CompTIA

Complete CompTIA A Guide to IT Hardware and Software

(pearson-220-901-220-902-schmidt) / ISBN : 978-1-61691-667-1

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20+ Interactive Lessons | 254+ Exercises

334+ Videos | 26+ Minutes

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Skills You’ll Get

CompTIA A+ exam is globally recognized, vendor-neutral exam designed for IT professionals. The 220-901 and 220-902 exam are a part of CompTIA's A+ certification. The CompTIA A+ course can benefit you in two ways. Whether you work or plan to work in a mobile or corporate environment where you have a high level of face-to-face customer interaction, where client communication and client training are important, or in an environment with limited customer interaction and an emphasis on hardware activities.

Interactive Lessons

20+ Interactive Lessons | 254+ Exercises | 398+ Quizzes | 1475+ Flashcards | 1475+ Glossary of terms

Gamified TestPrep

100+ Pre Assessment Questions | 2+ Full Length Tests | 92+ Post Assessment Questions | 183+ Practice Test Questions

Hands-On Labs

175+ LiveLab | 115+ Video tutorials | 01:55+ Hours

Video Lessons

334+ Videos | 26+ Minutes

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Intro to the World of IT

Who Needs This Book?
Technician Qualities
Breaking into IT with the CompTIA A+ Certification
Basic Skills for This Course
Types of Computers
Basic Computer Parts
Mice and Keyboards
1s and 0s
Safety Notes
Lesson Summary
Activities
Labs

Connectivity

Introduction to Connectivity
External Connectivity
Mouse and Keyboard Ports
Video Ports
USB Ports
Installing Extra USB Ports
Audio Ports
IEEE 1394 (FireWire) Ports
eSATA Ports
Network Ports
Modem Ports
Integrated Motherboard Ports
Getting to Know Ports
Wireless Connectivity for Input Devices
Soft Skills—Use Appropriate Titles
Lesson Summary
Activities
Labs

On the Motherboard

On the Motherboard Overview
Processor Overview
Processor Basics
Speeding Up Processor Operations Overview
Cache
Clocking
Threading Technology
Connecting to the Processor
Multi-Core Processors
Graphics Processing Unit (GPU)
Virtualization
Intel Processors
CPU Sockets
AMD Processors
Processor Cooling
Installing a Processor
Upgrading Processors
Overclocking Processors
Installing CPU Thermal Solutions
Troubleshooting Processor Issues
Expansion Slots
PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect)
AGP (Accelerated Graphics Port)
PCIe (Peripheral Component Interconnect Express)
Chipsets
Types of Motherboards
Upgrading and Replacing Motherboards
Motherboard Troubleshooting
Soft Skills—Active Listening
Lesson Summary
Activities
Labs

Introduction to Configuration

Configuration Overview
BIOS Overview
The Setup Program
Flash BIOS
UEFI/BIOS Configuration Settings
CMOS Memory
Motherboard Battery
Flashing the BIOS
Clearing CMOS
Other Configuration Parameters
IRQ
PCI/PCIe Interrupts
I/O (Input/Output) Addresses
Memory Addresses
Hardware Configuration Overview
Installing a USB Device
Installing/Configuring FireWire Cards
Troubleshooting Configurations
Soft Skills—A Good Technician Quality: One Thing at a Time
Lesson Summary
Activities
Labs

Disassembly and Power

Disassembly Overview
Electrostatic Discharge (ESD)
Electromagnetic Interference (EMI)
Tools
Disassembly
Reassembly
Preventive Maintenance
Basic Electronics Overview
Electronics: Terminology
Power Supply Overview
Power Supply Form Factors
Purposes of a Power Supply
Advanced Configuration and Power Interface (ACPI)
Replacing or Upgrading a Power Supply
Choosing a Power Supply
Adverse Power Conditions
Adverse Power Protection
Surge Protectors
Line Conditioners
Battery Backup
Phone Line Isolator
Symptoms of Power Supply Problems
Power Supply Voltages
Solving Power Supply Problems
Soft Skills—Written Communications Skills
Lesson Summary
Activities
Labs

Memory

Memory Overview
Memory Physical Packaging
Planning the Memory Installation
Installing Memory Overview
Removing/Installing Memory
Adding More Cache/RAM
Windows Disk Caching
Monitoring Memory Usage under Windows
Older Applications under Windows
Troubleshooting Memory Problems
Flash Memory
Soft Skills—Teamwork
Lesson Summary
Activities
Labs

Storage Devices

Storage Devices Overview
Hard Drive Overview
Magnetic Hard Drive Geometry
Solid State Drive (SSD) Overview
Hard Drive Interfaces Overview
Integrated Drive Electronics (IDE)
Storage Device Configuration Overview
PATA Physical Installation
SATA Physical Installation
SSD Physical Installation
System BIOS/UEFI Configuration for Hard Drives
Hard Drive Preparation Overview
Partitioning
How Drive Letters Are Assigned
High-Level Formatting
Windows Disk Management
Fault Tolerance
Removable Drive Storage
Windows Storage Spaces
Disk Caching/Virtual Memory
Troubleshooting Storage Devices Overview
Slow Performance
Troubleshooting New Storage Device Installation
Troubleshooting Previously Installed Storage Devices
RAID Issues
SSD Issues
Soft Skills—Phone Skills
Lesson Summary
Activities
Labs

Multimedia Devices

Multimedia Overview
Optical Disk Drive Overview
Optical Drive Features
Optical Drive Interfaces and Connections
Optical Drive Installation
Troubleshooting Optical Drive Issues
Preventive Maintenance for ODDs and Discs
Introduction to Audio
Theory of Sound Card Operation
Installing Sound Cards
Sound Cards Using Windows
Speakers
Troubleshooting Sound Problems
Scanners
Video Recording
Installing and Configuring Other Peripheral Devices
Soft Skills—Attitude
Lesson Summary
Activities
Labs

Video Technologies

Video Overview
Types of Video Output Devices
Video Terminology and Theory
LCD
Video Ports and Cables
Smart TV and Set Top Box Configuration
Multiple Displays
KVMs
Projectors
Display Preventive Maintenance
Monitor Energy Efficiency
Privacy
Video Adapters
Specialized Video Cards
Video Memory
Installing a Video Adapter
Troubleshooting Video
Soft Skills—Change Perspective When Troubleshooting
Lesson Summary
Activities
Labs

Printers

Printers Overview
Printer Ports
Categories of Printers
Impact Printers
Inkjet Printers
Laser Printers
Thermal Printers
3-D Printers
Paper
Virtual Printing
Refilling Cartridges, Re-inking Ribbons, and Recycling Cartridges
Upgrading Printers
Printer Maintenance
USB Printer Installation
Installing a Local Printer
Printers in the Windows Environment
Printing Device Sharing
Cloud Printing
General Printer Troubleshooting
USB-Attached Printer Troubleshooting
Windows Printer Troubleshooting
Impact Printer Troubleshooting
Inkjet Printer Troubleshooting
Laser Printer Troubleshooting
Soft Skills—Work Ethics
Lesson Summary
Activities
Labs

Mobile Devices

Mobile Device Overview
Using Mobile Devices
Cell Phones
Mobile Apps
Mobile Device Wired Connectivity
Mobile Device Wireless Connectivity
Mobile Device Email Configuration
Mobile Device Synchronization and Backup
Other Mobile Software Tools
Laptops Overview
Laptop Hardware
Laptop Power
Laptop Repairs Overview
Laptop System Board/Processor Replacement
Laptop Keyboards/Touchpad
Laptop Memory
Laptop Storage
Laptop Wireless Card Replacement
Laptop DC Jack Replacement
Mobile Device Sound
Laptop Display
Mobile Device Security
Mobile Device Travel and Storage
Mobile Device Troubleshooting Overview
Mobile Device App Concerns
Mobile Device Keyboard/Trackpad Issues
Mobile Device Display Issues
Mobile Device Power Issues
Mobile Device Sound Issues
Soft Skills—A Word about Appearance
Lesson Summary
Activities
Labs

Computer Design and Troubleshooting Review

Design Overview
Computer System Design
Motherboard and Associated Component Design
Power Supply and Case Design
Storage Subsystem Design
Audio Subsystem Design
Display Subsystem Design
Mobility Design
Troubleshooting Overview
Identify the Problem
Establish a Theory of Probable Cause
Test the Theory to Determine Cause
Establish a Plan of Action and Implement the Solution
Verify Full System Functionality and Implement Preventive Measures
Document Findings, Actions, and Outcomes and Provide Feedback
Sample Troubleshooting Flowcharts
Soft Skills—Dealing with Irate Customers
Lesson Summary
Activities
Labs

Internet Connectivity

Internet Connectivity Overview
Modems Overview
Serial Communication Overview
How to Configure Traditional Serial Devices
56Kb/s Modems
Fax Modems
Digital Modems and ISDN
VoIP
Cable Modems
xDSL Modems
Troubleshooting Cable and DSL Modems
Satellite Modems
Modem Preventive Maintenance
Mobile Connectivity
Web Browsers
Basic Web Browser Issues
Soft Skills—Mentoring
Lesson Summary
Activities
Labs

Introduction to Networking

Networking Overview
Attaching to Different Types of Networks
Network Topologies
Network Media Overview
Copper Media
Fiber Media
Protecting Your Network and Cable Investment
Ethernet Concepts
Ethernet over Power
The OSI Model
The TCP/IP Model
Network Addressing
IP Addressing
Wireless Networks Overview
Bluetooth
Wireless Network Components
Wireless Network Design
Antenna Basics
Wireless Network Standards
Wired or Wireless NIC Installation
NIC Configuration When Using Virtualization
Wireless AP/Router Basic Configuration
WWAN Cellular Configuration
Network Troubleshooting
Network Printers
Network Printer Troubleshooting
Network Servers
Embedded and Legacy Systems
Network Terminology
The TCP/IP Model in Action
Using the Network and Sharing Center Control Panel
Introduction to Shared Folders
Network Connectivity
Cloud Technologies
Soft Skills—Being Proactive
Lesson Summary
Activities
Labs

Basic Windows

Basic Operating Systems Overview
Basic Windows Usage Overview
Shortcuts and Tiles
Recycle Bin
Windows Vista/7 Desktop Components
Windows 8 Desktop/Start Screen Components
Windows 10 Desktop Components
Interactions Within a Window
Managing Windows Files and Folders
Searches and Indexing
Attributes, Compression, and Encryption
Introduction to Windows Control Panels
Determining the Windows Version
Windows Registry
Editing the Windows Registry
Backing Up Data
Recovering the Windows OS
WinRE
Virtualization Basics
Command Prompt Overview
Command Prompt Basics
Moving Around from a Command Prompt
The DIR Command
The MD and RD Commands
The DEL Command
The TYPE Command
Copying Files
The ATTRIB Command
Why Learn Commands?
Command Format
Soft Skills—Staying Current
Lesson Summary
Activities
Labs

Windows Vista, 7, 8, and 10

Windows Vista/7/8/10 Overview
Windows Vista/7/8/10 Versions
Preinstallation of Windows
Installation/Upgrade of Windows
Corporate Windows Deployment
Verifying the Installation
Troubleshooting a Windows Installation
Dual-Booting Windows
Virtualization
Reloading Windows
Windows Updates
Backing Up the Windows Registry and Data
Configuring Windows Overview
Configuring Windows
Adding Devices
Installing/Removing Software
Microsoft Management Console
System Tools
Managing Storage
Managing Services and Applications
Data Sources (ODBC)
Print Management Console
Overview of the Windows Boot Process
Speeding Up the Windows Boot Process
Troubleshooting the Windows Boot Process
WinRE
Advanced Boot Options/Startup Settings Menu
System Configuration Utility
Task Manager
Troubleshooting a Service That Does Not Start
Windows Reboots
Shutdown Problems
Monitoring System Performance
Supporting Windows Computers Remotely
Preventive Maintenance for Your Operating System
Soft Skills—Avoiding Burnout
Lesson Summary
Activities
Labs

OS X and Linux Operating Systems

Introduction to OS X
Navigating the User Interface
Basic System Usage, Updates, and Backups
Management and Troubleshooting Tools
Utilities
Introduction to Linux
Navigating the User Interface
Basic System Usage, Updates, and Backups
Command-Line Interface
OS X and Linux Best Practices
Soft Skills—Be Humble
Lesson Summary
Activities
Labs

Operational Procedures

Operational Procedures Overview
Communication Skills
Lesson Summary
Activities

Appendix A

Subnetting Basics
Lab

Intro to the World of IT

Identifying computer components
Identifying computer activities
Identifying input and output devices

Connectivity

Identifying I/O ports of a motherboard
Identifying mouse and keyboard connectivity ports
Identifying Video Ports and Connectors
Identifying HDMI connector type
Understanding USB versions
Inserting a Pen Drive into the USB Port
Formatting a pen drive
Removing a pen drive from a computer
Connecting the Hub with Different Devices Using USB Cables
Identifying audio ports
Connecting the Motherboard to the Internal Hard Drive
Identifying desktop PC ports

On the Motherboard

Identifying the CPU package types
Identifying a PCI-Bus Slot
Identifying motherboard slots
Installing a processor
Identifying a CPU Socket
Installing Firewire Cards
Installing a PCI Sound Card
Identifying cache memory type
Identifying the motherboard form factors

Introduction to Configuration

Accessing BIOS Setup in Windows 10
Changing the CMOS battery
Disabling the COM and parallel ports
Clearing the CMOS settings
Viewing IRQs in Device Manager
Examining the power used by a USB device

Disassembly and Power

Setting Up a Surge Protected Computer System
Configuring the UPS
Assembling Computer Components
Using a UPS to Power the Computer Components and Ensure the Network Connectivity
Installing SMPS and Connecting it to the Motherboard
Identifying computer power supply connectors
Identifying functions of a power supply
Changing the system's screen saver
Replacing the Power Supply

Memory

Identifying Types of RAM
Installing Memory Modules
Exploring installed hardware
Configuring the virtual memory size
Viewing system properties

Storage Devices

Identifying steps for installing a storage device
Identifying PATA cable connectors
Supplying Power to a SATA Drive
Changing a basic disk into a dynamic disk
Identifying RAID level characteristics
Running different parameters of the chkdsk command
Running Disk Defragmenter in Windows 7
Cleaning up the hard disk drive

Multimedia Devices

Copying Files to a Disc Using File Explorer
Identifying sound card ports
Installing an Optical Drive and a PCI Sound Card
Connecting Speakers to a Computer
Identifying features of scanner file formats
Connecting a digital camera to a computer
Identifying peripheral devices

Video Technologies

Installing Expansion Cards on a Motherboard
Providing Cooling and Ventilation to a Motherboard
Changing the refresh rate in Windows 7
Changing the display settings of a laptop
Extending monitor displays
Identifying video features
Changing the Resolution Setting
Changing the color of the desktop
Identifying video card ports
Configuring system in the event of a BSOD
Verifying properties of keyboards, disk drives, and network adapters

Printers

Configuring two new computers: Home Entertainment and SOHO
Identifying the stages of the laser printing process
Inserting Ink Cartridges into a Printer
Replacing the toner cartridge on a laser printer
Connecting a USB Printer to a Computer
Installing a printer
Stopping and restarting the print spooler service
Calibrating the printing device
Sharing a network printer
Running power troubleshooter
Configuring printer memory

Mobile Devices

Viewing the version of an Android smartphone
Viewing the iOS version
Downloading Instagram from the App Store.
Downloading Instagram from the Google Play Store
Identifying mobile connectors
Understanding email protocols
Turning on Airplane Mode of an iPhone
Establishing a Bluetooth connection
Turning on the Personal Hotspot of an iPhone
Identifying a port
Installing Laptop Components
Identifying function keys of a keyboard
Locking an iPhone with a Password

Computer Design and Troubleshooting Review

Identifying computer parts
Comparing desktop and laptop
Installing a USB 3.0 PCI Express Card (2.0 x4)
Troubleshooting theory

Internet Connectivity

Configuring Windows 7 to use a proxy server
Deleting browser history in IE

Introduction to Networking

Identifying network categories
Identifying network types
Identifying OSI layers
Connecting a star topology
Identifying network topologies
Identifying a network topology
Identifying components of a coaxial cable
Identifying network connectors
Identifying the purpose of OSI layers
Identifying OSI layer functions
Identifying TCP/IP model layers
Identifying TCP/IP layers
Adding and removing an IPv6 address
Describing 802.11 networking standards
Installing a NIC
Understanding network card properties
Configuring the TCP/IP values
Analyzing network paths with tracert
Analyzing domain names with nslookup
Renewing an IP address
Understanding the ipconfig command

Basic Windows

Encrypting a folder
Viewing the status of a disk
Auto-hiding the taskbar
Labeling the Start menu of Windows 8
Showing hidden and system-protected files
Identifying file extension purposes
Observing the Control Panel options in different views
Installing Windows 8
Enabling Hardware Virtualization
Working with Directories

Windows Vista, 7, 8, and 10

Creating a virtual PC machine
Creating a backup of a local disk
Installing Windows 7 using VMware
Creating backup and restoring registry
Exploring installed applications
Creating a bootable VHD using Disk Management
Changing the time zone
Customizing user account notification settings
Modifying touchpad settings
Creating a user account and a user group
Setting the account with a password
Investigating startup processes
Rolling back a device driver
Disabling certain applications and services at startup
Viewing processes details in the task manager
Configuring Performance Monitor
Connecting a remote desktop
Connecting to a remote desktop

OS X and Linux Operating Systems

Creating and listing directories
Understanding Linux commands
Modifying the ownership of a file
Performing a Text Search
Listing Files in a Directory
Verifying the working directory

Computer and Network Security

Understanding the BIOS security options
Creating a homegroup
Disabling the guest account
Configuring password policy
Running different parameters of the net share command
Examining file permissions
Sharing a folder with another user
Configuring BitLocker for an identification field
Encrypting flash drive with BitLocker
Creating a restore point
Configuring Windows 7 for media streaming
Turning on Windows 7 firewall logs
Rolling back to a restore point
Running Microsoft Security Essentials and removing infected files
Turning on Windows Firewall
Configuring Windows Firewall with advanced security
Turning on system protection
Connecting to a wireless network

Operational Procedures

Identifying computer troubleshooting steps
Identifying guidelines for effective communication

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You should have 9 to 12 months of hands-on experience in the lab or field.

USD 219 per exam.

The exam fees are subject to change.

The exam contains 90 questions.

90 minutes

For CompTIA A+ 220-901: 675
For CompTIA A+ 220-902: 700

(on a scale of 100-900)

The CompTIA A+ certification is valid for three years from the date of exam.

Know more about the a-plus