PC-1.0

A+ Certification

Objectives Prerequisites Who should attend Course Outline Hands-on Sessions

A+ Certification is a standard developed to provide worldwide recognition for microcomputer service technicians. This hands-on course combines all aspects of microcomputers including configuring, upgrading, memory, troubleshooting and repairs.

The purpose of this course is to prepare candidates to sit the A+ Certification exams. All key areas of the A+ Certification exams will be reviewed and trial exams undertaken.

If you would rather study for A+ Certification using a Computer Based Training option, see sidebar for details.

This course is specifically focused on the PC service technician and PC troubleshooter. You will need to have a sound understanding of DOS, PCs and Windows. The Hands-on PC Troubleshooting and Hands-on Advanced PC Troubleshooting courses will provide the prerequisite knowledge.

Those people wishing to sit the A+ Service Technician exam. You could be a PC Support Manager/Help Desk Officer, LAN Administrator, Systems Analyst, Operations Manager or Computer Service Technician.

The subject areas reviewed in this coaching class are detailed below.

PC architecture

• PC components
• CPU architecture
• System board architecture
• Memory theory
• Disk drives and disk controllers
• Input/output functions
• Multimedia devices
• Power supplies
• Display monitors
• Printers

Local Area Networks (LANs)

• LAN fundamentals and standards
• LAN components, hubs, NICs etc
• LAN topologies and cabling options
• Protocol stacks
• Network operating systems

Support and maintenance

• PC operating system support
• Preventive maintenance
• Troubleshooting power supplies, input devices,  motherboard and disk drives

Disk Operating System (DOS)

• Managing drives
• Working with files and directories
• System configuration
• Useful DOS commands

Windows

• Windows overview
• Initialising Windows
• Support for non-Windows applications
• Windows memory management
• Integrating applications

Customer service

• What is customer service
• Improving customer satisfaction
• Service/response model
• Customer operation awareness
• Minimise customer disruption
• Questions to ask for accurate service

As this is an A+ exam coaching class, it is expected that the attendees will be advanced PC troubleshooters, so more emphasis is placed on knowledge areas rather than spending time on hands-on sessions. Some of the optional hands-on sessions that could be covered to assist in the explanation of the A+ exam components include:

PC fault finding

Troubleshoot and fault find on real life PC faults.

Local Area Network

Install a network adaptor, cable up the network, load network software and connect to a server.

Windows configuration

Install Windows from a network file server. Customise the Windows setup and installation.

Customer service

Experience customer interaction by participating in typical customer service scenarios.

A+ exam sample questions

Be challenged to sample A+ questions using self-test software.