Certifications Vouchers A+ two separate exams and you need two separate vouchers

Schedule the exam

Look for A+ Core1 and Core2

What’s on the CompTIA A+?

Core 1 Objectives

90 questions mixed of performance base and multiple choice

Max time is 90 minutes

Recommended experience is 12 months or more

Minimum passing is 675 on a scale of 100-900

Domains included on 220-1101

1. Mobile Devices 15%

2. Networking 20%
3. Hardware 25%
4. Virtualization and Cloud Computing 11%
5. Hardware and Network Troubleshooting 29%

Total 100%

How to Pass exam

Read the chapters of the CompTIA A+ book then watch the videos

Find a local makerspace search for makerspace directory Creation LAB

PC Building Simulator

Lots of practice tests

How to use this video course

McGrawHill 220-1101 and 220-1102 Cores 1 and 2

Key term pay attention, objective term, exam tip, and pro tip

Quick review
Tools of the Trade

Phone and number 2 philips screw driver

Nut driver

Hemostat

Tweezers

IC Inserter

IFixit Tool kit

Nut drivers

Spudgers

Pry bars

Voltage tester

Volt/ohm meter (multimeter)

Thumb drives

Troubleshooting Theory

Always consider corporate policies procedures, and impacts before implementing changes

Review System and application logs

Step 1 Identify the problem

Step 2 Establish a theory of probable cause

Step 3 Test the theory to determine cause

If theory isn’t confirmed, re-establish new theory

Step 4 Establish a plan of action to resolve the problem and implement the solution

Escalate the issue, if necessary

Step 5 Verify full system functionality and , if applicable, implement preventative measures

Step 6 Document Findings, actions, and outcomes

Primary PC Components

System Unit

Monitor

Keyboard and Mouse

Printer

Speakers

Game Controller

Web camera

Headset

External hardrive

Headset

Microphone

Quick Review

The system unit contains the motherboard, CPU, RAM, and hard drives; every other device is a
peripheral

Monitors provide visual output and web cameras provide visual input

Keyboards, mice, and game controllers provide input

Printers create paper output

Speakers and headsets make audio output

Touring a PC

Open case

Closed case

Graphics Processing Unit GPU

RAM Random access memory

CPU Central Processing unit

Mini-DIN (PS/2)

USB Type C

HDMI High-Definition Multimedia Interface

Wi-Fi antenna connectors

Audio connectors

Input/Output Shield

VGA Video Graphics array

DVI Digital Visual Interface

RJ-45 ethernet port

Audio Ports

S-Video

Expansion Slot

Quick Review

Knowing what each component and connector is will make you a more efficient technician

Some components, such as USB and audio connectors, utilize unique coloring to enable you to quickly
identify the generation

What is a computer?

Mass Storage M.2 SSD Solid State Drive

Hard Drive Store data whether it’s a program or not

When a program is running, it is stored in RAM

We use RAM when we are running a program

Saving a file CPU instructs the RAM to save it on HARD Drive/SSD

Operating Systems

Raspberry PI System on a Chip

Quick Review

A computer gets work or play done

A computer will have a CPU, RAM, mass storage, and an operating system

Laptops, mobile devices, and Internet of things (IoT) devices are all computers

The Visible Computer

What is a CPU

8 bits is equal to 1 Byte

Machine Language of the CPU

CODE BOOK

Lights

10000000 The next line is a number, put in the AX register

10010000 The next line is a number, put in the BX register

10110000 Add AX to BX and put the result in AX

11000000 Put the value of AX on the External Data bus

00000000 The number 0

00000001 The number 1

00000010 The number 2

00000011 The number 3

00000100 The number 4

00000101 The number 5

General purpose registers

CPU have lots of registers

Intel 8088 code

Clock tells the CPU to do something just like a reminder

Logic units

Integer Math

Long numbers

Cache

Prefetch

Quick Review

A Central Processing Unit (CPU) runs programs

Every CPU has internal features to process commands

Every CPU runs code based on a specific machine language

CPUs use pipelines to optimize the processing of commands

Modern CPUs

Two distinct features = Clock speed and cores

1 cycle per second task is called 1 hertz

1 megahertz (1Mhz) = 1 million cycles per second

1 gigahertz (1Ghz) = 1 billion cycles per second

CPU cores are multiple processors on one chip

Single Core = 1 CPU on that system chip / 1 lane where cycle flows
Multi-cores / Multiple lanes

Dual-core – two lanes

Quad-core – multiple lanes

Raspberry Pi – ARM Chip Advanced RISC Machine

RISC (reduced instruction set computer) is a microprocessor that is designed to perform a smaller
number of computer instruction types, so it can operate at a higher speed, performing more millions of
instructions per second, or MIPS.

APU Accelerated Processing Unit with Graphics capabilities combined

CPU Z

Quick Review

The capability of a CPU measured via clock speed and cores

Modern CPUs support advanced features such as multi-cores

ARM Chips operate using a Reduced Instruction Set Computing (RISC) methodology

Accelerated Processing Units (APUs) are CPUs with graphics cards built in

32-BIT vs 64-Bit Computing

32-Bit single core

64-Bit dual core

X86 and x64

X86-64

X64

Intel Architecture 32-Bit IA-32

Quick Review

X86, X86-64, x64, and IA-32 all support different Instruction Set Architectures (ISAs)

Almost all modern hardware and software supports 64-bit systems and are backwards compatible with
32-bit systems

X64 systems offer greater data handling, improved graphics performance, and better security

Choosing the Right CPU

What type of System do you want?

What’s the primary use of the computer

How long do you want this system to last

Steve’s Super Site

PC Part Picker

Quick Review

CPUs designed for laptops come with features to help with power consumption and battery usage

Higher-en CPUs offer more cores and a faster clock speed

Intensive tasks such as 3D gaming and video editing benefit from CPUs with extra cores

Some CPUs are unlocked and can be overlocked

CPU Generations and Architecture

Intel Core i9 12900K

AMD Ryzen 9 5900X

Brand-Tier-Generation-Model-Suffix

Multithreading

Suffix K means Unlocked for Intel Overclocking

Suffix F No integrated graphics

Suffix X Base clock speed is higher

Suffix G Integrated Graphics

Section 4.16. CPU Generations and Architecture

https://techgamesnews.com/cpus/

Intel and AMD are the main brands for CPUs

The hgher a CPU’s tier, the better the performance

The generation gives a good indicator of the CPU’s age

The model referes to the performance of the CPU

The suffix denotes whether the CPU is unlocked or has integrated graphics

CPU Cooling

Overheating

Intermittent Shutdown

Heat Sink

Fans
Thermal Paste

Thermal Pads

Liquid Cooling

Quick Review

Heat sinks use metal fins and pipes to passively transfer heat

Thermal paste and pads are both used to fill in gaps and provide better thermal conductivity between
CPU and heat sink

There are numerous sizes of fans and radiators to choose from

Liquid coolings has higher thermal transfer capabilities than air-cooling

Installing and Troubleshooting a CPU

Make sure to use electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection

Handle sensitive equipment carefully

Intel CPUs use Land Grid Array LGA

Zero-insertion force (ZIF)

AMD CPUs use Pin Grid Array (PGA)

Step 1: Identify the problem

Step 2: Establish a theory of probable cause (question the obvious)

Step 3: Test the theory to determine the cause

If the theory is not confirmed, re-establish a new theory or escalate

Step 4: Establish a plan of action to resolve the problem and implement the solution

Refer to the vendor’s instructions for guidance

Step 5: Verify full system functionality and, if applicable, implement preventive measures

Step 6: Document the findings, actions, and outcomes

Quick Review:

Always use ESD prevention methods when handling CPUs

Pin Grid Array (PGA) and Land Grid Array (LGA) are the two most common types of CPU sockets

The Zero-insertion force (ZIF) mechanism is used to secure the CPU into the motherboard’s CPU socket

When troubleshooting a non-functional CPU, first check all connections and make sure the fan, heat sink,
and CPU itself are seated properly before proceeding
RAM Technology Random Access Memory

Synchronous Dynamic RAM SDRAM 168 pins two notches

Double Data Rate SDRAM DDR SDRAM 2bits of information

DDR rating multiplied by 8 and you get the PC Speed rating 184 pins single notch

DDR2 240
Pre-fetch

DDR3 240 pins

DDR4 288 pins stick

Bandwidth Mega Transfers/second

Different motherboards support a specific RAM technology

We measure RAM speeds using DDR or PC ratings

Multiply a DDR speed by eight to get the PC speed

RAM CAPACITY

Single-sided RAM and Double-Sided RAM

Channel

Dual-Channel Memory

Triple-channel

QUICK review

Every stick of RAM has a specific capacity

RAM comes in single and double-sided versions

RAM uses channels which require RAM sticks to fill the channel

RAM should be identical capacity in the same channel

RAM Features

Parity vs error correction code (ECC)

Parity or an ECC RAM (9 chips)

SO-DIM Small outline dual inline memory module

Serial presence detect SPD chip Tiny chip allows your system to actually query the RAM Chip

Quick Review

Parity and ECC RAM contain extra chips to check for RAM errors

ECC RAM is only for motherboards that support it

SO-DIMMS are for smaller spaces

Almost all RAM has an SPD chip that stores information about the RAM stick

Tools like CPU-Z read SPD information

Virtual Memory

Out of memory errors

Virtual Memory/Virtual RAM

dir /ah

swap file/virtual memory

Virtual memory is a portion of mass storage that acts as memory

Should only be used when physical memory is exhausted

All operating systems have tools to adjust virtual memory use

In most cases we just left the OS automatically control virtual memory

Installing and Troubleshooting RAM

Step 1: Identify the problem

Step 2: Establish a theory of probable cause (question the obvious)

Step 3: Refer to the vendor’s instructions for guidance

Step 4: Establish a plan of action to resolve the problem and implement the solution

Step 5: Verify full system functionality and, if applicable, implement preventive measures

Step 6: Document the findings, actions, and outcomes

Quick Review

Review your hardware and software technical requirements before choosing RAM

RAM sticks have generation-specific notches that line up with the appropriate slot on a motherboard

Poorly seated RAM is often the main cause of non-functional RAM

Section 6 What is BIOS

Motherboard is an assumption-it assumes a lot of stuff will be connected to it

Basic input / output services BIOS

BIOS programs are code

M BIOS and B BIOS

Backup BIOS

Power-On Self-Test (POST)

System Setup (CMOS)

BIOS programming enables interaction with motherboard before OS loads

BIOS is stored in nonvolatile media, thus called firmware

POST routines are built into firmware

The System Setup utility is also part of the firmware

POST Power-On Self-Test (POST)

Power-good-wire

POST Power-On Self-Test (POST) beep

Beep codes

No RAM codes will repeat until your power is down

American Megatrends INC AMI

Display codes

POST card used for diagnosing the issue of the System Unit

Q-Code table

Quick Review

POST runs at boot, requesting devices to self check

POST errors manifest as specific beep codes or display (text) codes

POST cards enable testing of “dead” computers

System Setup

UEFI BIOS Unified Extensible Firmware Interface

Boot password

Onboard devices configuration

USB permission

Boot

Boot options

Flashing of BIOS

UEFI replaces traditional 16-bit BIOS in modern systems

The System Setup enables custom information about changeable devices

System Setup enables changes to CPU frequencies, RAM timings, BIOS passwords, boot options, and
more

Troubleshooting firmware

Programmable Read-Only Memory PROM

CMOS

Single Flash ROM Chip

Real-time Clock RTC

CMOS battery CR2032

Flashing the ROM updates the firmware on the flash chip

Quick Review

The real-time clock battery keeps system time without external power
System Setup allows for changes; exit without saving is an option

Reset System Setup for defaults

Flash the ROM chip to update firmware

Form Factors

I/O area

Defines 4 very specific form factors

ATX form factor 12in x 9in

MicroATX form factors 9.6in x 9.6in

Mini-ITX form factors

ITX form factor (larger version of Mini-ITX form factors)

Standardization of form factors hence power supplies can be used for each

Motherboards come with its own I/O shield

Quick Review

Motherboards and cases follow standardized form factors

Common form factors: ATX, microATX, Mini-ITX

Chipsets

Northbridge and Southbridge was designed to work together

Northbridge does the fast stuff, Southbridge does the slow stuff

Sample of 1 CPU

Power Supply
Quick Review

Chipsets combine functions from many single-function chips

Early chipsets offered Northbridge and Southbridge

Modern Chipsets feature Soutbridge (CPU handles Northbridge functions)

Chipsets define RAM capacity, USB capabilities, and much more

Choosing the Right Motherboard referred to mainboards, system boards, backplane boards, and mobos

Consider motherboard compatibility: is it for a desktop or laptop?

Does it need to be multi socket like for a server?

Pcpartpicker.com

Compatibility and Estimated Wattage

LAN GRID ARRAY (LGA)

Motherboard form factors

ATX (Advanced Technology extended Micro-ATX)

Mini-ITX (Information Technology extended)

Quick Review

The motherboard is the backbone of a PC and all other components interface with it
Type of CPU, form factor, and extra RAM capacity are all important considerations when choosing a new
motherboard

When selecting a motherboard, consider its intended use

Motherboards may be referred to as mainboards, system boards, backplane boards, or mobos

Installing and Troubleshooting a Motherboard

ESD Strap

Standoffs

I/O Shield

Step 1: Identify the problem

Step 2: Establish a theory of probably cause

Step 3: Test the theory to determine the cause

Step 4: Establish a plan of action to resolve the problem and implement the solution

Step 5: Verify full system functionality

Step 6: Document the findings, actions, and outcomes

Open-air frame/case

Capacitor Swelling

Quick Review

Motherboards come with standoff screws to reduce the risk of electrical damage to the motherboard

I/O shields are custom-made for the motherboard

Installing the CPU and heat sink prior to installing the motherboard makes the build process much easier

RAID
Encryption

Encrypting the storage devices inside the system

File-Based and Disk-Based

EFS Encrypting File System

Bitlocker for Windows

FileVault for MAC OS

Linux?

TPM Trusted Platform Module

BitLocker To Go
 1. Back it Up
2. Mental reinstall
3. Triple Check

RAID not found/RAID not working

Read/write Failure extended read/write failure

SMART Self-monitoring, Analysis, and Reporting Technology

Slow/sluggish performance

Red LED status indicator

Loud clicking/grinding sound

Failure to boot

Drive not recognized / bootable device not found / missing drives

OS not found

Attempts to boot incorrect device

Continuous reboot
A+ USB Standards

Universal Serial Bus

USB 1.1 came out with two different speeds 1.5Mbps/12Mbps

USB 2.0 480 Mbps

USB 3.0 5Gbps

USB 3.1 Gen 1 Gbps fix for USB 3.0

USB 3.1 Gen 2 10Gbps

USB Type-A Connector

USB Type-B Connector

USB mini-B connector

USB micro-B connector

USB 3.0 micro-B connector

USB Type-C

USB 1.1 white

USB 2 black

USB 3.0 or USB 3.1 Gen 1 blue

USB 3.1 green

Charging ports – red or orange

USB is backward-compatible
A+ Understanding USB

USB Controller

A connectors / downstream and B connectors / upstream connectors

Type-B connector

USB 3.0 Micro-B connects to SATA

USB 3.1 Type B connectors

Yay USB-C!

USB Controllers are connected to a single ROOT HUB

Multiple controllers plugged into their respective ROOT HUB

USB HUBS

Powered hubs
A+ Configuring USB

Human Interface Devices (HID) base drivers that get the core stuff going

1. Disable USB ports

2. USB lock
A+ Thunder and Lightning

Thunderbolt and Lightning connection

Thunderbolt

1. Thunderbolt 1 – 10 Gbps (x2 channels = 20 Gbps total)

2. Thunderbolt 2 – 20 Gbps
3. Thunderbolt 3 – 40 Gbps

Thunderbolt 1 and 2 (uses the same connector as Mini DisplayPort)

Thunderbolt 3 uses USB-C

Lightning exclusively to apple products

macOS products generally use Thunderbolt iOS generally uses Lightning (though recent versions of
iPhone have changed)

A+ Optical Media

CD Compact Disc