A+ Essentials
Class Outline:
Description:
This course will prepare students for the CompTIA A+ Essentials certification exam (2006 Objectives). Students will obtain the skills and knowledge necessary to install, build, upgrade, repair, configure, troubleshoot, and performing preventative maintenance on personal computer hardware and operating systems.
Course Length: Five days
Table of Contents:
Unit 1: Getting started with PC hardware support
Topic A: Computer components overview
Topic B: Hardware, software, and firmware
Topic C: Troubleshooting models
Unit 2: Operating systems
Topic A: Operating system fundamentals
Topic B: Directory and file management
Unit 3: Electricity and power systems
Topic A: Electricity and electronics
Topic B: Static electricity
Topic C: Power supplies
Topic D: Power supply troubleshooting
Unit 4: CPUs and motherboards
Topic A: Central processing units (CPUs)
Topic B: Packaging, slots, and cooling techniques
Topic C: Motherboards and system cases
Topic D: Motherboard troubleshooting
Unit 5: Basic Input/Output System
Topic A: BIOS and CMOS
Topic B: The POST process
Topic C: Firmware updates
Topic D: BIOS and POST troubleshooting
Unit 6: Memory systems
Topic A: Memory
Topic B: Memory packaging
Topic C: Memory troubleshooting
Unit 7: Bus structures
Topic A: Buses
Topic B: Host system interaction
Topic C: The PCI bus
Topic D: Video buses
Unit 8: Expansion cards
Topic A: Drive adapters
Topic B: Video cards
Topic C: Sound cards
Topic D: Internal modems
Topic E: Expansion card troubleshooting
Unit 9: Ports, connectors, and cables
Topic A: Serial and parallel ports, cables, and connectors
Topic B: Keyboards, mice, and pointing devices
Topic C: USB ports, cables, and connectors
Topic D: FireWire ports, cables, and connectors
Topic E: Infrared and Bluetooth wireless ports
Topic F: Multimedia ports, cables, and connectors
Topic G: Port, cable, and connector troubleshooting
Unit 10: Data storage devices
Topic A: Hard drives
Topic B: Optical drives
Topic C: Removable storage devices
Topic D: Storage device troubleshooting
Unit 11: Video and multimedia input/output devices
Topic A: Cathode ray terminals
Topic B: LCDs and other video technologies
Topic C: Sound input and output devices
Topic D: Scanners and cameras
Unit 12: Printers
Topic A: Dot matrix printers
Topic B: Inkjet and related printer technologies
Topic C: Laser printers
Topic D: Other types of printers
Unit 13: Portable computers and devices
Topic A: Notebook computers
Topic B: Handheld computers
Unit 14: Monitoring and management
Topic A: The Windows boot process
Topic B: System monitoring
Topic C: System troubleshooting
Topic D: System management
Unit 15: Connecting computers
Topic A: Networking concepts
Topic B: Wired network connections
Topic C: Wireless network connections
Topic D: Network architectures
Unit 16: Networking computers
Topic A: Network communications
Topic B: Addressing
Topic C: Internet connections
Topic D: Network installation
Topic E: Network troubleshooting
Unit 17: Security
Topic A: Operating system security
Topic B: Security hardware
Topic C: The human aspects of security
Unit 18: Safety
Topic A: Safety and hazards
Topic B: Safe work practices
Topic C: Disposing of computer equipment
Unit 19: Troubleshooting and maintaining a PC
Topic A: Tools and software
Topic B: Preventative hardware maintenance
Unit 20: Professionalism and communication
Topic A: Professionalism and customer satisfaction
Topic B: Problem and resolution tracking
Unit 21: Windows installation and upgrades
Topic A: Installation
Topic B: Upgrades
Appendix A: Certification exam objectives map
Topic A: Comprehensive exam objectives
Appendix B: CompTIA A+ acronyms
Topic A: Acronyms list
Objectives
Installation
PC building
System upgrades
Repair
System configuration
Troubleshooting
Problem diagnosis
Preventative maintenance