A+ Certification

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The A+ certification demonstrates competency as a computer technician... CompTIA A+ certification is a vendor neutral certification. It requires two tests to be passed: the A+ Essentials exam and a choice of one of three elective exams. CompTIA is vendor neutral but leans towards Microsoft operating systems although some Apple questions do appear on this new exam.

Contents

[edit] Knowledge and supplies needed to prepare for the A+ Certification test

First of all you should know a few things about the A+ Certification. It is created by a non-profit organization called CompTIA. You should visit comptia.org if you wish to know CompTIA specific information. CompTIA's certifications are made vendor neutral and are used in the computing industry. Though not a prerequisite, A+ Certification is a natural lead-in to other CompTIA certifications, such as Network+, Server+, Linux+, Security+, iNet+ and others.

To obtain A+ Certification, one must have knowledge in many areas of the Microsoft Windows based personal computer. In this course you will take apart a computer, identify parts, be able to assemble a computer, and practice using different operating systems.

A person who is going to obtain the A+ Certification has had around 500 hours of hands-on experience with operating systems, computer hardware, system files, maintenance, networking, configuration of hardware and software, and troubleshooting computer problems.

Courses and other study materials can be found on the internet.

To study for the exam, one will most likely need the following:

  • A PC with Microsoft Windows
  • Grounding pad
  • Anti Static Wrist Strap (ESD Bracelet or Ground Bracelet)
  • Phillips head screwdriver
  • Flat head screwdriver
  • Calculator

[edit] Exam details

The A+ certification exam was updated in late 2006, so the structure of the exam is different than it had been for the three years prior to the update. The good news is the old 2003 exams had an average pass rate of between 3% --> 10% depending on your sources. The new A+ exam has been redesigned to have a 30% pass rate. A+ certification currently entails two tests: A+ Essentials (220-601) and one of three elective exams, IT Technician (220-602), Remote Support Technician (220-603), or Depot Technician (220-604). Both of these tests must be passed in order to receive A+ certification. CompTIA suggests that one take the A+ Essentials exam before the other, but they can be taken in either order.

For the 2006 exam, the total cost was 158 USD for each test. If you are a student check with your school's Career Tech program, most public schools are Jobs+ sites. If your school is a Jobs+ site you can get the A+ voucher for half the price as you would retail. Also a lot of companies that offer training are CompTIA affiliate which can sell you the voucher to take the exam for less than retail. The CompTIA A+ Essentials consists of 100 questions, and the elective consists of 90 questions. A passing score on the CompTIA A+ Essentials exam is 675, on any of the electives is 700.

The test consists of 8 "domains":

Domain Percentage of exam
Personal computer components 21
Laptop and portable devices 11
Operating systems 21
Printers and scanners 9
Networks 12
Security 11
Safety and environmental issues 10
Communication and professionalism 5
Total 100

[edit] Disassembling and reassembling a computer

One of the best things you can do to prepare for the exam is to learn the function of and how to identify the hardware inside of a computer. The following is a rough guideline for the order in which to disconnect components from your computer system. Be sure to place items in anti-static bags, where appropriate. Static electricity can damage components or destroy data.

  1. Detach external devices
    1. Detach power cable
    2. Detach keyboard and mouse
    3. Detach monitor
    4. Detach serial, parallel, and USB devices
    5. Detach network cables, telephone lines, speaker cables, etc.
    6. Detach all other peripheral devices
    7. Remove system case
  2. Remove internal components (be sure that the computer is unplugged from any power source before removing components) (but, remember that if you unplug the power, the computer components are no longer grounded and there is increased likelihood of device damage from electrostatic discharge)
    1. Detach internal power cables and connectors from all storage devices
    2. Remove hard drive, floppy drive, CD-ROM and other storage devices
    3. Remove interface cards
    4. Remove power cables from system board
    5. Remove all other cables from the system board
    6. Remove screws or clips holding motherboard in place
    7. Remove motherboard
    8. Remove DIMM or RIMM memory modules
    9. Remove CPU fan, heat sink, and CPU


The computer should be reassembled in the reverse order. For the exam one must be able to install and configure hardware and other input and multimedia devices.

[edit] Identifying hardware components

One of the essential requirements for A+ Certification is identifying names, purposes, and characteristics of specific hardware components, including the following:

This is not a device:

[edit] Identifying operating systems

Although the examination focuses almost exclusively on Microsoft's Windows operating system (OS), one should also know about differences among other operating systems.

Microsoft operating systems:

Apple operating systems:

Unix-like operating systems:

[edit] BOOT PROCESS FOR OPERATING SYSTEMS

DOS BOOT PROCESS

1. Upon powering on the machine a POST (Power on Self Test) test is executed, this does a quick test on things such as the memory and power supply of a machine. POST transfers control to CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) which contains the BIOS (Basic Input Output System). The BIOS loads various low level settings such as boot-order and network settings. The BIOS is also a very useful tool for testing memory or hard drives, as well as finding out basic information such as serial numbers and asset tags. Note if POST fails it is usually identified by various light or audible beep codes which often can be searched for by model on the manufacturers' website.

2. Master Boot Record (MBR) is then started which is a set of tasks to bring up the operating system. It will check the floppy, CD-ROM, or hard drive. Not necessarily in that order. MBR finds the boot sector in turn finds IO.SYS and puts the file into RAM.

3. IO.SYS is a file that loads low level drivers for hardware devices like the keyboard, serial and parallel ports, floppy drive, and hard drive. Next, IO.SYS will run Sysinit which in turn loads Msdos.sys into RAM.

4. MSDOS.SYS in turn helps manage the input and output for the hard disk. It processes the commands in Config.sys. Config.sys loads all the other device drivers and manages memory for optimization.

5. Command.com is loaded into RAM. Command.com is a file that stores all your internal commands.

6. Command.com then processes Autoexec.bat which will set the initial configuration of DOS. The user can add what programs to start each time the computer boots.

7. The last step will get you the command prompt.


WIN95/98/ME BOOT PROCESS (Similar to DOS)

1. POST is performed.

2. Master Boot Record (MBR) is loaded into RAM and locates the boot sector. The boot sector then locates the Io.sys.

3. The Io.sys runs Sysinit and loads Msdos.sys into RAM.

4. Io.sys then loads System.dat, but does not process at this time.

5. Io.sys then loads Config.sys and Autoexec.bat. These are not necessary to load the operating system, but are needed when fat16 application or drivers are used.

6. Io.sys then loads Win.com which start the operating system.

7. Win.com loads drivers specified by the registry.

8. Win.com processes the System.ini and Win.ini files. System.ini is used to configure the memory cache and buffers. Win.ini is used for 16-bit applications. Otherwise, they are run by the registry.

9. Win.com will start KERNEL32.DLL, KERNEL386.EXE, GDI.EXE, and GDI32.EXE. The Kernel files are the operating systems. The GDI files are responsible for the graphical functions and display.

10. The Kernel files will load the Explorer user interface, which includes the Desktop, Taskbar, and Start Menu.

11. The Kernel will then process anything in the Startup folder and restore network connections.

12. The user can now interact with the operating system.


WIN2000/NT/XP BOOT PROCESS

1. BIOS run POST.

2. Computer finds the boot device and loads Master Boot Record (MBR) into RAM.

3. MBR looks for the partition on the boot device and loads the boot sector.

4. The boot sector in turn starts the Ntldr file which will load the operating system.

5. Ntldr configures the computer’s processor to recognize all of the memory.

6. Ntldr will start the file system the operating system will load. Whether it is FAT or NTFS.

7. Ntldr checks the Boot.ini file to find the operating system(s) and to create the boot menu.

8. After the operating system is selected, Ntldr will run Ntdetect.com which will make the hardware list.

9. Ntldr will load Ntoskrnl.exe which is the kernel of the operating system.

10. The operating system will start the graphical interface.

11. NToskrnl.exe load Smss.exe which is the Session Manager.

12. The user logs on.

WINDOWS VISTA BOOT PROCESS IS DIFFERENT See Wikipedia

[edit] See also

[edit] External Links Related to A+ Certification

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