IT Essentials: PC Hardware and Software Companion Guide, Fifth Edition

IT Essentials: PC Hardware and Software Companion Guide, Fifth Edition

by Cisco Networking Academy
Released July 2013
Publisher(s): Cisco Press
ISBN: None

Read it now on the O’Reilly learning platform with a 10-day free trial.

O’Reilly members get unlimited access to books, live events, courses curated by job role, and more from O’Reilly and nearly 200 top publishers.

Start your free trial

Book description

IT Essentials: PC Hardware and Software Companion Guide, Fifth Edition

IT Essentials: PC Hardware and Software Companion Guide, Fifth Edition, supports the Cisco Networking Academy IT Essentials: PC Hardware and Software version 5 course. The course is designed for Cisco Networking Academy students who want to pursue careers in IT and learn how computers work, how to assemble computers, and how to safely and securely troubleshoot hardware and software issues.

As CompTIA Approved Quality Content, the course also helps you prepare for the CompTIA A+ certification exams 220-801 and 220-802. CompTIA A+ 220-801 covers the fundamentals of computer technology, installation and configuration of PCs, laptops, related hardware, and basic networking. CompTIA A+ 220-802 covers the skills required to install and configure PC operating systems and configure common features, such as network connectivity and email for Android and Apple iOS mobile operating systems. Students must pass both exams to earn the CompTIA A+ certification.

The features of the Companion Guide are designed to help you study and succeed in this course:

--  Chapter objectives—Review core concepts by answering the focus questions listed at the beginning of each chapter.

--  Key terms—Refer to the updated lists of networking vocabulary introduced, and turn to the highlighted terms in context. 

--  Course section numbering—Follow along with the course heading numbers to easily jump online to complete labs, activities, and quizzes referred to within the text. 

--  Check Your Understanding Questions and Answer Key—Evaluate your readiness with the updated end-of-chapter questions that match the style of questions you see on the online course quizzes.

--  Glossary in the back of the book to define Key Terms

The lab icon in the Companion Guide indicates when there is a hands-on Lab or Worksheet to do. The Labs and Worksheets are compiled and published in the separate book, IT Essentials: PC Hardware and Software Lab Manual, Fifth Edition. With more than 1300 pages of activities, including Windows 7, Windows Vista, and Windows XP variations covered in the CompTIA A+ exam objectives, practicing and performing these tasks will reinforce the concepts and help you become a successful PC technician.

Table of contents

  1. About This eBook
  2. Title Page
  3. Copyright Page
  4. About the Contributing Authors
  5. Contents At a Glance
  6. Contents
  7. Introduction
    1. Who Should Read This Book
    2. Book Features
    3. Accessing Packet Tracer, Virtual Laptop, and Virtual Desktop Activities
    4. How This Book Is Organized
    5. About the CompTIA A+ Certification
    6. Syntax Conventions
  8. Chapter 1. Introduction to the Personal Computer
    1. Objectives
    2. Key Terms
    3. Introduction (1.0.1)
    4. Cases and Power Supplies (1.1.1)
    5. Internal PC Components (1.1.2)
    6. ROM and RAM
    7. External Ports and Cables (1.1.3)
    8. Input and Output Devices (1.1.4)
    9. Selecting PC Components (1.2.1)
    10. Specialized Computer Systems (1.3.1)
    11. Summary (1.4.1)
    12. Summary of Exercises
    13. Check Your Understanding
  9. Chapter 2. Lab Procedures and Tool Use
    1. Objectives
    2. Key Terms
    3. Introduction (2.0.1)
    4. Safe Lab Procedures (2.1)
    5. Procedures to Protect Equipment and Data (2.1.2)
    6. Procedures to Protect the Environment (2.1.3)
    7. Proper Use of Tools (2.2)
    8. Summary (2.3.1)
    9. Summary of Exercises
    10. Check Your Understanding
  10. Chapter 3. Computer Assembly
    1. Objectives
    2. Key Terms
    3. Introduction (3.0.1)
    4. Open the Case and Install the Power Supply (3.1.1)
    5. Install the Motherboard (3.1.2)
    6. Install the Drives (3.1.3)
    7. Install the Adapter Cards (3.1.4)
    8. Install the Cables (3.1.5)
    9. POST and BIOS (3.2.1)
    10. BIOS Configuration (3.2.2)
    11. Motherboard and Related Components (3.3.1)
    12. Storage Devices (3.3.2)
    13. Input and Output Devices (3.3.3)
    14. Summary (3.4.1.1)
    15. Summary of Exercises
    16. Check Your Understanding
  11. Chapter 4. Overview of Preventive Maintenance
    1. Objectives
    2. Key Terms
    3. Introduction (4.0.1)
    4. Preventive Maintenance (4.1)
    5. Troubleshooting Process Steps (4.2.1)
    6. Summary (4.3.1)
    7. Summary of Exercises
    8. Check Your Understanding
  12. Chapter 5. Operating Systems
    1. Objectives
    2. Key Terms
    3. Introduction 5.0.1.1
    4. Modern Operating Systems (5.1)
    5. Types of Operating Systems (5.1.2)
    6. Customer Requirements for an Operating System (5.1.3)
    7. Operating System Upgrades (5.1.4)
    8. Operating System Installation (5.2)
    9. Custom Installation Options (5.2.2)
    10. Boot Sequence and Registry Files (5.2.3)
    11. Multiboot (5.2.4)
    12. Directory Structure and File Attributes (5.2)
    13. The Windows GUI and Control Panel (5.3)
    14. Control Panel Utilities (5.3.2)
    15. Administrative Tools (5.3.3)
    16. System Tools (5.3.4)
    17. Accessories (5.3.5)
    18. Control Panel Utilities Unique to Specific Windows Versions (5.3.6)
    19. Command-Line Tools (5.3.7)
    20. Client-Side Virtualization (5.4)
    21. Common Preventive Maintenance Techniques for Operating Systems (5.5)
    22. Basic Troubleshooting Process for Operating Systems (5.6)
    23. Summary (5.7.1.1)
    24. Summary of Exercises
    25. Check Your Understanding
  13. Chapter 6. Networks
    1. Objectives
    2. Key Terms
    3. Introduction (6.0.1)
    4. Principles of Networking (6.1)
    5. Identifying Networks (6.2)
    6. Basic Networking Concepts and Technologies (6.3)
    7. Common Ports and Protocols (6.3.3)
    8. Physical Components of a Network (6.4)
    9. Cables and Connectors (6.4.2)
    10. Network Topologies (6.5)
    11. Ethernet Standards (6.6)
    12. OSI and TCP/IP Data Models (6.7)
    13. Computer-to-Network Connection (6.8)
    14. Wireless and Wired Router Configurations (6.8.3)
    15. OS Configurations (6.8.4)
    16. Select an ISP Connection Type (6.9)
    17. Common Preventive Maintenance Techniques Used for Networks (6.10)
    18. Basic Troubleshooting Process for Networks (6.11)
    19. Common Problems and Solutions for Networks (6.11.2)
    20. Summary (6.12.1)
    21. Summary of Exercises
    22. Check Your Understanding
  14. Chapter 7. Laptops
    1. Objectives
    2. Key Terms
    3. Introduction (7.0.1.1)
    4. Laptop Components (7.1)
    5. Laptop Display Components (7.2)
    6. Internal Components (7.2.2)
    7. Laptop Power (7.3)
    8. Laptop Wireless Communication Technologies (7.4)
    9. Laptop Hardware and Component Installation and Configuration (7.5)
    10. Replacing Hardware Devices (7.5.2)
    11. Preventive Maintenance Techniques for Laptops (7.6)
    12. Basic Troubleshooting Process for Laptops (7.7)
    13. Summary (7.8.1)
    14. Summary of Exercises
    15. Check Your Understanding
  15. Chapter 8. Mobile Devices
    1. Objectives
    2. Key Terms
    3. Introduction (8.0.1)
    4. Mobile Device Hardware Overview (8.1)
    5. Mobile Operating Systems (8.2)
    6. Android Touch Interface (8.2.2)
    7. iOS Touch Interface (8.2.3)
    8. Common Mobile Device Features (8.2.4)
    9. Network Connectivity and Email (8.3)
    10. Mobile Device Synchronization (8.3.4)
    11. Methods for Securing Mobile Devices (8.4)
    12. Cloud-Enabled Services for Smart Devices (8.4.2)
    13. Software Security (8.4.3)
    14. Applying the Troubleshooting Process to Mobile Devices (8.5.1)
    15. Summary (8.6.1)
    16. Summary of Exercises
    17. Check Your Understanding
  16. Chapter 9. Printers
    1. Objectives
    2. Key Terms
    3. Introduction (9.0.1)
    4. Common Printer Features (9.1)
    5. Types of Printers (9.2)
    6. Installing and Configuring Printers (9.3)
    7. Types of Print Drivers (9.3.1.5)
    8. Configuring Options and Default Settings (9.3.2)
    9. Optimizing Printer Performance (9.3.3)
    10. Sharing Printers (9.4)
    11. Print Servers (9.4.2)
    12. Preventive Maintenance Techniques for Printers (9.5)
    13. Basic Troubleshooting Process for Printers (9.6)
    14. Common Problems and Solutions for Printers (9.6.2)
    15. Summary (9.7.1.1)
    16. Summary of Exercises
    17. Check Your Understanding
  17. Chapter 10. Security
    1. Objectives
    2. Key Terms
    3. Introduction (10.0.1)
    4. Security Threats (10.1)
    5. Security Procedures (10.2)
    6. Security Maintenance (10.3.1)
    7. Applying the Troubleshooting Process to Security (10.4.1)
    8. Summary (10.5.1.1)
    9. Summary of Exercises
    10. Check Your Understanding
  18. Chapter 11. The IT Professional
    1. Objectives
    2. Key Terms
    3. Introduction (11.0.1)
    4. Communication Skills and the IT Professional (11.1)
    5. Working with a Customer (11.1.2)
    6. Employee Best Practices (11.1.3)
    7. Ethical and Legal Issues in the IT Industry (11.2)
    8. Legal Procedures Overview (11.2.2)
    9. Call Center Technicians (11.3)
    10. Summary (11.4.1)
    11. Summary of Exercises
    12. Check Your Understanding
  19. Chapter 12. Advanced Troubleshooting
    1. Objectives
    2. Key Terms
    3. Introduction (12.0.1)
    4. Apply Troubleshooting Process to Computer Components and Peripherals (12.1.1)
    5. Operating Systems (12.2)
    6. Apply Troubleshooting Process to Networks (12.3.1)
    7. Apply Troubleshooting Process to Laptops (12.4.1)
    8. Apply Troubleshooting Process to Security (12.6.1)
    9. Summary (12.7.1)
    10. Summary of Exercises
    11. Check Your Understanding
  20. Appendix A. Answers to “Check Your Understanding” Questions
    1. Chapter 1
    2. Chapter 2
    3. Chapter 3
    4. Chapter 4
    5. Chapter 5
    6. Chapter 6
    7. Chapter 7
    8. Chapter 8
    9. Chapter 9
    10. Chapter 10
    11. Chapter 11
    12. Chapter 12
  21. Glossary
  22. Index

Product information

  • Title: IT Essentials: PC Hardware and Software Companion Guide, Fifth Edition
  • Author(s): Cisco Networking Academy
  • Release date: July 2013
  • Publisher(s): Cisco Press
  • ISBN: None