CompTIA A+ certified professionals are proven problem solvers. They support today’s core technologies from security to cloud to data management and more. CompTIA A+ is the industry standard for launching IT careers into today’s digital world.

​

Objectives

​

Upon completion of this program, participants should be able to :

​

• Identify the components of standard desktop personal computers

• Identify fundamental components and functions of personal computer operating systems

• Identify best practices followed by professional personal computer technicians

• Install and configure computer components

• Install and configure system components.

• Maintain and troubleshoot peripheral components

• Troubleshoot system components

• Install and configure operating systems

• Maintain and troubleshoot installations of Microsoft Windows

• Identify network technologies

• Install and manage network connections

• Support laptops and portable computing devices

• Support printers and scanners

• Identify personal computer security concepts

• Support personal computer security

​

​

Methodology

​

This program will be conducted with interactive lectures, PowerPoint presentation, discussion and practical exercise.

​

​

​

Modules

​

Identifying Personal Computer Components

​

• Identifying Components of Motherboards

• Types of System Boards

• System Board From Factors

• System Board Components

• Identifying Purposes and Characteristics of Processors

• Identifying Purposes and Characteristics of Memory

• DRAM

• SRAM

• ROM

• CMOS

• Memory Packaging

• Identifying Purposes and Characteristics of Storage Devices

• Hard Disk Drive Systems

• Floppy Drives

• CD-ROM Drives

• CD-R and CD-RW Drives

• DVD-ROM Drives

• DVD Burners

• Other Storage Media

• Advanced Digital Storage

• Identifying Purposes and Characteristic of Power Supplies

• Floppy Drive Power Connectors

• AT System Connectors

• Standard Peripheral Power Connector

• Modern Power Connectors

• Identifying Purposes and Characteristics of

• Display Concepts

• Video Technologies

• Monitors

• Liquid Crystal Displays ( LCDs)

• Identifying Input Devices

• Mouse

• Keyboard

• Bar-code Reader

• Multimedia Devices

• Biometric Devices

• Touch Screens

• Identifying Purposes and Characteristics of Adapter Cards

• Video Card

• Network Interface Card (NIC)

• Modem 

• Sound Card 

• I/O Card

• Identifying Characteristics of Ports and Cables 

• Peripheral Port Connector Types

• D-subminiature Connectors

• Other Types of Ports

• Common Peripheral Interfaces and Cables

• Identifying Purposes and Characteristics of Cooling Systems

• Fans

• Memory Cooling 

• Hard Drive Cooling

• Chipset Cooling

• CPU Cooling​

​

Effectively Working With Personal Computer Components

​

• Installing, Configuring, and Optimizing PC Components 

• Upgrading Storage Devices

• Upgrading Display Devices

• Upgrading Input/Multimedia Devices

• Identifying Tools and Diagnostics for PC Components

• Gathering Tools

• Basic Aspects of Troubleshooting

• Basic Diagnostic Procedures

• Recognizing and Isolating Issues 

• Applying Basic Troubleshooting Techniques 

• Performing Preventative Maintenance on Personal Computers

​

Understanding Laptops And Portable Devices

​

• Understanding Laptop Architecture

• Laptops vs. Desktops

• 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 Maintenance on Laptops

• Diagnosing Laptop Problems

• Performing Preventative Maintenance

​

Understanding Operating Systems

​​​

• Understanding Operating Systems

• Operating System Terms and Concepts

• Microsoft Windows

• Alternative Operating Systems

• Using Operating Systems

• The Windows Interface

• What's in a Window?

• Control Panel

• The Command Prompt

• The Registry

• Virtual Memory

• Windows System Files

• Disk Management

• File Management

​

​

Understanding Basics Of Installing,Configuring, Optimizing, And

Upgrading Operating Systems

​

• Installing Operating Systems

• Installation Prerequisites

• Preparing the Computer for Installation

• Windows XP Installation

• Post-Installation Routines

• Upgrading the Operating System

• Upgrade Prerequisites

• Upgrading to Windows 2000

• Upgrading to Windows XP

• Finalizing Your Upgrade

• Installing Device Drivers

• Rights and Security Issues

• Basic Procedure for Device Installation

• Windows Version-Specific Installation Items

• Optimizing Windows 2000 and Windows XP

• Managing Virtual Memory

• Defragmenting Disks

• Using Disk Caches

• Managing Temporary Files

​

​

Identifying Operating SystemTroubleshooting And Diagnostic Procedures

​

• Troubleshooting Steps 

• Step 1 : Talk to the Customer

• Step 2 : Gather Information 

• Step 3 : Eliminate Possibilities

• Step 4 : Evaluate Your Results 

• Step 5 : Document Your Work

• Understanding Boot Sequences 

• Listing the Important Flies 

• Identifying Important Files in Windows 2000/XP

• Understanding the Windows 2000/XP Boot Process

• Advanced Startup Options 

• Using the Recovery Console

• Creating Boot Disks or an Emergency Repair Disk 

• Identifying Windows

• Files Related Problems

• System Files Not Found

• Configuration File Issues

• Swap Files Issues

• Windows Boot Issues

• Troubleshooting Other Common Problems

• Understanding Windows Reporting

• Identifying Windows-Based Troubleshooting Utilities

• Disk Management Tools

• System Management Tools

• File Management Tools

• Identifying Diagnostic Resources

• User/installation Manuals

• Internet/Web Resources

• Training Materials 

• Performing Preventative Maintenance on Operating Systems

• Using Recommended Hardware

• Obtaining Current Drivers

• Installing Windows Properly

• Shutting Down Properly

• Updating Windows

• Scheduling Backups

• Creating Restore Points

• Guarding against Viruses

​

​

Understanding The Basics Of Printers And Scanners

​

• Understanding Printers and Scanner Fundamentals

• Impact Printers

• Bubble-Jet Printers

• Laser Printers

• Printer Interfaces and Supplies

• Scanners and Their Components

• Installing Configuring and Upgrading Printers and Scanners

• Printer and Scanner Installation Procedures

• Optimizing Printer and Scanner Performance

• Troubleshooting Printer and Scanners

• Dot-Matrix Printer Problems

• Bubble-Jet Printer Problems

• Laser and Page Printer Problems

• Scanner Troubleshooting

​

​

Networking Fundamentals

​

• Understanding Networking Principles

• Understanding Networking Fundamentals

• Identifying Common Network Media

• Understanding Networking Components

• Installing, Configuring, and Troubleshooting Networks

• Installing and Configuring Network Interface Cards

• Obtaining Wired and Wireless Internet Connections

• Troubleshooting Network Interface Cards

​

Understanding Network Security Fundamentals

​

• Understanding Security

• 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 Procedures 

• Data Migration

• Data Remnant Removal

• Password Management

• Locking Workstations

• Identifying Security Problems Areas

​

​

Identifying Safety And Environmental Issues

​

• Understanding Safety and Environmental Issues

• Identifying Potential Safety Hazards

• Identifying Environmental Concerns

• Using Safety Documentation

• Using Appropriate Repair Tools

• Handling Accidents

• Applying Proper Safety and Disposal Procedures

• Preventing Electrostatic Discharge (ESD)

• Working in a Safe Environment

• Handling Equipment

• Following Disposal Procedures

​

​

Understanding Professionalism And Communication

​

• Using Good Communication Skills

• Elicit Problem Symptoms from Customers

• Have the Customers Reproduce the Error

• Identify Recent Changes 

• Use the Collected Information 

• Using Appropriate Behavior

• Punctuality 

• Accountability

• Flexibility

• Confidentiality

• Respect

• Privacy

• Putting It All in Perspective

​

​

Working With Personal Computer Components

​

• Removing, Installing, and Configuring Components

• Selecting Components

• Motherboards, CPUs, Memory, and Adapter Cards

• Storage Devices

• Power Supplies

• Display Devices

• Input Devices

• Cooling Systems

• Using Tools and Diagnostic Procedures for Personal Computer Components

• Understanding Computer Resources

• Determining Available Resources

• Manually Specifying Resource Assignment

• Diagnostic Resources

• Performing Preventative Maintenance for Personal Computer Components

​

​

Working With Laptops And Portable Devices

​

• Using Laptops and Portable Devices

• Identifying Applications for Laptop-Specific Communication Connections

• Identifying Laptop-Specific Power Requirements

• Understanding LCD Technology

• Removing Devices and Video Sharing

• Removing Laptop-Specific Hardware

• Understanding Video Memory Sharing

• Troubleshooting Laptops

• Identifying Specific Safety Issues

• 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

• Recognizing and Resolving Common Operational Problems and Error Messages

• Using Windows Diagnostic Utilities

• Performing Preventative Maintenance

• Updating Windows

• Scheduling Backups

• Creating Restore Points

​

​

​

Installing, Configuring, Optimizing, And Upgrading Printers And Scanners​

​

• Understanding Printer and Scanner Processes

• Impact Printers

• Ink-Dispersion Printers

• Laser Printers

• Other Printers

• Scanner Processes

• Installing, Configuring, Optimizing, and Upgrading

• Printers and Scanners

• Printer and Scanner Installation Procedure

• Installing Printer Upgrades

• Optimizing Scanner Performance

• Using Printer and Scanner Troubleshooting Tools and Techniques

• Multi-meter

• Screwdrivers

• Cleaning Solutions

• Extension Magnets

• Test Patterns

• Performing Preventative Maintenance

• Performing Scheduled Maintenance

• Ensuring a Suitable Environment

• Using Recommended Supplies

​

​

Installing, Configuring, Optimizing, And Upgrading Network Systems

​

• Understanding Networking

• Identifying Network Protocols and Technologies

• Identifying Network Connectivity Technologies

• Working with Additional Network Components

• Working with Browsers

• Establishing Network Connectivity

• Sharing Network Resources

• Using Network Tools and Diagnostics

• Network Tools to Use

• Troubleshooting Network Issues

• Performing Preventative Network Maintenance

​

​

Installing, Configuring, Upgrading, And Optimizing Security Systems

​

• Understanding Security Baselines

• Hardening a System

• Hardening the OS and NOS

• Hardening File Systems

• Working with Access Control Lists

• Working with Group Policies

• Auditing and Logging

• Updating Your Operating System

• Hot fixes

• Service Packs

• Patches

• Revisiting Social Engineering

• Recognizing Common Attack

• Back Door Attacks

• Spoofing Attacks

• Man-in-the-Middle Attacks

• Replay Attacks

• Password-Guessing Attacks

• Denial of Service (DoS) and Distributed DoS (DDoS) Attacks

• TCP Attacks

• General Rules for the Exam