(2009 Edition)
Topic-Level Outline
Days: 5
Prerequisites: This
comprehensive course is taught at an accelerated pace. In order to have a
successful learning experience, students should have existing knowledge of, and
support experience with, networked desktop and notebook computers, as well as
advanced user-level skills in Windows Vista, Windows XP, or Windows 2000
Professional. Many of these skills and knowledge can be obtained by completing the following courses: Windows Vista: Basic and Window Vista:
Advanced, or Windows XP SP2:
Basic and Windows XP SP2: Advanced.
Unit 1: Troubleshooting methodology
Topic A: Troubleshooting models
A-1: Discussing troubleshooting methods
A-2: Developing a hypothesis about a problem’s cause
A-3: Identifying documentation and information resources
A-4: Using Microsoft Help and Support to research an error code
A-5: Tracking problems and resolutions
Topic B: Professionalism
B-1: Maintaining professionalism
B-2: Using effective verbal communication
B-3: Using nonverbal communication effectively
B-4: Ensuring customer satisfaction
Unit 2: Operating systems
Topic A: Operating system fundamentals
A-1: Selecting an appropriate Windows operating system
A-2: Locating Windows Vista interface components
A-3: Observing Windows Vista system tools
Topic B: Directory management
B-1: Navigating a directory tree using the Windows GUI
B-2: Using the command prompt
B-3: Navigating a directory tree at the command-line
B-4: Creating directories using the Windows GUI
B-5: Creating directories at the command-line
B-6: Copying a directory using the Windows GUI
B-7: Copying a directory and its contents at the command-line
B-8: Removing a directory using the Windows GUI
B-9: Removing directories at the command-line
Topic C: File management
C-1: Creating a text file using the MS-DOS text editor
C-2: Editing a text file using the MS-DOS text editor
C-3: Creating a batch file using Notepad
C-4: Modifying file attributes
C-5: Modifying file attributes by using attrib.exe
Topic D: File and folder permissions
D-1: Sharing files in the Public folder with local users
D-2: Setting NTFS permissions
Unit 3: Electricity and power supplies
Topic A: Electrical safety
A-1: Examining the characteristics of electricity
A-2: Considering electrical safety
A-3: Opening the computer case while following proper ESD precautions
Topic B: Power supplies
B-1: Identifying your computer’s power supply
B-2: Installing a new power supply
Topic C: Power supply troubleshooting
C-1: Measuring electrical values
C-2: Troubleshooting power supply problems
Unit 4: CPUs and motherboards
Topic A: Central processing units
A-1: Identifying CPUs
A-2: Identifying your CPU’s socket and package type
A-3: Replacing a CPU (optional)
Topic B: Cooling techniques
B-1: Examining the cooling systems in your PC
B-2: Replacing a system fan
Topic C: Motherboards
C-1: Examining motherboard components and form factor
C-2: Replacing a motherboard (optional)
Topic D: Motherboard and CPU troubleshooting
D-1: Troubleshooting motherboards and CPU problems
Unit 5: The Basic Input/Output System
Topic A: The BIOS and CMOS
A-1: Updating your PC’s BIOS settings
A-2: Researching BIOS updates for your PC
A-3: Replacing the CMOS battery
Topic B: The POST and boot processes
B-1: Observing the POST process
B-2: Checking the boot order
B-3: Troubleshooting BIOS and POST related problems
Unit 6: Memory systems
Topic A: Memory
A-1: Identifying memory characteristics
Topic B: Memory packaging
B-1: Comparing RAM packaging
Topic C: Memory installation
C-1: Adding memory to a desktop computer
C-2: Adding memory to a handheld computer
Topic D: Memory monitoring
D-1: Monitoring memory usage
D-2: Changing the size of the Windows page file
Topic E: Memory troubleshooting
E-1: Testing memory
E-2: Troubleshooting memory
Unit 7: Bus structures
Topic A: Buses
A-1: Examining buses
A-2: Examining IRQ assignments
A-3: Viewing your computer’s I/O address assignments
A-4: Viewing your computer’s DMA channel assignments
A-5: Viewing your computer’s base memory address assignments
Topic B: The PCI bus
B-1: Identifying a PCI bus
Topic C: Video buses
C-1: Identifying graphics connections
Unit 8: Expansion cards
Topic A: Video cards
A-1: Identifying video adapter types
A-2: Installing a video adapter card
Topic B: Sound cards
B-1: Identifying the components of a sound card
B-2: Installing a sound card
Topic C: Internal modems
C-1: Identifying your internal modem’s interface
C-2: Identifying modem connections
Topic D: Expansion card troubleshooting
D-1: Searching for and installing updated drivers
D-2: Troubleshooting expansion card-related problems
Unit 9: Peripheral connection types
Topic A: Serial and parallel connections
A-1: Attaching a serial device
A-2: Attaching a parallel device
Topic B: PS/2 connections
B-1: Attaching a keyboard and mouse
B-2: Setting mouse properties
B-3: Setting keyboard properties
B-4: Using a KVM switch
Topic C: USB connections
C-1: Installing a USB device
Topic D: FireWire connections
D-1: Installing an IEEE 1394 device
Topic E: Multimedia connections
E-1: Using a sound card
E-2: Connecting multimedia devices
Topic F: Troubleshooting peripheral connections
F-1: Troubleshooting problems with peripheral connections
Unit 10: Data storage devices
Topic A: Drive adapters
A-1: Distinguishing among drive controllers
Topic B: Hard drives
B-1: Physically installing a hard drive
B-2: Partitioning and formatting a hard drive
B-3: Mounting a volume
B-4: Exploring fault tolerance
Topic C: Optical drives
C-1: Installing an optical drive
C-2: Using an optical drive
Topic D: Removable storage devices
D-1: Using a USB flash drive
D-2: Examining floppy disks
D-3: Installing a floppy drive
D-4: Formatting a floppy disk (optional)
D-5: Comparing types of tape drives
Topic E: Drive maintenance
E-1: Using Disk Cleanup
E-2: Scanning a disk for errors
E-3: Running chkdsk.exe
E-4: Defragmenting a disk
E-5: Running defrag.exe
Topic F: Storage device troubleshooting
F-1: Troubleshooting data storage devices
Unit 11: Video output and image input devices
Topic A: Monitors
A-1: Choosing a CRT monitor
A-2: Using a CRT monitor
A-3: Choosing an LCD monitor
A-4: Using an LCD monitor
Topic B: Scanners and cameras
B-1: Connecting a scanner
B-2: Performing scanner maintenance tasks
B-3: Troubleshooting scanner and multifunction device problems
B-4: Connecting a digital camera
B-5: Making a video call with Skype
Unit 12: Printers
Topic A: Printing technologies
A-1: Examining the dot-matrix printing process
A-2: Examining how inkjet printers work
A-3: Examining how laser printers work
A-4: Identifying other printer technologies
Topic B: Printer installation
B-1: Examining the Windows printing process
B-2: Installing a local printer
B-3: Installing printer add-ons and upgrades
Topic C: Printer optimization and maintenance
C-1: Optimizing printing
C-2: Performing inkjet and laser printer maintenance tasks
Topic D: Printer troubleshooting
D-1: Troubleshooting printer problems
Unit 13: Connecting computers
Topic A: Networking concepts
A-1: Describing networking models
A-2: Identifying the basic components of a network
A-3: Identifying cable types
A-4: Describing Ethernet standards
A-5: Describing wireless networking
A-6: Discussing WAN bandwidth technologies
A-7: Describing a SOHO network
A-8: Selecting a connection technology
Topic B: Wired network connections
B-1: Discussing fiber optic cables and connectors
B-2: Examining twisted-pair cables and connectors
B-3: Examining coaxial cables and connectors
B-4: Researching plenum wiring
B-5: Examining your NIC
B-6: Examining your modem
Topic C: Basic internetworking devices
C-1: Differentiating between basic internetworking devices
Unit 14: Networking computers
Topic A: Addressing
A-1: Comparing network protocols used on Windows clients
A-2: Examining addresses
A-3: Using IPCONFIG to view IP configuration
A-4: Testing TCP/IP connectivity
A-5: Discussing the TCP/IP architecture
A-6: Using port numbers
Topic B: Client configuration
B-1: Configuring TCP/IP parameters
B-2: Discussing the DHCP lease process
B-3: Configuring a wireless access point (instructor demo)
B-4: Configuring a wireless client (instructor demo)
B-5: Creating a dial-up connection (instructor demo)
B-6: Examining a dial-up connection object’s properties (instructor demo)
Unit 15: Network troubleshooting
Topic A: Troubleshooting basics
A-1: Identifying common toolkit components
Topic B: Troubleshooting the network
B-1: Testing the physical network
B-2: Troubleshooting wireless networking
B-3: Identifying TCP/IP utilities used for troubleshooting
B-4: Using nslookup and tracert
B-5: Troubleshooting client-side connectivity issues
B-6: Troubleshooting with Network Diagnostics
Unit 16: Portable computers
Topic A: Notebook computers
A-1: Identifying the components and integrated peripherals in a notebook
A-2: Comparing wireless networking standards
Topic B: Configuration
B-1: Using Windows Mobility Center
B-2: Configuring power settings
B-3: Putting a notebook into hibernate and sleep modes
Topic C: Component replacement
C-1: Adding and removing hot-swappable components
C-2: Using PC Cards
C-3: Replacing an internal component in a notebook
C-4: Adding memory to a notebook computer
C-5: Docking and undocking a notebook
C-6: Adding peripherals
Topic D: Notebook issues
D-1: Troubleshooting notebook problems
D-2: Identifying power problems
D-3: Maintaining a notebook
Unit 17: Windows management
Topic A: System management
A-1: Observing the Startup program group
A-2: Exploring regional and language settings
A-3: Modifying indexing settings
A-4: Personalizing Windows’ appearance
A-5: Troubleshooting Windows aero settings
A-6: Configuring Windows Sidebar
A-7: Configuring power settings
A-8: Putting a computer into Hibernate and Sleep modes
A-9: Configuring Wake on LAN
Topic B: Task Scheduler
B-1: Creating a basic task
B-2: Creating a task manually
Topic C: Resource management
C-1: Managing services
C-2: Configuring Windows Vista services
C-3: Using the net command
C-4: Viewing Registry information
C-5: Searching the Registry
C-6: Backing up Registry files
Topic D: Remote management
D-1: Requesting Remote Assistance
D-2: Participating in a Remote Assistance session
D-3: Enabling Remote Desktop
D-4: Making a Remote Desktop connection
Unit 18: Windows monitoring
Topic A: Monitoring
A-1: Running Windows Diagnostics
A-2: Running msinfo32 from a command line
A-3: Running the DirectX Diagnostic tool
A-4: Monitoring applications
A-5: Ending a process
A-6: Monitoring services
A-7: Monitoring network utilization
A-8: Monitoring users
A-9: Viewing the event logs
A-10: Controlling the display of an event log
Topic B: System performance
B-1: Viewing real-time performance data in Resource Overview
B-2: Monitoring performance with Performance Monitor
B-3: Customizing Performance Monitor
B-4: Determining a system’s Stability Index
Topic C: Backup and restore
C-1: Scheduling a backup with Windows Vista Backup
C-2: Restoring files with Windows Vista Backup
C-3: Creating a restore point
C-4: Restoring a computer to a previous state
Unit 19: Operating system troubleshooting
Topic A: Windows startup
A-1: Identifying phases in the startup process
Topic B: System troubleshooting
B-1: Interpreting startup and operating system load messages
B-2: Booting the computer in various startup modes
B-3: Using the System Configuration utility
B-4: Using System File Checker
B-5: Explaining recovery option basics
Unit 20: Security
Topic A: Operating system security
A-1: Creating a basic authentication user account
A-2: Understanding authentication technologies
A-3: Creating a password
A-4: Requiring a new password
A-5: Using local security policies to set password restrictions
A-6: Disabling local user accounts
A-7: Configuring UAC
A-8: Determining effective permissions
Topic B: Windows Encrypted File System
B-1: Encrypting a file
B-2: Testing encryption
B-3: Encrypting a folder
B-4: Enabling whole disk encryption systems (optional instructor demonstration)
Topic C: Security hardware
C-1: Identifying biometric authentication systems
C-2: Examining BIOS security measures
Topic D: Common security threats
D-1: Identifying common security threats
D-2: Installing antivirus software
D-3: Scanning your system for spyware
D-4: Disabling a program
Topic E: The human aspects of security
E-1: Discussing physical access restrictions
E-2: Displaying the status of Windows Firewall
E-3: Configuring Windows Firewall
E-4: Creating firewall exceptions
E-5: Managing social engineering attacks
E-6: Examining data destruction techniques
E-7: Considering corporate security policies
Unit 21: Windows installation and upgrades
Topic A: Windows installation
A-1: Identifying hardware requirements
A-2: Running the Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor
A-3: Discussing installation partition and file system requirements
A-4: Installing Windows Vista Business
A-5: Installing device drivers and Windows updates
A-6: Configuring driver signing
Topic B: Upgrades
B-1: Identifying upgrade paths
B-2: Upgrading to Vista Ultimate
B-3: Using the Windows Vista Program Compatibility Wizard
Unit 22: Safety and maintenance
Topic A: Safety and hazards
A-1: Identifying typical office and computer-related hazards
A-2: Finding sources of static electricity and interference
Topic B: Computer maintenance
B-1: Discussing preventive maintenance
B-2: Discussing power conditioning equipment
B-3: Cleaning computer equipment
B-4: Reading a material safety data sheet
Topic C: Safe work practices
C-1: Avoiding injury and strain when working with PCs
Topic D: Disposing of computer equipment
D-1: Selecting the proper methods for computer equipment disposal
Appendix A: System cases
Topic A: System cases
A-1: Examining system cases
Appendix B: Binary, octal, and hexadecimal numbering
Topic A: Count like a computer
Appendix C: CompTIA A+ acronyms
Appendix D: Certification exam objectives map