CompTIA A+ Complete Lab Manual

Boost your understanding of A+ exam principles with these practical, real-world exercises Designed to complement CompTIA A+ Complete Study Guide, this hands-on companion book takes you step by step through an assortment of tasks a PC technician is likely to face on any given day. It supports the theory explained in the test-prep guide with additional practical application, increasing a new PC technician's confidence and marketability. Various scenarios incorporate roadblocks that may occur on the job and explain ways to successfully complete the task at hand. Tasks are divided into categories: hardware and software installation, hardware and software maintenance, and installing and upgrading operating systems, networks, and security systems. Designed to enhance factual study with practical application Explains step by step how to perform a variety of tasks that PC technicians commonly face on the job Tasks include installing or replacing a power supply or a laptop hard drive, installing or upgrading to Windows 7, scanning for and removing viruses, installing printer drivers, and troubleshooting a network CompTIA A+ Complete Lab Manual gives you the hands-on experience you need to succeed in the real world.

James Pyles, A+, Network+, is a freelance consultant, technical writer, and editor. He has been involved in numerous Ethernet rollout projects, software and hardware installations and upgrades, and Windows and UNIX operating system upgrades. He has written and edited numerous books, including Sybex's MCTS: Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007 Configuration Study Guide and PC Technician Street Smarts, Second Edition.

Introduction xxxi

Phase 1 Installing Hardware and Software 1

Task 1.1: Preventing ESD Damage 2

Task 1.2: Installing RAM 5

Task 1.3: Installing a PCI Card 11

Task 1.4: Installing a PCI Express Card 15

Task 1.5: Installing a Power Supply 19

Task 1.6: Installing an IDE Hard Drive 22

Task 1.7: Installing a SATA Hard Drive 27

Task 1.8: Moving an Operating System to a New SATA Drive with Acronis True Image 31

Task 1.9: Installing a SCSI Drive 36

Task 1.10: Installing a DVD Drive 39

Task 1.11: Installing a Video Card 43

Task 1.12: Installing a Laptop Keyboard 47

Task 1.13: Installing SO-DIMM in a Laptop 51

Task 1.14: Installing a Laptop Hard Drive 55

Task 1.15: Installing a Laptop Optical Drive 58

Task 1.16: Installing a KVM Switch 61

Task 1.17: Installing Drivers from a Disc 64

Task 1.18: Installing Drivers from the Internet 67

Task 1.19: Reformatting a Hard Drive Using Windows XP 70

Task 1.20: Installing Windows XP Professional as a Fresh Install 74

Task 1.21: Installing Windows Vista as a Fresh Install 84

Task 1.22: Installing Microsoft Applications in Windows XP 88

Task 1.23: Uninstalling Software in Windows XP 91

Task 1.24: Uninstalling an Application Using Windows 7

Task 1.25: Upgrading from Windows XP to Windows 7 95

Task 1.26: Shutting Down Background Processes in Windows 7 99

Task 1.27: Installing a Local Printer 102

Task 1.28: Installing Printer Drivers 106

Task 1.29: Installing a Bluetooth Printer on Windows 7 109

Task 1.30: Installing a Bluetooth Device for Pairing with Windows 7 112

Task 1.31: Syncing a Mobile Device with Media Player in Windows 7 114

Phase 2 Maintaining and Documenting Computer Systems 117

Task 2.1: Identifying a Motherboard 118

Task 2.2: Identifying a Power Supply 120

Task 2.3: Performing a Quick Test and Replacing a Power Supply 123

Task 2.4: Searching for Windows Vista Drivers 127

Task 2.5: Listing All of the Drivers Installed on a Windows 7 PC 128

Task 2.6: Cleaning Fans 130

Task 2.7: Oiling Fans 132

Task 2.8: Defragging a Hard Drive 135

Task 2.9: Scheduling Automatic Defragging in Windows 7 138

Task 2.10: Defragmenting a Single File 140

Task 2.11: Updating Security Patches 143

Task 2.12: Checking Internal Connectors 145

Task 2.13: Backing Up with Acronis True Image Home 147

Task 2.14: Flashing the BIOS 150

Task 2.15: Changing the CMOS Battery to Correct a Slow PC Clock 153

Task 2.16: Resetting Passwords 156

Task 2.17: Creating a New Local User in Windows Vista 158

Task 2.18: Testing Ports with an Online Scanner 160

Task 2.19: Changing Printer Toner 162

Task 2.20: Scanning a Document Using Windows 7 165

Task 2.21: Managing Windows Startup and Recovery Behavior in Windows XP 169

Task 2.22: Turning Windows 7 Features On or Off 170

Task 2.23: Controlling AutoPlay Settings in Windows 7 172

Task 2.24: Setting Up Advanced File Sharing in Windows 7 175

Task 2.25: Installing Windows Live Mail 177

Task 2.26: Configuring Mail Accounts in Windows Live 179

Task 2.27: Rolling Back Device Drivers 181

Task 2.28: Disabling and Removing Hardware Devices 183

Phase 3 Networking Computer Systems 187

Task 3.1: Mapping Drives 188

Task 3.2: Creating File Shares 191

Task 3.3: Configuring PCs to Use Dynamic Addressing 195

Task 3.4: Releasing and Renewing a Dynamic Address Assignment 199

Task 3.5: Installing a Network Printer 201

Task 3.6: Making a Straight-Through Cable 205

Task 3.7: Making a Crossover Cable 210

Task 3.8: Testing Network Cables 214

Task 3.9: Joining a Computer to a Domain 216

Task 3.10: Creating a User in Active Directory 220

Task 3.11: Setting Up a Local User ID 224

Task 3.12: Adding a Multi-Port Card to a PC 228

Task 3.13: Setting Up VPN on a PC 231

Task 3.14: Connecting a PC to a Network Printer 236

Task 3.15: Managing Windows Vista Outbound Firewall Settings 239

Task 3.16: Monitoring Network Activity with Windows Vista Firewall 242

Task 3.17: Configuring MAC Filtering on a Wireless Router 245

Task 3.18: Turning Off SSID Broadcasts on a Wireless Router 247

Task 3.19: Changing the Default Username and Password on a Wireless Router 249

Task 3.20: Setting Up a Mobile Phone to Use Email 251

Task 3.21: Setting Up Windows Live Mobile 253

Phase 4 Troubleshooting and Restoring Computer Systems 257

Task 4.1: Scanning for and Removing Viruses 258

Task 4.2: Using Restore Point in Windows 7 261

Task 4.3: Troubleshooting in Windows 7 Using the Action Center 264

Task 4.4: Scanning for and Removing Malware 267

Task 4.5: Scanning for Rootkits 270

Task 4.6: Backing Up Outlook 273

Task 4.7: Quickly Diagnosing Windows Vista Problems 276

Task 4.8: Troubleshooting a Randomly Rebooting PC 278

Task 4.9: Troubleshooting an Intermittent Boot Failure of a PC 282

Task 4.10: Troubleshooting a Failed RAM Upgrade 286

Task 4.11: Troubleshooting a PC That Can’t Print to a Local Printer 289

Task 4.12: Troubleshooting a PC That Can’t Print to a Network Printer 293

Task 4.13: Troubleshooting the Error Message "The Specified Domain Either Does Not Exist or Could Not Be Contacted" 298

Task 4.14: Troubleshooting the Error Message "Print Processor Unknown" 304

Task 4.15: Troubleshooting a System Conflict with a Hidden Device 307

Task 4.16: Troubleshooting a Word Template Error Message 309

Task 4.17: Troubleshooting a Serious System Error in Windows 7 312

Task 4.18: Troubleshooting No Monitor Image When the PC Is Powered Up 315

Task 4.19: Troubleshooting the Inability to Connect to a Mapped Drive 318

Task 4.20: Troubleshooting the Inability to Access a Shared Folder on a Remote Computer 320

Task 4.21: Troubleshooting the Inability to Connect to the Network 323

Task 4.22: Troubleshooting Connection Problems with an External USB Hard Drive 326

Task 4.23: Troubleshooting a Scanner Problem 328

Task 4.24: Troubleshooting a Laptop Wi-Fi Connection Failure 331

Task 4.25: Troubleshooting the Failure of a Hard-Disk Drive 333

Task 4.26: Troubleshooting a Persistent "Align Print Cartridges" Message after Cartridges Have Been Replaced and Aligned 336

Index 339

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