity Task Manager Demo: Task Manager Memory Symptoms Chapter 6 Review 17m 53s 40m 23s Chapter 7 - Bus Structures Bus Structures Buses PCI Bus Slots AGP Video Bus Slot The Riser Bus System Interaction Interrupts Running Processes IRQs Assigning IRQs I/O Addresses DMA Channels Base Memory Addresses 32m 55s
Demo: Device Manager IRQ, DMA, I/O PC/XT Bus DIP Switches and Jumpers PC/AT and ISA Bus ISA Expansion Bus Slot PCI Bus PCI Slots PCIe Need for Video Buses VESA Local Bus AGP Chapter 7 Review Chapter 8 - Expansion Cards Expansion Cards Buses PCI Bus Slots Live Demo: PCI Bus Slots Handling Expansion Cards System Interaction Interrupts IRQs Assigning IRQs I/O Addresses DMA Channels Base Memory Addresses Demo: Device Manager and Resources Drivers PC Sound Demo: Sound/ Control Panel Sound Card Components A Sound Card Sound Card Connectors Live Demo: A Sound Card Speakers Modems Riser Cards Softmodems System Resources Modem Connections Internal Modem Symptoms AT Commands HyperTerminal Speed Standards Type II PC Card PC Card Bus Types Card and Socket Services Specifications Live Demo: Mini PCI Card Legacy Devices Controllers and Interfaces PC Drive Interfaces 1h 05m
ATA Motherboard Connectors Standard IDE Cable 80-pin ATA Cable Live Demo: SATA Data Cable Drive Identification Primary and Secondary SCSI SCSI Device IDs Termination SCSI ID and Termination Differential SCSI Other Interfaces Video Adapters Creating an Image Maximum Colors Video Standards SuperVGA 15-pin VGA/SVGA Connector VGA/SVGA Socket DVI Connector Types DVI-I Connector Video Drivers Video Adapter Slot Types An AGP Video Card PCIe Video Card Video Card Symptoms Live Demo: RJ-11 Connectors Sound Card Symptoms Chapter 8 Review Chapter 9 - Ports, Connectors and Cables Ports, Connectors and Cables PCI, ISA, AGP, Bus Slots Purpose Hardware Resource: Interrupts Hardware Resource: IRQs IRQs Continued Assigning IRQs Hardware Resource: I/O Addresses Hardware Resource: DMA Channels Serial Ports Serial Transmission Serial Cables Male and Female Connectors Serial Connectors Live Demo: Serial Connectors Pin Numbers 9-pin Null Modem Connections 25-pin Null Modem Connections Parallel Ports Parallel Port Resources 1h 20m
Port Types Live Demo: Female 25-pin Parallel Port PC Input Devices Live Demo: Keyboard Input and Mouse Connector AT Keyboard Port and Connector Bar Code Reader with Y-cable USB Features USB Device Classes USB Versions USB Symbols Demo: USB Devices in Device Manager USB Ports USB Connectors USB Power Installing USB Devices FireWire Features FireWire Versions Isochronous Transfers 4-pin FireWire Ports, Connectors 6-pin FireWire Ports, Connectors FireWire Power Installing FireWire Devices Wireless Connections Infrared IrDA Port Radio 802.11 Wireless Router Bluetooth A Bluetooth Mouse Multimedia Connections Multimedia Connections (Cont.) RCA and S-Video Connectors Coax Connector MIDI Connectors S/PDIF Connections Chapter 9 Review Chapter 10 - Data Storage Data Storage Hard Drive Components Live Demo: Hard Drive Components Head Crash Hard Drive Installation ATA Drive Identification SCSI Drive Identification Chassis Installation Data and Power Cable Connections Hard Drive Geometry Hard Drive Preparation Low-Level Formatting Partitioning 1h 37m
Unpartitioned Disk in Windows Partition Types Formatting Partitioning Utilities File Systems FAT File System NTFS File System Comparison Organization of Data Demo: Directory Trees File Fragmentation Hard Drive Maintenance CD Drive Components Components of a CD Recordable CDs CD Drive Speeds DVDs DVD Types Using CD and DVD Drives Optical Drive Connections Optical Drive Installation Optical Disc and Drive Cleaning USB Flash Drives Live Demo: USB Flash Drives Flash MP3 Player Floppy Disks 5.25 Floppy Disk Capacities Write Protection Diskette Preparation Floppy Controller Resources Floppy Drive Cable Floppy Controller Connector Boot Floppies Backup Methods Tape Formats Chapter 10 Review Chapter 11 - Video and Multimedia Input and Output Devices Video and Multimedia Input and Output Devices Video Bus VESA PCIe AGP Live Demo: AGP Slot CRT Monitor (Cathode Ray Terminal) CRT Components How CRTs Produce Images CRT Characteristics Video Settings: Refresh Rates Demo: CRT Characteristics / Control Panel Display 1:24:44
Video Connectors Display Adjustments CRT Issues Flat Panel Monitor LCD Advantages How a Flat Panel Screen Works Flat Panel Monitor Characteristics Flat Panel Monitor Connections DVI-D DVI-I Live Demo: DVI Connector TMDS Touch Screen Touch Screen Input Methods Multiple Monitors Display Projectors LCD Monitor Issues Speakers Connected to a PC Speakers Connected Together Microphone Connection to a PC Line In Devices MIDI Connections Scanners Flatbed Scanner Multifunction Sheetfeed Scanner Hand-Held Scanner Scanner Connections Digital Cameras Resolutions Digital Camera Memory Cards Printing Images Digital Camera Connections Memory Card Readers Camera Connection Problems Chapter 11 Review Chapter 12 Printers Printers Dot-Matrix Printer Dot-Matrix Printer Issues Other Impact Printers An Inkjet Printer Inkjet Printer Cartridges Inkjet Cartridge Print Heads Inkjet Print Quality Demo: Install an Inkjet Printer Straight-Through Paper Path Curved Paper Path Laser Printer Laser Printer Components Laser Printing Process 52h 12s
Demo: Install a Network Printer Other Printer Types Main Windows Components Inkjet Communications Interfaces Inkjet Problems Laser Printer Communications Interfaces Laser Printer Problems Demo: Printer Configuration Options Chapter 12 Review Chapter 13 - Portable Computers and Devices Portable Computers and Devices Network Connections Hot-Swappable Components Live Demo - Hot-Swappable Components Safely Remove Hardware Non-Hot-Swappable Components Upgrading Memory Peripherals Notebook Computer Issues Notebook Batteries Notebook Power Power Indicator Lights Demo: Power Management Utility Troubleshooting Power Problems Demo: Safely Remove Hardware Notebook Processors Notebook Hard Drive Notebook Keyboard Monitors Notebook Pointing Devices Communication Connections Infrared Radio 802.11 Wireless Router Bluetooth Notebook Peripheral Ports PC Card Types Live Demo: Type II PC Card PC Card Bus Types Card and Socket Services Live Demo: Mini PCI card Port Replicators Docking Station Maintenance Being Mobile PDA Live Demo: Graffiti Alphabet Using the Stylus Powering the PDA Connecting PDAs and PCs 1h 34m
Sync Chapter 13 Review Chapter 14 - Systems Monitoring Systems Monitoring Temporary Files Undelete Windows Diagnostics Demo: System Information Box - Local and Remote Demo: Command-Line System Information Getting The Windows Version Task Manager Demo: Task Manager Services Service Properties Demo: The Services MMC Demo: DHCP Client Dependencies The Startup Program Group Microsoft Installed Software Microsoft Error Reporting Demo: Microsoft Error Reporting Event Viewer Sorting and Filtering Events Managing Event Log Files Demo: Event Viewer The Registry Registry Keys Edit the Registry Registry Corruption and Backups Export the Registry Demo: The Registry Editor in XP Chapter 14 Review Chapter 15 - Connecting Computers Connecting Computers Local Area Network Network Categories A Peer-to-Peer Network Local User Account Accessing Shares Client/Server Model Network Client Connections Network Protocols UTP and STP Cat5 Installation Composite Cable Live Demo: Coaxial Networks Thicknet Cables Coax Connectors Live Demo: Coaxial Connectors 1h 46m 1h 36m
Thicknet Connectors RJ-45 Wiring Live Demo: RJ-45 and RJ-11 Connectors EIA/TIA-568-A Standards Terminating Cable to an RJ-45 Plug Live Demo: Terminating CatX to RJ-45 Jacks TIA 570 Specifications Fiber Optic Cable Connectors RS-232 / Null Modem Cables IEEE 1394/Firewire USB 2.0 Network Interface Card Live Demo: Examples of NIC Cards NICs Wireless LAN Wired Network with Wireless Segments Bus and Star Ethernet Topologies Comparing Star and Bus Designs Combined Bus and Star Designs Token Ring Fiber Optic Cable Networks Chapter 15 Review Chapter 16 Networking Networking Network Operating Systems Windows 2000 Windows 2000 Server Domain Active Directory Trees and Forests Active Directory Windows Server 2003 Novell NetWare Novell/Microsoft Connectivity UNIX and Linux UNIX and Linux (Cont.) Network Infrastructure Services Application Servers Client Operating Systems Windows 9x/Me Windows 9x/Me (Cont.) Windows NT and 2000, Compared Windows XP Linux Mac OS Network Interface Card (NIC) MAC Addresses Demo: MAC Addresses Network Protocols Common Network Protocols IP Addresses Subnet Masks 3h 46m
DHCP Process DHCP (Cont.) Demo: IPCONFIG Additional TCP/IP Properties Computer Names Demo: Computer Names Windows Workgroups and Domains NWLink Network Client Software Demo: Installing Protocols and Network Clients Share Permissions Effective Permissions Demo: Permissions / Share Connecting to Shares Demo: Connecting to Shares Share Printers NetWare Client Software Basic Terminology TCP/IP Protocol Suite Communication via PSTN Cable Modem ISDN DSL Satellite Wireless WAN Voice Over IP WAN Bandwidth Technologies T Lines and E Lines T Lines and E Lines (Cont.) X.25 and Frame Relay X.25 Defined X.25 and Frame Relay (Cont.) ATM (Asynchronous Transfer Mode) ATM (Cont.) Mesh Topology LAN Internet Connections NAT (Network Address Translation) Remote Connections Network Protection Port and Packet Filters Demo: Windows Security Center DMZ DMZ Configurations: Screened Host DMZ Configurations: Bastion Host DMZ Configurations: Three-Homed Firewall DMZ Configurations: Back-to-Back Firewall Intrusion Detection Software (IDS) Intrusion Detection Software (IDS) (Cont.) Secure Sockets Layer Secure Electronic Transactions Antivirus Software
Privacy Issues SPAM Protection Stop Pop-up Ads Remove Spyware Demo: Control Cookies Web Browsers Internet Explorer Security Zones Demo: Security Levels Wireless Standards 802.11 Standards WLAN Security Problems WLAN Security Solutions Windows XP Wireless Clients Windows 2000 Wireless Clients Windows CE Wireless Clients Electrical Interference Crosstalk Cable Testing Devices Cable Tests To Troubleshoot a Network Client.. Network Analyzers Portable Network Analyzer NIC Drivers TCP/IP Configuration Troubleshooting TCP/IP Demo: Troubleshooting TCP/IP Troubleshooting TCP/IP (Cont.) Demo: Troubleshooting TCP/IP (Cont.) SNMP Agent UNIX Ifconfig Chapter 16 Review Chapter 17 Security Security User Accounts Groups Workgroups Active Directory Demo: Local Users and Groups Demo: Active Directory Groups Authentication A Fingerprint Scanner Smart Card and Reader Installing Biometrics and Smart Card Readers Fobs Protocols File System Security NTFS Advantages NTFS Security NTFS Permissions Disabling Simple File Sharing 1h 50m
Demo: Simple File Sharing Encryption Security Policies Auditing Auditing Guidelines Demo: Auditing Physical Access Restrictions Corporate Security Policies Social Engineering Attacks Alleviate Security Weaknesses Malicious Software Prevention Network Security Chapter 17 Review Chapter 18 Safety Safety Floor Surfaces Fire Safety Fire Extinguisher Types Electrical Safety Air Quality Computer Hazards Incident Reporting High-Voltage Interference Minimizing High-Voltage Interference Electrostatic Discharge (ESD) Electromagnetic Induction Shielding and Filtering MSDS MSDS Hazard Ratings Personal Protection by Rating Ergonomic Workstations Laptop Safety Computer Equipment Disposal Chapter 18 Review 23h 10m Chapter 19 - Troubleshooting and Maintaining the PC Troubleshooting and Maintaining the PC Gathering Information Hardware or Software Problem? Hardware Toolkits Live Demo: Hardware Toolkit Software Toolkits CD Binder Preventive Measures Cleaning PC Equipment Chapter 19 Review 29m 04s Chapter 20 - Professionalism and Communication Professionalism and Communication 12m 57s
Professional Service Service Level Agreements Problem Tracking What to Track Help Desk Software Chapter 20 Review Chapter 21 - Windows Install and Upgrade Windows Install and Upgrade Clean Installations Upgrades Windows Client OS Versions Demo: Windows Versions - DOS Demo: Windows Versions - Windows 3.1 Demo: Windows Versions - Windows 98 Demo: Windows Versions - WINNT 4.0 Windows 2000 System Requirements Demo: Windows Versions - Windows 2000 Windows XP System Requirements Demo: Windows Versions - Windows XP Windows XP Media Center Demo: Windows Versions - Windows XP Media Center 2005 Hardware Compatibility Installation Methods File Systems Multi-Boot Computers Windows XP Upgrade Troubleshooting Post-Installation Tasks Driver Signing Upgrade Paths Pre-Upgrade Tasks Upgrade Process Product Activation Windows & Microsoft Update Windows XP Professional SP2 Chapter 21 Review 1h 33m Total Duration: 25 hrs 44 min