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Select a certification exam provider and schedule a time to take your exam You can find exam providers at the following link: www.comptia.org/certifications/testprep/testingcenters.aspx Stay Certified! Continuing education is required Effective January 1, 2011, CompTIA A+ certifications are valid for three years from the date of certification There are a number of ways the certification can be renewed For more information go to: http://certification.comptia.org/getCertified/steps_to_certification/stayCertified.aspx Join the Professional Community The free online IT Pro Community provides valuable content to students and professionals Join the IT Pro Community: http://itpro.comptia.org/ Career IT job resources include: • Where to start in IT • Career assessments • Salary trends • U.S job board Join the IT Pro Community and get access to: • Forums on networking, security, computing, and cutting-edge technologies • Access to blogs written by industry experts • Current information on cutting-edge technologies • Access to various industry resource links and articles related to IT and IT careers Content Seal of Quality This courseware bears the seal of CompTIA Approved Quality Content This seal signifies this content covers 100 percent of the exam objectives and implements important instructional design principles CompTIA recommends multiple learning tools to help increase coverage of the learning objectives Why CompTIA? • Global recognition—CompTIA is recognized globally as the leading IT nonprofit trade association and has enormous credibility Plus, CompTIA’s certifications are vendor-neutral and offer proof of foundational knowledge that translates across technologies • Valued by hiring managers—Hiring managers value CompTIA certification because it is vendor- and technology-independent validation of your technical skills • Recommended or required by government and businesses—Many government organizations and corporations (for example, Dell, Sharp, Ricoh, the U.S Department of Defense, and many more) either recommend or require technical staff to be CompTIA certified • Three CompTIA certifications ranked in the top 10—In a study by DICE of 17,000 technology professionals, certifications helped command higher salaries at all experience levels How to Obtain More Information • Visit CompTIA online Go to http://www.comptia.org/ to learn more about getting CompTIA certified • Contact CompTIA Please call 866-835-8020, ext or e-mail questions@ comptia.org • Join the IT Pro Community Go to http://itpro.comptia.org/ to join the IT community to get relevant career information • Connect with CompTIA Find us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube CAQC Disclaimer The logo of the CompTIA Approved Quality Curriculum (CAQC) program and the status of this or other training material as “Approved” under the CompTIA Approved Quality Curriculum program signifies that, in CompTIA’s opinion, such training material covers the content of CompTIA’s related certification exam The contents of this training material were created for the CompTIA A+ exams covering CompTIA certification objectives that were current as of the date of publication CompTIA has not reviewed or approved the accuracy of the contents of this training material and specifically disclaims any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose CompTIA makes no guarantee concerning the success of persons using any such “Approved” or other training material in order to prepare for any CompTIA certification exam ABOUT THE AUTHOR Mike Meyers, lovingly called the “AlphaGeek” by those who know him, is the industry’s leading authority on CompTIA A+ certification He is the president and co-founder of Total Seminars, LLC, a provider of PC and network repair seminars, books, videos, and courseware for thousands of organizations throughout the world Mike has been involved in the computer and network repair industry since 1977 as a technician, instructor, author, consultant, and speaker Author of numerous popular PC books and videos, including the best-selling CompTIA A+ Certification All-in-One Exam Guide, Mike is also the series editor for the highly successful Mike Meyers’ Certification Passport series, the Mike Meyers’ Computer Skills series, and the Mike Meyers’ Guide to series, all published by McGraw-Hill As well as writing, Mike has personally taught (and continues to teach) thousands of students, including U.S senators, U.S Supreme Court justices, the United Nations, every branch of the U.S Armed Forces, most branches of the Department of Justice, hundreds of corporate clients, academic students at every level, prisoners, and pensioners E-mail: michaelm@totalsem.com Facebook: Mike Meyers (Houston, TX) Twitter/Skype/most instant messaging clients: desweds Web forums: www.totalsem.com/forums About the Editor-in-Chief Scott Jernigan wields a mighty red pen as Editor in Chief for Total Seminars With a Master of Arts degree in Medieval History, Scott feels as much at home in the musty archives of London as he does in the warm CRT glow of Total Seminars’ Houston headquarters After fleeing a purely academic life, he dove headfirst into IT, working as an instructor, editor, and writer Scott has written, edited, and contributed to dozens of books on computer literacy, hardware, operating systems, networking, and certification, including Computer Literacy—Your Ticket to IC3 Certification, and co-authoring with Mike Meyers the All-in-One CompTIA Strata® IT Fundamentals Exam Guide Scott has taught computer classes all over the United States, including stints at the United Nations in New York and the FBI Academy in Quantico Practicing what he preaches, Scott is a CompTIA A+ and CompTIA Network+ certified technician, a Microsoft Certified Professional, a Microsoft Office User Specialist, and Certiport Internet and Computing Core Certified About the Technical Editor Chris Crayton (CompTIA A+, CompTIA Network+, MCSE) is an author, editor, technical consultant, and trainer Mr Crayton has worked as a computer and networking instructor at Keiser University, as network administrator for Protocol, an eCRM company, and as a computer and network specialist at Eastman Kodak Mr Crayton has authored several print and online books on PC Repair, CompTIA A+, CompTIA Security+, and Microsoft Windows Mr Crayton has served as technical editor on numerous professional technical titles for leading publishing companies, including the CompTIA A+ All-in-One Exam Guide, the CompTIA A+ Certification Study Guide, and the Mike Meyers’ CompTIA A+ Certification Passport hardware-assisted, 298–299 hypervisors and, 1380–1381 overview of, 1377 review Q&A, 1396–1399 running multiple operating systems simultaneously, 218–219 virtual machine managers, 1394–1396 VMware example, 1382–1388 what it is, 1377–1379 virtualization workstations, 1408 virus shields, 1352 viruses anti-virus programs, 1352 malware prevention tips, 1355 malware recovery tips, 1356–1359 types of, 1353 types of malware, 1349 VIS (viewable image size), displays, 941 Vista Codec Package, 1184 visual effects, Performance Options, 751 VMMs (virtual machine managers) See also hypervisors function of, 1377 managing virtual desktops with, 1393 overview of, 1380 types of, 1394–1395 VMware Workstation as, 1392 VMs (virtual machines) See also virtualization BIOS support for, 298–299 installing/configuring with VMware Workstation, 1384–1388 overview of, 1377 snapshots, 1389–1390 Windows XP mode as, 868–869, 1377 VMTools, 1394 VMware ESX and, 1392–1393 virtualization example, 1382–1388 vSphere Client, 1393 VMware Workstation configuring virtual hardware with, 1380 installing/configuring virtual machine, 1384–1388 obtaining trial copy, 1383 overview of, 1394 running Ubuntu Linux on, 1377–1378 saving virtual machine snapshot, 1389–1390 system setup utility, 1381 voice coil, technologies for platter-based drives, 408–409 voice recognition, in PCs, 905 VoIP (Voice over IP), 1127–1129 volt-ohm meter (VOM), for testing AC power, 371 voltage autoswitching (115/230V) in portable computers, 1225 danger of high voltage in CRT monitors, 922 in Second Life example of computing process, 1438 understanding electricity, 368 volts (V), 368 Volume Shadow Copy Service (VSS), 871–872 volume, troubleshooting sound, 1174 volumes creating with Disk Management utility, 491–494 defined, 462 dynamic disks and, 467 fsutil command for working with, 841 mirrored, 501 overview of, 463 simple, 496 spanned, 496–499 striped, 500 VOM (volt-ohm meter), for testing AC power, 371 VPNs (Virtual Private Networks) overview of, 1132–1133 PPTP (Point-to-Point Tunneling Protocol), 1134–1135 VRR (vertical refresh rate), in CRT monitors, 924–925 vSphere Client, VMware, 1393 VSS (Volume Shadow Copy Service), 871–872 W W (wattage) See wattage (W) Wacom pen tablet, 911 wait states, pipeline stalls and, 221 Wake-on-LAN APM/ACPI settings, 1218 for remotely starting PCs, 1037–1038 WANs (wide area networks) LANs (local area networks) in, 1021 overview of, 173 troubleshooting Internet connectivity, 1139–1140 WAPs (wireless access points) 802.11x and, 1066–1068 ad hoc mode and, 1060–1061 configuring ad hoc mode wireless networks, 1071 configuring infrastructure mode wireless networks, 1072–1077 connecting to Internet over, 1105 dual band, 1077 infrastructure mode and, 1061 locating, 1078–1080 placement and radio power levels of, 1064 in portable computers, 1205 power sources for, 1058 speed and range issues, 1065 wireless security and, 1372 waterproof cases, for mobile devices, 1270 wattage (W) heat build up due to, 232 power supplies and, 388–390 understanding electricity, 368 WAV sound format, 1151–1152 wave table synthesis, MIDI technique, 1152–1153 wavelet compression, in MPEG-4, 548 WCS (Windows Color System) (Vista/7), 1305 WDS (Windows Deployment Services), 574, 611 web-based e-mail, 1123 Web browsers configuring, 1120–1121 configuring Internet Explorer, 1117–1120 HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol) and, 1114 role in networking, 158 secure connections and, 1370 Web servers overview of, 1116–1117 role in networking, 158 secure connections and, 1370 webcams (web cameras), 916–918 Welcome screen, Windows OSs, 94–96 WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy) configuring wireless networks, 1075–1076 securing wireless networks, 1063 Wi-Fi See wireless networking Wi-Fi adapters, network printers and, 1292 Wi-Fi Protected Access See WPA (Wi-Fi Protected Access) Wi-Fi Protected Access See WPA2 (Wi-Fi Protected Access 2) Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS), 1064 wide area networks See WANs (wide area networks) wide-screen monitors, 927 Wikipedia, researching on, 215 wildcard characters, in working from command-line, 798–799 WiMax (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access) cellular network, 1107 Window Color and Appearance (Vista/7), 967–968 Windows Compatibility Center, 342–343, 570–571 Windows 8, 151–152 Windows Automatic Updates See Automatic Updates Windows Catalog, 570 Windows Certification Program, 347–349 Windows Color and Appearance options (Windows 7), 967 Windows Color System (WCS) (Vista/7), 1289, 1305 Windows Complete PC Restore utility (Vista), 830–832 Windows Defender for catching spyware, 1347 recommended anti-malware programs, 1353 Windows Deployment Services (WDS), 574, 611 Windows DVD Maker, 556 Windows Easy Transfer (Vista/7) migration with, 574 overview of, 621–622 as upgrade to Files and Settings Transfer Wizard, 135 Windows Embedded, 152–153 Windows Error Reporting, 859 Windows Experience Index, in Performance Information and Tools applet, 862 Windows Explorer burning CDs, 542–543 burning DVDs, 556 overview of, 104–110 Windows libraries added to, 112–113 Windows Firewall, 1362–1363 Windows for Workgroups, 77 Windows Home Server, 1413 Windows Live Mail, 1121–1122, 1124 Windows Live Messenger, 1143–1144 Windows Logo Key-L, for locking computer, 1330 Windows Logo’d Product List checking hardware compatibility, 342 verifying hardware and software compatibility, 570 Windows Media Audio (WMA), 1154 Windows Media Center playback software for home theatre PC, 1421–1422 TV tuner software, 1186 Windows Media Player burning files to CD, 542–543 playing DVDs and Blu-ray media, 556 playing sounds, 1154 sharing media files, 1413 troubleshooting missing codecs, 1184–1185 Windows Media Video (WMV), 1180 Windows Memory Diagnostic (Tool) (Vista/7) options with, 836 for testing memory, 832–835 Windows OSs 64-bit versions, 88–91 Action Center (Windows 7), 149–151 Activate Windows utility, 132–133 Administrative Tools, 143–144 backing up See back ups Character Map, 133–134 command-line options, 139–140 CompTIA A+ exams focusing on, Computer Management applet, 144 Control Panel options, 124–126 desktop options, 96–102 Device Manager, 126–131 Disk Cleanup tool, 134 Disk Defragmenter tool, 134 early versions of, 77–80 embedded applications, 152–153 Event Viewer, 145 file systems See file systems Files and Settings Transfer Wizard (XP), 134–135 history of, 75–77 hot keys, 116–117 how to determine version of, 86 installing/upgrading See installing/upgrading Windows libraries (Windows 7), 112–114 logon options, 94–96 maintaining See maintenance, of Windows OSs MMC (Microsoft Management Console), 140–143 modern versions of, 80 My Documents (XP), 110–111 My Network Places (XP)/ Network (Vista/7), 115 optimizing See optimization, of Windows OSs Performance console (XP), 145–147 program and document folders, 118–121 Recycle Bin, 114 Reliability and Performance Monitor (Vista) and Performance Monitor (Windows 7), 147–148 Resource Monitor (Windows 7), 138–139 review Q&A, 153–155 right-click options, 122–124 Scheduled Tasks (XP), 136 securing See security Security Center (XP), 136 services, 148–149 software compatibility in 64-bit versions, 91–94 system folder, 117–118 System Information utility, 137 System Restore utility, 137–138 System Tools, 131–132 taskbar and start menus, 102–104 troubleshooting See Troubleshooting Windows user interface, 94 User’s Files (Vista/7), 112 utilities, 121 Windows 7, 86–88 Windows launch time, 151–152 Windows Easy Transfer (Vista/7), 135 Windows Explorer, 104–110 Windows Sidebar tool, 115–116 Windows Vista, 84–86 Windows XP, 80–84 Windows OSs, under the hood accessing Registry, 630 Applications tab of Task Manager, 643–645 boot process (Vista/7), 641–642 boot process (XP), 636–641 Component Services, 665–667 Data Sources (ODBC), 667–668 editing Registry manually, 634–635 editing Registry using command-line options, 636 editing Registry with regedit, 633–634 Networking and Users tabs of Task Manager, 655 overview of, 629 Performance console (XP), 656–660 Performance Monitor (Windows 7), 660–665 Performance tab of Task Manager, 654–655 Processes tab of Task Manager, 645–651 Reliability and Performance Monitor (Vista), 660–665 review Q&A, 668–670 root keys in Registry, 630–633 Services tab of Task Manager, 652–653 Task Manager, 643 tasklist and taskkill utilities, 655–656 Windows Phone, 1258 Windows Preinstallation Environment (WinPE) (Vista/7), 824 Windows Recovery Environment (Vista/7) See WinRE (Windows Recovery Environment) (Vista/7) Windows Remote Assistance, 1130 Windows Server 2008, 463, 574 Windows Sidebar tool (Vista), 115–116 Windows Stop error, 239 Windows Update driver signing and, 746 getting printer drivers, 1300 updates and services packs in, 722 updating drivers, 745–746 in Vista/7, 724–727 in XP, 723–724 Windows Virtual PC, 1377, 1383, 1394 Windows XP mode, 868–869, 1377 WinPE (Windows Preinstallation Environment) (Vista/7), 824 WinRE (Windows Recovery Environment) (Vista/7) command prompt option in WinRE, 836–841 options in, 826 overview of, 824–826 reading boot log, 847 Startup Repair utility, 826–829 System Restore utility, 830 Windows Complete PC Restore utility (Vista) and System Image utility (Windows 7), 830–832 Windows Memory Diagnostic (Tool), 832–836 Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) configuring wireless networks, 1075–1076 securing wireless networks, 1063 wireless access points (WAPs) See WAPs (wireless access points) wireless networking access point placement and radio power levels, 1064 ad hoc mode, 1060–1061 Bluetooth, 1070–1071 cellular, 1071 components, 1055–1059 configuring, 1071 configuring Bluetooth networks, 1080–1081 configuring cellular networks, 1081–1083 configuring for mobile devices, 1263–1265 configuring in ad hoc mode, 1071–1072 configuring in infrastructure mode, 1072–1078 IEEE 802.11 standard for, 1066–1068 infrastructure mode, 1061–1062 IrDA (Infrared Data Association), 1069 locating access points and antenna, 1078–1080 overview of, 1055 in portable computers, 1205 review Q&A, 1086–1088 security, 1062–1064, 1372 software, 1059–1060 speed and range issues, 1065 standards, 1066 troubleshooting, 1083–1086 troubleshooting portable computers, 1240 Wireless Zero Configuration (Zeroconf) (XP), 1085 wiring closet, for LAN, 1104 WLAN AutoConfig (Vista/7), 1085 WMA (Windows Media Audio), 1154 WMV (Windows Media Video), 1180 Wolfenstein 3D, 976–977 work areas, for cabling, 1012–1014 workgroups, for network organization, 178–180 workstation PCs digital audio workstations, 1410–1411 graphics workstations, 1409–1410 media workstations, 1408–1409 overview of, 1407 thin clients, 1407–1408 video workstations, 1412 virtualization workstations, 1408 World of Warcraft, 1143 world wide web (WWW), 1116–1117 Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMax) cellular network, 1107 worms, 1349 WPA (Wi-Fi Protected Access) configuring networking for mobile devices, 1263 configuring wireless networks and, 1075 securing wireless networks, 1063 WPA2 (Wi-Fi Protected Access 2) configuring networking for mobile devices, 1263 configuring wireless networks and, 1073, 1075 securing wireless networks, 1063 WPS (Wi-Fi Protected Setup), 1064 wrappers, video, 1179-1181 WWW (world wide web), 1116-1117 X x64 architecture, 91, 218 x86 architecture, 91, 118, 218 XBMC software, for playback in home theatre PC, 1421-1422 Xbox 360, gamepads for, 908 xcopy command, copying/moving in multiple directories, 803 xD (Extreme Digital) Picture Cards, 534–535 XMP (extended memory profile), 258 XPS (XML Paper Specification), 1289 Y Yahoo! for web-based e-mail, 1123 YouTube, 159 z ZB (zettabytes), 480 zero-fill operation, 623 Zeroconf (Wireless Zero Configuration) (XP), 1085 ZIF (zero insertion force) sockets, 232 ZIP file tool, 1450 zoom, optical and digital, 914–915 ... knowledge and skills necessary for a career in PC repair and support • Starting Salary—CompTIA A+ Certified individuals can earn as much as $65,000 per year • Career Pathway—CompTIA A+ is a building... ATA-2 ATA-3 ATA-4 INT13 Extensions ATA-5 ATA-6 ATA-7 SCSI: Still Around SCSI Chains SCSI IDs Termination Protecting Data with RAID RAID Implementing RAID Hardware Versus Software Personal RAID... CompTIA’s certifications are vendor-neutral and offer proof of foundational knowledge that translates across technologies • Valued by hiring managers—Hiring managers value CompTIA certification