MindWorks A+ Certification Course
Prerequisites: PC Support Specialist or equivalent experience.
The A+ Certification Program was established by the Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA) and is sponsored by many of the largest PC vendors in the industry, including IBM, Hewlett-Packard and COMPAQ. The purpose of this certification is to set a standard for those working in the personal computer industry as technicians, help desk and support staff. Because many employers require that their personnel become A+ certified and because of the high standards set for certification, A+ Certification has become one of the most sought-after certifications in the computer industry. The MindWorks A+ Certification Course covers the following topics:
Section 1: Safety
Potential Health Hazards, Electrical Fires, Causes of Electrostatic Discharges (ESD), Preventing ESD, Components of a Good ESD Prevention Program, Electromagnetic Interference (EMI)
Section 2: PC Hardware Components & Tools
Basics, The System Board, Bus Design, The CPU, CPU Performance Factors, Clock Speed, Internal Cache, Memory, INTEL Processors: Now & Then, Motorola Chip Family, Processor Sockets & Slots, System Memory, Power Supplies, Hard Disk Drives, File Allocation Table, Encoding, Hard Drive Interfaces, Hard Disk Characteristics, Hard Disk Maintenance, Disk Fragmentation, Floppy Disks, The Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS), Communications Ports & Devices, Boards and Connectors, Portable Systems
Section 3: PC Configuration
Understanding I/O Addresses, DMA Channels & IRQ Lines; DMA (Direct Memory Access) Channels; IRQ (Interrupt Request) levels; Installing Circuit Boards; Configuration; Peripheral Cards
Section 4: Disassembly & Reassembly
Before You Begin, Disassembly, Reassembly, Final Check List, Testing the System
Section 5: Peripheral Hardware Devices
Monitors, Video Resolution, The Keyboard, Multimedia, Sound Boards, Speakers, Pointing Devices, Scanners, Modems
Section 6: DOS
Purpose of an Operating System, Starting DOS, BIOS, Booting the Computer, Creating Boot Disks, Understanding DOS Files & Directories, DOS Commands, Directory Commands, Creating DOS Directories, DOS Configuration Files, CONFIG.SYS File, AUTOEXEC.BAT, DOS Batch Programs, Creating Batch Files, List of DOS Commands
Section 7: DOS Memory Optimization
Memory Optimization, Managing Memory, Viewing Memory
Section 8: Windows 3.1
Installing Windows, Starting Windows, Installing Non-Windows Programs, Creating and Using PIFs, Windows 3.1 Applications, Files and Type Formats, Drivers, Accessories and Utilities, Windows 3.1 System Files, Optional Files, Windows Initialization Files, How Windows Manages Memory
Section 9: Windows 95
Windows 95 Design, Windows 95 - The Differences, Plug and Play, Windows Specific Troubleshooting Tools, Upgrading DOS to Windows 95, Upgrading Windows 3.x to 95, Windows 95 Boot Sequences, Configuring the Desktop
Section 10: The Internet
What is the Internet, History of the Internet, Responsibility of the Internet, Capabilities of the Internet, Getting connected to the Internet, Security on the Internet
Section 11: Printers
The Electrophotographic (EP) Printer, The Printing Process, Servicing Laser Printers, Common Printer Problems and Solutions, Other Printers
Section12: Networks
LANs (Local Area Networks), Topologies, Logical Components, Different Types of Networks
Section 13: Preventive Maintenance
Harmful Influences, Stray Electromagnetism, Power Related Problems, Water and Other Liquids, Corrosive Elements, Implementing a Preventive Maintenance Program, Troubleshooting/Repair Tools & Maintenance Procedures, Preventive Maintenance/Cleaning Recommendations, Safety/Environmental Repair Considerations
Section 14: Diagnosing & Troubleshooting
Seven Steps of PC Troubleshooting, Common Problems, Getting Troubleshooting Information From Customers, Common Error Cods and Startup Messages, Common Problems in Windows, Windows-Specific Troubleshooting Tools, Viruses
Section 15: Customer Service
Customer Service, Conflict Management Skills, Telephone Support