“READ, WATCH, PRACTICE…”
Ready to study and learn the basics of PC Systems?
Then this document is designed for you. By using this tool, you will be able to customize your learning plan and be ready to move onto Network+ in 30, 60, or 90+ days. Your preparation will include reading a recommended text, watching online e-Learning videos provided by
Professor Messer , and practicing labs on your own or through Northeast Lakeview College designed PC Systems Workshops.
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Getting started is easy!
 READ: A+ Guide to Managing & Maintaining Your PC, 8 th Edition , by Jean
Andrews
WATCH: Start watching supplemental videos at www.professormesser.com
PRACTICE: Sign up for the Northeast Lakeview College sponsored PC Workshops:
 Group A
 Group B
 Group C
How to Choose Between a 30, 60, or 90+ Day Self-Study Plan
In order to qualify for a seat in the formal instructor-led systems administration training at
Northeast Lakeview College, you’ll need to complete the self-study phase and successfully pass the CompTIA Network+ certification exam.
To help you along the way, Northeast Lakeview College experts have broken the PC Systems
Self–Study plan into lessons. Each lesson requires about 3+ hours of study time. You should design your plan around your availability to study.
 30 Day Plan: Requires you to complete 10 lessons per week, averaging 30 hours per week
 60 Day Plan: Requires you to complete 5 lessons per week, averaging 15 hours per week
 90+ Day Plan: Requires you to complete 2-3 lessons per week, averaging 6-9 hours per week
Welcome to the World of Information Technology! Prepare yourself for a life long journey of learning starting with Lesson 1…
N ortheast Lakeview College
Workforce Development & Community Education
1201 Kitty Hawk Universal City, TX 78148
Tel: (210) 486-5321 http://www.alamo.edu/nlc/workforce
1

 READ: Chapter 1: First Look at Computer Parts & Tools and Chapter 2,
Working Inside a Computer (75 pages) - CompTIA A+ Guide to Managing and
Maintaining your PC
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WATCH: Professor Messer o Introduction (20 min) o PC Overview (26 min)
PRACTICE: o Hands-on Project 1-1: Identify Ports and Parts , p17 o Hands-on Project 1-2: Examine the Power supply, Motherboard, and
Expansion Cards Inside a Case , p18 o Hands-on Project 1-3: Identify Drives and Their Connectors , p23
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READ: Chapter 4: All About Motherboards (50 pages) - CompTIA A+ Guide to
Managing and Maintaining your PC
WATCH: Professor Messer o Overview of Motherboards (6 min) o Motherboards RAM Slots (8 min) o CPU Sockets (7 min) o Motherboard Chipsets (7 min) o Motherboard Jumpers and Connectors (5 min)
PRACTICE: o Applying Concepts: Find the Motherboard Documentation , p142-144 o Hands-on Project 4-3: Examine a Motherboard in Detail , p145-146 o Hands-on Project 4-4: Examine Motherboard Documentation , p146
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READ: Continue reviewing Chapter 4: All About Motherboards (50 pages, cont’d) - CompTIA A+ Guide to Managing and Maintaining your PC
WATCH: Professor Messer o Motherboards Expansion Slots and Bus Speeds (17 min) o How to Install BIOS Upgrades (7 min) o Working with Your Computer’s BIOS (7 min) o Configuring Your BIOS Settings (6 min)
PRACTICE: o Hands-on Project 4-4: Examine BIOS Settings , p158 o Real Problem 4-1: Labeling the Motherboard , p171 o Real Problem 4-2: Selecting a Replacement Motherboard , p172 o Real Problem 4-3: Research Maintaining a Motherboard , p172
N ortheast Lakeview College
Workforce Development & Community Education
1201 Kitty Hawk Universal City, TX 78148
Tel: (210) 486-5321 http://www.alamo.edu/nlc/workforce
2

 READ: Chapter 8: Supporting I/O & Storage Devices (50 pages) - CompTIA
A+ Guide to Managing and Maintaining your PC
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WATCH: Professor Messer o An Overview of PC Input Devices (7 min) o Multimedia Devices (4 min) o Computer Output Devices (2 min)
PRACTICE: o Hands-On Project 8-2: Research Video Port Adapters , p341 o Hands-on Project 8-4: Shop for Storage Media , p385
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READ: Chapter 6: Supporting Hard Drives (41 pages) - CompTIA A+ Guide to
Managing and Maintaining your PC
WATCH: Professor Messer o An Overview of Storage Devices (11 min) o External Storage Device Connection Types (9 min) o Understanding PATA (8 min) o Understanding SATA (4 min) o Understanding SCSI (10 min) o An Overview of RAID (9 min)
PRACTICE: o Applying Concepts: Troubleshooting Hard Drive Installations, p262 o Hands-on Project 6-3: Select a Replacement Hard Drive, p263 o Hands-on Project 6-4: Prepare for Hard Drive Hardware Problems, p263 o Hands-on Project 6-5: Install a Hard Drive , p263 o Real Problem 6-1: Data Recovery Problem , p272 o Real Problem 6-2: Using Hardware RAID , p272
 READ: Chapter 5: Supporting Processors & Upgrading Memory (45 pages) -
CompTIA A+ Guide to Managing and Maintaining your PC
 WATCH: Professor Messer o An Overview of Memory Types (13 min) o Understanding PC Memory (10 min) o An Overview of CPU Socket Types (9 min) o Understanding CPU Characteristics (10 min) o CPU Cooling Techniques (6 min)
N ortheast Lakeview College
Workforce Development & Community Education
1201 Kitty Hawk Universal City, TX 78148
Tel: (210) 486-5321 http://www.alamo.edu/nlc/workforce
3

 PRACTICE: o Hands-on Project 5-3: Use and Online Memory Scanner , p212 o Hands-on Project 5-4: Plan and Price a Memory Upgrade , p218 o Real Problem 5-1: Understanding Dual Processor Motherboards , p224
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READ: Chapter 2: Working Inside a Computer p74 – 77 (4 pages) - CompTIA
A+ Guide to Managing and Maintaining your PC
WATCH: Professor Messer o PC Power Connectors (7 min) o Computer Power Specifications (10 min)
PRACTICE: o Hands-on Project 2-5: Calculate Wattage Capacity for Your System , p77 o Real Problem 2-1: Taking a Lab Computer Apart and Putting it Back Together , p79-90
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READ: Chapter 3: Introducing to Windows Operating Systems (29 pages) -
CompTIA A+ Guide to Managing and Maintaining your PC
WATCH: Professor Messer o An Overview of Windows 7 (8 min) o Understanding the Linux Boot Process (9 min)
PRACTICE: o Hands-on Project 3-1: Using the Taskbar , p89 o Applying Concepts: Change Folder Settings , p95 o Hands-on Project 3-2: Using Windows Explorer , p99 o Hands-on Project 3-2: Using the System Information Utility , p102 o Applying Concepts Using the UAC in Windows 7 , p107 o Thinking Critically , p114 o Real Problems, Real Solutions , p114-5
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READ: Chapter 7: Installing Windows (49 pages) - CompTIA A+ Guide to
Managing and Maintaining your PC
WATCH: Professor Messer o Installing Windows 7 (9 min) o Linux - Configuring Integrated Peripherals (5 min) o Linux Mass Storage Devices (15 min) o Linux Coldplug and Hotplug Devices (7 min) o Working with Linux Runlevels (12 min) o Using Linux Streams, Pipes, and Redirects (11 min)
N ortheast Lakeview College
Workforce Development & Community Education
1201 Kitty Hawk Universal City, TX 78148
Tel: (210) 486-5321 http://www.alamo.edu/nlc/workforce
4

 PRACTICE: o Hands-on Project 7-3: Preparing for Windows 7 , p293 o Hands-on Project 7-5: Installing Windows 7, p303 o Hands-on Project 7-7: Updating Windows , p308 o Applying Concepts: Updating Device Drivers , p312-313 o Real Problem 7-1: A Corrupted Windows Installation , p327
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READ: Chapter 11: Optimizing Windows (55 pages) - CompTIA A+ Guide to
Managing and Maintaining your PC
WATCH: Professor Messer o Using Computer Management (6 min) o Using Windows Device Manager (12 min) o Windows Local Security Policy (3 min) o Using Windows Performance Monitor (10 min)
PRACTICE: o Hands-on Project 11-1: Research Running Processes , p505 o Applying Concepts: Create a Console , p512 o Applying Concepts: Using the Event Viewer , p517 o Hands-on Project 11-3: Using the Event Viewer , p517 o Hands-on Project 11-4: Practice Launching Programs at Startup , p518 o Hands-on Project 11-5: Edit and Restore the Registry , p523 o Hands-on Project 11-6: Find Windows Utilities , p532 o Hands-on Project 11-8: Practice Manually Removing Software , p551
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READ: Chapter 15: Connecting To and Setting Up a Network and Chapter
16: Networking Types, Devices, and Cabling (78 pages) - CompTIA A+ Guide to
Managing and Maintaining your PC
WATCH: Professor Messer o Network Connector Types (10 min) o Network Cabling (11 min) o TCP/IP Subnets (10 min) o An Overview of IPv4 and IPv6 (10 min) o TCP/IP Addressing (6 min) o Common TCP and UDP Ports (15 min) o Common Network Protocols (13 min) o An Overview of Wireless Networking Standards (7 min) o Wireless Encryption Standards (6 min) o Installing a SOHO Wireless Router (16 min) o Internet Connection Types (13 min) o Network Types (4 min) o Network Topologies (4 min)
N ortheast Lakeview College
Workforce Development & Community Education
1201 Kitty Hawk Universal City, TX 78148
Tel: (210) 486-5321 http://www.alamo.edu/nlc/workforce
5

 o Network Devices (10 min) o Common Networking Tools (9 min)
PRACTICE: o Applying Concepts: Basic Subnetting , p710-11 o Hands-on Project 15-1: Practice Using FTP , p723 o Hands-on Project 15-3: Investigate TCP/IP Settings , p743 o Hands-on Project 15-4: Research a Wireless LAN , p759
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READ: Chapter 13: Troubleshooting Hardware Problems (48 pages) -
CompTIA A+ Guide to Managing and Maintaining your PC
WATCH: Professor Messer o Installing and Configuring Expansion Cards (8 min) o Computer Interface Speeds and Distances (8 min) o Designing Custom Computer Systems (11 min) o Display Specifications (8 min)
PRACTICE: o Applying Concepts: Four Troubleshooting Rules , p609 o Applying Concepts: Troubleshooting Reboots , p610 o Applying Concepts: Troubleshooting Reboots , p612 o Hands-on Project 13-5: Safely Clean Computer Equipment , p650 o Hands-on Project 13-6: Research Disposal Rules , p651
 READ: Chapter 12: Troubleshooting Windows & Applications , and Chapter
14: Troubleshooting Windows Start Up Problems (65 pages) - CompTIA A+
Guide to Managing and Maintaining your PC
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WATCH: Professor Messer o Network Command Line Tools (33 min) o Operating System Command Line Tools (32 min) o Managing Windows Services (7 min) o Windows Memory Diagnostics (4 min) o Windows Disk Management (4 min) o Understanding Windows Component Services (04 min)
PRACTICE: o Hands-on Project 12-1: Research a Computer Problem , p568-9 o Hands-on Project 12-3: Research PC Support Sites , p573 o Hands-on Project 12-4: Rebuild Pagefile.sys
, p581 o Real Problem 12-1: Working with DLL Errors , p598 o Applying Concepts: How to Use the Windows Memory Diagnostic , p625 o Applying Concepts: Use the Device Manager to Delete the Driver Store , p627 o Hands-on Project 13-3: Sabotage and Repair a Computer , p632
N ortheast Lakeview College
Workforce Development & Community Education
1201 Kitty Hawk Universal City, TX 78148
Tel: (210) 486-5321 http://www.alamo.edu/nlc/workforce
6

o Hands-on Project 13-2: Troubleshoot Memory , p632 o Hands-on Project 13-4: Adjust Windows Display Settings , p643 o Real Problem 13-1: Using Event Viewer to Troubleshoot a Hardware Problem , p654-5
 READ: Chapter 18: Security Strategies (24 pages) - CompTIA A+ Guide to
Managing and Maintaining your PC
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WATCH: Professor Messer (From the 701/702 Video Series) o Security Fundamentals (19 min) o Security Technologies (18 min) o Resolving Malware Issues (16 min)
PRACTICE: o Applying Concepts: Require a PW to Wake up a Computer , p881-2 o Applying Concepts: Configure Windows Firewall , p886-8 o Applying Concepts: Apply Local Security Policies , p889-90 o Hands-on Project 18-2: Create & Use an AV Rescue Disk , p917 o Hands-on Project 18-3: Download and Use AV Software , p917 o Hands-on Project 18-4: Learn to Use Process Explorer , p918 o Hands-on Project 18-5: Use the Web to Learn About Malware, p918
 READ: Chapter 9, Satisfying Customer Needs (37 pages) - CompTIA A+ Guide to Managing and Maintaining your PC
 WATCH: Professor Messer (From the 701/702 Video Series) o The Human Component: Communication (10 min) o The Human Component: Professionalism (14 min)
 READ: Chapter 20: Mobile Devices and Client Side Virtualization (50 pages) -
CompTIA A+ Guide to Managing and Maintaining your PC
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WATCH: Professor Messer (From the 701/702 Video Series) o Using a Virtual Machine (14 min) o Client-Side Virtualization (7 min)
PRACTICE: o Hands-on Project 7-2: Installing and Running Microsoft VirtualPC , p286 o Hands-on Project 20-5: Set and Use a Virtual Machine , p104
N ortheast Lakeview College
Workforce Development & Community Education
1201 Kitty Hawk Universal City, TX 78148
Tel: (210) 486-5321 http://www.alamo.edu/nlc/workforce
7