Preface

Welcome and congratulations! You hold in your hands the most powerful, user-friendly combination PC repair/A+ certification tool available. It is crafted to teach you the basics of PC repair and maintenance as well as prepare you to take and pass the current Computing Technology Industry Association’s (CompTIA’s) A+ certification computerized exams.

This practical, no-nonsense book focuses on and teaches you specific topics that will prepare you well to fix computers and prepare for a career as a computer technician. It also targets topics that are most likely going to be addressed on the current A+ exams. The authors’ main objective is to prepare the reader by isolating and focusing on these specific topics without adding all of the “fluff” found in other books. It is not designed to fill your head with unnecessary information before you fix specific computer-related issues or enter a computerized testing site (this type of preparation is usually accompanied by confusion, lost time, and certification exam failure).

HOW TO USE THIS BOOK

This book is divided into two main parts.

Part I, PC Repair and Maintenance, is an easy-to-read “hands-on” approach to learning, repairing, and maintaining PCs. It is loaded with detailed figures and diagrams that make even the most complicated of tasks easy to understand. In Part I, you will learn important industry terminology. You will learn how to install and troubleshoot hardware. You will learn how to solve many of the most common operating system-related problems that occur when you are running Windows 95, 98, Me, 2000, or XP. You will also learn how to acquire computer replacement and expansion components inexpensively.

After every few chapters in Part I, you will notice cumulative A+ Certification Review Questions. These questions are in place to build upon your acquired knowledge of the subject matter discussed and ultimately prepare you for deeper discussion of those topics in Part II. The review questions are followed by answers and a cross-reference as to where the topics are located in Part II. It is very likely that you will have to do a little work to find the supporting theory behind the correct answers!

Part II, The A+ Certification Exams, is a powerful resource specifically designed to prepare you to ace the current CompTIA A+ certification exams. This section is further separswated into two parts: Part II A, which covers A+ Core Hardware Service Technician Study (Exam 220-301), and Part II B, which covers A+ Operating Systems Technologies Study (Exam 220-302). All of the CompTIA A+ certification objectives are covered in detail in Part II of this book. You will be able to reinforce your acquired knowledge of these objectives by answering certification review questions at the end of every chapter.

It is important to note that you will see important subject matter in this book covered more than once. Remember that you learn the basics in Part I and build upon that knowledge in Part II. In other words, you will learn to walk before you run.