Complete A+ Guide to IT Hardware and Software: A CompTIA A+ Core 1 (220-1001) & CompTIA A+ Core 2 (220-1002) Textbook, 8th Edition

Description

Master IT hardware and software installation, configuration, repair, maintenance, and troubleshooting and fully prepare for the CompTIA® A+ Core 1 (220-1001) and Core 2 (220-1002) exams.
This is your all-in-one, real-world, full-color guide to connecting, managing, and troubleshooting modern devices and systems in authentic IT scenarios. Its thorough instruction built on the CompTIA A+ Core 1 (220-1001) and Core 2 (220-1002) exam objectives includes coverage of Windows 10, Mac, Linux, Chrome OS, Android, iOS, cloud-based software, mobile and IoT devices, security, Active Directory, scripting, and other modern techniques and best practices for IT management.
Award-winning instructor Cheryl Schmidt also addresses widely-used legacy technologiesmaking this the definitive resource for mastering the tools and technologies you'll encounter in real IT and business environments. Schmidt's emphasis on both technical and soft skills will help you rapidly become a well-qualified, professional, and customer-friendly technician.
LEARN MORE QUICKLY AND THOROUGHLY WITH THESE STUDY AND REVIEW TOOLS:

• Learning Objectives and chapter opening lists of CompTIA A+ Certification Exam Objectives make sure you know exactly what you'll be learning, and you cover all you need to know
• Hundreds of photos, figures, and tables present information in a visually compelling full-color design
• Practical Tech Tips provide real-world IT tech support knowledge
• Soft Skills best-practice advice and team-building activities in every chapter cover key tools and skills for becoming a professional, customer-friendly technician
• Review Questionsincluding true/false, multiple choice, matching, fill-in-the-blank, and open-ended questionscarefully assess your knowledge of each learning objective
• Thought-provoking activities help students apply and reinforce chapter content, and allow instructors to flip the classroom if they choose
• Key Terms identify exam words and phrases associated with each topic
• Detailed Glossary clearly defines every key term
• Dozens of Critical Thinking Activities take you beyond the facts to deeper understanding
• Chapter Summaries recap key concepts for more efficient studying
• Certification Exam Tips provide insight into the certification exam and preparation process

This book features chapter-ending exercises graded by courseinstructors. Answers are unavailable for independent study.

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Download the companion file: Appendix B: Objectives (639 KB .xlsx)

Sample Content

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Table of Contents

    Introduction................................... xxiv
    Features of this Book........................ xxvi
Chapter 1: Introduction to the World of IT.............................. 1
    Who Needs This Book?....................................................2
    Technician Qualities...2
    Breaking into IT with the CompTIA A+ Certification....5
    Basic Skills for This Course.............................................6
    Types of Computers....9
    Basic Computer Hardware...............................................9
    Mice and Keyboards.16
    Common Peripherals18
    1s and 0s...................21
    Safety Notes.............25
    Chapter Summary.....25
    Key Terms.................26
    Review Questions.....27
    Exercises...................29
    Activities...................30
Chapter 2: Connectivity......................33
    Introduction to Connectivity..........................................34
    External Connectivity.....................................................34
    Mouse and Keyboard Ports............................................34
    Video Ports...............35
    Audio Ports...............50
    eSATA Ports.............51
    Network Ports...........51
    Modem and Serial Ports.................................................52
    Network Cabling......54
    Integrated Motherboard Ports.........................................57
    Getting to Know Ports....................................................58
    Wireless Connectivity for Input Devices.......................59
    Chapter Summary.....61
    Key Terms.................62
    Review Questions.....64
    Exercises...................65
    Activities...................67
Chapter 3: On the Motherboard...........71
    Introduction to the Motherboard....................................72
    Processor Overview..72
    Processor Basics.......73
    Speeding Up Processor Operations Overview...............76
    Cache........................77
    Clocking...................78
    Threading Technology....................................................79
    Connecting to the Processor...........................................79
    Multicore Processors80
    Graphics Processing Unit (GPU)...................................82
    Introduction to Virtualization.........................................82
    Intel Processors.........83
    AMD Processors.......84
    CPU Sockets.............85
    Processor Cooling.....86
    Installing a Processor.....................................................88
    Upgrading Processors.....................................................90
    Overclocking Processors................................................90
    Installing CPU Thermal Solutions.................................91
    Troubleshooting Processor Issues..................................92
    Expansion Slots........93
    PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect).....................94
    AGP (Accelerated Graphics Port)..................................95
    PCIe (Peripheral Component Interconnect Express).....96
    Chipsets..................100
    Types of Motherboards.................................................101
    Upgrading and Replacing Motherboards.....................102
    Motherboard Troubleshooting......................................103
    Chapter Summary...106
    Key Terms...............108
    Review Questions...109
    Exercises.................111
    Activities.................113
Chapter 4: Introduction to Configuration............................ 115
    Configuration Overview...............................................116
    BIOS Overview......116
    The Setup Program.117
    Flash BIOS.............118
    BIOS/UEFI Configuration Settings..............................119
    CMOS Memory......123
    Motherboard Battery....................................................123
    Firmware Updates: Flashing the BIOS/UEFI..............124
    Clearing CMOS......125
    Other Configuration Parameters...................................126
    Hardware Configuration Overview..............................132
    Installing a USB Device...............................................134
    Installing an eSATA Card.............................................138
    Installing a Network Interface Card.............................139
    Video Overview......140
    Video Cards............140
    Troubleshooting Configurations...................................148
    Chapter Summary...151
    Key Terms...............152
    Review Questions...153
    Exercises.................155
    Activities.................159
Chapter 5: Disassembly and Power..... 161
    Disassembly Overview.................................................162
    Electrostatic Discharge (ESD)......................................162
    Electromagnetic Interference (EMI)............................165
    Tools.......................165
    Disassembly............167
    Reassembly.............176
    Preventive Maintenance................................................177
    Basic Electronics Overview.........................................180
    Power Supply Overview...............................................184
    Replacing or Upgrading a Power Supply.....................193
    Power Protection....197
    Symptoms of Power Supply Problems.........................197
    Chapter Summary...202
    Key Terms...............204
    Review Questions...205
    Exercises.................208
    Activities.................209
Chapter 6: Memory.......................... 211
    Memory Overview..212
    Memory Physical Packaging........................................213
    Planning a Memory Installation...................................214
    Installing Memory Overview.......................................226
    Adding More Cache/RAM...........................................228
    Windows Disk Caching................................................229
    Monitoring Memory Usage in Windows......................231
    Older Applications in Windows...................................233
    Troubleshooting Memory Problems.............................234
    Flash Memory.........235
    Chapter Summary...238
    Key Terms...............239
    Review Questions...240
    Exercises.................242
    Activities.................249
Chapter 7: Storage Devices................ 251
    Storage Devices Overview...........................................252
    Hard Drive Overview...................................................253
    Solid State Drive (SSD) Overview...............................256
    Hard Drive Interfaces Overview...................................258
    M.2 and NVMe......260
    PATA, SATA, and SAS Connectivity...........................261
    Storage Device Configuration Overview.....................265
    System BIOS/UEFI Configuration for Hard Drives....271
    Hard Drive Preparation Overview................................272
    Windows Disk Management........................................280
    Fault Tolerance.......282
    Removable Drive Storage.............................................285
    Windows Storage Spaces..............................................286
    Disk Caching/Virtual Memory.....................................287
    Troubleshooting Storage Devices Overview................290
    Troubleshooting New Storage Device Installation......293
    Troubleshooting Previously Installed Storage Devices294
    RAID Issues...........298
    SSD Issues..............299
    Chapter Summary...301
    Key Terms...............303
    Review Questions...305
    Exercises.................307
    Activities.................310
Chapter 8: Multimedia Devices.......... 313
    Multimedia Devices Overview.....................................314
    Optical Drive Overview................................................314
    Optical Drive Installation.............................................319
    Troubleshooting Optical Drive Issues..........................321
    Introduction to Audio...................................................324
    Installing Sound Cards.................................................328
    Sound Cards Using Windows.......................................328
    Speakers..................330
    Troubleshooting Sound Problems ...............................333
    Scanners..................335
    KVMs.....................339
    Projectors................340
    Video Recording.....342
    Installing and Configuring Other Peripheral Devices..345
    Chapter Summary...351
    Key Terms...............352
    Review Questions...353
    Exercises.................355
    Activities.................357
Chapter 9: Printers........................... 359
    Printers Overview...360
    Printer Ports............360
    Categories of Printers...................................................361
    Impact Printers.......361
    Inkjet Printers.........363
    Laser Printers..........366
    Thermal Printers.....371
    3D Printers..............372
    Paper.......................375
    Virtual Printing.......377
    Refilling Cartridges, Re-inking Ribbons, and Recycling Cartridges...........379
    Upgrading Printers.380
    Printer Maintenance.....................................................380
    USB Printer Installation...............................................386
    Installing a Local Printer..............................................388
    Printers in the Windows Environment..........................388
    Printers in the macOS Environment.............................393
    Printing Device Sharing...............................................395
    Cloud Printing........399
    General Printer Troubleshooting..................................402
    USB-Attached Printer Troubleshooting.......................405
    Windows Printer Troubleshooting................................405
    Impact Printer Troubleshooting....................................407
    Inkjet Printer Troubleshooting.....................................408
    Laser Printer Troubleshooting......................................408
    Chapter Summary...411
    Key Terms...............412
    Review Questions...413
    Exercises.................415
    Activities.................416
Chapter 10: Mobile Devices............... 419
    Mobile Device Overview..............................................420
    Using Mobile Devices..................................................431
    Cell Phones.............435
    Mobile Apps...........439
    Mobile Device Wired Connectivity..............................443
    Mobile Device Wireless Connectivity..........................444
    Mobile Device Email Configuration............................453
    Mobile Device Synchronization and Backup...............455
    Other Mobile Software Tools.......................................463
    Laptops Overview...466
    Laptop Hardware....466
    Laptop Power..........471
    Laptop Repairs Overview.............................................475
    Laptop Display.......491
    Mobile Device Security................................................499
    Mobile Device Travel and Storage...............................504
    Mobile Device Troubleshooting Overview..................504
    Chapter Summary...517
    Key Terms...............519
    Review Questions...521
    Exercises.................523
    Activities.................525
Chapter 11: Computer Design and Troubleshooting Review... 527
    Design Overview....528
    Computer System Design.............................................528
    Motherboard and Associated Component Design........536
    Power Supply and Case Design...................................537
    Storage Subsystem Design...........................................539
    Audio Subsystem Design.............................................540
    Display Subsystem Design...........................................541
    Troubleshooting Overview...........................................542
    Step 1. Identify the Problem........................................543
    Step 2. Establish a Theory of Probable Cause (Question the Obvious)......544
    Step 3. Test the Theory to Determine the Cause..........551
    Step 4. Establish a Plan of Action to Resolve the Problem and Implement the Solutio........554
    Step 5. Verify Full System Functionality and, if Applicable, Implement Preventive Measures........................554
    Step 6. Document Findings, Actions, and Outcomes...554
    Sample Troubleshooting Flowcharts............................555
    Chapter Summary...560
    Key Terms...............563
    Review Questions...564
    Exercises.................565
    Activities.................570
Chapter 12: Internet Connectivity, Virtualization, and Cloud Technologies................. 573
    Internet Connectivity Overview...................................574
    Dial-up Overview...574
    Serial Communication Overview.................................575
    Configuring Traditional Serial Devices........................576
    56 kbps Modems....577
    Digital Modems and ISDN...........................................579
    VoIP........................579
    Cable Modems........581
    xDSL Modems.......584
    Satellite Modems....586
    Modem Preventive Maintenance..................................587
    Mobile Connectivity Overview....................................587
    Virtualization Basics.....................................................589
    Cloud Computing...593
    Web Browsers.........597
    Basic Web Browser Issues............................................608
    Chapter Summary...611
    Key Terms...............613
    Review Questions...614
    Exercises.................615
    Activities.................617
Chapter 13: Networking.................... 619
    Networking Overview..................................................620
    Attaching to Different Types of Networks...................620
    Network Topologies.....................................................625
    Network Media Overview............................................627
    Copper Media.........627
    Protecting Your Network and Cable Investment..........636
    Ethernet Concepts...640
    Ethernet over Power.....................................................641
    The OSI Model.......642
    The TCP/IP Model.644
    Network Addressing.....................................................646
    More IPv4 Addressing..................................................647
    Wireless Networks Overview.......................................650
    Wireless Network Standards........................................651
    Bluetooth................651
    Wireless Network Components....................................652
    Wireless Network Design.............................................654
    Antenna Basics.......660
    End-User Device Configuration Overview..................664
    Adding a Computer to a Windows Domain.................665
    Configuring an End-User Device: Addressing.............665
    Wireless NIC—Specific Settings...................................670
    Advanced NIC Properties.............................................671
    NIC Configuration When Using Virtualization............672
    Thin or Thick Client Installation Overview.................673
    Wireless AP/Router Basic Configuration.....................675
    WWAN Cellular Configuration....................................677
    IoT and Smart Devices.................................................677
    Network Troubleshooting.............................................684
    Troubleshooting Cable and DSL Modems...................691
    Network Printers.....691
    Network Printer Troubleshooting.................................692
    Network Servers.....692
    Embedded and Legacy Systems...................................694
    Network Terminology...................................................694
    The TCP/IP Model in Action.......................................695
    Using the Network and Sharing Center Section of the Control Panel.........698
    Introduction to Shared Folders.....................................702
    Network Connectivity..................................................706
    Chapter Summary...707
    Key Terms...............709
    Review Questions...711
    Exercises.................714
    Activities.................720
Chapter 14: Introduction to Operating Systems.................... 723
    Operating Systems Overview.......................................724
    User Interaction with Operating Systems....................724
    Overview of Popular Operating Systems.....................726
    32-bit vs. 64-bit Operating Systems.............................727
    Windows 7/8/8.1/10 Versions.......................................728
    Workstation Operating Systems...................................729
    Operating Systems for Mobile Devices.......................729
    End-of-Life Concerns...................................................730
    Update Concerns....730
    Compatibility Concerns................................................731
    Corporate Operating System Needs.............................731
    Basic Windows Usage Overview.................................733
    Shortcuts and Tiles.736
    Windows 7 Desktop Components................................737
    Windows Desktop/Start Screen Components...............740
    Windows 10 Desktop Components..............................741
    Interactions Within a Window......................................743
    Managing Windows Files and Folders.........................745
    Searches and Indexing..................................................751
    Attributes, Compression, and Encryption....................752
    Introduction to Windows Control Panel Utilities.........754
    Determining the Windows Version...............................757
    Windows Registry..758
    Editing the Windows Registry......................................759
    Backing Up Data....760
    Recovering the Windows OS........................................760
    WinRE....................761
    Chapter Summary...762
    Key Terms...............763
    Review Questions...764
    Exercises.................765
    Activities.................767
Chapter 15: Introduction to Scripting.. 769
    Scripting Overview.770
    Command Prompt Overview........................................771
    Command Prompt Basics.............................................771
    Moving Around from a Command Prompt..................773
    The md and rd Commands..........................................777
    Two Useful Commands: del and type.....................778
    Copying Files.........778
    The attrib Command...............................................779
    Why Learn Commands?...............................................780
    PowerShell..............780
    Other Commands You Should Look Over...................781
    Command Format...781
    Introduction to Scripting..............................................803
    Script File Types.....804
    Environment Variables..................................................805
    Script Syntax..........807
    Introduction to Script Programming............................807
    Variables.................808
    Data Types..............810
    Examples of Using Variables.......................................810
    Comments...............812
    Basic Script Constructs................................................813
    Decisions: The Selection Structure..............................813
    Compound Conditions and Logical Operators.............817
    Loops: The Repetition Structure..................................817
    A Brief Look at VBScript and PowerShell..................820
    Chapter Summary...823
    Key Terms...............824
    Review Questions...826
    Exercises.................827
    Activities.................828
Chapter 16: Advanced Windows......... 831
    Advanced Windows Overview.....................................832
    Preinstallation of Windows...........................................832
    Installation/Upgrade of Windows.................................841
    Corporate Windows Deployment.................................842
    Verifying the Installation..............................................843
    Troubleshooting a Windows Installation......................843
    Reloading Windows845
    Windows Updates...846
    Backing Up the Windows Registry and Data...............848
    Configuring Windows Overview..................................850
    Configuring Windows...................................................851
    Adding Devices......852
    Installing/Removing Software......................................857
    Computer Management Console..................................861
    System Tools...........862
    User Account Management..........................................866
    Managing Storage...874
    Managing Services and Applications...........................877
    Data Sources (ODBC)..................................................878
    Print Management Console..........................................879
    Overview of the Windows Boot Process......................880
    Speeding Up the Windows Boot Process.....................881
    Troubleshooting the Windows Boot Process................882
    Black Screen/Video Issues...........................................884
    Recovery Console...884
    Advanced Boot Options/Startup Settings Menu..........887
    System Configuration Utility.......................................889
    Task Manager.........892
    Troubleshooting a Service That Does Not Start..........895
    Slow Boot...............896
    Troubleshooting Windows Network Settings...............897
    Windows Reboots...898
    Shutdown Problems898
    Power Options........899
    Monitoring System Performance.................................900
    Supporting Windows Computers Remotely.................905
    Preventive Maintenance for Your Operating System...906
    Chapter Summary...908
    Key Terms...............909
    Review Questions...911
    Exercises.................912
    Activities.................914
Chapter 17: macOS and Linux Operating Systems................. 917
    Introduction to macOS.................................................918
    Navigating the User Interface.......................................919
    Basic System Usage, Updates, and Backups...............922
    Management and Troubleshooting Tools.....................927
    Utilities...................929
    Introduction to Linux...................................................938
    Navigating the User Interface.......................................940
    Basic System Usage, Updates, and Backups...............941
    Command-Line Interface.............................................944
    macOS and Linux Best Practices.................................952
    Chapter Summary...953
    Key Terms...............954
    Review Questions...955
    Exercises.................956
    Activities.................956
Chapter 18: Computer and Network Security....................... 959
    Security Overview..960
    Security Policy........960
    Physical Security....961
    Logical Security.....968
    End-User Education.....................................................972
    Protecting Access to Local and Network Resources....981
    Permissions.............988
    Folder Options........997
    Protecting the Operating System and Data..................997
    Internet Security...1003
    Parental Controls..1013
    NAT/PAT...............1014
    VPN Configuration.....................................................1014
    Remote Access to Network Devices..........................1015
    Internet Appliances.....................................................1016
    Wireless Network Security Overview........................1017
    Security Incident Reporting.......................................1025
    A Final Word About Security.....................................1027
    Chapter Summary.1029
    Key Terms.............1030
    Review Questions.1032
    Exercises...............1034
    Activities...............1036
Chapter 19: Operational Procedures..1039
    Operational Procedures Overview..............................1040
    Adverse Power Conditions.........................................1050
    Surge Protectors....1051
    Line Conditioners.1053
    Battery Backup.....1054
    IT Documentation.1060
    Change Management..................................................1064
    Chapter Summary.1077
    Key Terms.............1079
    Review Questions.1080
    Exercises...............1082
    Activities...............1083
Appendix A: Subnetting Basics..........1085
Appendix B: Certification Exam Objectives (Online)
Glossary.........................................1089
9780789760500, TOC, 5/30/2019

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