Study Lab

Don't miss the Study Lab materials found on the CD accompanying this book. Each Study Lab is tailored to the individual chapters in this book, meaning that you'll quickly be able to determine which topics you understand well enough to pass the exam and which topics need more study. The Study Labs are presented in printable PDF format so that you can take them with you to study at work, on the road, or even in your car just before test time!

The Absolute Minimum

• Startup errors for all versions of Windows on the A+ Certification Exams can be caused by problems with Windows configuration, missing device drivers, or drive problems.

• You can start Windows with various special startup options such as Safe Mode, Logged, Last Known Good Configuration, and VGA Mode to bypass startup problems and help troubleshoot the system.

• Windows NT 4.0 and 2000 offer the Emergency System Repair option to fix problems with boot files.

• Windows 2000 and XP feature the Recovery Console, a special command-prompt mode for fixing system problems.

• Windows 9x/Me display illegal operation errors as a result of conflicts, low free system resources (FSRs), or other problems.

• The Dr. Watson and Resource Meter utilities can be useful in troubleshooting general protection faults (GPFs) and other illegal operation errors.

• Windows NT 4.0/2000/XP display STOP (Blue Screen of Death, or BSOD) errors when the system has incompatible or defective hardware or software installed, Registry problems, viruses, or other problems.

• Problems with the Windows swapfile (9x/Me) or paging file (Windows NT 4.0/2000/XP) can cause various system problems because the paging file is used as a RAM substitute.

• You can move the paging file or swapfile to another drive or, in Windows NT 4.0/2000/XP, spread the paging file across multiple drives if the default system drive is short of space.

• Windows 9x/Me let you disable advanced disk-access options if necessary to troubleshoot hard disk problems.

• Problems with ATA/IDE and SCSI hard disks can prevent Windows from starting. They can be solved by adjusting system or SCSI BIOS options or adjusting other settings.

• A lack of disk space can cause problems with program installation or system lockups.

• The MSConfig program in Windows 98/Me/XP enables the user to customize the boot process.

• System File Checker in Windows 98/2000/XP checks system files for corruption or unauthorized replacement.

• Command-prompt and Recovery Console utilities can be used to troubleshoot various types of system problems.

• Computer viruses can be spread between systems through media, network connections, and email.

• Antivirus software must be kept up to date and used at all times to prevent infection.