A+ Certification Windows Core Module!

A+ Certification:  Screenshots |  Meet the Trainer |  Test Objectives

This domain requires the knowledge and skills to identify, install, configure, and upgrade microcomputer modules and peripherals, following established basic procedures for system assembly and disassembly of field replaceable modules. Elements include ability to identify and configure IRQ'S, DMA'S, I/O addresses, and set switches and jumpers.

1.1
Identify basic terms, concepts, and functions of system modules, including how each module should work during normal operation.

System board - Power supply - Processor/CPU - Memory - Storage devices - Monitor - Modem - Input devices - Output devices - BIOS CMOS

1.2
Identify basic procedures for adding and removing field replaceable modules.

System board - Power supply - Processor/CPU - Memory - Storage devices - Monitor - Modem - Input devices - Output devices

1.3
Identify available IRQS, DMAs, and I/0 addresses and procedures for configuring them for device installation, including identifying switch and jumper settings.

Standard IRQ settings - Differences between jumpers and switches - Locating and setting switches/jumpers - Modems Sound Cards - Network Cards

1.4
Identify common peripheral ports, associated cabling, and their connectors.

Cable types - Cable orientation - Cable and connector location - internal/external - Serial versus parallel - Pin connections - Cable handling/routing - Examples of types of connectors. DB9 - DB25 - RJ11 - RJ14 - RJ45 - PS2/MINI-DIN

1.5
Identify proper procedures for installing and configuring IDE/EIDE devices.

Master/slave - Devices per channel

1.6
Identify proper procedures for installing and configuring SCSI devices. Address/Termination conflicts Cabling Types (example: regular, wide, ultra-wide) - Power supply Internal versus external - Switch and jumper settings

1.7
Identify proper procedures for installing and configuring peripheral devices.

Monitor/Video Card - Modem - Storage devices - Associated drivers

1.8
Recognize the functions and effective use of common hand tools.

Chip-puller - Torx bit - Regular bit - Multimeter

1.9
Identify procedures for upgrading BIOS.

Upgrade system BIOS (flash or replace) - Upgrade system hardware

1.10
Identify hardware methods of system optimization and when to use them.

Memory - Hard Drives - CPU, Cache memory

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Domain 2.0 Diagnosing and Troubleshooting

This domain requires the ability to apply knowledge relating to diagnosing and troubleshooting common module problems and system malfunctions. This includes knowledge of the symptoms relating to common problems.

2.1
Identify common symptoms & problems associated with each module and how to troubleshoot and isolate the problems.

Processor/Memory symptoms - Keyboards/Mouse/Track Ball/Pen/Microphones/Touch Pad - Floppy drive failures - Parallel Ports/scanners/tape drives - Hard Drives - Sound Card/Audio Monitor/Video - Modems - BIOS - Power supply - Device drivers - POST - Audio/visual error codes

2.2
Identify basic troubleshooting procedures and good practices for eliciting problem symptoms from customers.

Troubleshooting determination procedures - Determine whether hardware or software problem - Gather information from user regarding, e.g., Customer Environment - Symptoms/Error Codes - Situation when the problem occurred.

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Domain 3.0 Safety and Preventive Maintenance

This domain requires the knowledge of safety and preventive maintenance. With regard to safety, it includes the potential hazards to personnel and equipment when working with lasers, high voltage equipment, ESD and items that require special disposal procedures that comply with environmental guidelines. With regard to preventive maintenance, this includes knowledge of preventive maintenance products, procedures, environmental hazards, and precautions when working on microcomputer systems.

3.1
Identify the purpose of various types of preventive maintenance products and procedures, and when to use/perform them.

Liquid cleaning compounds - Types of materials to clean contacts and connections - Types of tools used for cleaning floppy drives: Head cleaning disk - Manufacturer guidelines - Observations: identify wear and tear to determine need for maintenance - Vacuum out systems, power supplies, fans - Industry standards, normal use versus heavy use or environmental considerations

3.2
Identify procedures and devices for protecting against environmental hazards.

UPS (uninterruptible power supply), suppressors, noise filters, and plug strips - Determining the signs of power issues - Proper methods of storage of components for future use.

3.3
Identify the potential hazards and proper safety procedures relating to lasers and high voltage equipment.

Lasers ran cause blindness - High voltage equipment can cause electrocution, e.g., Power supply - CRT.

3.4
Identify Items that require special disposal procedures to comply with environmental guidelines.

Batteries - Toner kits/cartridges Computers - Chemical solvents and cans - CRTs - MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet).

3.5
Identify ESD (Electrostatic Discharge) precautions and procedures, including the use of ESD protection devices.

What ESD can do, how it may be apparent, or hidden - Common ESD protection devices - Situations that could present a danger or hazard.

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Domain 4.0 Motherboard/Processors/Memory

This domain requires knowledge of specific terminology, facts, ways and means of dealing with classifications categories and principles of motherboards, processors, and memory in microcomputer systems.

4.1
Distinguish between the popular CPU chips in terms of their basic characteristics.

Popular CPU chips:
386- 486 - 586 - 686
Characteristics:
Physical size - Voltage - Speeds - Heat sink and cooling fan requirements - On board cache or not - Sockets - Number of pins.

4.2
Identify the categories of RAM (Random Access Memory) terminology, their locations, and physical characteristics.

Terminology:
EDO RAM (Extended Data Output RAM) - DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory) - SRAM (Static RAM) -VRAM (Video RAM) - WRAM (Windows Accelerator Card RAM)
Locations and physical characteristics:
Memory bank - Memory chips (8, 16, and 32 bit) - SIMMS (Single In-line Memory Module) - DIMMS (Dual In- line Memory Module) Parity chips versus non-parity chips.

4.3
Identify the most popular type of motherboards, their components, and their architecture (e.g., bus structures and power supplies).

Types of motherboards:
-AT (Full and Baby) - ATX
Components:
Communication ports - CMOS, SIMM AND DIMM Processor Sockets - External Cache Memory (Level 2) - ROM - Bus Architecture - ISA - EISA - PCI - VESA local bus (VL-BUS) - PC Card (PCMCIA) Basic compatibility guidelines.

4.4
Identify the purpose of CMOS (Complementary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor), what it contains and how to change Its basic parameters.

Example Basic CMOS Settings:
Printer parallel port - Uni/bi-directional, disable/enable, ECP, EPP com/serial port - memory address, interrupt request, disable hard drive - size and drive type - floppy drive enable/disable drive or boot, speed, density - boot sequence - memory parity, non-parity - network interface card - date/time - passwords.

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Domain 5.0 Printers

This domain requires knowledge of basic types of printers, basic concepts, printer components, how they work, how they print onto a page, paper path, care and service techniques, and common problems.

5.1
Identify basic concepts, printer operations, printer components, and field replaceable units in primary printer types.

Types of Printers:
Laser - Inkjet - Dot Matrix - Paper feeder mechanisms - Common Field Replaceable Units (FRUs) for printers include:
- Primary Power Supply Boards or Assemblies - High Voltage Power Supplies System (or Main Logic) Boards - Sub Logic Boards - Motors (main drive, paper feed, transport, etc.) - Fusers - Rollers - Sensors Switches - Cables - Printheads/laser devices - ROM SIMMs - EPROMs - Operator Panels - Gear Packs.

5.2
Identify care and service techniques and common problems with primary printer types.

Feed and output - Paper jam, Print quality.

5.3
Identify the types of printer connections and configurations.

Parallel - Serial - Network

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Domain 6.0 Portable Systems

This domain requires knowledge of portable computers and their unique components and problems.

6.1
Identify the unique components of portable systems and their unique problems.

Battery - LCD - AC adapter - docking stations - Hard Drive - Types I, II, III cards - Network cards - Memory

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Domain 7.0 Basic Networking

This domain requires knowledge of basic network concepts and terminology, ability to determine whether a computer is networked, knowledge of procedures for swapping and configuring network interface cards, and knowledge of the ramifications of repairs when a computer is networked.

7.1
Identify basic networking concepts, including how a network works.

Network access, Protocol Network Interface Cards - Cabling - Twisted Pair, Coaxial, Fiber Optic - Ways to network a PC.

7.2
Identify procedures for swapping and configuring network interface cards.

7.3
Identify ramifications of repairs on the network.

Reduced bandwidth - Loss of data Network slowdown

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Domain 8.0 Customer Satisfaction

This domain requires knowledge of (and sensitivity around) - those behaviors that contribute to satisfying customers. More specifically, these behaviors include such things as; the quality of technician-customer personal interactions, the way a technician conducts him or herself professionally within the customer's business setting, the credibility and confidence projected by the technician which, in turn, engenders customer confidence, the resilience, friendliness, and efficiency that can unexpectedly delight the customer above and beyond the solving of a technical problem.

8.1
Differentiate effective from ineffective behaviors as these contribute to the maintenance or achievement of customer satisfaction.

Some of the customer satisfaction behaviors and factors addressed include:

Communicating and listening (face-to-face or over the phone) Interpreting verbal and non-verbal cues - Responding appropriately to the customers technical level - Establishing personal rapport with the customer - Professional conduct - Conflict avoidance and resolution

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The straightforward, compact nature of this series addresses all of the CompTIA objectives and will give you the understanding you need to prepare for Certification. It is filled with demonstrations highlighting PC techniques that will teach you how to properly maintain and upgrade computers. Our course includes video tapes, workbooks and computer based training! By utilizing all three media types your retention level and success ratios are much higher than only utilizing one format.

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