Mike Meyers’ CompTIA A+®
Guide to
Managing and
Troubleshooting PCs
Fourth Edition
The Path of the PC Tech
Chapter 1
© 2012 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved
Mike Meyers’ CompTIA A+®
Guide to
Managing and
Troubleshooting PCs
Overview
Fourth Edition
• In this chapter, you will learn how to
– Explain the importance of gaining skill in managing
and troubleshooting PCs
– Explain the importance of CompTIA A+ certification
– Describe how to become CompTIA A+ certified
© 2012 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved
Mike Meyers’ CompTIA A+®
Guide to
Managing and
Troubleshooting PCs
Concept of Certifications
Fourth Edition
• Required in many professions
– Automobile mechanic – ASE
– Accountant – CPA
Certified
• Certification shows competency
– Often opens doors
– Helps get your resume noticed
– Helps you land the interview
© 2012 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved
Mike Meyers’ CompTIA A+®
Guide to
Managing and
Troubleshooting PCs
Fourth Edition
Importance of CompTIA A+
Certification
• There is a long history of vendor-specific
certifications for techs
– HP Certified Professional
– Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE)
• There was a need for a general
certification for PC techs
– Validate that the tech can maintain, upgrade, and
repair PCs
• CompTIA A+ is that certification
© 2012 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved
Mike Meyers’ CompTIA A+®
Guide to
Managing and
Troubleshooting PCs
What Is CompTIA A+ Certification?
Fourth Edition
• Industry-wide, vendor-neutral
• Sponsored by CompTIA
• Wide recognition in computer industry
• Covers nine months of knowledge
• More than 800,000 CompTIA A+ certified
techs worldwide
© 2012 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved
Mike Meyers’ CompTIA A+®
Guide to
Managing and
Troubleshooting PCs
Who Is CompTIA?
Fourth Edition
• Nonprofit, industry trade association
• More than 20,000 member organizations
in 102 countries
• Virtually every company of consequence
in the IT industry is a member
• Offers certifications such as CompTIA
A+, CompTIA Network+, CompTIA
Security+, and more
• See www.comptia.org for details
© 2012 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved
Mike Meyers’ CompTIA A+®
Guide to
Managing and
Troubleshooting PCs
The Path to Other Certifications
Fourth Edition
• CompTIA Network+
– Shows competency as a network technician
• Microsoft Certified Information Technology
Professional
– Shows competency in Microsoft operating systems
• Cisco
– Shows competency in routing and switching
technologies
© 2012 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved
Mike Meyers’ CompTIA A+®
Guide to
Managing and
Troubleshooting PCs
CompTIA A+ Certification
Fourth Edition
• How to become CompTIA A+ certified
– Pass two computer-based, multiple-choice exams
• Requires that you pay a fee
– CompTIA A+ 220-801
– CompTIA A+ 220-802
© 2012 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved
Mike Meyers’ CompTIA A+®
Guide to
Managing and
Troubleshooting PCs
CompTIA A+ Certification
Fourth Edition
• No more “Lifetime Certification”!
– Effective January 1, 2011, CompTIA’s A+, Security+,
and Network+ are no longer “certified for life”
– If you passed before this date, you are
“grandfathered”
– Must retake exam every 3 years OR earn CEU’s
– CEUs gained by attending industry events, training,
teaching, or earning higher-level certifications
– Brings CompTIA’s certifications in line with other
industry certifications
© 2012 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved
Mike Meyers’ CompTIA A+®
Guide to
Managing and
Troubleshooting PCs
The CompTIA A+ Exams
Fourth Edition
• Windows Desktop-centric
– No Mac, no Linux, no Windows Server, no Windows
Mobile
•
•
•
•
Windows XP
Windows Vista
Windows 7
Windows 8 will not be covered on
either exam
© 2012 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved
Mike Meyers’ CompTIA A+®
Guide to
Managing and
Troubleshooting PCs
Basic Exam Structure
Fourth Edition
• Multiple choice questions such as
1. A dot-matrix printer is printing blank pages.
What should you check first?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Printer drivers
Platen
Print head
Ribbon
2. Click on the location
of the processor
socket in the picture
© 2012 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved
Mike Meyers’ CompTIA A+®
Guide to
Managing and
Troubleshooting PCs
Essentials (220-801)
Fourth Edition
Domain
Percentage
1.0 PC Hardware
40%
2.0 Networking
27%
3.0 Laptops
11%
4.0 Printers
11%
5.0 Operational Procedures
11%
• Domains and percentages for the
CompTIA A+ 220-801 exam
© 2012 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved
Mike Meyers’ CompTIA A+®
Guide to
Managing and
Troubleshooting PCs
Practical Application (220-802)
Fourth Edition
Domain
1.0 Operating Systems
2.0 Security
3.0 Mobile Devices
4.0 Troubleshooting
Percentage
33%
22%
9%
36%
• Domains and percentages for the
CompTIA A+ 220-802 exam
© 2012 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved
Mike Meyers’ CompTIA A+®
Guide to
Managing and
Troubleshooting PCs
What Chapters Cover Each Exam?
Fourth Edition
• Objective map in Appendix A
– Shows exactly where objectives are covered
• Book focuses on tech skills
– Expect the chapter to teach you the material fully.
– Each exam tests at different depths:
• 220-801 Identify, install, and configure
• 220-802 Maintain and troubleshoot
© 2012 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved
Mike Meyers’ CompTIA A+®
Guide to
Managing and
Troubleshooting PCs
How to Take the Tests
Fourth Edition
• Offered by Prometric at testing sites
worldwide
– 800-776-4276 or www.prometric.com
• Offered by Pearson/VUE at testing sites
worldwide
– 877-551-PLUS (7587) or www.vue.com
• Cost of the exams
– $178 (U.S.) per exam – pass or fail
– Discount vouchers widely available
© 2012 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved
Mike Meyers’ CompTIA A+®
Guide to
Managing and
Troubleshooting PCs
How to Pass the CompTIA A+ Exams
Fourth Edition
• Set a date as your goal
• Set aside enough time for study and lab
• Use the practice exams on the CD that
comes with the book
• Use good study strategies
– Write down information in your own handwriting
– Make flash cards
– Set aside a special time for study each day
© 2012 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved