A+ Guide to Managing & Maintaining Your Pc, Comprehensive

by Andrews, Jean

• ISBN13: 9780619186173
• ISBN10: 0619186178
• Edition: 4th
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2003-04-07
• Publisher: Course Technology

Summary

Written by an instructor expressly for the classroom, this guide has been thoroughly updated and is designed to prepare students to pass the 2003 A+ certification exams and master PC Repair.

Table of Contents

Table of Contents	v
A+ 2003 Upgrade Core Hardware Exam	xvii
A+ 2003 Upgrade Os Technologies Exam	xxvi
Introduction	xxxii
Introducing Hardware	1	(40)
Hardware Needs Software to Work	2	(3)
PC Hardware Components	5	(30)
Hardware Used for Input and Output	6	(2)
Hardware Inside the Computer Case	8	(2)
The Motherboard	10	(2)
The CPU and the Chip Set	12	(1)
Storage Devices	12	(10)
Motherboard Components Used for Communication Among Devices	22	(5)
Interface (Expansion) Cards	27	(2)
The Electrical System	29	(2)
Instructions and Data Stored on the Motherboard	31	(4)
Chapter Summary	35	(1)
Key Terms	36	(1)
Review Questions	37	(1)
Hands--on Projects	38	(3)
How Hardware and Software Work Together	41	(36)
Hardware and Software Interaction: An Overview	42	(3)
System Resources	45	(14)
The 8-Bit and 16-Bit ISA Slots	46	(3)
Interrupt Request Number (IRQ)	49	(4)
Memory Addresses	53	(3)
I/O Addresses	56	(2)
DMA Channels	58	(1)
How an OS Relates to Other Software	59	(9)
Real (16-Bit) and Protected (32-Bit) Operating Modes	59	(3)
How an OS Uses BIOS and Device Drivers	62	(6)
How an OS Launches Applications	68	(2)
Loading Application Software Using the Windows Desktop	68	(2)
Chapter Summary	70	(1)
Key Terms	71	(1)
Review Questions	72	(1)
Hands-on Projects	73	(4)
Understanding the Boot Process and Command Line	77	(42)
Booting Up Your Computer	78	(13)
Plug and Play	78	(1)
What is a File System?	79	(4)
Startup BIOS Controls the Beginning of the Boot	83	(4)
Loading the MS-DOS Core of Windows 9x	87	(4)
Emergency Startup Disks	91	(5)
Windows 9x Startup Disks	92	(4)
Using the Command Prompt	96	(16)
Accessing a Command Prompt	96	(2)
Launching a Program Using the Command Prompt	98	(3)
Using Commands to Manage a Floppy Disk or Hard Drive	101	(11)
Using Batch Files	112	(1)
Chapter Summary	112	(2)
Key Terms	114	(1)
Review Questions	115	(1)
Hands-on Projects	116	(3)
Electricity and Power Supplies	119	(58)
Electricity: A Basic Introduction	120	(10)
Voltage	122	(1)
Amps	123	(1)
Relationship Between Voltage and Current	124	(1)
Ohms	124	(1)
Relationships Among Voltage, Current, and Resistance	125	(1)
Wattage	125	(1)
AC and DC	125	(1)
Hot, Neutral, and Ground	126	(3)
Some Common Electronic Components	129	(1)
Protecting Your Computer System	130	(16)
Protecting Against Electricity	131	(1)
Static Electricity	132	(3)
EMI (Electromagnetic Interference)	135	(1)
Surge Protection and Battery Backup	135	(4)
The Computer Case and Form Factors	139	(1)
Case, Power Supply, and Motherboard Form Factors	139	(5)
Types of Cases	144	(2)
Detecting and Correcting Power Supply Problems	146	(15)
Measuring the Voltage of a Power Supply	147	(7)
Upgrading Your Power Supply	154	(2)
Introduction to Troubleshooting	156	(1)
Troubleshooting the Power System	157	(4)
Energy Star Systems (The Green Star)	161	(3)
Power Management Methods and Features	162	(1)
Energy Star Monitors	163	(1)
Chapter Summary	164	(2)
Key Terms	166	(1)
Review Questions	166	(2)
Hands-on Projects	168	(9)
The Motherboard	177	(66)
Types of Motherboards	178	(5)
Components on the Motherboard	183	(40)
The System Clock	183	(1)
The CPU and the Chip Set	184	(20)
ROM BIOS	204	(3)
Buses and Expansion Slots	207	(3)
Relationship of CPU Speed to Bus Speed	210	(2)
Hardware Configuration	212	(10)
Protecting Documentation and Configuration Settings	222	(1)
Building a Computer: An Introduction	223	(3)
Installing the Motherboard	226	(8)
Preparing the Motherboard to Go into the Case	226	(4)
Installing the Motherboard in the Case	230	(3)
Completing the Installation	233	(1)
Troubleshooting the Motherboard	234	(1)
Chapter Summary	235	(2)
Key Terms	237	(1)
Review Questions	237	(2)
Hands-on Projects	239	(4)
Managing Memory	243	(36)
Physical Memory	244	(11)
ROM on the Motherboard	244	(1)
RAM on the Motherboard	244	(11)
Upgrading Memory	255	(9)
What to Look for When Buying Memory Chips and Modules	255	(2)
How Much and What Kind of Memory to Buy	257	(2)
Reading Ads About Memory Modules	259	(2)
Installing Memory	261	(2)
Troubleshooting Memory	263	(1)
How DOS Addresses Physical Memory	264	(10)
Areas of the Memory Map	266	(3)
DOS Utilities that Manage Memory	269	(5)
Chapter Summary	274	(1)
Key Terms	275	(1)
Review Questions	275	(1)
Hands-on Projects	276	(3)
Floppy Drives	279	(26)
How Floppy Drives Work	280	(9)
How Data Is Physically Stored on a Floppy Disk	280	(4)
How Data Is Logically Stored on a Floppy Disk	284	(1)
The Formatting Process for a Floppy Disk	285	(4)
Using Windows Explorer to Manage Floppy Disks and Hard Drives	289	(4)
Shortcut Menu Options	290	(1)
Create a New Folder	291	(1)
Delete a Folder	292	(1)
File Attributes	292	(1)
Folder Properties	292	(1)
Exchanging and Supporting Floppy Drives	293	(8)
Replacing a Floppy Drive	293	(4)
Adding a New Drive	297	(1)
When a Floppy Disk Drive Doesn't Work	298	(2)
Some Common Error Messages and Their Meanings	300	(1)
Chapter Summary	301	(1)
Key Terms	302	(1)
Review Questions	302	(1)
Hands-on Projects	303	(2)
Understanding and Installing Hard Drives	305	(46)
Hard Drive Technology	306	(8)
Types of Hard Drive Interfaces	306	(4)
How Hard Drives Work	310	(4)
Communicating with the Hard Drive BIOS	314	(4)
Calculating Drive Capacity on Older Drives	315	(1)
Adjusting for More Complex Hard Drive Organization	316	(1)
Installations Using Legacy BIOS	317	(1)
How a Hard Drive Is Logically Organized to Hold Data	318	(10)
Hard Drive Partitions and Logical Drives	320	(6)
What Happens During Formatting	326	(2)
Installing a Hard Drive	328	(16)
Prepare for Installation	328	(3)
Set Jumpers and DIP Switches	331	(2)
Mount the Drive in the Bay	333	(6)
Use CMOS Setup to Change Hard Drive Settings	339	(1)
Setup for Large-Capacity Hard Drives	340	(2)
Use Fdisk to Partition a Drive	342	(1)
Format Each Logical Drive	343	(1)
Using Windows to Partition and Format a New Drive	343	(1)
Troubleshooting Hard Drive Installations	344	(2)
Chapter Summary	346	(2)
Key Terms	348	(1)
Review Questions	348	(1)
Hands-on Projects	349	(2)
Optimizing and Protecting Hard Drives	351	(46)
Managing Hard Drives	352	(18)
Defrag and Windows Disk Defragmenter	352	(1)
Use ScanDisk to Correct Cross-Linked and Lost Clusters	353	(2)
Disk Compression	355	(2)
Disk Caching	357	(2)
Making Backups	359	(7)
Disk and Volume Types and Fault Tolerance	366	(4)
Viruses and Other Computer Infestations	370	(10)
Understanding Computer Infestations	370	(7)
Protecting Against Computer Infestations	377	(3)
Troubleshooting Hard Drives	380	(10)
An Ounce of Prevention	380	(1)
Resolving Common Hard Drive Problems	381	(9)
Getting Technical Support	390	(1)
Chapter Summary	390	(2)
Key Terms	392	(1)
Review Questions	392	(2)
Hands-on Projects	394	(3)
Supporting I/O Devices	397	(52)
Basic Principles of Peripheral Installations	398	(4)
Installation Overview	398	(2)
Installing a Hardware Device	400	(2)
Using Ports and Expansion Slots for Add-On Devices	402	(18)
Using Serial Ports	402	(5)
Using Parallel Ports	407	(3)
Using USB Ports	410	(3)
Using IEEE 1394 Ports	413	(3)
Using PCI Expansion Slots	416	(3)
Using ISA Expansion Slots	419	(1)
Keyboards	420	(4)
Keyboard Connectors	421	(2)
Installing Keyboards	423	(1)
Troubleshooting Keyboards	423	(1)
Pointing Devices	424	(4)
Cleaning the Mouse	427	(1)
Other Pointing Devices	427	(1)
Troubleshooting a Mouse	427	(1)
Computer Video	428	(15)
Monitors	428	(5)
Video Cards	433	(4)
Troubleshooting Video Problems	437	(6)
Chapter Summary	443	(1)
Key Terms	444	(1)
Review Questions	444	(1)
Hands-on Projects	445	(4)
Multimedia Devices and Mass Storage	449	(40)
Multimedia on a PC	450	(10)
CPU Technologies for Multimedia	450	(1)
Multimedia Devices	450	(1)
Sound Cards	450	(5)
Digital Cameras	455	(2)
MP3 Players	457	(2)
Video Capture Card	459	(1)
Optical Storage Technology	460	(14)
CD-ROM	461	(6)
CD-R and CD-RW	467	(1)
DVD	468	(6)
Tape Drives	474	(5)
Removable Drives	479	(2)
Troubleshooting Guidelines	481	(3)
Problems with CD-ROM or DVD Installation	481	(1)
Troubleshooting Sound Problems	482	(1)
Troubleshooting Tape Drives	483	(1)
Chapter Summary	484	(1)
Key Terms	485	(1)
Review Questions	486	(1)
Hands-on Projects	487	(2)
Supporting Windows 9x	489	(72)
Windows 9x Architecture	490	(3)
Virtual Machines	491	(2)
Components of Windows 9x	493	(1)
Installing Windows 9x, Hardware, and Software	493	(22)
Installing Windows 9x	494	(12)
Installing Hardware with Windows 9x	506	(4)
Installing Applications in Windows 9x	510	(5)
Tools to Manage and Troubleshoot Windows 9x	515	(17)
Keystroke Shortcuts in Windows	517	(2)
Managing the Windows 9x Desktop	519	(4)
Device Manager	523	(1)
Dr. Watson	524	(1)
The Windows 9x Registry	525	(4)
Managing Memory with Windows 9x	529	(3)
Booting Windows 9x	532	(7)
Files Used to Customize the Startup Process	532	(2)
The Windows 9x Startup Process	534	(4)
Loading an Application at Startup	538	(1)
Troubleshooting Windows 9x	539	(13)
Troubleshooting Windows 9x Installations	539	(1)
Troubleshooting the Windows 9x Boot Process	540	(9)
Troubleshooting Windows 9x Hardware and Software	549	(3)
Chapter Summary	552	(3)
Key Terms	555	(1)
Review Questions	555	(2)
Hands-on Projects	557	(4)
Understanding and Installing Windows 2000 and Windows NT	561	(36)
Windows NT/2000/XP Architecture	562	(10)
Windows NT/2000/XP Modes	562	(3)
Networking Features	565	(2)
How Windows NT/2000/XP Manages Hard Drives	567	(4)
Memory in Windows NT/2000/XP	571	(1)
Installing Windows 2000 Professional	572	(12)
Plan the Installation	573	(5)
Clean Installation	578	(2)
Clean Install When the Hard Drive Has an Operating System Installed	580	(1)
Upgrade Installation	581	(1)
After the Installation: Backing Up the System State	582	(2)
Installing Hardware and Applications under Windows 2000	584	(3)
Installing Hardware	584	(2)
Installing Applications	586	(1)
Supporting Windows NT	587	(5)
Installing Windows NT as the Only OS	587	(1)
Installing Windows NT as the Second OS on the Hard Drive	587	(1)
Troubleshooting the Windows NT Boot Process	588	(4)
Chapter Summary	592	(2)
Key Terms	594	(1)
Review Questions	594	(1)
Hands-on Projects	595	(2)
Managing and Troubleshooting Windows 2000	597	(44)
Understanding the Windows NT/2000/XP Boot Process	598	(5)
Customizing the Windows NT/2000/XP Boot Process	600	(3)
Troubleshooting the Windows 2000 Boot Process	603	(9)
Advanced Options Menu	603	(7)
Emergency Repair Process	610	(2)
Tools for Maintenance and Troubleshooting	612	(22)
Using the Backup Tool to Restore the System State	612	(1)
Windows 2000 Support Tools	613	(1)
Windows File Protection	614	(2)
Disk Properties Window	616	(1)
Computer Management	617	(3)
Microsoft Management Console	620	(6)
Performance Monitoring and Optimization	626	(6)
Managing Virtual Memory	632	(1)
Dr. Watson and Memory Dumps	633	(1)
Windows Update	633	(1)
Chapter Summary	634	(2)
Key Terms	636	(1)
Review Questions	636	(1)
Hands-on Projects	637	(4)
Installing and Using Windows XP Professional	641	(36)
Features and Architecture of Windows XP	642	(3)
Windows XP Features	642	(2)
Windows XP Architecture	644	(1)
Installing Windows XP	645	(14)
Planning the Installation	645	(4)
Installation Process	649	(6)
After the Installation	655	(4)
Using Windows XP	659	(7)
Customizing the Windows XP Desktop	661	(4)
Managing Audio and Video	665	(1)
Multiple Logins and Remote Assistance	666	(1)
Installing Hardware and Applications	666	(7)
Installing Hardware	667	(3)
Installing Applications	670	(3)
Chapter Summary	673	(1)
Key Terms	674	(1)
Review Questions	675	(1)
Hands-on Projects	676	(1)
Managing and Supporting Windows XP	677	(38)
Security Using Windows NT/2000/XP	678	(13)
User Accounts and Profiles	678	(7)
Disk Quotas	685	(1)
EFS (Encrypted File System)	686	(3)
Internet Connection Firewall	689	(2)
The Windows NT/2000/XP Registry	691	(6)
How the Registry Is Organized	692	(2)
Editing the Registry	694	(3)
Other Maintenance and Troubleshooting Tools	697	(6)
Help on the Web	700	(3)
Troubleshooting the Boot Process	703	(7)
System Restore	704	(2)
Windows XP Startup Disk	706	(1)
Automated System Recovery	707	(2)
Error Messages and Their Meanings	709	(1)
Chapter Summary	710	(1)
Key Terms	711	(1)
Review Questions	711	(2)
Hands-on Projects	713	(2)
Supporting Modems	715	(28)
All About Modems	716	(14)
How Modems Are Rated	719	(8)
Installing and Configuring a Modem	727	(3)
The AT Command Set	730	(5)
Troubleshooting Guidelines for Modems	735	(4)
Chapter Summary	739	(1)
Key Terms	740	(1)
Review Questions	740	(1)
Hands-on Projects	741	(2)
PCs on a Network	743	(66)
Physical Network Architectures	744	(15)
Ethernet	745	(5)
Wireless LANs	750	(2)
Token Ring and FDDI	752	(1)
How NICs Work	752	(3)
Segmenting a Network	755	(4)
Windows on a Network	759	(13)
Addressing on a Network	760	(11)
How Computers Find Each Other on a LAN	771	(1)
Installing a Network Card and Connecting to a Network	772	(13)
Installing a NIC Using Windows 9x	773	(6)
Installing a NIC Using Windows 2000/XP	779	(3)
Installing a Wireless NIC	782	(3)
Using Resources on the Network	785	(8)
Sharing Files, Folders, and Applications	785	(6)
Network Drive Maps	791	(2)
Direct Cable Connection	793	(1)
Troubleshooting a Network Connection	793	(3)
Connecting Networks	796	(5)
Routers	796	(2)
Bandwidth Technologies	798	(3)
Chapter Summary	801	(2)
Key Terms	803	(1)
Review Questions	804	(1)
Hands-on Projects	805	(4)
PCs on the Internet	809	(38)
The TCP/IP Suite of Protocols	810	(8)
Using IP and Port Addresses to Identify Services	810	(2)
TCP/IP Protocol Layers	812	(4)
TCP/IP Utilities	816	(2)
Connecting to the Internet	818	(14)
Dial-Up Networking	818	(9)
DSL and Cable Modem Connections	827	(2)
Sharing Internet Connections	829	(3)
Supporting Internet Clients	832	(9)
Supporting Web Browsers	832	(5)
Supporting E-mail	837	(1)
Supporting FTP	838	(3)
Chapter Summary	841	(2)
Key Terms	843	(1)
Review Questions	843	(2)
Hands-on Projects	845	(2)
Notebooks and PDAs	847	(28)
Notebook Computers	848	(19)
Windows 98 Notebook Features	849	(1)
Windows 2000 Notebook Features	850	(1)
Windows XP Notebook Features	850	(1)
Power Management	851	(5)
Upgrading Memory	856	(3)
Other Field Replaceable Units for Notebooks	859	(1)
Connecting Peripheral Devices to Notebooks	860	(5)
Online Resources for Troubleshooting Notebooks	865	(2)
PDAs	867	(4)
Battery Life on a PDA	868	(1)
Applications on a PDA	869	(1)
Connecting a PDA to a PC	869	(1)
PDA Manufacturers and Operating Systems	870	(1)
Chapter Summary	871	(1)
Key Terms	872	(1)
Review Questions	872	(1)
Hands-on Projects	873	(2)
Supporting Printers	875	(30)
How Printers Work	876	(9)
Laser Printers	876	(5)
Ink-Jet Printers	881	(2)
Dot-Matrix Printers	883	(1)
How Windows Handles Print Jobs	884	(1)
Installing and Sharing a Printer	885	(6)
Install a Local Printer	886	(1)
Share a Printer with Others in a Workgroup	887	(4)
Troubleshooting Guidelines for Printers	891	(10)
Printer Maintenance	892	(1)
General Printer Troubleshooting	892	(7)
Problems Printing from Windows	899	(1)
Troubleshooting Networked Printers	900	(1)
Chapter Summary	901	(1)
Key Terms	901	(1)
Review Questions	902	(1)
Hands-on Projects	902	(3)
All About SCSI	905	(26)
SCSI Basics	906	(13)
The SCSI Subsystem	906	(2)
Host Adapters	908	(2)
SCSI Device Drivers	910	(1)
Variations in SCSI	910	(9)
Comparing IDE and SCSI	919	(1)
Installing SCSI Devices	920	(3)
Installing a Host Adapter Card	921	(2)
Setting Device IDs During Installation	923	(2)
Installing a SCSI Hard Drive	924	(1)
Troubleshooting SCSI Devices	925	(1)
Chapter Summary	926	(1)
Key Terms	927	(1)
Review Questions	928	(1)
Hands-on Projects	929	(2)
Purchasing a PC or Building Your Own	931	(34)
Selecting a Personal Computer to Meet Your Needs	932	(5)
Purchasing a Brand-Name PC vs. a Clone	933	(1)
Selecting Software	934	(1)
Selecting Hardware	935	(1)
Selecting a Total Package	936	(1)
Preparing to Build Your Own PC	937	(3)
Getting Ready for Assembly: Selecting Parts	938	(1)
Getting Ready for Assembly: Final Preparations	939	(1)
Building a Personal Computer, Step by Step	940	(22)
Overview of the Assembly Process	940	(1)
Step 1: Verify You Have All the Parts	941	(1)
Step 2: Prepare the Computer Case	942	(2)
Step 3: Install Drives	944	(3)
Step 4: Set Jumpers or Switches on the Motherboard	947	(3)
Step 5: Install the CPU and CPU Fan	950	(2)
Step 6: Install RAM on the Motherboard	952	(1)
Step 7: Install the Motherboard and Attach Cabling	953	(5)
Step 8: Install the Video Card	958	(1)
Step 9: Plug In the Computer and Attach External Devices	959	(1)
Step 10: Boot the Computer, Check Settings, and Verify Operation	960	(2)
Chapter Summary	962	(1)
Key Terms	963	(1)
Review Questions	963	(1)
Hands-on Projects	964	(1)
Troubleshooting and Maintenance Fundamentals	965	(24)
Troubleshooting Perspectives and Tools	966	(3)
Troubleshooting Tools	966	(3)
Your Approach to Troubleshooting	969	(7)
Fundamental Rules	970	(2)
Gathering Information	972	(4)
Preventive Maintenance	976	(7)
When a PC Is Your Permanent Responsibility	976	(3)
A Preventive Maintenance Plan	979	(2)
Moving Equipment	981	(1)
Disposing of Used Equipment	981	(2)
Fire Extinguishers	983	(1)
Chapter Summary	983	(1)
Key Terms	984	(1)
Review Questions	984	(1)
Hands-on Projects	985	(4)
APPENDIX A Error Messages and Their Meanings	989	(4)
APPENDIX B ASCII Character Set and Ansi.sys	993	(4)
APPENDIX C The Hexadecimal Number System and Memory Addressing	997	(10)
Learning to ``Think Hex''	998	(1)
Place Value	998	(4)
How Exponents Are Used to Express Place Value	1002	(1)
Binary Number System	1002	(1)
Memory Addressing	1003	(1)
Displaying Memory with DOS DEBUG	1004	(3)
APPENDIX D The Professional PC Technician	1007	(12)
What Customers Want: Beyond Technical Know--How	1007	(1)
Support Calls: Providing Good Service	1008	(6)
Planning for Good Service	1008	(1)
Making an On-Site Service Call	1009	(1)
Phone Support	1010	(3)
When You Can't Solve the Problem	1013	(1)
Recordkeeping and Information Tools	1014	(1)
Professional Organizations and Certifications	1015	(1)
Why Certification?	1016	(1)
Protecting Software Copyrights	1016	(3)
What Does the Law Say?	1017	(1)
What Are Your Responsibilities Under the Law?	1017	(2)
APPENDIX E Introducing Linux	1019	(12)
Root Account and User Accounts	1020	(1)
Directory and File Layout	1021	(2)
Linux Commands	1023	(4)
Using the vi Editor	1027	(2)
Window Managers	1029	(2)
Glossary	1031	(32)
Index	1063