If you are getting ready for a career as an entry-level information technology (IT) professional or personal computer (PC) service technician, the CompTIA® A+® course is the first step in your preparation. The course will build on your existing user-level knowledge and experience with personal computer software and hardware to present fundamental skills and concepts that you will use on the job. In this course, you will acquire the essential skills and information you will need to install, upgrade, repair, configure, troubleshoot, optimize, and perform preventative maintenance of basic personal computer hardware and operating systems.

The CompTIA A+ course can benefit you in two ways. Whether you work or plan to work in a mobile or corporate environment where you have a high level of face-to-face customer interaction, where client communication and client training are important, or in an environment with limited customer interaction and an emphasis on hardware activities, this course provides the background knowledge and skills you will require to be a successful A+ technician. It can also assist you if you are preparing to take the CompTIA A+ certification examinations, 2012 objectives (exam numbers 220-801, 220-802), in order to become a CompTIA A+ Certified Professional.

In this course, you will install, upgrade, repair, configure, optimize, troubleshoot, and perform preventative maintenance on basic personal computer hardware and operating systems.

You will:

• Identify the hardware components of a computer.
• Identify the basic components and functions of an operating system.
• Identify the operational procedures that should be followed by PC technicians.
• Identify and configure peripheral components.
• Manage system components.
• Identify and configure operating systems.
• Identify the hardware and software requirements for custom client environments.
• Identify network technologies.
• Identify, configure, and maintain SOHO networks.
• Support laptops.
• Configure mobile computing devices.
• Support printers.
• Implement concepts and techniques used to secure computing devices and environments.
• Troubleshoot hardware components.
• Troubleshoot system-wide issues.

Lesson 1: Hardware Fundamentals

• Topic A: Computer System Components
• Topic B: Storage Devices
• Topic C: Device Connections and Interfaces

Lesson 2: Operating System Fundamentals

• Topic A: Personal Computer Operating Systems
• Topic B: Windows Control Panel Utilities
• Topic C: Command Line Tools
• Topic D: Windows Security Settings
• Topic E: Windows Operating System Tools

Lesson 3: Operational Procedures

• Topic A: Basic Maintenance Tools and Techniques
• Topic B: Electrical Safety
• Topic C: Environmental Safety and Materials Handling
• Topic D: Professionalism and Communication

Lesson 4: Peripheral Components

• Topic A: Install and Configure Display Devices
• Topic B: Install and Configure Input Devices
• Topic C: Install and Configure Expansion Cards
• Topic D: Install and Configure Multimedia Devices

Lesson 5: Managing System Components

• Topic A: Motherboards
• Topic B: CPUs and Cooling Systems
• Topic C: Select and Install Power Supplies
• Topic D: RAM Types and Features
• Topic E: Install and Configure Storage Devices
• Topic F: Configure the System BIOS

Lesson 6: Installing and Configuring Operating Systems

• Topic A: Implement Virtualization
• Topic B: Install Microsoft Windows
• Topic C: Windows Upgrades
• Topic D: Windows Optimization and Preventive Maintenance

Lesson 7: Customized Client Environments

• Topic A: Standard Clients
• Topic B: Custom Client Environments

Lesson 8: Networking Technologies

• Topic A: Physical Network Connections
• Topic B: TCP/IP
• Topic C: Network Connectivity
• Topic D: Ports and Protocols
• Topic E: Set Up and Configure Windows Networking
• Topic F: Networking Tools

Lesson 9: Installing, Configuring, and Maintaining SOHO Networks

• Topic A: Install and Configure SOHO Networks
• Topic B: SOHO Network Security

Lesson 10: Supporting Laptops

• Topic A: Laptop Hardware and Components
• Topic B: Install and Configure Laptop Hardware Components

Lesson 11: Mobile Computing

• Topic A: Mobile Device Technologies
• Topic B: Configure Mobile Devices
• Lesson 12: Supporting Printers
• Topic A: Printer Technologies
• Topic B: Install, Configure, and Maintain Printers

Lesson 13: Security

• Topic A: Security Fundamentals
• Topic B: Security Threats and Vulnerabilities
• Topic C: Security Protection Measures
• Topic D: Workstation Security

Lesson 14: Troubleshooting Hardware Components

• Topic A: Troubleshooting Theory
• Topic B: Troubleshoot Video and Display Devices
• Topic C: Troubleshoot Hard Drives and RAID Arrays
• Topic D: Troubleshoot System Components
• Topic E: Troubleshoot Laptops
• Topic F: Troubleshoot Printers

Lesson 15: Troubleshooting System-Wide Issues

• Topic A: Troubleshoot Operating Systems
• Topic B: Troubleshoot Wired and Wireless Networks
• Topic C: Troubleshoot Common Security Issues

Appendix A: Mapping Course Content to CompTIA® A+® Exam 220-801

Appendix B: Mapping Course Content to CompTIA® A+® Exam 220-802

Appendix C: CompTIA A+ Acronyms

Appendix D: A Brief History of Personal Computers

This course is intended for anyone with basic computer user skills who is interested in obtaining a job as an IT professional or PC technician. In addition, this course will help prepare students to achieve a CompTIA A+ Certification.