CompTIA A+ Core 1 (220-1201) Cert Prep

All about the CompTIA A+

• Overview
• Introduction to A+
• What is the CompTIA A+?
• Why get CompTIA A+ certified?
• How to take the A+ exam
• What's on the CompTIA A+ Core 1 (220-1201) exam?
• How to pass the CompTIA A+ exams

1. Safety and Professionalism

• Tools of the trade
• Troubleshooting theory

2. Introduction to Computers and Operating Systems

• Primary PC components
• Touring a PC
• What is a computer?

3. CPUs

• What is a CPU?
• Modern CPUs
• 32-bit vs. 64-bit computing
• Choosing the right CPU
• CPU generations and architecture
• CPU cooling
• Installing and troubleshooting a CPU

4. RAM

• RAM technology
• RAM capacity
• RAM features
• Virtual memory
• Installing and troubleshooting RAM

5. BIOS and UEFI

• What is BIOS?
• Power-on self-test (POST)
• System setup
• Troubleshooting firmware

6. Motherboards

• Form factors
• Chipsets
• Choosing the right motherboard
• Installing and troubleshooting a motherboard

7. Power Supplies

• The power supply
• Choosing a power supply
• Cooling your system
• Installing and troubleshooting a PSU

8. Mass Storage Technologies

• Introduction to mass storage
• Magnetic disk drives
• Solid-state drives
• Small Computer System Interface (SCSI)
• Boot order

9. Implementing Mass Storage

• RAID
• Hardware RAID
• Software RAID in Storage Spaces
• Encrypting mass storage
• Mass storage troubleshooting

10. Essential Peripherals

• USB standards
• Understanding USB
• Configuring USB
• Thunder and lightning
• Optical media
• Readers and scanners
• Common peripherals
• Webcams and video conferencing
• Installing and troubleshooting expansion cards

11. Installing and Upgrading Operating Systems

• Windows 11 editions and features

12. Working with Operating Systems

• macOS core tools

13. Troubleshooting Systems

• Troubleshooting boot problems
• Troubleshooting applications
• Kernel panic

14. Display Technologies

• Monitor technologies
• LCD breakdown
• Graphics cards and connections
• Resolutions and aspect ratios
• Installing a graphics card
• Projectors
• Troubleshooting display technologies

15. Essentials of Networking

• Introduction to networking
• Hubs vs. switches
• Hexadecimal
• WANs and routers
• Cables and connectors
• Crimping cables
• Structured cabling
• Network card troubleshooting

16. TCP/IP Basics

• Introduction to TCP/IP
• Special IP addresses
• Network Address Translation (NAT)
• Dynamic IP addressing
• IPv6
• Port numbers
• TCP, UDP, and ICMP

17. Operating System Networking and Network Troubleshooting

• Understanding DNS
• Working with DNS
• Windows naming
• Working with workgroups
• Windows sharing with macOS and Linux
• Routers
• Basic router configuration
• Firewall configuration
• Windows Firewall
• Port forwarding
• Advanced router configuration
• Virtual LANs (VLANs)
• Network troubleshooting

18. Wireless Networking

• Wireless network hardware
• Wi-Fi standards
• Basic WAP setup
• Connecting to a Wi-Fi network
• It's a huge mesh
• Enterprise wireless
• Beyond Wi-Fi
• Troubleshooting wireless connections

19. Internet and SOHO Networking

• Beyond the LAN
• Internet tiers
• Broadband connections
• Firewalls and servers
• Telnet and SSH
• Remote desktop connections
• The World Wide Web
• File Transfer Protocol (FTP)
• Email
• Proxy servers
• Virtual private networks (VPNs)
• Internet of Things (IoT)
• Troubleshooting internet connections

20. Virtualization, Cloud Computing, and AI

• Understanding virtualization
• Your first virtual machine
• Advanced virtualization setup
• Cloud computing
• Cloud ownership
• Cloud-based applications

21. Portable Computing

• Laptop features
• Laptop hardware troubleshooting: The tools
• Laptop hardware: Core hardware
• Laptop hardware: The CPU and motherboard
• Touring your laptop display
• Power management

22. Mobile Devices

• What is a mobile device?
• Mobile connections
• Touring Android
• Touring iOS
• Virtual reality

23. Maintaining and Securing Mobile Devices

• Maintaining mobile devices
• Mobile devices and email
• Mobile synchronization
• Mobile device security
• Mobile security troubleshooting
• Mobile device troubleshooting

24. Printers and Multifunction Devices

• Laser printers
• Inkjet printers
• Impact printers
• Thermal printers
• Installing a local printer
• Sharing printers
• Installing wireless and cloud printers
• Social engineering
• 3D printing

25. Essential Security Practices

• Dealing with threats
• Physical security
• Multifactor authentication (MFA)

26. Operational Procedures

• The zen of backup
• Ticketing systems