A+ certification study guide, fifth edition

A+® Certification Study Guide, Fifth Edition......Page 3 Copyright......Page 4 About LearnKey......Page 5 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS......Page 6 CONTENTS AT A GLANCE......Page 7 CONTENTS......Page 9 In Every Chapter......Page 19 Some Pointers......Page 20 Computerized Testing......Page 23 Question Types......Page 24 Study Strategies......Page 25 The Core Hardware Exam......Page 26 Signing Up......Page 27 After the Test......Page 28 How to Become CompTIA Certified......Page 29 Core Hardware Exam......Page 30 Operating System Exam......Page 31 Part 1 A+ Core Hardware......Page 33 1 Identifying, Adding, and Removing System Components......Page 35 Computer System Concepts......Page 37 System Board......Page 40 The Processor or CPU......Page 41 The Power Supply......Page 42 Memory......Page 43 Storage Devices......Page 46 The Monitor......Page 49 Modems......Page 50 Peripherals......Page 52 EXERCISE 1-1 Switching to the Dvorak Keyboard Layout......Page 53 Firmware......Page 55 LCD Portable Systems......Page 57 Adding and Removing Field- Replaceable Modules......Page 58 Desktop System Components......Page 59 EXERCISE 1-2 Removing a Hard Drive......Page 60 EXERCISE 1-3 Removing a Power Supply......Page 62 EXERCISE 1-4 Removing a Power Supply......Page 63 EXERCISE 1-5 Installing a SIMM......Page 64 EXERCISE 1-6 Installing a DIMM......Page 65 Portable System Components......Page 66 IRQs, DMAs, and I/ O Addresses......Page 68 Standard IRQ Settings......Page 70 I/ O Addresses......Page 73 Common Devices......Page 74 Cable Types......Page 76 Cable Orientation......Page 77 EXERCISE 1-8......Page 78 Pin Connections......Page 79 Serial vs. Parallel......Page 82 CERTIFICATION SUMMARY......Page 85 TWO- MINUTE DRILL......Page 86 SELF TEST......Page 88 LAB QUESTION......Page 92 SELF TEST ANSWERS......Page 93 LAB ANSWER......Page 98 2 Installation, Configuration, and System Optimization......Page 101 Master/ Slave Configurations......Page 102 EXERCISE 2-1 Installing Master and Slave Hard Drives......Page 103 Devices per Channel......Page 105 Installing and Configuring SCSI Devices......Page 106 EXERCISE 2-2 Installing a SCSI Controller Card......Page 107 Types of SCSI Systems......Page 108 Address/ Termination Conflicts......Page 110 Cabling......Page 112 EXERCISE 2-3 Installing External SCSI Devices......Page 114 Desktop System Components......Page 116 EXERCISE 2-4 Installing a Video Card......Page 117 Portable System Components......Page 121 Desktop Computers......Page 125 EXERCISE 2-5 Defragmenting a Hard Drive on Windows 9x, 2000, and XP......Page 127 EXERCISE 2-6 Replacing the CMOS Battery......Page 129 Portable Computers......Page 130 CERTIFICATION SUMMARY......Page 133 TWO- MINUTE DRILL......Page 134 SELF TEST......Page 136 LAB QUESTION......Page 140 SELF TEST ANSWERS......Page 142 LAB ANSWER......Page 148 3 Diagnosing and Troubleshooting Problems......Page 149 Symptoms and Problems......Page 150 POST Audio and Visual Error Codes......Page 151 Mouse......Page 152 EXERCISE 3-1 Cleaning a Mouse......Page 153 Floppy Drive Failures......Page 154 Hard Drives......Page 156 Parallel Ports......Page 158 The Sound Card and Audio......Page 159 The Monitor and Video......Page 161 Modems......Page 162 BIOS......Page 165 Universal Serial Bus......Page 166 Power Supplies, Fans, and Airflow......Page 168 Hard Drive Address Translation......Page 170 Troubleshooting Tools......Page 171 Basic Troubleshooting Procedures......Page 172 Information Gathering......Page 173 Pinpointing the Hardware or Software......Page 175 Troubleshooting, Isolating, and Problem Determination Procedures......Page 176 EXERCISE 3-2 Troubleshooting a Hardware Problem......Page 178 CERTIFICATION SUMMARY......Page 179 TWO- MINUTE DRILL......Page 181 SELF TEST......Page 183 LAB QUESTION......Page 187 SELF TEST ANSWERS......Page 188 LAB ANSWER......Page 194 4 Power Protection and Safety Procedures......Page 197 Liquid Cleaning Compounds......Page 198 Cleaning Contacts and Connectors......Page 199 Removing Dust and Debris from the System......Page 200 Power Protection......Page 202 Personal Safety Procedures......Page 204 Environmental Safety Procedures......Page 206 Component Safety Procedures......Page 207 EXERCISE 4-2 ESD-Proofing Your Workspace......Page 210 CERTIFICATION SUMMARY......Page 211 TWO- MINUTE DRILL......Page 212 SELF TEST......Page 213 LAB QUESTION......Page 217 SELF TEST ANSWERS......Page 218 LAB ANSWER......Page 223 5 Motherboards, Processors, and Memory......Page 225 Pentium ( 586)......Page 226 AMD K5......Page 227 AMD K6......Page 228 Pentium 4......Page 229 AMD Duron and Athlon......Page 230 Types of RAM......Page 232 Physical Characteristics......Page 235 EXERCISE 5-2 Calculating the Memory Bank Size......Page 236 Types of Motherboards......Page 238 Bus Architecture......Page 239 EXERCISE 5-3 Installing an Expansion Card......Page 243 Complementary Metal- Oxide Semiconductor Settings......Page 245 Printer Parallel Port......Page 246 Hard Drive......Page 247 Date and Time......Page 248 CERTIFICATION SUMMARY......Page 249 TWO- MINUTE DRILL......Page 250 SELF TEST......Page 252 LAB QUESTION......Page 256 SELF TEST ANSWERS......Page 257 LAB ANSWER......Page 262 6 Printers......Page 263 Types of Printers......Page 264 Types of Printer Connections and Configurations......Page 270 Care, Service, and Troubleshooting......Page 272 Paper Jams......Page 273 Print Quality......Page 274 EXERCISE 6-2 Adding Paper to an Upright Friction-Feed Printer......Page 278 Preventive Maintenance......Page 281 CERTIFICATION SUMMARY......Page 282 TWO- MINUTE DRILL......Page 283 SELF TEST......Page 284 LAB QUESTION......Page 287 SELF TEST ANSWERS......Page 288 LAB ANSWER......Page 293 7 Basic Networking......Page 295 Local Area Network......Page 296 Topologies......Page 298 Protocols......Page 301 Cabling......Page 303 Network Access......Page 306 Ways to Network PCs......Page 307 EXERCISE 7-1 Configuring Windows 98 Computers for a Direct Connection......Page 310 Installing and Configuring Network Cards......Page 315 EXERCISE 7-2 Configuring an Ethernet Card for TCP/IP......Page 316 Loss of Network Connectivity......Page 317 Network Slowdown......Page 318 CERTIFICATION SUMMARY......Page 319 TWO- MINUTE DRILL......Page 321 SELF TEST......Page 323 LAB QUESTION......Page 327 SELF TEST ANSWERS......Page 328 LAB ANSWER......Page 333 Part II A+ Operating Systems Technologies......Page 335 8 Operating System Fundamentals......Page 337 A Brief History of Windows......Page 338 Major Operating System Components......Page 339 Common Windows Components......Page 340 Contrasts Between Windows 9x, Windows NT, 2000,and Windows XP......Page 346 Major Operating Systems Interfaces......Page 348 Navigating Through Windows......Page 349 System Files......Page 355 Windows 9x Specific Files......Page 356 Windows NT- Based Specific Files......Page 362 Command- Line Functions and Utilities......Page 363 Disk Management......Page 370 Disk Partitions......Page 371 File Systems......Page 372 Drive Converter......Page 375 Creating Folders and Files......Page 376 EXERCISE 8-4 Creating a Folder in Windows 9x in Windows Explorer......Page 377 File Attributes......Page 378 File- Naming Conventions......Page 379 EXERCISE 8-5 Compressing a Folder in Windows 2000 and XP......Page 381 Disk Management Tools......Page 382 EXERCISE 8-6 Using the Windows XP Backup Utility......Page 383 System Management Tools......Page 386 File Management Tools......Page 390 CERTIFICATION SUMMARY......Page 392 TWO- MINUTE DRILL......Page 393 SELF TEST......Page 395 LAB QUESTION......Page 399 SELF TEST ANSWERS......Page 400 LAB ANSWER......Page 405 9 Installation, Configuration, and Upgrade......Page 407 Installing Windows......Page 408 Windows 9x......Page 409 EXERCISE 9-1 Using FDISK to Create Hard Drive Partitions......Page 410 Windows NT, 2000, and XP......Page 415 EXERCISE 9-2 Partitioning and Formatting the Hard Drive During the Windows 2000 Installation......Page 416 Windows XP......Page 418 Upgrading Windows......Page 428 EXERCISE 9-3 Upgrading from Windows 95 to Windows 98......Page 429 Upgrading from Windows XP Home Edition to Windows XP Professional......Page 430 Dual- Booting Windows......Page 431 EXERCISE 9-4 Creating a Dual-Boot Configuration with Windows 9x and Windows 2000......Page 432 Windows 9x......Page 433 EXERCISE 9-5 Creating a Windows 9x Startup Disk......Page 439 Windows 2000/ XP......Page 440 Installing and Configuring Device Drivers and Applications......Page 447 Loading and Adding Device Drivers......Page 448 EXERCISE 9-6 Using the Add New Hardware Utility in Windows 98 to Install Plug-and-Play Drivers......Page 449 EXERCISE 9-7 Using the Add New Hardware Utility in Windows 98 to Install Third-Party Drivers......Page 451 Installing and Launching Applications......Page 452 The Windows Printing Subsystem......Page 455 EXERCISE 9-8 Installing a Windows Printer......Page 456 CERTIFICATION SUMMARY......Page 459 TWO- MINUTE DRILL......Page 460 SELF TEST......Page 462 LAB QUESTION......Page 466 SELF TEST ANSWERS......Page 468 LAB ANSWER......Page 474 10 Diagnosing and Troubleshooting......Page 477 Invalid Boot Disk......Page 478 CONFIG. SYS Errors......Page 479 HIMEM. SYS Not Loaded......Page 480 Missing or Corrupt HIMEM. SYS......Page 481 A Device Referenced in SYSTEM. INI or Registry Could Not Be Found......Page 482 Failure to Start GUI......Page 483 User- Modified Settings Causing Improper Operation......Page 484 Registry Corruption......Page 485 Corrupted Swap File......Page 486 Diagnosing Problems......Page 487 EXERCISE 10-2 Using Dr. Watson to Log System Details......Page 493 Common Runtime Problems......Page 499 EXERCISE 10-3 Changing an Application’s Working Directory......Page 502 EXERCISE 10-4 Using the Windows 98 Task Manager to Close an Unresponsive Application......Page 503 Windows- Specific Printing Problems......Page 508 Viruses and Virus Types......Page 510 CERTIFICATION SUMMARY......Page 514 TWO- MINUTE DRILL......Page 515 SELF TEST......Page 517 LAB QUESTION......Page 521 SELF TEST ANSWERS......Page 523 LAB ANSWER......Page 528 11 Networks......Page 531 Networking with Windows......Page 532 EXERCISE 11-1 Setting Up Network Neighborhood......Page 533 EXERCISE 11-2 Enabling Resource Sharing in Windows 9x......Page 534 EXERCISE 11-3 Sharing a Drive in Windows XP......Page 535 EXERCISE 11-4 Mapping a Network Drive in Windows 9x......Page 538 Sharing Print and File Services......Page 539 TCP/ IP......Page 540 EXERCISE 11-5 Configuring a Windows 9x Computer to Use DHCP......Page 542 NetBEUI/ NetBIOS......Page 543 WINIPCFG. EXE......Page 544 Ping......Page 545 NSLookup......Page 547 Internet Service Providers......Page 548 Internet Names and Addresses......Page 549 E- Mail......Page 552 The World Wide Web......Page 553 HyperText Transfer Protocol......Page 555 Telnet......Page 556 File Transfer Protocol......Page 557 CERTIFICATION SUMMARY......Page 558 TWO- MINUTE DRILL......Page 559 SELF TEST......Page 561 LAB QUESTION......Page 565 SELF TEST ANSWERS......Page 566 LAB ANSWER......Page 571 Appendix About the CD......Page 573 ExamSim......Page 574 E- Book......Page 575 Upgrading......Page 576 Glossary......Page 577 INDEX......Page 605