© 2010 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved Mike Meyers’ CompTIA A+ ® Guide to Managing and Troubleshooting PCs Third Edition The Path of the PC Tech Chapter 1

© 2010 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved Mike Meyers’ CompTIA A+ ® Guide to Managing and Troubleshooting PCs Third Edition Overview 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 a CompTIA A+ Certified Technician

© 2010 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved Mike Meyers’ CompTIA A+ ® Guide to Managing and Troubleshooting PCs Third Edition Concept of Certifications Required in many professions –Automobile mechanic – ASE –Accountant – CPA Certification shows competency –Often opens doors –Helps get your resume noticed –Helps you land the interview Certified

© 2010 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved Mike Meyers’ CompTIA A+ ® Guide to Managing and Troubleshooting PCs Third 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

© 2010 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved Mike Meyers’ CompTIA A+ ® Guide to Managing and Troubleshooting PCs Third Edition What Is CompTIA A+ Certification? 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

© 2010 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved Mike Meyers’ CompTIA A+ ® Guide to Managing and Troubleshooting PCs Third Edition Who Is CompTIA? Nonprofit, industry trade association More than 20,000 members 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 for details

© 2010 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved Mike Meyers’ CompTIA A+ ® Guide to Managing and Troubleshooting PCs Third Edition The Path to Other Certifications CompTIA Network+ –Shows competency as a network technician Microsoft Certified Professional –Shows competency in Microsoft operating systems Cisco –Shows competency in routing and switching technologies

© 2010 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved Mike Meyers’ CompTIA A+ ® Guide to Managing and Troubleshooting PCs Third Edition CompTIA A+ Certification How to become CompTIA A+ certified –Pass two computer-based, multiple-choice exams Requires that you pay a fee –CompTIA A+ Essentials ( ) –CompTIA Practical Application ( )

© 2010 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved Mike Meyers’ CompTIA A+ ® Guide to Managing and Troubleshooting PCs Third Edition The CompTIA A+ Exams Windows Desktop-centric –No Mac, No Linux, No Windows Server, No Windows Mobile Windows 2000 Windows XP Windows Vista Windows 7 is not covered on either exam

© 2010 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved Mike Meyers’ CompTIA A+ ® Guide to Managing and Troubleshooting PCs Third Edition Basic Exam Structure Multiple choice questions such as 1.A dot-matrix printer is printing blank pages. What should you check first? A.Printer drivers B.Platen C.Print head D.Ribbon 2.Click on the location of the processor socket in the picture

© 2010 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved Mike Meyers’ CompTIA A+ ® Guide to Managing and Troubleshooting PCs Third Edition Essentials ( ) Domains and percentages for the CompTIA A+ Essentials exam 10%6.0 Operational Procedures 8%5.0 Security 15%4.0 Networking 20% 27% Percentage 3.0 Operating Systems/Software 1.0 Hardware 2.0 Troubleshooting/Repair/Maintenance Domain

© 2010 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved Mike Meyers’ CompTIA A+ ® Guide to Managing and Troubleshooting PCs Third Edition Practical Application ( ) 13%4.0 Security 15% 34% 38% Percentage 3.0 Networking 1.0 Hardware 2.0 Operating Systems Domain Domains and percentages for the CompTIA A+ Practical Application exam

© 2010 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved Mike Meyers’ CompTIA A+ ® Guide to Managing and Troubleshooting PCs Third Edition What Chapters Cover Each Exam? 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: Identify, install, and configure Maintain and troubleshoot

© 2010 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved Mike Meyers’ CompTIA A+ ® Guide to Managing and Troubleshooting PCs Third Edition How to Take the Tests Offered by Prometric at testing sites worldwide – or Offered by Pearson/VUE at testing sites worldwide – PLUS (7587) or Cost of the exams –$168 (U.S.) per exam – pass or fail –Discount vouchers widely available

© 2010 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved Mike Meyers’ CompTIA A+ ® Guide to Managing and Troubleshooting PCs Third Edition How to Pass the CompTIA A+ Exams Set a date as your goal Set aside enough time for study and lab Use the practice exams on the CD that come 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

© 2010 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved Mike Meyers’ CompTIA A+ ® Guide to Managing and Troubleshooting PCs Third Edition