CompTIA A+ 220-1202 - 1.2 - Installing Operating Systems and Upgrading Windows

USB Boot Method

The operating system files and all necessary support files are loaded onto a USB device, such as a flash drive. The USB is connected to the computer and the operating system is booted and launched via the files on the USB.

Network Boot Method

The operating system files and all necessary support files are loaded across a local network to find a PXE boot server. The operating system is booted and launched via the files from the PXE boot server.

Hard Drive Boot Method

The operating system files and all necessary support files are loaded and booted onto a separate storage drive and everything is installed by creating and booting from a new partition.

Internet-Based Boot Method

Allows the system to boot up its system over the Internet

The computer will boot up a minimalist version of an operating system that is used to download the setup files.

Optical Disc Boot Method

The operating system files and all necessary support files are loaded onto an optical disc in which everything is booted and loaded from an ISO image.

Multiboot

Pick from two or more operating systems from a single installation media.

Clean Install

Wipe the entire system clean and reinstall the operating system.

In-place Upgrade

Update the operating system without having to install any new applications and do not have to recover any files from backup.

Image Deployment

An operating system is installed and configured on a computer, and an image is created of the OS and installed across computers.

Recovery Partition

A hidden partition in which all of the operating system installation files are contained.

Repair Installation

A re-installation of Windows using the recovery utility and installation files stored on the recovery partition.

Remote Network Installation

The install files are stored on a separate network drive in which all of the files are installed across the network.

Zero-touch deployment

An automated installation process in which the user is walked through the installation with little to no prompts.

Disk Partition

a section of a hard disk drive that is treated as a separate storage unit

Volume

A formatted partition

GPT(GUID Partition Table) partition style

A partition style that requires a UEFI BIOS that can configure up to 128 partitions that has a maximum partition size over 9 billion TB.

MBR(Master Boot Record) partition style

An older partition style that has a maximum partition style of 2 TB with two types of partitions: primary and extended. Primary is the only boot-able partition. Extended is for logical partitions.

Disk Partitioning

The first step when preparing disks when installing an operating system.

Quick Format

Erases all file tables and creates a new file table and all data looks like it is erased, but it is not. No additional checks are made.

Full Format

Erases all data by writing zeroes across the whole disk and all of the data is unrecoverable. Checks the disk for bad sectors.

Upgrade OS

Keep all files in place and update the operating system.

Install OS

Start over and install a completely fresh operating system.

Prepare the boot drive

Backup any old data on a drive and check if the drive has been formatted and what partitions are on the drive.

Before the installation

Check the minimum OS requirements to ensure the drive is able to support all of the features of a new OS.

PC health check

A Microsoft app that can scan the computer for compatibility and report system requirements that are unmet for an upgrade to Windows 11.

Windows Product Life Cycle

Includes quality updates and feature updates from Microsoft Windows. Support is provided after the release from 18 to 36 months dependent on the Windows version and release.

Windows 11 hardware requirements

In Windows 11, 64-bit edition, the device must be TPM 2.0 compatible which is used for BitLocker and Windows Hello, must be capable of UEFI BIOS for secure boot.