| In addition to working with hardware, you also need as much hands-on time as you can get with operating systems. I turned my experimental computer "FRANKENPC" into a multiboot operating system monster with four (!) different hard disks, and put several other computers to work trying upgrades, installations, and day-to-day work with the various versions of Windows on the A+ Operating Systems Exam. You might not have the same access to different versions of Windows that I do, but here are some ways to make the most of the hands-on computer time you have: -
Track down computers with different versions of Windows and use their file-management and disk-management features. Note how they differ , as well as how they are similar. tip  | I used the official CompTIA A+ Certification Operating Systems Exam outline as my guide in determining book content. Grab your own copy from http://www.comptia.org/certification/A/2003_aplus_os_objectives.pdf and mark it up as you master each section. (You'll need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view or print this document.) |
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Don't neglect the command line. Windows NT/2000/XP's CMD is a lot more powerful than Windows 9x/Me's COMMAND.COM , and many familiar commands have new options in Windows NT/2000/XP. -
Use spare hard disks and operating system CDs to experiment with upgrading, clean installs , and dual-boot installations. If something goes wrong, use the methods and resources described in earlier chapters to find the problems and solve them. -
Use the Recovery Console or EBD to fix problems with a system. (Try to experiment on a computer that's not the main one you work or play with, please !) -
It's easy to get confused by the various versions of Windows and what they can do. In general, note the following: -
Newer versions of Windows support more sophisticated hardware than older versions. -
Newer versions of Windows have refined user interfaces. -
Windows 9x/Me generally have fewer management features than Windows NT/2000/XP. -
Windows 9x/Me are built on the Windows 95 code base, whereas Windows NT/2000/XP are built on the NT code base, so you should expect significant differences (and you won't be disappointed!). tip | | You can run different operating systems on your computer by using Microsoft's Virtual PC (created by Connectix). Learn more and download a free trial version at http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/virtualpc/. If you have room for multiple hard disks in your system, you can use a Trios hard disk selector device to access your choice of hard disks (each with a different operating system) at startup. Learn more at http://www.romtecusa.com. Some recent systems and motherboards also enable you to boot from your choice of ATA/IDE drives at start time. Check the system or motherboard manual for details. |
In addition, use the Practice Test, Key Terms, and other features of the Study Labs located on this book's CD to find your weak areas. Spend more time studying the areas in which you're weak and less time on the areas you've already mastered. Next, take the simulated A+ Certification test on the CD (it uses the industry-leading PrepLogic test engine) to prepare for the test. Read, work with actual systems, study, take the simulated exam, review your weak spots, and you should do very well on the Operating Systems Exam. |
