A+ Certification

■ PC Architecture
■ Motherboards, CPUs, and RAM
■ Disk Drive Storage
■ Printer and Scanner Fundamentals
■ Building a PC step by step
■ Networking Fundamentals
■ Building a PC
■ Portable Systems
■ Upgrading PC Components
■ Optimizing PC Performance, Preventative Maintenance, and Safety
■ Using Tools and Diagnostic Procedure for Personal
■ Installing, Configuring, and Optimizing PC Components
■ Hardware Troubleshooting

■ Introduction to Operating Systems
■ Using the Microsoft Operating System GUI
■ Major OS Architectures
■ Installing and Upgrading Your OS
■ Hardware Installation
■ Windows Networking
■ Windows Optimization
■ Understanding Networking
■ Windows Diagnostics and Troubleshooting
■ Identify the procedures for installing operating system
■ Understanding Network Security Fundamentals
■ Identifying Safety and Environmental Issues
■ Security
■ A+ Certification Course Description

Motherboard, Storage device, FDD, HDD, CD/CDRW, DVD/DVDRW, Blu-Ray, Removable storage, Tape drive, Removable storage, Power supply, AC adapter, AT/ATX, Form Factor, ATX / BTX, micr- ATX, NLX Cooling systems, Fans, Heat sinks, Liquid cooling, Processor /CPU, Memory, Sound, Video, USB 1.1 and 2.0, Serial, IEEE 1394 / Firewire, Parallel, NIC, Modem, PS/2

■ Computer Components
■ Understanding Computer Resources
■ Determining Available Resources
■ Manually Specifying a Resource Assignment
■ Performing Preventative Maintenance for personal Computer Components
■ Working with laptops and Portable Devices
■ Identifying Applications for Laptop-Specific Communication Connections, Identifying Laptop-specific Power Requirement
■ Understanding LCD Technology
■ Removing Laptop-Specific Hardware
■ Understanding Video Memory Sharing
■ Troubleshooting Laptops
■ Identifying Specific Safety
■ Diagnosing Laptop Problems
■ Installing, Configuring, Optimizing, and Upgrading operating Systems
■ Using Operating Systems
■ Using the Command Prompt, Managing Disks, Directories, and Files Using windows Utilities, Optimizing Operating Systems, Managing virtual Memory, Defragmenting Disks, Managing Temporary Files, Managing Services, Startup, and Applications, Troubleshooting Windows, Recovering Windows, Updating windows, scheduling Backups, Creating Restore Points

■ FDD, HDD, CD/CDRW, DVD/DVDRW

■ AC adapter, DC adapter, Battery

■ PCs Defined
■ PC Components and Technologies
■ System Resources
■ Building or Buying a PC
■ Upgrading a PC

■ Rules to Upgrade By
■ Tools
■ General Procedures

■ Motherboard Characteristics
■ Choosing a Motherboard
■ Installing a Motherboard
■ Upgrading the System BIOS

■ PC100, PC133, PC2700, PC3200, DDR3-1600, DDR2-667
■ Processor Components
■ Processor Speed
■ Processor Architecture
■ Intel Processors
■ Intel-Compatible Processors
■ Choosing a Processor
■ Installing a Socketed Processor
■ Installing a Slotted Processor
■ A Word About Overclocking

■ Understanding Memory
■ Memory Access Methods
■ Memory Packaging
■ How Much Memory Is Enough?
■ Memory Selection Guidelines
■ Installing Memory
■ Troubleshooting Memory Installation and Operation
■ RIMM, DIMM, SODIMM, SIMM

■ Diskette Types and Formats
■ Drive Types
■ FDD Interface and Cabling
■ Working with FDDs
■ Working with Obsolete Diskette Formats
■ Salvaging Diskette Data

■ Upgrading Storage Devices, Display Devices, Input/Multimedia Devices
■ Identifying Tools and Diagnostics for PC Components
■ Basic Aspects of Troubleshooting Techniques
■ Understanding Laptop Architecture
■ Laptop Case, Motherboards and Processors, Memory, Storage, Displays, Input Devices, Expansion Bus and Ports, Docking Stations, Power Systems
■ Managing Power and Removing Devices
■ Understanding Laptop Power Management, Managing Power in windows, Removing Laptop-specific Hardware
■ Troubleshooting and Performing Preventative Maintenances on Laptops
■ Diagnosing Laptop Problems, Performing Preventative Maintenance

■ Choosing a Tape Drive
■ Installing and Configuring a Tape Drive
■ Care and Feeding of a Tape Drive
■ Troubleshooting Tape Drive Problems

■ Compact Disc Fundamentals
■ CD-ROM Drive Performance
■ Choosing a CD-ROM Drive
■ Installing and Configuring a CD-ROM Drive
■ Cleaning a CD-ROM Drive

■ Choosing a CD Writer
■ CD Writer Software
■ Installing and Configuring a CD Writer
■ Burning CDs
■ Media Issues
■ Additional CD-RW Source Material

■ DVD-ROM
■ DVD Writable and Rewritable
■ Installing and Configuring a DVD Drive  

■ IDE
■ SCSI
■ ATA Versus SCSI   

■ How Hard Disks Work
■ Choosing a Hard Disk
■ Installing a Hard Disk   

■ Video Adapter Characteristics
■ Choosing a Graphics Processor
■ Choosing a Video Adapter
■ Installing a Video Adapter
■ Configuring Video Under Windows 98/2000
■ Configuring Video Under Windows NT 4
■ Troubleshooting Video Adapter Problems

■ Mouse, Keyboard, Bar code reader, Multimedia (e.g. web and digital cameras, MIDI, microphones), Biometric devices, Touch screen, KVM switch

■ Monitor Characteristics
■ Choosing a Monitor
■ Installing and Configuring a Monitor
■ Troubleshooting Monitor Problems

■ PC Audio Types
■ MIDI Synthesis Methods
■ Downloadable Sounds
■ Sound Card Components
■ Sound Card Characteristics
■ Choosing a Sound Card
■ Installing a Sound Card
■ Configuring a Sound Card Under Windows 95/98/2000
■ Configuring a Sound Card Under Windows NT 4
■ Troubleshooting Sound Card Problems
■ MP3

■ Speakers and Headphones
■ Speaker and Headphone Characteristics
■ Choosing Speakers and Headphones  

■ Keyboard Switch Types
■ Keyboard Styles
■ Keyboard Interfaces
■ Choosing a Keyboard
■ Configuring a Keyboard
■ Cleaning a Keyboard
■ Troubleshooting and Repairing Keyboards

■ Mice and Trackballs
■ Mice Versus Trackballs
■ Mouse Characteristics
■ Choosing a Mouse
■ Configuring a Mouse or Trackball
■ Cleaning a Mouse
■ Troubleshooting a Mouse

■ Game Controller Characteristics
■ Gameport Interface
■ Choosing a Game Controller
■ Installing a Game Controller
■ Troubleshooting Game Controllers

■ Case Characteristics
■ Choosing a Case  

■ Power Supply Characteristics
■ Volts, Amps, Watts, and Regulation
■ Power Connectors
■ Choosing a Power Supply
■ Installing a Power Supply
■ Troubleshooting Power Supplies

■ BPS Types
■ BPS Characteristics
■ Choosing a BPS

■ Low-End System
■ Mainstream System
■ High-Performance System
■ Workstation System
■ Purchasing Components

Step 1: Prepare the Case
Step 2: Configure the Motherboard
Step 3: Install the Processor
Step 4: Install the Memory
Step 5: Prepare Drives for Installation
Step 6: Install the Floppy Disk Drive
Step 7: Install Other Drives
Step 8: Install the Motherboard
Step 9: Connect Cables to the Motherboard
Step 10: Install Expansion Cards
Step 11: Perform the "Smoke Test"
Step 12: Install Software
Step 13: Finishing Touches

Step 1: Prepare the Case
Step 2: Configure the Motherboard
Step 3: Install the Processor
Step 4: Install the Memory
Step 5: Prepare Drives for Installation
Step 6: Install the Floppy Disk Drive
Step 7: Install Other Drives
Step 8: Install the Motherboard
Step 9: Connect Cables to the Motherboard
Step 10: Install Expansion Cards
Step 11: Perform the "Smoke Test"
Step 12: Install Software
Step 13: Finishing Touches

■ Verify hardware compatibility and minimum requirements
■ Determine OS installation options
■ Installation type (typical, custom, other)
■ Network configuration
■ File system type
■ Dual Boot Support
■ Disk preparation order (conceptual disk preparation)
■ Start the installation
■ Partition
■ Format drive
■ Run appropriate set up utility
■ Setup
■ Winnt
■ Installation methods
■ Bootable CD
■ Boot floppy
■ Network installation
■ Drive Imaging
■ Device Driver Configuration
■ Load default drivers
■ Find updated drivers
■ Restore user data files (if applicable)
■ Identify common symptoms and problems

■ Impact Printers, Bubble-Jet Printers, Laser Printers,
■ Printer Interfaces and Supplies.
■ Installing, Configuring, and Upgrading Printers and Scanners
■ Optimizing Printer and Scanner Performance
■ Troubleshooting Printers and Scanners
■ Dot-Matrix Printer Problems, Bubble-Jet Printer Problems, Laser and Page Printer Problems, Scanner Troubleshooting.

■ Loading, adding, and configuring device drivers, and required software.
■ Device Driver Installation
■ Plug and Play (PNP) and non-PNP devices
■ Install and configure device drivers
■ Install different device drivers
■ Manually install a device driver
■ Search the Internet for updated device drivers
■ Using unsigned drivers (driver signing)
■ Install Additional Windows components
■ Determine if permissions are adequate for performing the task  

■ Virtual Memory Management
■ Disk Defragmentation
■ Files and Buffers
■ Caches
■ Temporary file management   

■ Troubleshooting Windows-specific printing problems
■ Print spool is stalled
■ Incorrect/incompatible driver for print
■ Incorrect parameter
■ Other Common problems
■ General Protection Faults
■ Blue screen error (BSOD)
■ Illegal operation
■ Invalid working directory
■ System lock up
■ Option (Sound card, modem, input device) or will not function
■ Application will not start or load
■ Cannot log on to network (option - NIC not functioning)
■ Applications don't install
■ Network connection
■ Viruses and virus types
■ What they are
■ TSR (Terminate Stay Resident) programs and virus
■ Sources (floppy, emails, etc.)
■ How to determine presence    

■ Understanding Networking Principles
■ Understanding Networking Components, Identifying Common Network Media
■ Installing, Configuring, and Troubleshooting Networks
■ Installing and Configuring Network Interface Cards, Obtaining Wired and Wireless Internet Connections, Troubleshooting Network Interface Cards     

■ Configure protocols
■ TCP/IP
■ Gateway
■ Subnet mask
■ DNS (and domain suffix)
■ WINS
■ Static address assignment
■ Automatic address assignment (APIPA, DHCP)
■ IPX/SPX (NWLink)
■ Appletalk
■ NetBEUI/ NetBIOS
■ Configure Client options     

■ Verify the configuration
■ Understand the use of the following tools
■ IPCONFIG.EXE
■ WINIPCFG.EXE
■ PING
■ TRACERT.EXE
■ NSLOOKUP.EXE
■ Share resources (Understand the capabilities/limitations with each OS version)
■ Setting permissions to shared resources
■ Network type and network card

■ Protocols and terminologies
■ ISP
■ TCP/IP
■ E-mail (POP, SMTP, IMAP)
■ HTML
■ HTTP
■ HTTPS
■ SSL
■ Telnet
■ FTP
■ DNS
■ Connectivity technologies
■ Dial-up networking
■ DSL networking
■ ISDN networking
■ Cable
■ Satellite
■ Wireless
■ LAN
■ Installing and Configuring browsers
■ Enable/disable script support
■ Configure Proxy Settings
■ Configure security settings
■ Firewall protection under Windows XP

Identifying Network Protocols and Technologies, Identifying Network Connectivity Technologies, Working with Browsers, Establishing Network Connectivity, Sharing Network Resources, Network Tools to Use, Troubleshooting Network Issues, Hardening the OS and NOS, Working with Access Control List, Working with Group Policies, Auditing and Logging, Hotfixes, Service Packs, Recognizing Common Attacks: Back Door Attacks, Man-in-the-Middle Attacks, Password-Guessing Attacks, Denial of Service (DoS), and TCP Attacks.  

Authentication Technologies, Working with Hardware and Software Security, Understanding Wireless Security, Understanding data and physical security Security solutions BIOS Security, Malicious Software Protection, Data Access, Backup Procedure, Data Migration, Data Remnant Removal, Password Management, Locking Workstations, Identifying Security Problem Areas

■ User Accounts and Groups
■ Active Directory
■ Active Directory Groups
■ Authentication
■ Protocols
■ File System Security
■ NTFS Advantages, Security, Permissions
■ Disabling Simple File Sharing
■ Encryption, Security Policies
■ Auditing, Physical Access Restrictions
■ Network Security

Local users and groups: Administrator, Power Users, Guest, Users, Vista User Access Control (UAC), NTFS vs. Share permissions, Allow vs. deny, Difference between moving and copying folders and files, File attributes, Shared files and folders, Administrative shares vs. local shares, Permission propogation, Inheritance, System files and folders, Encryption (Bitlocker, EFS), User authentication, System, BIOS security, Drive lock, Passwords, Intrusion detection, TPM.