CompTIA A+ 2009

Course Length: Eight Days

Course Objective: 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.

Target Student: The target student is 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.

Prerequisites: Students taking this course should have the following skills: end-user skills with Windows®-based personal computers, including the ability to: browse and search for information on the Internet; start up, shut down, and log on to a computer and network; run programs; and move, copy, delete, and rename files in Windows Explorer. Students should also have basic knowledge of computing concepts, including the difference between hardware and software; the functions of software components, such as the operating system, applications, and file systems; and the function of a computer network.

An introductory course in a Windows operating system, or equivalent skills and knowledge, is required. Students can take any one of the following Element K courses: Introduction to Personal Computers: Using Windows XP, Windows XP: Introduction , Introduction to Personal Computers: Using Windows Vista™, or Microsoft® Windows Vista™: Level 1.

Part One: A+ 2009, Essentials

Unit 1: Troubleshooting methodology
Topic A: Troubleshooting models
Topic B: Professionalism

Unit 2: Operating systems
Topic A: Operating system fundamentals
Topic B: Directory and file management
Topic C: File and folder permissions

Unit 3: Electricity and power supplies
Topic A: Electrical safety
Topic B: Power supplies

Unit 4: CPUs and motherboards
Topic A: Central processing units
Topic B: Packaging, slots, and cooling techniques
Topic C: Motherboards

Unit 5: The Basic Input/Output System
Topic A: The BIOS and CMOS
Topic B: The POST and boot processes

Unit 6: Memory systems
Topic A: Memory
Topic B: Memory packaging
Topic C: Memory monitoring

Unit 7: Bus structures
Topic A: Buses
Topic B: The PCI bus
Topic C: Video buses

Unit 8: Expansion cards
Topic A: Drive adapters
Topic B: Video cards
Topic C: Sound cards
Topic D: Internal modems

Unit 9: Peripheral connection types
Topic A: Serial and parallel connections
Topic B: PS/2 connections
Topic C: USB connections
Topic D: FireWire connections
Topic E: Multimedia connections

Unit 10: Data storage devices
Topic A: Hard drives
Topic B: Optical drives
Topic C: Removable storage devices
Topic D: Drive maintenance

Unit 11: Video output and image input devices
Topic A: Monitors
Topic B: Scanners and cameras

Unit 12: Printers
Topic A: Printing technologies
Topic B: Printer installation and optimization

Unit 13: Connecting computers
Topic A: Networking concepts
Topic B: Wired network connections
Topic C: Basic internetworking devices

Unit 14: Networking computers
Topic A: Addressing
Topic B: Client configuration

Unit 15: Portable computers
Topic A: Notebook computers
Topic B: Notebook issues

Unit 16: Monitoring and management
Topic A: System monitoring
Topic B: System performance
Topic C: System management

Unit 17: Operating system troubleshooting
Topic A: Windows startup
Topic B: System troubleshooting

Unit 18: Security
Topic A: Operating system security
Topic B: Windows Encrypted File System
Topic C: Security hardware
Topic D: The human aspects of security

Unit 19: Windows installation and upgrades
Topic A: Windows installation
Topic B: Upgrades

Unit 20: Safety and maintenance
Topic A: Safety and hazards
Topic B: Computer maintenance
Topic C: Safe work practices
Topic D: Disposing of computer equipment

Unit 21: Troubleshooting hardware
Topic A: Backups
Topic B: Hardware problems

One Campbell Plaza, Suite 2B
St. Louis, MO 63139
Phone: (314) 644-6400
Fax: (314) 644-3670
www.premier-ks.com