A+ Guide to Managing and Maintaining Your PC

by ANDREWS

• ISBN13: 9780619186197
• ISBN10: 0619186194
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2003-03-27
• Publisher: Course Technology

Table of Contents

Introducing Hardware	1	(19)
Gather and Record System Information	2	(2)
Identify Computer Parts	4	(6)
Use Shareware to Examine a Computer	10	(4)
Compare Costs	14	(3)
Plan an Ideal System	17	(2)
How an Operating System Works with Hardware and Other Software	19	(20)
Examine System Resources with Device Manager	20	(3)
Use Shareware to Examine a Computer	23	(4)
Create and Examine a Windows 98 Startup Disk	27	(2)
Use Microsoft Diagnostics with Windows	29	(4)
Install Windows Components	33	(2)
Convert Numbers	35	(4)
Understanding the Boot Process and Ms-Dos Mode	39	(24)
Examine Files and Directores	40	(4)
Observe the Boot Process	44	(2)
Modify Configuration Files and Observe the Results	46	(3)
Learn to Work from the Command Line	49	(6)
Examine Windows Configuration Files	55	(3)
Learn File Naming Conventions	58	(5)
Electricity and Power Supplies	63	(18)
Take a Computer Apart and Put it Back Together	64	(5)
Find Documentation on the Internet	69	(2)
Learn PC Power Supply Facts	71	(3)
Measure the Output of Your Power Supply	74	(3)
Replace a Power Supply	77	(4)
The Motherboard	81	(20)
Examine and Adjust CMOS Settings	82	(6)
Use a Motherboard Diagnostic Utility	88	(3)
Identify a Motherboard and Find Documentation on the Internet	91	(4)
Remove and Replace the Motherboard	95	(2)
Identify Motherboard Components and Form Factors	97	(4)
Memory and Floppy Drives	101	(22)
Research RAM on the Internet	102	(3)
Explore the Kingston Web Site	105	(4)
Upgrade RAM	109	(5)
Troubleshoot Memory Problems	114	(4)
Use Himem.sys	118	(5)
Floppy Drives	123	(22)
Install and Troubleshoot a Floppy Drive	124	(3)
Use TestDrive to Test a Floppy Drive	127	(3)
Format a Floppy Disk	130	(3)
Use the Diskcopy and Xcopy Commands	133	(4)
Critical Thinking: Use Debug to Examine Disk Information	137	(8)
Understanding and Installing Hard Drives	145	(26)
Install and Partition a Hard Drive	146	(6)
Format a Drive and Test it with ScanDisk	152	(3)
Test Hard Drive Performance Using SANDRA	155	(3)
Use Disk Management	158	(5)
Use Hard Drive Utilities	163	(8)
Optimizing and Protecting Hard Drives	171	(28)
Perform Hard Drive Routine Maintenance	172	(4)
Back Up and Restore Files in Windows 2000/XP	176	(5)
Research Data Recovery Services	181	(5)
Use Do-It-Yourself Data Recovery Software	186	(7)
Troubleshoot Hard Drives	193	(2)
Critical Thinking: Sabotage and Repair a Hard Drive Subsystem	195	(4)
Supporting I/O Devices	199	(18)
Lab 10.1 Gather Information on Your System	200	(2)
Identify Hardware Conflicts Using Device Manager	202	(4)
Diagnose Simple Hardware Problems	206	(2)
Plan and Design a Null Modem Cable	208	(2)
Use a Multimeter to Inspect Cables	210	(4)
Critical Thinking: Sabotage and Repair a System	214	(3)
Multimedia Devices and Mass Storage	217	(30)
Install a Sound Card	218	(5)
Install a PCVideo Camera	223	(5)
Compare CD and DVD Technologies	228	(5)
Install Dual Monitors in Windows 9x	233	(4)
Research Digital Cameras	237	(5)
Explore Windows 98 Audio Features	242	(5)
Supporting Windows 9x	247	(40)
Use Windows Keyboard Shortcuts	248	(3)
Customize Your Desktop	251	(3)
Update Drivers with Device Manager	254	(2)
Examine the Windows 9x CD	256	(4)
Perform A Custom Windows 98 Installation and Write Documentation	260	(3)
Manage Windows File Associations	263	(5)
Update Windows	268	(3)
Optimize Windows	271	(5)
Modify System Configuration Files	276	(4)
Save, Modify and Restore the Registry	280	(4)
Critical Thinking: Sabotage and Repair Windows 98	284	(3)
Understanding and Installing Windows 2000 and Windows NT	287	(42)
Install or Upgrade to Windows 2000	288	(6)
Use Windows Help and Troubleshooters	294	(5)
Install and Use Windows 2000 Support Tools	299	(4)
Use the Windows 2000 Setup Manager Wizard	303	(4)
Manager User Accounts in Windows NT	307	(6)
Create Windows NT Setup and Repair Disks	313	(4)
Repair Windows NT Workstation	317	(4)
Observe and Repair Video Problems	321	(4)
Critical Thinking: Sabotage and Repair Windows NT	325	(4)
Supporting and Troubleshooting Windows 2000	329	(24)
Use the Microsoft Management Console	330	(4)
Analyze a System with Windows NT/2000/XP Event Viewer	334	(7)
Use Task Manager	341	(5)
Use Dr. Watson	346	(2)
Critical Thinking: Sabotage and Repair Windows 2000	348	(5)
Installing and Using Windows XP	353	(26)
Install Windows XP	354	(7)
Allow Two Users to Log on Simultaneously	361	(3)
Navigate and Customize Windows XP	364	(6)
Manage User Accounts in Windows XP	370	(4)
Windows Media Player	374	(5)
Supporting and Troubleshooting Windows XP	379	(24)
Set Disk Quotas	380	(3)
Use Encryption	383	(3)
Restore the System State	386	(4)
Install Recovery Console as an Option on the Startup Menu	390	(3)
Use Recovery Console to Copy Files	393	(2)
Monitor the Memory Counter	395	(3)
Critical Thinking: Sabotage and Repair Windows XP	398	(5)
Communicating over Phone Lines	403	(20)
Simulate Serial Port Communication	404	(4)
Install and Test a Modem	408	(3)
Use At Commands to Control a Modem	411	(4)
Simulate Modem Problems	415	(3)
Critical Thinking: Use Two Modems to Create a Multilink Connection	418	(5)
PCs on a Network	423	(42)
Install and Test an Ethernet NIC	424	(5)
Inspect Cables	429	(3)
Compare Options for a Home LAN	432	(6)
Troubleshoot with TCP/IP Utilities	438	(5)
Practice Solving Network Connectivity Problems	443	(3)
Share Resources on a Network	446	(5)
Use NetBEUI Instead of TCP/IP	451	(7)
Use a Parallel Port for Direct Cable Connection	458	(3)
Configure and Use Dial-Up Server	461	(4)
PCs on the Internet	465	(20)
Install Software to Delete Cookies	466	(3)
Use FTP to Download a Brower	469	(4)
Download and Install Internet Explorer and Install Netscape	473	(4)
Set Up NetMeeting	477	(4)
Configure a Browser So It Doesn't Download Images	481	(4)
Notebooks and PDAs	485	(24)
Examine Notebook Documentation	486	(5)
Compare Notebooks and Desktops	491	(3)
Replace a Notebook Hard Drive	494	(5)
Research Software Available for PDAs	499	(5)
Battery Calibration and Power Management	504	(5)
Supporting Printers	509	(20)
Install and Share a Printer	510	(4)
Install a Network Printer	514	(4)
Update Printer Drivers	518	(6)
Printer Maintenance and Troubleshooting	524	(3)
Critical Thinking: Sabotage and Repair a Network Printer	527	(2)
All About SCSI	529	(12)
Compare SCSI to Competing Technologies	530	(2)
Compare SCSI Standards	532	(2)
Install a Host Adapter and Hard Drive	534	(2)
Install an External Drive	536	(3)
Critical Thinking: Plan a SCSI System	539	(2)
Purchasing a PC or Building Your Own	541	(32)
Choose a System	542	(3)
Determine System Requirements	545	(4)
Compare What You Need with What You Can Afford	549	(6)
Check System Compatibility	555	(2)
Evaluate an Upgrade	557	(4)
Determine Hardware Compatibility with Windows XP	561	(3)
Compare Windows Versions using the Microsoft Web Site	564	(2)
Investigate Linux	566	(4)
Explore the Macintosh World	570	(3)
Troubleshooting and Maintenance Fundamentals	573	(1)
Produce Help Desk Procedures	574	(4)
Flash BIOS	578	(4)
Troubleshoot General Computer Problems	582	(3)
Troubleshoot Hypothetical Situations	585	(5)
Critical Thinking: Update Motherboard Drivers	590