Wiley a plus certification for dummies 3rd edition oct 2003 ISBN 0764541870

A+CertificationforDummies,3rdEdition
ISBN:0764541870
byRonGilster
JohnWiley&Sons©2004
Thispainlesstestpreparationtoolbeginswith
anintroductiontobasicelectronicsand
numberingsystemsrelevanttocomputer
processing,thenbuildshardwareknowledge
fromthebottomup,andfinishesoffby
demonstratinghowtoworkoncomputers.
TableofContents
A+CertificationForDummies,3rdEdition
Introduction
BookI
- A+HardwareTechnologyExam
PartI-LayingDownSomeFundamentals

Chapter1 - The2003A+CertificationExams
Chapter2 - BasicElectronicsandNumberSystems
PartII-InsidetheBox

Chapter3
Chapter4
Chapter5
Chapter6
Chapter7
Chapter8
Chapter9

- TheMotherboard
- BIOS

- BusStructures
- Microprocessors
- MemorySystems
- StoringData
- PoweringandCoolingthePC

PartIII-OutsidetheBox

Chapter10 - Input/OutputPorts
Chapter11 - InputDevices


Chapter12 - OutputDevices
Chapter13 - Printers
Chapter14 - PortableSystems
PartIV-RememberingWhyIt’sCalledHardware

TakingaPCApart(AndPuttingItBack
TogetherAgain)
Chapter16 - KeepingthePCRunning
Chapter17 - TroubleshootingPCProblems
Chapter18 - TheHardwareSideofNetworking
BookII
- OperatingSystemTechnologiesExam
Chapter15 -

PartV-OperatingSystems

Chapter19 - WindowsOSBasics
Chapter20 - Windows95,98,andMe

Chapter21 - Windows2000Professional
Chapter22 - WindowsXPProfessional
PartVI-ConnectingtoaNetwork

Chapter23 - MakingtheNetworkConnection
Chapter24 - WorkingwiththeNetwork
Chapter25 - SharingtheInternet
Chapter26 - TroubleshootingSystemProblems
AppendixA - HardwareTechnologyExamObjectives
AppendixB - OperatingSystemExamObjectives
A+CertificationForDummies,3rdEditionCheatSheet
Index
ListofFigures
ListofTables
ListofLabs
ListofSidebars


BackCover
Here’sthefunandeasywaytostudyfortheexam—all
therewardsinhalfthetime!
Here’stheexam220-301and220-302test-prepguide
you’vebeenwaitingfor—aneconomicalForDummies
bookthatactuallymakesstudyingfun.Preparedbya
CompTIA-certifiedexpertandpackedwithproventips
andpracticeexams,it’sallyouneedtogetuptospeed
oncorehardwareandoperatingsystemtechnologies—
andpassthetest!
Discoverhowto:
Reviewthematerial,objectivebyobjective

Assesswhatyouknow—anddon’tknow
Spotandavoidtesttraps
Answerquestionsquickly
Honeyourskills
Createcustompracticeexams
AbouttheAuthor
RonGilsterhasmorethan35yearsofexperiencein
virtuallyeveryaspectofcomputingtechnology.Hehas
heldconsultingandmanagementpositionswithseveral
highprofilecompanies.


A+CertificationForDummies,3rdEdition
byRonGilster
Publishedby
WileyPublishing,Inc.
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Hoboken,NJ07030-5774
www.wiley.com
Copyright©2004byWileyPublishing,Inc.,Indianapolis,Indiana
PublishedbyWileyPublishing,Inc.,Indianapolis,Indiana
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AbouttheAuthor
RonGilster(A+,Network+,i-Net+,Server+,CCSE,CCNA,MBA,and
AAGG)hasbeenoperating,programming,andrepairingcomputersfor
morethan30years.Ronhasextensiveexperiencetraining,teaching,
andconsultingincomputer-relatedareas,includingworkingon
mainframes,minicomputers,andvirtuallyeverytypeofpersonal
computerandoperatingsystemthatexists.Inadditiontoawiderangeof
positionsthathaveincludedCollegeInstructor,CustomerService
Manager,DataProcessingManager,ManagementInformationSystems
Director,andVicePresidentofOperationsinmajorcorporationsand
smallbusinesses,Ronhasbeenamanagementconsultantwithan


internationalauditingfirmandhasoperatedhisowncomputersystems
consultingfirm.
Ronhasauthoredanumberofcertificationbooks,includingNetwork+
CertificationForDummies,i-Net+CertificationForDummies,Server+
CertificationForDummies,CCNAForDummies,CiscoNetworkingFor
Dummies,MCSAAll-in-OneReferenceForDummies,andPCRepair
BenchBook(allforWileyPublishing),aswellasseveralbookson
computerandinformationliteracy,applicationsprogramming,andother
computerhardwaretopics.RonalsoactedastheserieseditorforWiley
Publishing’sEndtoEndseriesandNetwork+CertificationBible.
Dedication
ToConnie,Carly,Markus,Kirstie,andJessica.
Author’sAcknowledgments
Iwouldliketothankthevirtual“castofthousands”atWileywhohelpedto

getthisbookpublished,especiallyMelodyLayne,CarolSheehan,Pat
O’Brien,JohnEdwards,JeanRogers,DanDiNicolo,LauraMoss,Laura
CarpenterVanWinkle,andAmandaFoxworth,allofwhomwereonmy
sidealltheway.
Publisher’sAcknowledgments
We’reproudofthisbook;pleasesendusyourcommentsthroughour
onlineregistrationformlocatedatwww.dummies.com/register/.
Someofthepeoplewhohelpedbringthisbooktomarketincludethe
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Acquisitions,Editorial,andMediaDevelopment
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Introduction


Overview
Ifyouhaveboughtorareconsideringbuyingthisbook,youprobablyfit
oneofthefollowingcategories:
YouknowhowvaluableA+Certificationistoaprofessional
personalcomputer(PC)technician’scareerandadvancement.
You’rewonderingjustwhatA+Certificationisallabout.
Youthinkthatreadingthisbookmaybeafun,entertainingwayto
learnaboutcomputerhardwaremaintenanceandrepair.
Youloveall...ForDummiesbooksandwaitimpatientlyforeach
newonetocomeout.
You’reabigfanofmineandcan’twaittoreadallofmynew
books.
Well,ifyoufitanyofthefirstfourscenarios,thisisthebookforyou!
However,I’mnotcertifiedintheappropriatemedicalareastohelpyouif
youareinthelastcategory!
Ifyou’realreadyawareoftheA+CertifiedComputerTechnicianprogram
andarejustlookingforanexcellentstudyaid,youcanskipthenextfew
sectionsofthisintroductionbecauseyoursearchisover.However,ifyou
don’thavethefoggiestideaofwhatA+Certificationis,howitcanbenefit
you,orhowtoprepareforit,readon!


WhyUseThisBook?

Withover20yearsandlayeruponlayerofmicrocomputerhardwareand
softwaretechnologytostudy,eventhemostknowledgeabletechnician
needshelpgettingreadyfortheA+exams.Thisbookisintendedto
shortenyourpreparationtimefortheA+exams.
Thisbookisano-nonsensereferenceandstudyguidefortheA+Core
Hardwareexam(test#220-301)andtheOS(OperatingSystems)
Technologiesexam(test#220-302).Itfocusesontheareaslikelytobe
ontheexam,plusitprovidesbackgroundinformationtohelpyou
understandsomeofthemorecomplexconceptsandtechnologies.
Theconcepts,processes,andapplicationsincludedontheexamsare
presentedinstep-by-steplists,tables,andfigureswithoutlong
explanationsinthisbook.ThefocusisonpreparingyoufortheA+
exams,notonshowingoffmyobviouslyextensiveandimpressive
knowledgeofcomputertechnology(noronmymodesty,Imightadd).
Thisbookwillnotprovideyouwithanin-depthbackgroundonPC
hardwareandsoftware.Itwill,however,prepareyoutotaketheA+Core
HardwareandOSTechnologiesexams.
Indevelopingthisbook,Imadetwoassumptions:
Youhaveknowledgeofelectronics,computers,software,
networking,troubleshootingprocedures,andcustomerrelations,
andneedastudyguidefortheexams.
Youhavelimitedknowledgeofelectronics,computerhardware,
andtheprocessesusedtorepair,maintain,andupgradePCs
andcouldusealittlerefresheronthebasicsalongwithareview
andstudyguidefortheexams.
Ifmyassumptionsineithercasesuityourneeds,thenthisbookisfor
you.


HowThisBookIsOrganized

Thisbookisdividedintotwo“mini-books”:oneontheCoreHardware
examandoneontheOSTechnologiesexam.Dependingonwhetheror
notyouplantotakethetwoexamsduringthesamesittingornot,you
shouldstudyforthemseparately.Althoughthereisacertainamountof
overlapbetweenthetwoexams(especiallyinthenetworkingarea),the
emphasisofeachexamistotallydifferent.
Throughout,thisbookisorganizedsoyoucanstudyaspecificarea
withoutwadingthroughstuffyoumayalreadyknow.Irecommendthat
youskimthewholebookatleastonce,notingthepointsraisedatthe
icons.Eachpartandchapterofthebookisindependent,andcanbe
studiedinanyorder,whichshouldbehelpfulforyourlast-minutecram
beforetheexam.ThefollowingsectionstellyouwhatIincludebetween
thecoversofthisbook.

BookI:TheA+CoreHardwareExam
PartI:LayingDown,SomeFundamentals
BookIbeginswithanoverviewofwhattostudyfortheA+examand
othergeneralinformationabouttakingtheexam.Italsopresents
backgroundinformationontheconceptsofelectricity,electronics,and
numberingsystems.Andfinally,itcoversthetoolsusedincomputer
maintenancewithanemphasisonelectrostaticdischargeprotectionand
prevention.

PartII:InsidetheBox
PartIItakesyoudownintothewonderful,incredibleworldofthe
motherboardandotherelectronicfield-replaceablemodules(FRMs)
foundinsidethecase.Thispartischock-fullofinformationaboutthe
motherboard,memory,busstructures,powersupply,diskdrives,and
othercomponentsfoundinsidethecase.Alsocoveredinthispartarethe
processesusedtoinstall,remove,troubleshoot,optimize,andupgrade

thesecomponents.


PartIII:OutsidetheBox
Youneedtoknowaboutinterfacinginput,output,printers,andserial,
parallel,USB,andFireWireconnections,plusnetworkinganddata
communicationsfortheA+CoreHardwareexam.

PartIV:RememberingWhyIt’sCalledHardware
PartIVhaseverythingyouneedtoknowaboutthetoolsandbest
practicestouseforrepairing,maintaining,andconfiguringPChardware.
ReadaboutdisassemblingandreassemblingthePC,performing
preventivemaintenance,andtheprocessesusedtotroubleshoot
problemsonthePC.

PracticeExam
TheHardwarePracticeExamontheCDisreadyforyoutoprintand
evaluateyourpreparation.Ifyoumissaquestion,itpointsyoubackto
thebooktoimproveyourknowledge.

BookII:TheA+OperatingSystemsTechnologiesExam
PartV:OperatingSystems
ThispartofBook2providesinformationontheoperatingsystems
includedontheA+OperatingSystems(OS)Technologiesexam:
Windows95,98,andMe,WindowsNTWorkstation,Windows2000
Professional,andWindowsXPProfessionalandHomeeditions.

PartVI:ConnectingtoaNetwork
Asnetworkingbecomesmorecommoninbothbusinessesandhomes,
theconfiguration,installation,andtroubleshootingofOSnetworking

featuresbecomesmoreimportant,andtheamountofcoverageon
networkingontheA+OSexamreflectsthis.
Thispartofthebookcoversboththetechnologiesinvolvedwith
configuringaworkstationtoalocalareanetwork(LAN)andthose


involvedwithconnectingtoanetworkremotely.Thisincludesnetwork
topologies,theOSImodel,TCP/IPprotocols,anddialupnetworking.

PracticeExam
Whenyouthinkyouareready,printtheOSPracticeExamfromtheCD.
Ifyoumissaquestion,itpointsyoubacktothebooktoimproveyour
knowledge.


StudyingChapters
A+CertificationForDummies,3rdEditionoffersaself-pacedmethodof
preparingfortheexam.Youdon’thavetoguesswhattostudy;every
chapterthatcoversexamobjectivesguidesyouwithpreviewquestions,
detailedcoverage,andreviewquestions.Thisstep-by-stepstructure
identifieswhatyouneedtostudy,givesyouallthefacts,andrechecks
whatyouknow.Thestructureisasfollows:
Firstpage:Eachchapterstartswithapreviewofwhat’stocome,
includingexamobjectivesandstudysubjects.Notsurethatyou
knowallabouttheobjectivesandthesubjectsinachapter?Keep
going.
QuickAssessmentquestions:Atthebeginningofeachchapter
isabriefself-assessmenttestthathelpsyougaugeyour
knowledgeofthetopicsthatchaptercovers.Takethistestto
determinewhichareasyoualreadyunderstandaswellasto

determinewhichareasyouneedtofocuson.
Labs:Labsareincludedthroughoutthebooktostepyouthrough
someoftheprocessesyouneedtoknowfortheexam,suchas
installationorconfigurationofaparticularcomponent.
GettingReadyforWork:Thisfeatureisincludedinmany
chaptersofthisbook.Itprovidesideasforsomehands-on
projectsthatshouldhelpyoupreparenotonlyfortheA+exams,
butalsofortheworkplace.
PrepTests:ThePrepTestsattheendofeachchaptergauge
yourunderstandingofthechapter’scontent.ThesePrepTest
questionsarestructuredinthesamemannerasthoseyoumay
seeonyourexam,sotryyourhandatthesesamplequestions.


IconsUsedinThisBook
TimeShaverTimeShavericonspointouttipsthatcanhelpyou
manageandsavetimewhilestudyingforortakingtheexam.
InstantAnswerInstantAnswericonshighlighttipstohelpyou
recognizecorrectandincorrectexamanswersandpointoutinformation
thatislikelytobeonthetest.
ShockingInformationShockingInformationiconspointoutESDand
otherelectricaldangersthatyoushouldbeawareofforthetestandon
thejob.
WarningWarningiconsflagproblemsandlimitationsofthe
technologiesincludedontheexamandthingstoavoidwhenworkingwith
certaintechnologies.
RememberRemembericonspointoutimportantbackground
informationandadvantagesofthetechnologythatmayappearonthe
exam.
TipTipiconsflaginformationthatcancomeinextra-handyduringthe

testingprocess.Youmaywanttotakenotesonthesetidbits!


Feedback
I’dliketohearfromyou.Ifanareaofthetestisn’tcoveredaswellasit
shouldbe,orifIprovidemorecoveragethanyouthinkiswarranted
aboutaparticulartopic,pleaseletmeknow.Yourfeedbackissolicited
andwelcome.E-mailmeat


BookI:A+HardwareTechnologyExam


PartList
PartI:LayingDownSomeFundamentals
PartII:InsidetheBox
PartIII:OutsidetheBox
PartIV:RememberingWhyIt’sCalledHardware


PartI:LayingDownSomeFundamentals


ChapterList
Chapter1:The2003A+CertificationExams
Chapter2:BasicElectronicsandNumberSystems


Inthispart...
NoteverythingabouttheworldofPCservicetechniciansisontheA+

exams.Therearesomethingsyouarejustexpectedtoknow;for
example,basicelectronics,electricity,andnumbersystems.CompTIA,
theA+examorganization,hasassumedthatyouknowthisstufforyou
wouldn’tbeworking(orwishingtobeworking)asaPCservicetechnician
andgettingreadytotaketheA+exams.
Beforeyoubeginpreparingforthetest,usethispartofthebooktogetan
overviewaboutthetwoA+examsandtoreviewsomeofthebasicand
underlyingknowledgeyou’llneedfortheexams.


Chapter1:The2003A+CertificationExams


InThisChapter
Knowingwhattostudy
TakingtheA+exams
A+certificationassuresemployersandcomputerownersthataPCrepair
technicianhastherequisiteknowledgetobuild,upgrade,troubleshoot,
andrepairpersonalcomputer(PC)systems.TheA+examsmeasurethe
abilityandknowledgeaPCtechnicianshouldhaveaftersixmonthsof
on-the-job,hands-ontraining.CertifiedPCtechniciansarealwaysin
greatdemand,sopassingtheA+certificationexamsiswellworththe
timethatyouspendpreparingfortheexams.A+certificationisalifetime
certification,meaningthatyouneverhavetotakethetestagain(atleast
asofthiswriting).
IfyouareA+certifiedfromeitherthe1996,1998,or2001examversions,
youdon’thavetotakethe2003exams.Unlessyoureallywantto.


WhoIsCompTIA?

ComputingTechnologyIndustryAssociation(CompTIA)isamembership
tradeorganizationthatwasformedin1982topromotestandardsof
excellenceincomputertechnology.Itsgoalsaretodevelopethical,
professional,andbusinessstandardsandprovideeducational
opportunitiestotheindustry.Itsmembersincludemorethan13,000
computerresellers,VARs(value-addedresellers),distributors,
manufacturers,andtrainingcompaniesin89countriesaroundtheworld
(butmostlyintheUnitedStatesandCanada).Thesecompaniesrange
frommultinationalcorporationstolocalcomputerrepairshopsand
individualentrepreneurs.VisitCompTIA’sWebsiteat
www.comptia.org/aboutformoreinformation.