A+ Guide to Software: Managing, Maintaining, and Troubleshooting

CompTIA A+ Essential 2006 Examination Objectives     viiCompTIA A+ 220-602 2006 Examination Objectives     xviiiCompTIA A+ 220-603 2006 Examination Objectives     xxvCompTIA A+ 220-604 2006 Examination Objectives     xxxiIntroducing Operating Systems     1Operating Systems Past and Present     2DOS (Disk Operating System)     2Windows 9x/Me     3Windows NT     5Windows 2000     5Windows XP     7Windows Vista     8Windows Server 2003     8Unix     8Linux     8OS/2     9Mac OS     9What an Operating System Does     11Operating System Components     11An OS Provides a User Interface     12An OS Manages Files and Folders     14An OS Manages Applications     19An OS Manages Hardware     22OS Tools to Examine a System     28The Windows Desktop     28My Computer and Windows Explorer     34System Properties     39Control Panel     40Device Manager     41SystemInformation     44Windows Help and the Microsoft Web Site     44Keystroke Shortcuts in the OS     46Installing Windows 2000/XP     55Features and Architecture of Windows 2000/XP     56Versions and Features of Windows XP and 2000     56Windows 2000/XP Architecture and Operating Modes     60Networking Features     62How Windows 2000/XP Manages Hard Drives     65When to Use Windows 2000 and Windows XP     74Plan the Windows 2000/XP Installation     75Minimum Requirements and Hardware Compatibility     75Upgrade, Clean Install, or Dual Boot?     79Hard Drive Partitions and File Systems     81Will the PC Join a Workgroup or a Domain?     82How Will the Installation Process Work?     82Final Checklist     83Steps to Install Windows XP     86Windows XP Clean Install When an OS is Not Already Installed     87Windows XP Clean Install When an OS is Already Installed     89Upgrade to Windows XP     89Dual Boot Using Windows XP     90After the Windows XP Installation     91Product Activation     93Update Windows      94Steps to Install Windows 2000     97Clean Installation     97Clean Install When the Hard Drive Has an Operating System Installed     99Upgrade Installation     100Maintaining Windows 2000/XP     107Supporting Hardware and Applications     108Installing Hardware Under Windows 2000/XP     108Preparing a Hard Drive for First Use     114Solving Hardware Problems Using Windows 2000/XP     119Installing and Supporting Applications     124Tools Useful to Manage Hardware and Applications     130Protecting and Maintaining Windows System Files     140Windows File Protection     141Windows XP System Restore     143Back up and Restore the System State     146Windows XP Automated System Recovery     148The Windows 2000/XP Registry     152How the Registry Is Organized     153Backing Up and Recovering the Registry     156Editing the Registry     158Optimizing the Windows 2000/XP Environment     160Tools to Manage Software     161Uninstall Unwanted Software     170Managing Windows 2000/XP Memory      175Supporting Windows 2000/XP Users and Their Data     185Managing User Accounts     186Understanding and Setting Up User Accounts     186Transferring User Files and Preferences to a New PC     197Tools for Supporting Users and Their Data     199The Command Prompt Window     199Task Scheduler     207Group Policy     209Controlling the Start Menu     212Windows XP Remote Assistance     213Supporting Hard Drives     219Hard Drive Routine Maintenance Tasks     219Conserving Hard Drive Space     223Making Backups     227Solving Hard Drive Problems     233Troubleshooting Windows 2000/XP Startup     245Understanding the Windows 2000/XP Boot Process     246What Happens when Windows 2000/XP Starts Up     246Files Needed to Start Windows 2000/XP     247Important Folders Used in the Startup Process     249The Boot.ini File     249Customizing the Way Windows 2000/XP Starts Up     250Troubleshooting Tools to Solve Startup Problems     252Advanced Options Menu     258Recovery Console      263Strategies for Troubleshooting Windows 2000/XP Startup     275Guidelines for Troubleshooting Boot Problems     275Respond to Any Startup Errors     277Cleaning Up Startup     282Restore System Files     288Recover or Repair the Windows 2000/XP Installation     290Windows 9x/Me Commands and Startup Disk     301Understanding DOS and Windows 9x/Me Startup     302OS Boot Record Program Locates and Executes Io.sys     302Msdos.sys Is Checked     303Config.sys Is Checked     303Command.com is Executed     304Autoexec.bat is Executed     304Commands to Manage Memory     305How DOS and Windows 9x/Me Divide Memory     305Windows 9x/Me and DOS Utilities That Manage Memory     308Using the Command Prompt     312Accessing a Command Prompt     312File and Directory Naming Conventions     313Using Wildcard Characters in Command Lines     314Launching a Program Using the Command Prompt     314Commands to Manage Files and Directories     315Commands to Manage Hard Drives and Disks     322Commands to Manage the Operating System      324Using Batch Files     326Using the Windows 9x/Me Startup Disk     326Creating a Windows 9x/Me Startup Disk     326Using a Startup Disk to Partition and Format a New Drive     328Using a Startup Disk to Troubleshoot a Failed Boot     330Supporting Windows 9x/Me     339Windows 9x/Me Architecture     340A Bridging of Two Worlds     340Virtual Machines     342Virtual Memory     344Installing Windows 9x/Me, Hardware, and Software     345Installing Windows 9x/Me     345Installing and Managing Hardware with Windows 9x/Me     356Installing and Managing Software with Windows 9x/Me     362Booting Windows 9x/Me     364Files Used to Customize the Startup Process     365The Windows 9x/Me Startup Process     366Troubleshooting Tools for Windows 9x/Me     370System Monitor     372System Configuration Utility (Msconfig)     373Dr. Watson     374The Windows 9x/Me Registry and Registry Checker     375Troubleshooting Windows 9x/Me     379Troubleshooting Windows 9x/Me Installations     379Troubleshooting Windows 9x/Me Startup     380Troubleshooting Problems After Windows 9x/Me Startup     389Windows on a Network     401Physical Network Architectures     402Sizes of Networks     402Additional Terms Used in Networking     402Introducing Ethernet     404Wi-Fi Wireless Networks     405VoIP Telephone Networks     406Windows on a Network     409Four Suites of Protocols     410Addressing on a Network     412How Computers Find Each Other on a LAN     421Configuring a Network card and Connecting to a Network     423Installing a NIC Using Windows 2000/XP     423Installing a NIC Using Windows 9x/Me     429Installing a Wireless Adapter in a Notebook     432Using Resources on the Network     443Sharing Files, Folders, and Applications     443Network Drive Maps     448What If You Don't Want to Share?     450How to Set Up Your Own Wireless Network     451Security on a Wireless LAN     451Choosing a Wireless Access Point     453Configure and Test Your Wireless Network     453Troubleshooting a Network Connection      457Windows on the Internet     467The TCP/IP Suite of Protocols     468Using IP and Port Addresses to Identify Services     468TCP/IP Protocol Layers     471TCP/IP Utilities     474Connecting to the Internet     477Cable Modem and DSL Connections     478Dial-up Connections     485Sharing a Personal Internet Connection     495Implementing a Software Firewall     497Using a Router on Your Network     499Advantages of Using a Router     500Installing and Configuring a Router     502Virtual Private Network     508Supporting Internet Clients     510Supporting Web Browsers     511Supporting E-mail     522Supporting FTP     524Supporting VoIP     527Supporting Remote Desktop     530Securing Your PC and LAN     543Securing Your Desktop or Notebook Computer     544Access Control     545Limit Use of the Administrator Account     553Use a Personal Firewall     554Use AV Software     555Keep Windows Updates Current      556Set Internet Explorer for Optimum Security     558Use Alternate Client Software     558Consider Using Microsoft Shared Computer Toolkit for Windows XP     559Hide and Encrypt Files and Folders     560Physically Protect Your Equipment     566Beware of Social Engineering     567Keep Good Backups of User Data     571Back Up System Files     572Make Use of Event Logging and Incident Reporting     572Destroy the Trash     578Perform a Monthly Security Maintenance Routine     578Securing Your Wired or Wireless Network     579Use a Router to Secure a SOHO Network     579Authentication Technologies for Larger Networks     581Dealing with Malicious Software     583You've Got Malware     584Here's the Nasty List     585Step-by-Step Attack Plan     589Supporting Printers and Scanners     607Installing and Sharing a Printer     608Installing a Local Printer     608Sharing a Printer with Others in a Workgroup     612Maintaining Printers and Scanners     619Printer Languages     619Using Windows to Manage Printers      620Installing a Scanner     624Troubleshooting Printers and Scanners     627Printer Does Not Print     627Troubleshooting Scanners     633The Professional PC Technician     639Job Roles and Responsibilities     640Certifications and Professional Organizations     640Recordkeeping and Information Tools     642What Customers Want: Beyond Technical Know-How     642Support Calls: Providing Good Service     643Planning for Good Service     644Making an On-Site Service Call     645Phone Support     647When You Can't Solve the Problem     650Protecting Software Copyrights     650Federal Copyright Act of 1976     650Industry Associations     651What Are Your Responsibilities Under the Law?     651How an OS Uses System Resources     657Interrupt Request Number (IRQ)     658Memory Addresses     662I/O Addresses     663DMA Channels     664Introducing Linux     665Root Account and User Accounts     667Directory and File Layout     667Linux Commands     669Editing Commands     671Viewing the Shells File     672Redirecting Output     673Creating a Directory     673Using the vi Editor     674Window Managers     676Introducing the Mac OS     677Starting Up a Mac     678Using the Mac     680The Mac Desktop     680Using the Finder     681Using the Apple Menu     683Launching an Application     684Supporting Hardware     684Adjusting Display Settings     685Supporting the Hard Drive     686Drive Maintenance Tools     687Supporting Windows MT Workstation     691Installing Windows NT as the Only OS     692Troubleshooting the Windows NT Boot Process     692Last Known Good Configuration     693Windows NT Boot Disks     693The Windows NT Emergency Repair Disk     694Using the Boot Disks and the ERD to Recover from a Failed Boot     695CompTIA A+ Acronyms     697Glossary     705Index     731

\ From the Publisher"This book is comprehensive, students like to read it, color enhancements are great. This is a textbook first and then can be used as a reference later."\ "It's well-written, has good review questions, and good instructor resources. Also, the CertBlaster test prep exams from Student Downloads are an excellent resource."\ "I like the step by step approach with complete images. This means that in lecture I can easily brush past these section and give shorter demonstrations because the text covers the material so well. I like the detail on other OSes in the appendix. The hands-on exercises provide the starting point for great labs without having to purchase an additional book."\ "I love the fact that the software and hardware texts are complementary. When students take the sequence with me it feels almost like a year long course rather than two disconnected courses. There is enough in common between software and hardware texts that students feel totally comfortable with the 2nd text at the start but there really isn't much useless overlap between the two that it feels like a "rerun". The texts are written such that a complete beginner to the subject can understand yet the more experienced students learn as well. Great balance!"\ \ \