1. © 2013 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved Mike Meyers’ CompTIA A+ ® Guide to 801: Managing and Troubleshooting PCs Fourth Edition (Exam 220-801) The Path of the PC Tech Chapter 1

2. © 2013 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved Mike Meyers’ CompTIA A+ ® Guide to 801: Managing and Troubleshooting PCs Fourth Edition (Exam 220-801) Overview In this chapter, you will learn how to –Explain the importance of gaining skill in managing and troubleshooting PCs –Explain the importance of CompTIA A+ certification –Describe how to become CompTIA A+ certified

3. © 2013 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved Mike Meyers’ CompTIA A+ ® Guide to 801: Managing and Troubleshooting PCs Fourth Edition (Exam 220-801) Concept of Certifications Required in many professions –Automobile mechanic – ASE –Accountant – CPA Certification shows competency –Often opens doors –Helps get your resume noticed –Helps you land the interview Certified

4. © 2013 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved Mike Meyers’ CompTIA A+ ® Guide to 801: Managing and Troubleshooting PCs Fourth Edition (Exam 220-801) Importance of CompTIA A+ Certification There is a long history of vendor-specific certifications for techs –HP Certified Professional –Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE) There was a need for a general certification for PC techs –Validate that the tech can maintain, upgrade, and repair PCs CompTIA A+ is that certification

5. © 2013 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved Mike Meyers’ CompTIA A+ ® Guide to 801: Managing and Troubleshooting PCs Fourth Edition (Exam 220-801) What Is CompTIA A+ Certification? Industry-wide, vendor-neutral Sponsored by CompTIA Wide recognition in computer industry Covers nine months of knowledge More than 800,000 CompTIA A+ certified techs worldwide

6. © 2013 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved Mike Meyers’ CompTIA A+ ® Guide to 801: Managing and Troubleshooting PCs Fourth Edition (Exam 220-801) Who Is CompTIA? Nonprofit, industry trade association More than 20,000 member organizations in 102 countries Virtually every company of consequence in the IT industry is a member Offers certifications such as CompTIA A+, CompTIA Network+, CompTIA Security+, and more See www.comptia.org for details

7. © 2013 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved Mike Meyers’ CompTIA A+ ® Guide to 801: Managing and Troubleshooting PCs Fourth Edition (Exam 220-801) The Path to Other Certifications CompTIA Network+ –Shows competency as a network technician Microsoft Certified Information Technology Professional –Shows competency in Microsoft operating systems Cisco –Shows competency in routing and switching technologies

8. © 2013 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved Mike Meyers’ CompTIA A+ ® Guide to 801: Managing and Troubleshooting PCs Fourth Edition (Exam 220-801) CompTIA A+ Certification How to become CompTIA A+ certified –Pass two computer-based, multiple-choice exams Requires that you pay a fee –CompTIA A+ 220-801 –CompTIA A+ 220-802

9. © 2013 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved Mike Meyers’ CompTIA A+ ® Guide to 801: Managing and Troubleshooting PCs Fourth Edition (Exam 220-801) CompTIA A+ Certification No more “Lifetime Certification”! –Effective January 1, 2011, CompTIA’s A+, Security+, and Network+ are no longer “certified for life” –If you passed before this date, you are “grandfathered” –Must retake exam every three years OR earn CEUs –CEUs gained by attending industry events, training, teaching, or earning higher-level certifications –Brings CompTIA’s certifications in line with other industry certifications

10. © 2013 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved Mike Meyers’ CompTIA A+ ® Guide to 801: Managing and Troubleshooting PCs Fourth Edition (Exam 220-801) The CompTIA A+ Exams Windows Desktop-centric –No Mac, no Linux, no Windows Server, no Windows Mobile Windows XP Windows Vista Windows 7 Windows 8 will not be covered on either exam

11. © 2013 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved Mike Meyers’ CompTIA A+ ® Guide to 801: Managing and Troubleshooting PCs Fourth Edition (Exam 220-801) Basic Exam Structure Multiple choice questions such as 1.A dot-matrix printer is printing blank pages. What should you check first? A.Printer drivers B.Platen C.Print head D.Ribbon 2.Click on the location of the processor socket in the picture:

12. © 2013 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved Mike Meyers’ CompTIA A+ ® Guide to 801: Managing and Troubleshooting PCs Fourth Edition (Exam 220-801) Essentials (220-801) Domains and percentages for the CompTIA A+ 220-801 exam DomainPercentage 1.0 PC Hardware40% 2.0 Networking27% 3.0 Laptops11% 4.0 Printers11% 5.0 Operational Procedures11%

13. © 2013 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved Mike Meyers’ CompTIA A+ ® Guide to 801: Managing and Troubleshooting PCs Fourth Edition (Exam 220-801) Practical Application (220-802) 36%4.0 Troubleshooting 9% 22% 33% Percentage 3.0 Mobile Devices 1.0 Operating Systems 2.0 Security Domain Domains and percentages for the CompTIA A+ 220-802 exam

14. © 2013 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved Mike Meyers’ CompTIA A+ ® Guide to 801: Managing and Troubleshooting PCs Fourth Edition (Exam 220-801) What Chapters Cover Each Exam? Objective map in Appendix A –Shows exactly where objectives are covered Book focuses on tech skills –Expect the chapter to teach you the material fully. –Each exam tests at different depths: 220-801 Identify, install, and configure 220-802 Maintain and troubleshoot

15. © 2013 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved Mike Meyers’ CompTIA A+ ® Guide to 801: Managing and Troubleshooting PCs Fourth Edition (Exam 220-801) How to Take the Tests Offered by Pearson/VUE at testing sites worldwide –877-551-PLUS (7587) or www.vue.com Cost of the exams –$178 (U.S.) per exam – pass or fail –Discount vouchers widely available

16. © 2013 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved Mike Meyers’ CompTIA A+ ® Guide to 801: Managing and Troubleshooting PCs Fourth Edition (Exam 220-801) How to Pass the CompTIA A+ Exams Set a date as your goal Set aside enough time for study and lab Use the practice exams on the CD that comes with the book Use good study strategies –Write down information in your own handwriting –Make flash cards –Set aside a special time for study each day