A+ Objectives for the 2003 Operating Systems Exam Domain 1.0: Operating System Fundamentals | Section | Objective | Subobjective | Page Range | | 1.1 | Identify the major desktop components and interfaces and their functions. Differentiate the characteristics of Windows 9x/Me, Windows NT 4.0 Workstation, Windows 2000 Professional, and Windows XP. | Contrasts between Windows 9x/Me, Windows NT 4.0 Workstation, Windows 2000 Professional, and Windows XP | 618 “619 | | Major operating system components | | Registry | 614 “617, 621 “624 | | Virtual memory | 671 “674 | | File system | 489 “500 | | Major operating system interfaces | | Windows Explorer | 625 “630 | | My Computer | 625 | | Control Panel | 631 “634 | | Computer Management Console | 647 “649 | | Accessories/System Tools | 641 “646 | | Command line | 663 “670, PDF:1009 “1032 | | Network Neighborhood/My Network Places | 792, 801 “802, 804 “805, PDF:918 “922, | | Taskbar/systray | 634 “636 | | Start Menu | 636 “640 | | Device Manager | 703 “712 | | 1.2 | Identify the names , locations, purposes, and contents of major system files. | Windows 9x “specific files | | Io.sys | 603 “606 | | Msdos.sys | 607 “610 | | WIN.COM | 613 “614 | | Autoexec.bat | 611 | | Command.com | 664 | | Config.sys | 610 “611 | | HIMEM.SYS | 611 “612 | | Emm386.exe | 611 “612 | | System.ini | 618 | | Win.ini | 618 | | User .dat (Registry data) | 614 | | System.dat (Registry data) | 614 | | Windows NT/2000/XP “specific files | | Boot.ini | 620 “621 | | NTLDR | 619 “620 | | Ntdetect.com | 619 | | Ntbootdd.sys | 619 | | Ntuser.dat | 622 | | Registry data files | 621 “622 | | 1.3 | Demonstrate the ability to use command-line functions and utilities to manage the operating system, including the proper syntax and switches. | Command-line functions and utilities | | Command/ CMD | 664 | | DIR | PDF:1011 “1014 | | ATTRIB | PDF:1021 “1022 | | VER | PDF:1016 | | MEM | PDF:1022 “1023 | | SCANDISK | 649 “651 PDF:1010 | | DEFRAG | 651 “652 | | EDIT | PDF:1028 “1029 | | XCOPY | PDF:1023 “1026 | | COPY | PDF:1017 “1018 | | FORMAT | 511 “513, 517 “521 | | FDISK | 506 “510 | | SETVER | PDF:1027 “1028 | | SCANREG | 616 “617 | | MD/CD/RD | PDF:1019 “1020 | | Delete/Rename | PDF:1014 “1016 | | DELTREE | PDF:1020 “1021 | | TYPE | PDF:1019 | | ECHO | PDF:1019 | | SET | PDF:1018 | | 1.4 | Identify basic concepts and procedures for creating, viewing, and managing disks, directories (folders), and files. This includes procedures for changing file attributes and the ramifications of those changes (for example, security issues). | Disks (partition types ) | | Active partition | 507 “509 | | Primary partition | 501 “503 | | Extended partition | 501 “503 | | Logical partition | 509 “510 | | Disks (file systems ) | | FAT16 | 489 “496 | | FAT32 | 496 “498 | | NTFS4 | 498 | | NTFS5.x | 498 “499 | | Directory (folder) structures (root directory, subdirectories, and so on ) | | Create folders | PDF:1019 “1020 | | Navigate the directory structure | PDF:1019 “1020 | | Maximum depth | 655 “656 | | Files | | Creating files | 653 | | Filenaming conventions (most common extensions, 8.3, maximum length) | 654 “655 | | File attributes ” Read Only, Hidden, System, and Archive attributes | 657 “660 | | File compression | 658 “660 | | File encryption | 659 “660 | | File permissions | 660 | | File types (text versus binary file) | 654 | | 1.5 | Identify the major operating system utilities, their purpose, location, and available switches. | Disk management tools | | DEFRAG.EXE | 651 “652 | | FDISK.EXE | 506 “510 | | Backup/Restore utility ( MSbackup , NTBackup , and so forth) | 623, 641 “643 | | ScanDisk | 649 “651 PDF:1010 | | CHKDSK | 649 “651 PDF:1011 | | Disk Cleanup | 645 | | Format | 511 “513, 517 “521 | | System management tools | | Device Manager | 703 “712 | | System Manager | 647 “649 | | Computer Manager | 647 “649 | | MSCONFIG.EXE | 747 “748 | | REGEDIT.EXE (view information/back up Registry) | 614 “616 622 “623 | | REGEDT32.EXE | 622 “623 | | SYSEDIT.EXE | 618 | | SCANREG | 617 | | COMMAND / CMD | 664 | | Event Viewer | 648 “649, PDF:824 | | Task Manager | PDF:922 “923 | | File management tools | | ATTRIB.EXE | PDF:1021 “1022 | | EXTRACT.EXE | 745 “751 | | Edit.com | PDF:1028 “1029 | | Windows Explorer | 625 “630 | Domain 2.0: Installation, Configuration, and Upgrading | Section | Objective | Subobjective | Page Range | | 2.1 | Identify the procedures for installing Windows 9x/Me, Windows NT 4.0 Workstation, Windows 2000 Professional, and Windows XP, and bring the operating system to a basic operational level. | Verify hardware compatibility and minimum requirements | 532 “540 | | Determine OS installation options | 541 “542 | | Installation type (typical, custom, other) | 546 | | Network configuration | 546, 553 558, 560 “561 | | File system type | 543 | | Dual-boot support | 530 “532 545 “548 561 “567 | | Disk preparation order (conceptual disk preparation) | | Start the installation | 543 “550 552 “553 555 “561 | | Partition (9x/Me) | 544 | | Format drive (9x/Me) | 545 | | Partition and format drive (NT 4.0) | 552 “553 | | Partition and format Drive (2000/XP) | 556 “558 | | Run appropriate setup utility | | Setup | 545, 563 “564 | | Winnt | 552 | | Installation methods | | Bootable CD | 530 “532 544, 552, 555 | | Boot floppy | 484 “489 544, 552 555 | | Network installation | 548 “550 553 567 | | Drive imaging | 568 “569 | | Device driver configuration | | Load default drivers | 550 554 568 | | Find updated drivers | 550 “551 554 568 | | Restore user data files (if applicable ) | 570 | | Identify common symptoms and problems | 570 “572, 580 “581, 590 “592, 598 “599 | | 2.2 | Identify steps to perform an operating system upgrade from Windows 9x/Me, Windows NT 4.0 Workstation, Windows 2000 Professional, and Windows XP. Given an upgrade scenario, choose the appropriate next steps. | Upgrade paths available | 576 “579 581 592 | | Determine correct upgrade startup utility (for example, WINNT32 versus WINNT ) | 487 “489 | | Verify hardware compatibility and minimum requirements | 576 “577 581 “582 592 “595 | | Verify application compatibility | 582 593 “595 | | Apply OS service packs , patches, and updates | 580 587 “590 596 “598 | | Install additional Windows components | 641 | | 2.3 | Identify the basic system boot sequences and boot methods, including the steps to create an emergency boot disk with utilities installed for Windows 9x/Me, Windows NT 4.0 Workstation, Windows 2000 Professional, and Windows XP. | Boot sequence | | Files required to boot | | Boot steps (9x) | 604 | | Boot steps (NT based) | 619 | | Alternative boot methods | | Using a Startup disk | 725 “726 732 “733 | | Safe/VGA-only mode | 727 “731 734 “736 | | Last Known Good Configuration | 735 | | Command Prompt mode | 729 “730 | | Boot to a system restore point | 718 “720 747 “748 | | Recovery Console | 750 “752 | | Boot.ini switches | 620 “621 732, 748 751 | | Dual boot | 530 “532, 545 “548 561 “567 | | Create emergency disks with OS utilities | 484 “488 623 643 733 | | Create emergency repair disks (ERDs) | 554 623 643 | | 2.4 | Identify procedures for loading/adding and configuring device drivers and the necessary software for certain devices. | Device driver installation | | Plug and Play (PnP) and non-PNP devices | 693 “696 | | Install and configure device drivers | 700 “701 | | Install different device drivers | 703 “712 | | Manually install a device driver | 703 “712 | | Search the Internet for updated device drivers | 580 587 “590 596 “598 700 “701 | | Use unsigned drivers (driver signing) | 700 “701 | | Install additional Windows components | 641 | | Determine if permissions are adequate for performing the task | 660 | | 2.5 | Identify procedures necessary to optimize the operating system and major operating system subsystems. | Virtual memory management | 671 “674 | | Disk defragmentation | 651 “652 | | Files and buffers | 606, 610 “611 | | Caches | 461 “463 646 “647, 677 | | Temporary file management | 675 “676 | Domain 3.0: Diagnosing and Troubleshooting | Section | Objective | Subobjective | Page Range | | 3.1 | Recognize and interpret the meaning of common error codes and startup messages from the boot sequence, and identify steps to correct the problems. | Common error messages and codes(boot failure and errors ) | | Invalid boot disk | 523 “525, 741 “743 | | Inaccessible boot device | 451 “453, 455 “456 741 “743 | | Missing NTLDR | 732 | | Bad or missing Command interpreter | 725 | | Common error messages and codes (Startup messages ) | | Error in CONFIG.SYS line XX | 724 “725 | | Himem.sys not loaded | 725 | | Missing or corrupt Himem.sys | 726 733 | | Device/service has failed to start | 746 “747 | | A device referenced in SYSTEM.INI / WIN.INI /Registry is not found | 726 “727 | | Event Viewer ” Event log is full | 733 “734 | | Failure to start GUI | 738 “739 | | Windows protection error | 727 | | User-modified settings cause improper operation at startup | 613 “614 727 “731 734 “736 | | Registry corruption | 617, 621 “623 | | Use the correct utilities | | Dr. Watson | 737 “738 | | Boot disk | 484 “487 726 | | Event Viewer | 647 “649 | | 3.2 | Recognize when to use common diagnostic utilities and tools.Given a diagnostic scenario involving one of these utilities or tools, select the appropriate steps needed to resolve the problem. | Utilities and tools (Startup disk ) | | Required files for a boot disk | 485 “487, 604, 664 | | Boot disk with CD-ROM support | 486 “487 | | Utilities and tools (Startup Modes ) | | Safe Mode | 728 “731 | | Safe Mode with command prompt | 728 “731 | | Safe Mode with networking | 728 “731 | | Step-by-Step/Single step mode | 728 “731 | | Automatic skip driver (ASD.exe) | 707, 716 “717 | | Diagnostic tools, utilities, and resources | | User/installation manuals | PDF:833 “834 | | Internet/Web resources | PDF:833 “834 | | Training materials | PDF:833 “834 | | Task Manager | PDF:922 “923 | | Dr. Watson | 737 “738 | | Boot disk | 484 “487 726 | | Event Viewer | 647 “649 | | Device Manager | 703 “712 | | WinMSD | PDF:924 | | MSD | PDF:924 | | Recovery CD | 569 “570 | | CONFIGSAFE | PDF:925 “926 | | Elicit problem symptoms from customers | PDF:825 “826 | | Have customer reproduce error as part of the diagnostic process | PDF:825 “826 | | Identify recent changes to the computer environment from the user | PDF:825 “826 | | 3.3 | Recognize common operational and usability problems and determine how to resolve them. | Troubleshooting Windows-specific printing problems | | Print spool is stalled | 746 “747 | | Incorrect/incompatible driver for print | 692 “693 PDF:887 “889 | | Incorrect parameter | 687 “693 | | Other common problems | | General protection faults | 737 | | Bluescreen error (BSOD) | 738 “739 | | Illegal operation | 737 | | Invalid working directory | 744 | | System lockup | 744 “745 | | Option (sound card, modem, input device) will not function | 703 “712 | | Application will not start or load | 744 PDF:924 “925 | | Cannot log on to network (option ”NIC not functioning) | 745 | | Applications don't install | 746 | | Network connection | PDF:913 “922 | | Viruses and virus types | | What they are | 752 “753 | | TSR (Terminate-Stay-Resident) programs and viruses | 753 | | Sources (floppy, emails, and so forth) | 753 “754 | | How to determine presence | 754 | Domain 4.0: Networks | Section | Objective | Subobjective | Page Range | | 4.1 | Identify the networking capabilities of Windows. Given configuration parameters, configure the operating system to connect to a network. | Configure protocols ( TCP / IP ) | | Gateway | 793 796 | | Subnet mask | 793 794 “795 | | DNS (and domain suffix) | 776 “777 793 796 | | WINS | 793 795 “796 | | Static address assignment | 792 “794 | | Automatic address assignment (APIPA, DHCP) | 792 “794 PDF:914 | | Configure IPX/SPX (NWLink) | 796 | | Configure AppleTalk | 796 “797 | | Configure NetBEUI/ NetBIOS | 797 | | Configure client options | | Microsoft | 801 “802 | | Novell | 801 “802 | | Verify the configuration | 809 PDF:1031 “1032 | | Understand the use of the following tools | | IPCONFIG.EXE | PDF:1031 | | WINIPCFG.EXE | PDF:1032 | | PING | PDF:1029 “1030 | | TRACERT.EXE | PDF:1030 | | NSLOOKUP.EXE | PDF:1030 | | Share resources (understand the capabilities/limitations with each OS version) | 798 “804 | | Set permissions to shared resources | 798 “800 | | Network type and network card | 778 “781 | | 4.2 | Identify the basic Internet protocols and terminologies. Identify procedures for establishing Internet connectivity. In a given scenario, configure the operating system to connect to and use Internet resources. | Protocols and terminologies | | ISP | 774 | | TCP/IP | 773 | | Email (POP, SMTP, IMAP) | 777 “778 | | HTML | 775 | | HTTP | 774 | | HTTPS | 774 | | SSL | 774 | | Telnet | 776 | | FTP | 776 | | DNS | 776 “777 | | Connectivity technologies | | Dial-up networking | 763 “766 | | DSL networking | 767 “769 | | ISDN networking | 766 “767 | | Cable | 769 “770 | | Satellite | 770 “771 | | Wireless | 771 | | LAN | 759, 772 | | Install and configure browsers | | Enable/disable script support | 808 | | Configure proxy settings | 807 “808 | | Configure security settings | 808 “809 | | Firewall protection under Windows XP | 809 | |
