Absolute Beginners Guide to A+ Certification. Covers the Hardware and Operating Systems Exam

1.1

Identify the major desktop components and interfaces and their functions. Differentiate the characteristics of Windows 9x/Me, Windows NT 4.0 Workstation, Windows 2000 Professional, and Windows XP.

Contrasts between Windows 9x/Me, Windows NT 4.0 Workstation, Windows 2000 Professional, and Windows XP

618 “619

Major operating system components

Registry

614 “617, 621 “624

Virtual memory

671 “674

File system

489 “500

Major operating system interfaces

Windows Explorer

625 “630

My Computer

625

Control Panel

631 “634

Computer Management Console

647 “649

Accessories/System Tools

641 “646

Command line

663 “670, PDF:1009 “1032

Network Neighborhood/My Network Places

792, 801 “802, 804 “805, PDF:918 “922,

Taskbar/systray

634 “636

Start Menu

636 “640

Device Manager

703 “712

1.2

Identify the names , locations, purposes, and contents of major system files.

Windows 9x “specific files

Io.sys

603 “606

Msdos.sys

607 “610

WIN.COM

613 “614

Autoexec.bat

611

Command.com

664

Config.sys

610 “611

HIMEM.SYS

611 “612

Emm386.exe

611 “612

System.ini

618

Win.ini

618

User .dat (Registry data)

614

System.dat (Registry data)

614

Windows NT/2000/XP “specific files

Boot.ini

620 “621

NTLDR

619 “620

Ntdetect.com

619

Ntbootdd.sys

619

Ntuser.dat

622

Registry data files

621 “622

1.3

Demonstrate the ability to use command-line functions and utilities to manage the operating system, including the proper syntax and switches.

Command-line functions and utilities

Command/ CMD

664

DIR

PDF:1011 “1014

ATTRIB

PDF:1021 “1022

VER

PDF:1016

MEM

PDF:1022 “1023

SCANDISK

649 “651

PDF:1010

DEFRAG

651 “652

EDIT

PDF:1028 “1029

XCOPY

PDF:1023 “1026

COPY

PDF:1017 “1018

FORMAT

511 “513, 517 “521

FDISK

506 “510

SETVER

PDF:1027 “1028

SCANREG

616 “617

MD/CD/RD

PDF:1019 “1020

Delete/Rename

PDF:1014 “1016

DELTREE

PDF:1020 “1021

TYPE

PDF:1019

ECHO

PDF:1019

SET

PDF:1018

1.4

Identify basic concepts and procedures for creating, viewing, and managing disks, directories (folders), and files. This includes procedures for changing file attributes and the ramifications of those changes (for example, security issues).

Disks (partition types )

Active partition

507 “509

Primary partition

501 “503

Extended partition

501 “503

Logical partition

509 “510

Disks (file systems )

FAT16

489 “496

FAT32

496 “498

NTFS4

498

NTFS5.x

498 “499

Directory (folder) structures (root directory, subdirectories, and so on )

Create folders

PDF:1019 “1020

Navigate the directory structure

PDF:1019 “1020

Maximum depth

655 “656

Files

Creating files

653

Filenaming conventions (most common extensions, 8.3, maximum length)

654 “655

File attributes ” Read Only, Hidden, System, and Archive attributes

657 “660

File compression

658 “660

File encryption

659 “660

File permissions

660

File types (text versus binary file)

654

1.5

Identify the major operating system utilities, their purpose, location, and available switches.

Disk management tools

DEFRAG.EXE

651 “652

FDISK.EXE

506 “510

Backup/Restore utility ( MSbackup , NTBackup , and so forth)

623, 641 “643

ScanDisk

649 “651

PDF:1010

CHKDSK

649 “651

PDF:1011

Disk Cleanup

645

Format

511 “513, 517 “521

System management tools

Device Manager

703 “712

System Manager

647 “649

Computer Manager

647 “649

MSCONFIG.EXE

747 “748

REGEDIT.EXE (view information/back up Registry)

614 “616

622 “623

REGEDT32.EXE

622 “623

SYSEDIT.EXE

618

SCANREG

617

COMMAND / CMD

664

Event Viewer

648 “649, PDF:824

Task Manager

PDF:922 “923

File management tools

ATTRIB.EXE

PDF:1021 “1022

EXTRACT.EXE

745 “751

Edit.com

PDF:1028 “1029

Windows Explorer

625 “630

2.1

Identify the procedures for installing Windows 9x/Me, Windows NT 4.0 Workstation, Windows 2000 Professional, and Windows XP, and bring the operating system to a basic operational level.

Verify hardware compatibility and minimum requirements

532 “540

Determine OS installation options

541 “542

Installation type (typical, custom, other)

546

Network configuration

546, 553

558, 560 “561

File system type

543

Dual-boot support

530 “532

545 “548

561 “567

Disk preparation order (conceptual disk preparation)

Start the installation

543 “550

552 “553

555 “561

Partition (9x/Me)

544

Format drive (9x/Me)

545

Partition and format drive (NT 4.0)

552 “553

Partition and format Drive (2000/XP)

556 “558

Run appropriate setup utility

Setup

545, 563 “564

Winnt

552

Installation methods

Bootable CD

530 “532

544, 552, 555

Boot floppy

484 “489

544, 552

555

Network installation

548 “550

553

567

Drive imaging

568 “569

Device driver configuration

Load default drivers

550

554

568

Find updated drivers

550 “551

554

568

Restore user data files (if applicable )

570

Identify common symptoms and problems

570 “572, 580 “581,

590 “592, 598 “599

2.2

Identify steps to perform an operating system upgrade from Windows 9x/Me, Windows NT 4.0 Workstation, Windows 2000 Professional, and Windows XP. Given an upgrade scenario, choose the appropriate next steps.

Upgrade paths available

576 “579

581

592

Determine correct upgrade startup utility (for example, WINNT32 versus WINNT )

487 “489

Verify hardware compatibility and minimum requirements

576 “577

581 “582

592 “595

Verify application compatibility

582

593 “595

Apply OS service packs , patches, and updates

580

587 “590

596 “598

Install additional Windows components

641

2.3

Identify the basic system boot sequences and boot methods, including the steps to create an emergency boot disk with utilities installed for Windows 9x/Me, Windows NT 4.0 Workstation, Windows 2000 Professional, and Windows XP.

Boot sequence

Files required to boot

Boot steps (9x)

604

Boot steps (NT based)

619

Alternative boot methods

Using a Startup disk

725 “726

732 “733

Safe/VGA-only mode

727 “731

734 “736

Last Known Good Configuration

735

Command Prompt mode

729 “730

Boot to a system restore point

718 “720

747 “748

Recovery Console

750 “752

Boot.ini switches

620 “621

732, 748

751

Dual boot

530 “532, 545 “548

561 “567

Create emergency disks with OS utilities

484 “488

623

643

733

Create emergency repair disks (ERDs)

554

623

643

2.4

Identify procedures for loading/adding and configuring device drivers and the necessary software for certain devices.

Device driver installation

Plug and Play (PnP) and non-PNP devices

693 “696

Install and configure device drivers

700 “701

Install different device drivers

703 “712

Manually install a device driver

703 “712

Search the Internet for updated device drivers

580

587 “590

596 “598

700 “701

Use unsigned drivers (driver signing)

700 “701

Install additional Windows components

641

Determine if permissions are adequate for performing the task

660

2.5

Identify procedures necessary to optimize the operating system and major operating system subsystems.

Virtual memory management

671 “674

Disk defragmentation

651 “652

Files and buffers

606, 610 “611

Caches

461 “463

646 “647, 677

Temporary file management

675 “676

3.1

Recognize and interpret the meaning of common error codes and startup messages from the boot sequence, and identify steps to correct the problems.

Common error messages and codes(boot failure and errors )

Invalid boot disk

523 “525, 741 “743

Inaccessible boot device

451 “453, 455 “456

741 “743

Missing NTLDR

732

Bad or missing Command interpreter

725

Common error messages and codes (Startup messages )

Error in CONFIG.SYS line XX

724 “725

Himem.sys not loaded

725

Missing or corrupt Himem.sys

726

733

Device/service has failed to start

746 “747

A device referenced in SYSTEM.INI / WIN.INI /Registry is not found

726 “727

Event Viewer ” Event log is full

733 “734

Failure to start GUI

738 “739

Windows protection error

727

User-modified settings cause improper operation at startup

613 “614

727 “731

734 “736

Registry corruption

617, 621 “623

Use the correct utilities

Dr. Watson

737 “738

Boot disk

484 “487

726

Event Viewer

647 “649

3.2

Recognize when to use common diagnostic utilities and tools.Given a diagnostic scenario involving one of these utilities or tools, select the appropriate steps needed to resolve the problem.

Utilities and tools (Startup disk )

Required files for a boot disk

485 “487, 604, 664

Boot disk with CD-ROM support

486 “487

Utilities and tools (Startup Modes )

Safe Mode

728 “731

Safe Mode with command prompt

728 “731

Safe Mode with networking

728 “731

Step-by-Step/Single step mode

728 “731

Automatic skip driver (ASD.exe)

707, 716 “717

Diagnostic tools, utilities, and resources

User/installation manuals

PDF:833 “834

Internet/Web resources

PDF:833 “834

Training materials

PDF:833 “834

Task Manager

PDF:922 “923

Dr. Watson

737 “738

Boot disk

484 “487

726

Event Viewer

647 “649

Device Manager

703 “712

WinMSD

PDF:924

MSD

PDF:924

Recovery CD

569 “570

CONFIGSAFE

PDF:925 “926

Elicit problem symptoms from customers

PDF:825 “826

Have customer reproduce error as part of the diagnostic process

PDF:825 “826

Identify recent changes to the computer environment from the user

PDF:825 “826

3.3

Recognize common operational and usability problems and determine how to resolve them.

Troubleshooting Windows-specific printing problems

Print spool is stalled

746 “747

Incorrect/incompatible driver for print

692 “693

PDF:887 “889

Incorrect parameter

687 “693

Other common problems

General protection faults

737

Bluescreen error (BSOD)

738 “739

Illegal operation

737

Invalid working directory

744

System lockup

744 “745

Option (sound card, modem, input device) will not function

703 “712

Application will not start or load

744

PDF:924 “925

Cannot log on to network (option ”NIC not functioning)

745

Applications don't install

746

Network connection

PDF:913 “922

Viruses and virus types

What they are

752 “753

TSR (Terminate-Stay-Resident) programs and viruses

753

Sources (floppy, emails, and so forth)

753 “754

How to determine presence

754

4.1

Identify the networking capabilities of Windows. Given configuration parameters, configure the operating system to connect to a network.

Configure protocols ( TCP / IP )

Gateway

793

796

Subnet mask

793

794 “795

DNS (and domain suffix)

776 “777

793

796

WINS

793

795 “796

Static address assignment

792 “794

Automatic address assignment (APIPA, DHCP)

792 “794

PDF:914

Configure IPX/SPX (NWLink)

796

Configure AppleTalk

796 “797

Configure NetBEUI/ NetBIOS

797

Configure client options

Microsoft

801 “802

Novell

801 “802

Verify the configuration

809

PDF:1031 “1032

Understand the use of the following tools

IPCONFIG.EXE

PDF:1031

WINIPCFG.EXE

PDF:1032

PING

PDF:1029 “1030

TRACERT.EXE

PDF:1030

NSLOOKUP.EXE

PDF:1030

Share resources (understand the capabilities/limitations with each OS version)

798 “804

Set permissions to shared resources

798 “800

Network type and network card

778 “781

4.2

Identify the basic Internet protocols and terminologies. Identify procedures for establishing Internet connectivity. In a given scenario, configure the operating system to connect to and use Internet resources.

Protocols and terminologies

ISP

774

TCP/IP

773

Email (POP, SMTP, IMAP)

777 “778

HTML

775

HTTP

774

HTTPS

774

SSL

774

Telnet

776

FTP

776

DNS

776 “777

Connectivity technologies

Dial-up networking

763 “766

DSL networking

767 “769

ISDN networking

766 “767

Cable

769 “770

Satellite

770 “771

Wireless

771

LAN

759, 772

Install and configure browsers

Enable/disable script support

808

Configure proxy settings

807 “808

Configure security settings

808 “809

Firewall protection under Windows XP

809