CompTIA A+ Complete Lab Manual

CompTIA A+ Complete Lab Manual Pyles, J ISBN-13: 9781118324073 Table of Contents Introduction xxxi Phase 1 Installing Hardware and Software 1 Task 1.1: Preventing ESD Damage 2 Objective 3 Scenario 3 Scope of Task 3 Procedure 3 Criteria for Completion 4 Task 1.2: Installing RAM 5 Objective 5 Scenario 5 Scope of Task 6 Procedure 6 Criteria for Completion 11 Task 1.3: Installing a PCI Card 11 Objective 12 Scenario 12 Scope of Task 12 Procedure 13 Criteria for Completion 15 Task 1.4: Installing a PCI Express Card 15 Objective 16 Scenario 16 Scope of Task 16 Procedure 17 Criteria for Completion 19 Task 1.5: Installing a Power Supply 19 Objective 20 Scenario 20 Scope of Task 20 Procedure 21 Criteria for Completion 22 Task 1.6: Installing an IDE Hard Drive 22

Objective 23 Scenario 23 Scope of Task 23 Procedure 24 Criteria for Completion 27 Task 1.7: Installing a SATA Hard Drive 27 Objective 27 Scenario 27 Scope of Task 27 Procedure 28 Criteria for Completion 30 Task 1.8: Moving an Operating System to a New SATA Drive with Acronis True Image 31 Objective 31 Scenario 31 Scope of Task 32 Procedure 32 Criteria for Completion 36 Task 1.9: Installing a SCSI Drive 36 Objective 36 Scenario 36 Scope of Task 37 Procedure 37 Criteria for Completion 39 Task 1.10: Installing a DVD Drive 39 Objective 40 Scenario 40 Scope of Task 40 Procedure 41 Criteria for Completion 43 Task 1.11: Installing a Video Card 43 Objective 44 Scenario 44 Scope of Task 44 Procedure 45 Criteria for Completion 47 Task 1.12: Installing a Laptop Keyboard 47 Objective 48 Scenario 48

Scope of Task 48 Procedure 48 Criteria for Completion 51 Task 1.13: Installing SO-DIMM in a Laptop 51 Objective 51 Scenario 52 Scope of Task 52 Procedure 52 Criteria for Completion 55 Task 1.14: Installing a Laptop Hard Drive 55 Objective 55 Scenario 55 Scope of Task 56 Procedure 56 Criteria for Completion 58 Task 1.15: Installing a Laptop Optical Drive 58 Objective 58 Scenario 58 Scope of Task 58 Procedure 59 Criteria for Completion 61 Task 1.16: Installing a KVM Switch 61 Objective 61 Scenario 61 Scope of Task 62 Procedure 62 Criteria for Completion 64 Task 1.17: Installing Drivers from a Disc 64 Objective 65 Scenario 65 Scope of Task 65 Procedure 65 Criteria for Completion 67 Task 1.18: Installing Drivers from the Internet 67 Objective 68 Scenario 68 Scope of Task 68 Procedure 68 Criteria for Completion 70

Task 1.19: Reformatting a Hard Drive Using Windows XP 70 Objective 71 Scenario 71 Scope of Task 71 Procedure 72 Criteria for Completion 74 Task 1.20: Installing Windows XP Professional as a Fresh Install 74 Objective 74 Scenario 74 Scope of Task 75 Procedure 75 Criteria for Completion 83 xviii Contents Task 1.21: Installing Windows Vista as a Fresh Install 84 Objective 84 Scenario 84 Scope of Task 84 Procedure 85 Criteria for Completion 88 Task 1.22: Installing Microsoft Applications in Windows XP 88 Objective 88 Scenario 89 Scope of Task 89 Procedure 89 Criteria for Completion 91 Task 1.23: Uninstalling Software in Windows XP 91 Objective 91 Scenario 91 Scope of Task 91 Procedure 92 Criteria for Completion 92 Task 1.24: Uninstalling an Application Using Windows 7 Programs and Features 93 Objective 93 Scenario 93 Scope of Task 93 Procedure 93 Criteria for Completion 95

Task 1.25: Upgrading from Windows XP to Windows 7 95 Objective 96 Scenario 96 Scope of Task 96 Procedure 97 Criteria for Completion 99 Task 1.26: Shutting Down Background Processes in Windows 7 99 Objective 99 Scenario 99 Scope of Task 100 Procedure 100 Criteria for Completion 102 Task 1.27: Installing a Local Printer 102 Objective 102 Scenario 102 Procedure 103 Criteria for Completion 106 Task 1.28: Installing Printer Drivers 106 Objective 106 Scenario 107 Procedure 107 Criteria for Completion 109 Task 1.29: Installing a Bluetooth Printer on Windows 7 109 Objective 109 Scenario 109 Procedure 110 Criteria for Completion 111 Task 1.30: Installing a Bluetooth Device for Pairing with Windows 7 112 Objective 112 Scenario 112 Procedure 113 Criteria for Completion 114 Task 1.31: Syncing a Mobile Device with Media Player in Windows 7 114 Objective 114 Scenario 114 Procedure 115 Criteria for Completion 116 Phase 2 Maintaining and Documenting Computer Systems 117 Task 2.1: Identifying a Motherboard 118

Objective 118 Scenario 118 Scope of Task 118 Procedure 119 Criteria for Completion 120 Task 2.2: Identifying a Power Supply 120 Objective 121 Scenario 121 Scope of Task 121 Procedure 121 Criteria for Completion 122 Task 2.3: Performing a Quick Test and Replacing a Power Supply 123 Objective 123 Scenario 123 Scope of Task 123 Procedure 124 Criteria for Completion 126 Task 2.4: Searching for Windows Vista Drivers 127 Objective 127 Scenario 127 Scope of Task 127 Procedure 128 Criteria for Completion 128 Task 2.5: Listing All of the Drivers Installed on a Windows 7 PC 128 Objective 129 Scenario 129 Scope of Task 129 Procedure 129 Criteria for Completion 130 Task 2.6: Cleaning Fans 130 Objective 130 Scenario 130 Scope of Task 131 Procedure 131 Criteria for Completion 132 Task 2.7: Oiling Fans 132 Objective 133 Scenario 133

Scope of Task 133 Procedure 133 Criteria for Completion 135 Task 2.8: Defragging a Hard Drive 135 Objective 136 Scenario 136 Scope of Task 136 Procedure 136 Criteria for Completion 138 Task 2.9: Scheduling Automatic Defragging in Windows 7 138 Objective 138 Scenario 138 Scope of Task 138 Procedure 139 Criteria for Completion 140 Task 2.10: Defragmenting a Single File 140 Objective 140 Scenario 140 Scope of Task 141 Procedure 141 Criteria for Completion 143 Task 2.11: Updating Security Patches 143 Objective 143 Scenario 143 Scope of Task 143 Procedure 144 Criteria for Completion 145 Task 2.12: Checking Internal Connectors 145 Objective 145 Scenario 145 Scope of Task 145 Procedure 145 Criteria for Completion 147 Task 2.13: Backing Up with Acronis True Image Home 147 Objective 147 Scenario 147 Scope of Task 148 Procedure 148 Criteria for Completion 150

Task 2.14: Flashing the BIOS 150 Objective 151 Scenario 151 Scope of Task 151 Procedure 151 Criteria for Completion 153 Task 2.15: Changing the CMOS Battery to Correct a Slow PC Clock 153 Objective 153 Scenario 153 Scope of Task 154 Procedure 154 Criteria for Completion 156 Task 2.16: Resetting Passwords 156 Objective 157 Scenario 157 Scope of Task 157 Procedure 157 Criteria for Completion 158 Task 2.17: Creating a New Local User in Windows Vista 158 Objective 158 Scenario 158 Scope of Task 159 Procedure 159 Criteria for Completion 160 Task 2.18: Testing Ports with an Online Scanner 160 Objective 160 Scenario 160 Scope of Task 161 Procedure 161 Criteria for Completion 162 Task 2.19: Changing Printer Toner 162 Objective 163 Scenario 163 Scope of Task 163 Procedure 163 Criteria for Completion 165 Task 2.20: Scanning a Document Using Windows 7 165 Objective 166 Scenario 166

Scope of Task 166 Procedure 166 Criteria for Completion 168 Task 2.21: Managing Windows Startup and Recovery Behavior in Windows XP 169 Objective 169 Scenario 169 Scope of Task 169 Procedure 170 Criteria for Completion 170 Task 2.22: Turning Windows 7 Features On or Off 170 Objective 171 Scenario 171 Scope of Task 171 Procedure 171 Criteria for Completion 172 Task 2.23: Controlling AutoPlay Settings in Windows 7 172 Objective 173 Scenario 173 Scope of Task 173 Procedure 173 Criteria for Completion 174 Task 2.24: Setting Up Advanced File Sharing in Windows 7 175 Objective 175 Scenario 175 Scope of Task 175 Procedure 176 Criteria for Completion 176 Task 2.25: Installing Windows Live Mail 177 Objective 177 Scenario 177 Scope of Task 177 Procedure 177 Criteria for Completion 179 Task 2.26: Configuring Mail Accounts in Windows Live 179 Objective 179 Scenario 179 Scope of Task 179 Procedure 180 Criteria for Completion 181

Task 2.27: Rolling Back Device Drivers 181 Objective 181 Scenario 181 Scope of Task 182 Procedure 182 Criteria for Completion 183 Task 2.28: Disabling and Removing Hardware Devices 183 Objective 183 Scenario 184 Scope of Task 184 Procedure 184 Criteria for Completion 185 Phase 3 Networking Computer Systems 187 Task 3.1: Mapping Drives 188 Objective 188 Scenario 188 Scope of Task 188 Procedure 189 Criteria for Completion 191 Task 3.2: Creating File Shares 191 Objective 192 Scenario 192 Scope of Task 192 Procedure 192 Criteria for Completion 195 Task 3.3: Configuring PCs to Use Dynamic Addressing 195 Objective 195 Scenario 196 Scope of Task 196 Procedure 196 Criteria for Completion 199 Task 3.4: Releasing and Renewing a Dynamic Address Assignment 199 Objective 199 Scenario 199 Scope of Task 200 Procedure 200 Criteria for Completion 201 Task 3.5: Installing a Network Printer 201 Objective 201

Scenario 201 Scope of Task 201 Procedure 202 Criteria for Completion 204 Task 3.6: Making a Straight-Through Cable 205 Objective 205 Scenario 205 Scope of Task 205 Procedure 206 Criteria for Completion 210 Task 3.7: Making a Crossover Cable 210 Objective 210 Scenario 210 Scope of Task 211 Procedure 211 Criteria for Completion 214 Task 3.8: Testing Network Cables 214 Objective 214 Scenario 215 Scope of Task 215 Procedure 215 Criteria for Completion 216 Task 3.9: Joining a Computer to a Domain 216 Objective 216 Scenario 216 Scope of Task 217 Procedure 217 Criteria for Completion 220 Task 3.10: Creating a User in Active Directory 220 Objective 221 Scenario 221 Scope of Task 221 Procedure 221 Criteria for Completion 224 Task 3.11: Setting Up a Local User ID 224 Objective 224 Scenario 224 Scope of Task 225

Procedure 225 Criteria for Completion 227 Task 3.12: Adding a Multi-Port Card to a PC 228 Objective 228 Scenario 228 Scope of Task 228 Procedure 229 Criteria for Completion 231 Task 3.13: Setting Up VPN on a PC 231 Objective 231 Scenario 232 Scope of Task 232 Procedure 232 Criteria for Completion 236 Task 3.14: Connecting a PC to a Network Printer 236 Objective 236 Scenario 236 Scope of Task 236 Procedure 237 Criteria for Completion 238 Task 3.15: Managing Windows Vista Outbound Firewall Settings 239 Objective 239 Scenario 239 Scope of Task 240 Procedure 240 Criteria for Completion 242 Task 3.16: Monitoring Network Activity with Windows Vista Firewall 242 Objective 242 Scenario 242 Scope of Task 243 Procedure 243 Criteria for Completion 245 Task 3.17: Configuring MAC Filtering on a Wireless Router 245 Objective 245 Scenario 245 Scope of Task 246 Procedure 246 Criteria for Completion 247 xxvi Contents

Task 3.18: Turning Off SSID Broadcasts on a Wireless Router 247 Objective 248 Scenario 248 Scope of Task 248 Procedure 248 Criteria for Completion 249 Task 3.19: Changing the Default Username and Password on a Wireless Router 249 Objective 250 Scenario 250 Scope of Task 250 Procedure 250 Criteria for Completion 251 Task 3.20: Setting Up a Mobile Phone to Use Email 251 Objective 251 Scenario 252 Scope of Task 252 Procedure 252 Criteria for Completion 253 Task 3.21: Setting Up Windows Live Mobile 253 Objective 253 Scenario 254 Scope of Task 254 Procedure 254 Criteria for Completion 255 Phase 4 Troubleshooting and Restoring Computer Systems 257 Task 4.1: Scanning for and Removing Viruses 258 Objective 258 Scenario 259 Scope of Task 259 Procedure 259 Criteria for Completion 261 Task 4.2: Using Restore Point in Windows 7 261 Objective 261 Scenario 261 Scope of Task 261 Procedure 262 Criteria for Completion 264

Task 4.3: Troubleshooting in Windows 7 Using the Action Center 264 Objective 264 Scenario 264 Scope of Task 265 Procedure 265 Criteria for Completion 267 Task 4.4: Scanning for and Removing Malware 267 Objective 267 Scenario 267 Scope of Task 268 Procedure 268 Criteria for Completion 270 Task 4.5: Scanning for Rootkits 270 Objective 271 Scenario 271 Scope of Task 271 Procedure 272 Criteria for Completion 273 Task 4.6: Backing Up Outlook 273 Objective 273 Scenario 273 Scope of Task 273 Procedure 274 Criteria for Completion 276 Task 4.7: Quickly Diagnosing Windows Vista Problems 276 Objective 277 Scenario 277 Scope of Task 277 Procedure 277 Criteria for Completion 278 Task 4.8: Troubleshooting a Randomly Rebooting PC 278 Objective 278 Scenario 279 Scope of Task 279 Procedure 279 Criteria for Completion 282 Task 4.9: Troubleshooting an Intermittent Boot Failure of a PC 282 Objective 283 Scenario 283

Scope of Task 283 Procedure 283 Criteria for Completion 285 Task 4.10: Troubleshooting a Failed RAM Upgrade 286 Objective 286 Scenario 286 Scope of Task 287 Procedure 287 Criteria for Completion 289 Task 4.11: Troubleshooting a PC That Can t Print to a Local Printer 289 Objective 290 Scenario 290 Scope of Task 290 Procedure 290 Criteria for Completion 293 Task 4.12: Troubleshooting a PC That Can t Print to a Network Printer 293 Objective 293 Scenario 293 Scope of Task 293 Procedure 294 Criteria for Completion 298 Task 4.13: Troubleshooting the Error Message The Specified Domain Either Does Not Exist or Could Not Be Contacted 298 Objective 298 Scenario 299 Scope of Task 299 Procedure 299 Criteria for Completion 304 Task 4.14: Troubleshooting the Error Message Print Processor Unknown 304 Objective 305 Scenario 305 Scope of Task 305 Procedure 305 Criteria for Completion 306 Task 4.15: Troubleshooting a System Conflict with a Hidden Device 307 Objective 307 Scenario 307 Scope of Task 307 Procedure 308 Criteria for Completion 309

Task 4.16: Troubleshooting a Word Template Error Message 309 Objective 309 Scenario 309 Scope of Task 310 Procedure 310 Criteria for Completion 311 Task 4.17: Troubleshooting a Serious System Error in Windows 7 312 Objective 312 Scenario 312 Scope of Task 312 Procedure 313 Criteria for Completion 315 Task 4.18: Troubleshooting No Monitor Image When the PC Is Powered Up 315 Objective 315 Scenario 315 Scope of Task 316 Procedure 316 Criteria for Completion 318 Task 4.19: Troubleshooting the Inability to Connect to a Mapped Drive 318 Objective 318 Scenario 318 Scope of Task 318 Procedure 319 Criteria for Completion 320 Task 4.20: Troubleshooting the Inability to Access a Shared Folder on a Remote Computer 320 Objective 320 Scenario 320 Scope of Task 321 Procedure 321 Criteria for Completion 323 Task 4.21: Troubleshooting the Inability to Connect to the Network 323 Objective 323 Scenario 323 Scope of Task 324 Procedure 324 Criteria for Completion 326 Task 4.22: Troubleshooting Connection Problems with an External USB Hard Drive 326 Objective 326 Scenario 326

Scope of Task 327 Procedure 327 Criteria for Completion 328 Task 4.23: Troubleshooting a Scanner Problem 328 Objective 328 Scenario 329 Scope of Task 329 Procedure 329 Criteria for Completion 331 Task 4.24: Troubleshooting a Laptop Wi-Fi Connection Failure 331 Objective 331 Scenario 331 Scope of Task 331 Procedure 332 Criteria for Completion 333 Task 4.25: Troubleshooting the Failure of a Hard-Disk Drive 333 Objective 333 Scenario 333 Scope of Task 333 Procedure 334 Criteria for Completion 335 Task 4.26: Troubleshooting a Persistent Align Print Cartridges Message after Cartridges Have Been Replaced and Aligned 336 Objective 336 Scenario 336 Scope of Task 336 Procedure 337 Criteria for Completion 337 Index 339