Introduction

*The field of computing has changed dramatically over the decades since the introduction of the IBM Personal Computer (PC) in 1981, and so has the job of the people who build, maintain, and troubleshoot computers. A PC tech for many years serviced IBM-compatible desktop systems running a Microsoft operating system (OS), such as DOS or, later, Windows. All a tech needed to service an early Windows machine was a Phillips-head screwdriver and knowledge of the hardware and OS.

The personal computing landscape today includes a zillion devices in all shapes, sizes, and purposes. How many computing devices do you interact with every day? Seriously, count them.

This book uses the term “personal computer” and the initials “PC” generically to refer to any kind of personal computing device. PCs here mean things that techs interact with, can set up, and repair.

■ CompTIA A+ Certification

CompTIA A+ is an industry-wide, vendor-neutral certification program developed and sponsored by the Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA).

* You achieve this certification by taking two computer-based exams consisting of multiple-choice and performance-based questions. The exams cover what technicians should know after 12 months of hands-on work on personal computing devices, experience obtained either from a job or as a student in the lab.

■ Who Is CompTIA?

*CompTIA is a nonprofit industry trade association based in Downers Grove, Illinois. It consists of over 20,000 members in 102 countries. You’ll find CompTIA offices in such diverse locales as Amsterdam, Dubai, Johannesburg, Tokyo, and São Paulo.

*CompTIA began offering CompTIA A+ certification back in 1993.

■ The Path to Other Certifications

CompTIA Core Series

CompTIA A+ is part of the CompTIA Core Series of certifications. Many techs flow from CompTIA A+ to other certifications in the Core Series before specializing. The Core Series consists of four certifications:

■ CompTIA IT Fundamentals (ITF+)

■ CompTIA A+ (1101 is called Core 1; 1102 is called Core 2)

■ CompTIA Network+

■ CompTIA Security+

CompTIA ITF+ covers essentials of computer literacy, such as everything any modern worker needs to know about computing just to function. That includes information about computing device types, what you can do with computers, how networks work, and basic security.

CompTIA Network+ continues the good work you started in the CompTIA A+ networking sections. We live in an interconnected world. Techs need to know networking inside and out to handle jobs at bigger organizations. Getting Network+ certified proves your skills as a network tech, including your understanding of network hardware, infrastructure, installation, and troubleshooting. Network+ is the next logical step after the A+ certification. CompTIA A+ is not a prerequisite to take your Network+ exam, but it is highly recommended.

Similarly, CompTIA Security+ picks up from the network security sections in both CompTIA A+ and Network+, taking you much deeper into how to secure networks against attacks and best practices for every security-conscious organization.

* I recommend taking Security+ after Network+; this rounds out your essential skill set all the way up to enterprise tech, if this is the career route you wish to take.

CompTIA Specialty Series

Infrastructure Pathway means turning to the machines and operating systems that beat at the heart of enterprise organizations. There are three certifications in this series:

■ CompTIA Linux+

■ CompTIA Server+

■ CompTIA Cloud+

*Many organizations rely on Linux-powered servers to accomplish much of the dedicated hardware tasks. The servers and server infrastructure require specialized knowledge. Also, much of the industry is moving to cloud-based computing, so understanding how to take an organization there successfully is increasingly important for IT professionals.

The Cybersecurity Pathway goes deep into the Dark Arts of network security—how to protect against bad people, not how to be a successful criminal mastermind—with three certifications:

■ CompTIA Cybersecurity Analyst (CySA+)

■ CompTIA PenTest+

■ CompTIA Advanced Security Practitioner (CASP+)

The Data and Analytics Pathway covers the toolkit you’ll use to take raw data and transform it into the kinds of statistics, visualizations, and reports that support data-driven business decisions. This pathway only has two certifications as of the time of publication, but CompTIA has announced plans to add more certifications in the future:

■ CompTIA Data+

■ CompTIA Data Systems

CompTIA Data+ shows that you know how to mine data for patterns and trends, analyze the results, and communicate the insights you find. CompTIA Data Systems covers the skills required to work with databases.

The Professional Skills series offers three exams, but they’re geared to unique skillsets used every day in IT:

■ CompTIA Project+

■ CompTIA Cloud Essentials+

■ CompTIA Certified Technical Trainer (CTT+)

Project management is wildly important in managing big IT projects. Project managers use the Project+ certification to show their credentials. Cloud Essentials+ is all about what you—not the IT hero, but the business manager—need to know about cloud computing. CTT+ is for people like me, a certification that shows you know how to teach IT skills to adults.

Cisco Certification

A router is a networking device that controls and directs the flow of information over networks, such as e-mail messages, Web browsing, and so on.

■ CompTIA A+ Objectives

CompTIA splits A+ certification into two exams: CompTIA A+ Core 1 (220-1101) and CompTIA A+ Core 2 (220-1102). It’s common to refer to these two exams as the “2022” exams to differentiate them from older CompTIA exams.

Windows-Centric

The CompTIA A+ exams cover six different operating systems and many versions within each OS. When you review the exam objectives a little later in this section, though, you’ll see that the majority of content focuses on the Microsoft Windows operating systems you would expect to find on a PC at a workstation or in a home. The operating systems are primarily the focus of the CompTIA A+ 1102 exam and cover a specific and limited scope of questions on macOS, Linux, Chrome OS, iOS, and Android.

Objectives in the exams cover the following operating systems:

■ Windows 10 Home, Windows 10 Pro, Windows 10 Enterprise

■ Windows 11

■ macOS

■ Linux

■ Chrome OS

■ iOS

■ Android

Exam 220–1101

The questions on the CompTIA A+ 220-1101 exam fit into one of five domains. The number of questions for each domain is based on the percentages shown in the following table.

The 220-1101 exam tests your knowledge of computer components, expecting you to be able to identify just about every common device on PCs, including variations within device types. Here’s a list:

■ Hard drives

■ Solid-state drives (SSDs)

■ Removable storage (flash drives, memory cards, and optical drives)

■ Motherboards

■ Power supplies

■ CPUs

■ RAM

■ Monitors

■ Input devices, such as keyboards and touchscreens

■ Video and multimedia cards

■ Network and modem cards

■ Cables and connectors

■ Heat sinks, fans, and liquid cooling systems

■ Laptops and mobile devices

■ Printers and multifunction devices

■ Network switches, cabling, and wireless adapters

■ Biometric devices

*The 220-1101 exam tests you on mobile devices (including laptops). While the smartphone and tablet market covers an impossibly wide array of hardware and software, the 220-1101 exam focuses on Apple iOS and Google Android devices. You’ll need to know how to interact with the hardware and software.

The 220-1101 exam tests extensively on networking. You need to know how to set up a typical local area network (LAN), for example, understanding cabling standards, network protocols, and Windows configuration.

The 220-1101 exam tests your ability to install, configure, and maintain all the hardware technology involved in a personal computer. You need to be able to install and set up a hard drive, for example, and configure devices in Windows.

The 220-1101 exam will quiz you on cloud computing and virtualization technologies. You’ll need to know about available cloud services such as online storage and applications only available via the Internet. You’ll get asked about the purpose of virtual machines in a network environment and their resource and security requirements.

The 220-1101 exam requires you to know a lot about hardware and network troubleshooting. You’ll get questions, for example, on how to fix a network failure.

Exam 220-1102

The 220-1102 exam covers the configuration, repair, and troubleshooting of operating systems—primarily Microsoft Windows, but you’ll also get questions on Apple macOS and some very basic questions on Linux distributions.

You’ll need to know how to access a small office/home office (SOHO) router or wireless access point and configure that device to protect your network.

Much as the 220-1101 exam requires you to know a lot about hardware and network troubleshooting, the 220-1102 exam covers software troubleshooting (including some security problems) in great detail.

I have broken most of the chapters into four distinct parts:

■ Historical/Conceptual Topics that are not on the CompTIA A+ exams but will help you understand more clearly what is on the CompTIA A+ exams

■ 1101 Topics that clearly fit under the CompTIA A+ 220-1101 exam domains

■ 1102 Topics that clearly fit under the CompTIA A+ 220-1102 exam domains

■ Beyond A+ More advanced issues that probably will not be on the CompTIA A+ exams—yet

Whether Old Tech or New Tech, make sure you are proficient at user-level Windows skills, including the following:

■ Recognizing all the components of the standard Windows desktop (Start menu, notification area, etc.)

■ Manipulating windows—resizing, moving, and so on

■ Creating, deleting, renaming, moving, and copying files and folders within Windows

■ Understanding file extensions and their relationship with program associations

■ Using common keyboard shortcuts/hotkeys

■ Installing, running, and closing a Windows application