|
| |
|
Training: Computer Training
Course Outline: A+
Certification
|
|
More Resources by
Google: |
|
|
|
|
|
Course
Outline: A+ Certification
|
|
A+
DOS/Windows Module:
|
Operating
System Fundamentals.
|
System
Configuration and User Interface files
Identify
the operating system's functions, structure and major system files to
navigate the operating system and how to get to needed technical
information
- IO.SYS, BOOT.INI, WIN.COM,
- MSDOS.SYS, AUTOEXEC.BAT
- CONFIG.SYS, COMMAND
LINE PROMPT
Memory Management:
This section
covers the types of memory used by DOS and Windows, and the potential
for memory address conflicts.
Differentiate
between types of memory.
- Conventional, Extended/upper
memory
- High memory, Expanded memory,
Virtual memory
- HIMEM.SYS
- EMM386.EXE
Windows
9x
- IO.SYS,
WIN.INI,
USER.DAT
- SYSEDIT,
SYSTEM.INI, MSCONFIG(98)
- COMMAND. COM,
REGEDIT.EXE, SYSTEM.DAT
- RUN COMMAND,
COMMAND LINE PROMPT
Windows
2000
- Computer
Management
- BOOT.INI,
REGEDT.32, REGEDIT
- RUN CMSD,
NTLDR, NTDETECT.COM
- NTBOOTDD.SYS
Command
Prompt Procedure
- DIR,
ATTRIB, VERMEM
- SCANDISK,
DEFRAG,EDIT
- XCOPY,
SETVER,SCANREG
Identify
basic concepts and procedures for creating, viewing and managing
files, directories and disk. This includes procedures for
changing file attributes and the ramifications of those changes.
- File
attributes-Read Only, Hidden, System and Archive
- File
naming conventions
- Windows
2000 COMPRESS, ENCRYPT
- IDE/SCSI
- Internal/External
- Backup/Restore
- Partitioning/Formatting/File
System
Windows
based utilities
- ScanDisk,
Device
manager, System
Manager
- Computer
Manager
- MSCONFIG.EXE,
REGEDIT.EXE,
REGEDT32.EXE
- ATTRIB.EXE,
EXTRACT.EXE,DEFRAG.EXE
- EDIT.COM,
FDISK.EXE,SYSEDIT.EXE
- SCANREG,WSCRIPT.EXE
|
| Installation,
Configuration and Upgrading |
|
Identify the
procedures for installing Windows 9x and Windows 2000 for bringing the
software to a basic operational level.
- Start Up,
Partition, Format drive
- Loading
drivers, Run appropriate set up utility
Identify steps
to perform an operating system upgrade.
- Upgrading
Winds 95 to 98, Windows NT workstation 4.0 to 2000
- Replacing
Winds 9x/NT 4.0 with Windows 2000
Identify the
basic system boot sequences and boot methods including the steps to
create an emergency boot disk with utilities installed for Window 9x.
- Startup disk,
Safe Mode, MS-DOS mode, NTLDR, BOOT.INI, Files required to boot,
Creating emergency repair disk
-
|
| Diagnosing
and Troubleshooting |
Recognize
and interpret the meaning of common error codes and startups messages
from the boot sequence and identify steps to correct the problems
- Safe mode, NO
operating system found
- Error in
CONFIG.SYS line XX
- Bad or missing
COMMAND.COM
- HIMEM.SYS not
loaded, SCSI
- Swap file, NT
boot issues,Dr. Watson
- Failure to
start GUI
- Windows
Protection Error
- Event Viewer
Recognize common
problems and determine how to resolve them
- Eliciting
problem symptoms from customers, Having customer reproduce error as
part of the diagnostic process
- Identifying
recent changes to the computer environment from the user.
- Troubleshooting
Windows-specific printing problems
Other Common
Problems
- General
Protection Faults
- Illegal
Operation
- Invalid working
directory
- System lock up
- Option
- Application
will not start or load
- System lock up,
TSR (Terminate Stay Resident)
- Option, Network
connection
- Virus and virus
types
|
|
Networks:
This section covers the required knowledge of network capabilities
of DOS and Windows, and how to connect to networks, including what the
Internet is about, its capabilities, basic concepts relating to Internet
access and generic procedures for system setup.
|
| Identify
the networking capabilities of Windows including procedures for
connecting to the network
Content may
include the following:
- Protocols
- IPCONFIG.EXE,
WINIPCFG.EXE
- Sharing disk
drives, Sharing
print and file services
- Network type
and network card
- Installing and
Configuring browsers, Configure OS for network connection
Identify concepts
and capabilites relating to the Internet and basic procedures for
setting upa system for Internet access
- ISP,TCP/IP, IPX/SPS,
NetBEUI, Email, PING.EXE, HTML, HTTP, FTP, domain Names, Dial up
networking, TRACERT.EXE
|
|
A+
Core Module:
|
|
Installation,
Configuration and Upgrading:
This
requires the knowledge and skills to identify, install, configure and
upgrade microcomputer modules and peripherals, following established
basic procedures for system assembly and disassembly of field
replaceable modules.
|
Identify basic
terms, concepts and functions of system modules, including how each
module should work during normal operation and during the boot process
- System board,
Power supply, Processor/CPU, Memory Storage devices, Monitor,
Modem, Firmware
- BIOS, CMOS,
LCD, Ports,
PDA
Identify basic
procedures for adding and removing filed replaceable modules for both
desktop and portable systems
Examples of
modules:
- System board,
storage device, Power Supply, Processor/CPU
- Memory, Input
devices, Hard drive, Keyboard, Video board, Mouse, Netowkr
interface Card (NIC)
Portable System
components
- AC adapters
- DC
controllers
- LCD panel
- PC card
- Pointing
devices
Identify
available IRQs, DMAs and I/O Addresses and procedures for configuring
them for device installation and configuration
- IRQ Settings,
Modems
- Floppy drive
controllers, Hard drive controllers
- USB port
- Infrared
ports
- Hexadecimal/addresse
Identify common
peripeheral ports, associated cabling and their connectors
- Cable types
- Calbe
orientation
- Serial versus
parallel
- Pin
connections
Examples of
types of connectors
- DB-9, DB-25,
RJ-11, RJ-45
- BNC,
PS2/MINI-DIN, USB, IEEE-1394
Identify proper
procedures for installing and configuring IDE/EIDE devices
- Master/Slave
- Devices per
channel
- Primary/Secondary
Identify proper
procedures for installing and configuring SCSI devices
- Address/Termination
conflicts
- Cabling,
Types, Internal versus external, Jumper block settings
Identify proper
procedures for installing and configuring peripheral devices.
- Monitor/video
Card, Modem
- USB
peripherals and hubs
- IEEE-1284,
IEEE-1394
- External
storage
Portables
- Docking
stations
- PC Cards
- Port
replicators
- Infrared
devices
Identify
hardware methods of upgrading sytem performance, procedures for
replacing basic subsystem components, unique components and when to
use them
- Memory, Hard
Drives, CPU, Upgrading BIOS
- When to
upgrade BIOS
|
|
Diagnosing
and troubleshooting: This
section covers the required knowledge relating to diagnosing and
troubleshooting common module problems and system malfunctions. This
includes knowledge of the symptoms relating to common problems.
|
Identify common
symptoms and problems associated with each module and how to
troubleshoot and isolate the problems.
- Processor/Memory
symptoms
- Mouse, Floppy drive
failures, Parallel ports
- Hard Drives, Sound
Card/Audio, Monitor/Video
- Motherboards
- Modems, BIOS, CMOS
- Power supply, Slot
covers
- POST audible/visual
error codes
- Troubleshooting tools,
e.g., multimeter
Identify basic
troubleshooting procedures and good practices for eliciting problem
symptoms from customers.
- Troubleshooting/isolation/problem
determination procedures
- Determine whether
hardware or software problem
- Gather information
from user regarding, e.g., multimeter
- Customer Environment,
Symptoms/Error Codes
- Situation when the
problem occurred
|
|
Safety
and Preventive Maintenance:
This section
covers safety and preventive maintenance. With regard to safety, it
includes the potential hazards to personnel and equipment when working
with lasers, high voltage equipment, ESD, and items that require
special disposal procedures that comply with environmental guidelines.
With regard to preventive maintenance, this includes knowledge of
preventive maintenance products, procedures, environmental hazards,
and precautions when working on microcomputer systems.
|
Identify the
purpose of various types of preventive maintenance products and
procedures and when to use/perform them.
-
Liquid cleaning
compounds, Types of materials to clean contacts and connections
-
Vacuum out systems,
power supplies, fans,
Identify procedures
and devices for protecting against environmental hazards.
- UPS (uninterruptible
power supply) and suppressors
- Determining the signs of
power issues, Proper methods of storage of components for future use
Identify the potential hazards
and proper safety procedures relating to lasers and high-voltage
equipment.
- Lasers, High-voltage
equipment
- Power supply, CRT
Identify items that require
special disposal procedures that comply with environmental guidelines.
- Batteries, CRTs, Toner
kits/cartridges
- Chemical solvents and
cans, MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet)
Identify ESD (Electrostatic
Discharge) precautions and procedures, including the use of ESD
protection devices.
- What ESD can do, how it
may be apparent, or hidden
- Common ESD protection
devices
- Situations that could
present a danger or hazard
|
|
Motherboard/Processors/Memory:
This section
covers terminology, facts, ways and means of dealing with
classifications, categories and principles of motherboards,
processors, and memory in microcomputer systems.
|
|
Distinguish between
the popular CPU chips in terms of their basic characteristics.
- Popular CPU chips,
Characteristics:
- Physical size, Voltage
- Speeds, On board cache
or not
- Sockets, Number of pins
Identify the categories of RAM
(Random Access Memory) terminology, their locations, and physical
characteristics.
- Terminology:
- EDO RAM (Extended Data
Output RAM)
- DRAM (Dynamic Random
Access Memory)
- SRAM (Static RAM)
- VRAM (Video RAM)
- WRAM (Windows
Accelerator Card RAM)
- Locations and physical
characteristics:
- Memory bank
- Memory chips (8-bit,
16-bit, and 32-bit)
- SIMMS (Single In-line
Memory Module)
- DIMMS (Dual In-line
Memory Module)
- Parity chips versus
non-parity chips
Identify the most popular type
of motherboards, their components, and their architecture (for example,
bus structures and power supplies).
- Types of motherboards:
AT (Full and Baby), ATX
- Components:
Communication ports, SIMM AND DIMM
- Processor sockets
- External cache memory
(Level 2)
- Bus Architecture, ISA,
EISA, PCI, USB (Universal Serial Bus), VESA local bus (VL-Bus)
- PC Card (PCMCIA), Basic
compatibility guidelines
Identify the purpose of CMOS
(Complementary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor), what it contains and how to
change its basic parameters.
- Printer parallel port,
Uni., bi-directional, disable/enable, ECP, EPP
- COM/serial port memory
address, interrupt request, disable
- Floppy drive
enable/disable drive or boot, speed, density
- Hard drive size and
drive type
- Memory parity,
non-parity
- Boot sequence
- Date/Time, Passwords
|
|
Printers:
This section covers
basic types of printers, basic concepts, printer components, how they
work, how they print onto a page, paper path, care and service
techniques, and common problems.
|
|
Identify basic
concepts, printer operations and printer components.
- Types of Printers:
Laser, Inkjet, Dot Matrix
- Paper feeder mechanisms
Identify care and service
techniques and common problems with primary printer types.
- Feed and output, Errors
- Paper jam, Print quality
- Safety precautions ,
Preventive maintenance
Identify the types of printer
connections and configurations.
|
|
Portable
Systems: This
section covers portable computers and their unique components and
problems.
|
Identify
the unique components of portable systems and their unique problems.
- Battery, LCD, AC
adapter, Docking stations
- Hard Drive, Types I, II,
III cards
- Network cards
- Memory
|
|
Basic
Networking: This
section covers basic network concepts and terminology, ability to
determine whether a computer is networked, knowledge of procedures for
swapping and configuring network interface cards, and knowledge of the
ramifications of repairs when a computer is networked.
|
|
Identify basic
networking concepts, including how a network works.
- Network access, Protocol
- Network Interface Cards,
Full-duplex
- Cabling, Twisted Pair,
Coaxial, Fiber Optic
- Ways to network a PC
Identify procedures for
swapping and configuring network interface cards. Identify the
ramifications of repairs on the network.
- Reduced bandwidth, Loss
of data
- Network slowdown
|
|
| |
|