Essentials, 2nd Edition
Topic-Level
Outline
Days: 5
Prerequisites: Students
taking this course should have user-level skills and knowledge of personal
computers. These skills and knowledge can be obtained by completing either of the following courses: Windows 2000:
Basic or Windows XP: Basic.
Unit
1: Getting started with PC hardware support
Topic A: Computer components overview
A-1: Identifying the external components of a PC
A-2: Identifying the components of a notebook computer
Topic B: Hardware,
software, and firmware
B-1: Comparing hardware, software, and
firmware
Topic C: Troubleshooting models
C-1: Using Microsoft Knowledge Base to research a
problem
C-2: Troubleshooting problems
C-3: Tracking problems and resolutions
Unit
2: Operating systems
Topic A: Operating
system fundamentals
A-1: Selecting an appropriate Windows
operating system
A-2: Locating Windows XP interface
components
A-3: Observing Windows XP system tools
Topic B: Directory
and file management
B-1: Navigating a directory tree
B-2: Creating directories
B-3: Copying a directory
B-4: Removing directories
B-5: Creating a text file
B-6: Modifying file attributes
B-7: Modifying file attributes using attrib.exe
B-8: Editing a text file
B-9: Assigning file permissions
Unit
3: Electricity and power supplies
Topic A: Electrical
safety
A-1: Examining the characteristics of
electricity
A-2: Considering electrical safety
A-3: Opening the computer case while
following proper ESD precautions
Topic B: Power
supplies
B-1: Examining a power supply and
connectors
Topic C: Power
supply troubleshooting
C-1: Measuring electrical values
C-2: Troubleshooting power supply problems
Unit
4: CPUs and motherboards
Topic A: Central
processing units (CPUs)
A-1: Identifying CPUs
Topic B: Packaging,
slots, and cooling techniques
B-1: Identifying the socket and package
type of your CPU
B-2: Examining the cooling systems in your
PC
Topic C: Motherboards
and system cases
C-1: Examining motherboard components and
form factor
C-2: Examining system cases
Topic D: Motherboard
troubleshooting
D-1: Troubleshooting motherboard and CPU problems
Unit
5: Basic Input/Output System
Topic A: BIOS
and CMOS
A-1: Updating your PC's BIOS settings
A-2: Updating the BIOS in your PC (optional)
Topic B: The
POST process
B-1: Observing the POST process
Topic C: BIOS
and POST troubleshooting
C-1: Replacing the CMOS battery
C-2: Troubleshooting BIOS- and POST-related problems
Unit
6: Memory systems
Topic A: Memory
A-1: Identifying memory characteristics
Topic B: Memory
packaging
B-1: Comparing RAM packaging
Topic C: Memory
troubleshooting
C-1: Monitoring memory usage
C-2: Changing the size of the Windows page file
C-3: Troubleshooting memory
Unit
7: Bus structures
Topic A: Buses
A-1: Examining buses
Topic B: Host
system interaction
B-1: Examining running processes and IRQ assignments
B-2: Viewing your computer’s I/O address
assignments
B-3: Viewing your computer’s DMA channel
assignments
B-4: Viewing your computer’s base memory
address assignments
Topic C: The
PCI bus
C-1: Identifying a PCI bus
Topic D: Video
buses
D-1: Installing an AGP adapter card
Unit
8: Expansion cards
Topic A: Drive
adapters
A-1: Distinguishing among drive controllers
A-2: Installing a drive controller
Topic B: Video
cards
B-1: Identifying video adapter types
Topic C: Sound
cards
C-1: Identifying the components of a sound
card
Topic D: Internal
modems
D-1: Identifying the components of an internal modem
D-2: Identifying modem connections
Topic E: Expansion
card troubleshooting
E-1: Troubleshooting expansion card-related
problems
Unit
9: Ports, connectors, and cables
Topic A: Serial
and parallel ports, cables, and connectors
A-1: Examining serial ports, cables, and
connectors
A-2: Examining parallel ports, cables, and
connectors
Topic B: Keyboards,
mice, and pointing devices
B-1: Examining keyboard and mouse ports
Topic C: USB
ports, cables, and connectors
C-1: Examining the USB bus
Topic D: FireWire
ports, cables, and connectors
D-1: Examining the FireWire bus
Topic E: Infrared
and Bluetooth wireless ports
E-1: Exploring wireless communications
technologies
Topic F: Multimedia ports, cables, and connectors
F-1: Examining multimedia connections
Topic G: Port,
cable, and connector troubleshooting
G-1: Troubleshooting port, cable, and
connector-related problems
Unit
10: Data storage devices
Topic A: Hard
drives
A-1: Choosing a file system
A-2: Physically installing a hard drive
A-3: Partitioning and formatting a hard drive
Topic B: Optical
drives
B-1: Installing an optical drive
B-2: Using an optical drive
Topic C: Removable
storage devices
C-1: Installing a USB flash drive
C-2: Examining floppy disks
C-3: Installing a floppy drive
C-4: Formatting a floppy diskette
Topic D: Storage
device troubleshooting
D-1: Using Disk Cleanup
D-2: Scanning a disk for errors
D-3: Defragmenting a disk
D-4: Troubleshooting data storage devices
Unit
11: Video and multimedia input/output devices
Topic A: Cathode
ray terminals
A-1: Examining how CRTs produce images
A-2: Comparing monitor specifications
A-3: Installing a CRT
A-4: Troubleshooting CRT problems
Topic B: LCDs
and other video technologies
B-1: Examining how LCDs produce images
B-2: Installing an LCD monitor
B-3: Troubleshooting LCD problems
Topic C: Sound
input and output devices
C-1: Connecting speakers
C-2: Using a microphone
C-3: Connecting musical instruments to a computer
Topic D: Scanners
and cameras
D-1: Connecting a scanner
D-2: Troubleshooting scanner problems
D-3: Connecting a digital camera
D-4: Troubleshooting digital camera connection
problems
Unit
12: Printers
Topic A: Dot
matrix printers
A-1: Examining the dot-matrix print process
Topic B: Inkjet
and related printer technologies
B-1: Examining how inkjet printers work
B-2: Installing an inkjet printer
B-3: Troubleshooting inkjet printer
problems
Topic C: Laser
printers
C-1: Examining how laser printers work
C-2: Installing a laser printer
C-3: Configuring a Windows printer
C-4: Troubleshooting laser printer problems
Topic D: Other
types of printers
D-1: Identifying other printer technologies
Unit
13: Portable computers and devices
Topic A: Notebook
computers
A-1: Identifying the components and
integrated peripherals in a notebook
A-2: Using PC Cards
A-3: Docking and undocking a notebook
A-4: Troubleshooting notebook problems
A-5: Maintaining a notebook
Topic B: Handheld
computers
B-1: Using a PDA
B-2: Connecting a PDA to a personal computer
B-3: Troubleshooting handheld computer problems
Unit 14: Monitoring and management
Topic A: System
monitoring
A-1: Running Windows Diagnostics
A-2: Observing Task Manager data
A-3: Viewing the event logs
A-4: Disabling Error Reporting
A-5: Enabling Error Reporting for specific programs
Topic B: System
management
B-1: Managing temporary files
B-2: Viewing Registry information
B-3: Managing services
B-4: Configuring environment variables
Unit
15: Operating system troubleshooting
Topic A: The
Windows boot process
A-1: Identifying phases in the startup process
A-2: Observing the Windows XP startup
process
Topic B: System
troubleshooting
B-1: Interpreting boot and startup messages
B-2: Booting the computer in various startup modes
B-3: Managing general protection faults
B-4: Using the System Configuration Utility
B-5: Creating a system restore point
B-6: Booting to System Restore
B-7: Creating an ASR recovery set
B-8: Running the Recovery Console
Unit
16: Connecting computers
Topic A: Networking
concepts
A-1: Describing networking models and protocols
A-2: Identifying the components of a network
Topic B: Wired
network connections
B-1: Examining coaxial cable and connectors
B-2: Examining twisted pair cables and
connectors
B-3: Discussing fiber optic cables and connectors
B-4: Examining the IEEE 1394 connection
B-5: Installing a NIC
Topic C: Wireless
network connections
C-1: Comparing wireless networking standards
Topic D: Network
architectures
D-1: Identifying the characteristics of the various
physical architectures
D-2: Discussing WAN bandwidth technologies
Unit
17: Networking computers
Topic A: Network
communications
A-1: Analyzing the OSI model
Topic B: Addressing
B-1: Examining addresses
Topic C: Internet
connections
C-1: Selecting the best Internet connection
Topic D: Network
installation
D-1: Installing a modem
D-2: Creating a dial-up connection
D-3: Configuring TCP/IP for a dial-up
connection
D-4: Configuring TCP/IP
D-5: Describing LAN Internet entry points
D-6: Adding a wireless node to your network
Topic E: Network
troubleshooting
E-1: Troubleshooting network problems
Unit
18: Security
Topic A: Operating
system security
A-1: Securing access to the operating
system
A-2: Choosing the correct file system for
security
A-3: Configuring file access restrictions
A-4: Encrypting files
A-5: Understanding authentication
technologies
A-6: Using local security policies to set
password restrictions
Topic B: Security
hardware
B-1: Installing a fingerprint reader
B-2: Installing a card reader
B-3: Installing the IdentiPHI Basic
software
B-4: Configuring IdentiPHI Basic to accept
smart cards
B-5: Enrolling a smart card with IdentiPHI
Basic
B-6: Using a smart card
B-7: Uninstalling the smart card reader and
software
Topic C: The human aspects of security
C-1: Implementing physical access restrictions
C-2: Backing up files using Wizard mode
C-3: Restoring information from a backup
C-4: Scheduling a backup
C-5: Examining data destruction techniques
C-6: Considering corporate security policies
C-7: Managing social engineering attacks
C-8: Examining network security
Unit
19: Windows installation and upgrades
Topic A: Installation
A-1: Identifying pre-installation tasks
A-2: Installing Windows 2000 Professional
A-3: Searching for and installing device
drivers
A-4: Configuring driver signing
Topic B: Upgrades
B-1: Upgrading to Windows XP
B-2: Installing a Windows XP service pack
Unit
20: Safety
Topic A: Safety
and hazards
A-1: Identifying typical office and
computer-related hazards
A-2: Finding sources of static electricity
and interference
A-3: Reading a material safety data sheet
Topic B: Safe
work practices
B-1: Avoiding injury and strain when
working with PCs
Topic C: Disposing
of computer equipment
C-1: Selecting the proper methods for computer
equipment disposal
Unit
21: Troubleshooting and maintaining a PC
Topic A: Professionalism
and customer satisfaction
A-1: Maintaining professionalism
A-2: Ensuring customer satisfaction
Topic B: Tools
and software
B-1: Developing a hypothesis about the cause of a problem
B-2: Identifying common toolkit components
B-3: Identifying software tools for
troubleshooters
Topic C: Preventative
hardware maintenance
C-1: Performing preventive maintenance tasks
C-2: Cleaning computer equipment
Appendix A: Certification
exam objectives map
Topic A: Comprehensive
exam objectives
Appendix B: CompTIA A+ acronyms
Topic A: Acronyms
list