The Complete A+ Guide to PC Repair

Chapter 1: Introduction to Computer Repair
Overview
Safety Note
Technician Qualities
Basic Computer Parts
External Connectivity
Video Port
USB Port
Parallel Port
Serial Port
Mouse and Keyboard Ports
Wireless Input Devices
Mouse and Keyboard Preventive Maintenance
Keyboard Troubleshooting
Other Input Devices
Sound Card Ports
IEEE 1394 Port
Network Ports
Modem Ports
Pros and Cons of Integrated Motherboards
Docking Station and Port Replicator

Chapter 2: On the Motherboard
Microprocessor Overview
Microprocessor Basics
Intel Processors
AMD Processors
Speeding Up Processor Operations Overview
Cache
Clocking
Dual and Quad Processors
Sockets and Slots
Processor Cooling
Installing Microprocessors
Overclocking Microprocessors
MMX, SSE, and 3DNOW!
Expansion Slots
ISA (Industry Standard Architecture)
PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect)
AGP (Accelerated Graphics Port)
PCI-E (Peripheral Component Interconnect-Express)
PCI for the Laptop
More Motherboard Connectors
Proprietary Expansion Slots
Chipsets
Types of Motherboards
Upgrading and Replacing Motherboards
Motherboard Troubleshooting
Soft Skills-Active Listening

Chapter 3: System Configuration
Configuration Overview
Setup Software
Flash BIOS
CMOS Memory
BIOS Configuration Settings
Batteries
Laptop and Device Batteries
Replacing a Battery
Plug and Play
Configuration through Switches
Other Configuration Parameters
IRQ (Interrupt Request)
PCI Interrupts
I/O (Input/Output) Addresses
DMA Channels
Memory Addresses
Configuration Overview
Configuration of ISA Adapters
More about Plug and Play
Configuration of PCI, AGP, and PCI-E Adapters
Configuration of PC Cards
Installing a USB Device
USB Troubleshooting
Installing an IEEE 1394 (FireWire) Device
IEEE 1394 Troubleshooting
Infrared Devices
Soft Skills-A Good Technician Quality: One Thing at a Time

Chapter 4: Disassembly and Power
Disassembly Overview
Electrostatic Discharge (ESD)
EMI (Electromagnetic Interference)
EMI (Electromagnetic Interference)
Disassembly
Tools
Reassembly
Cables and Connectors
Hard Drives
Laptop Travel and Storage
Preventive Maintenance
Basic Electronics Overview
Electronic Terms
Power Supply Overview
Power Supply Form Factors
Purposes of a Power Supply
Power Supply Voltages
APM (Advanced Power Management) and ACPI (Advanced Configuration and Power Interface)
Replacing or Upgrading a Power Supply
Power Supply Problems
Symptoms of Power Supply Problems
Adverse Power Conditions
Adverse Power Protection
Surge Protectors
Line Conditioners
Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS)
Standby Power Supply (SPS)
Phone Line Isolator
Electrical Fires
Computer Disposal/Recycling
Soft Skills-Written Communications Skills

Chapter 5: Logical Troubleshooting
Troubleshooting Overview
Recreate the Problem
Hardware or Software
Divide and Conquer
Repair the Problem or Go Back to Test Another Theory
Test the Solution and Document
Soft Skills-Provide Feedback to the User

Chapter 6: Memory
Memory Overview
Memory Physical Packaging
Planning the Memory Installation
Planning the Memory Installation-Memory Technologies
Planning the Memory Installation-Memory Features
Planning for Memory-The Amount of Memory to Install
Planning for Memory-How Many of Each Memory Type?
Planning for Memory-Research and Buy
Laptop Memory
Installing Memory Overview
Removing/Installing a DIP Chip
Removing/Installing a DIMM/RIMM
Adding More Cache/RAM
Windows 9X/NT/2000/XP Disk Caching
Monitoring Memory Usage Under Windows
Old Applications Under NT Workstation/2000/XP
Troubleshooting Memory Problems
Flash Memory
Soft Skills-Teamwork

Chapter 7: Floppy Drives and IDE/SCSI Devices
Floppy Drive Overview
Floppy Media
Floppy Drive Construction
Floppy Disk Geometry
Floppy Drive Installation or Replacement
Hard Drive Overview
Hard Drive Geometry
Hard Drive Interfaces Overview
IDE (Integrated Drive Electronics)
SCSI (Small Computer System Interface)
Storage Device Configuration Overview
PATA IDE Device Configuration
Serial ATA (SATA) Installation
SCSI Configuration
SCSI ID Configuration
SCSI Termination
SCSI Cables
Laptop Storage Devices
System BIOS Configuration for Hard Drives
Hard Drive Preparation Overview
Partitioning
How Drive Letters Are Assigned
Windows 2000/XP Logical Disk Management
Fault Tolerance
High-Level Format
Bootable Disks
Troubleshooting Devices
SCSI Specific Errors
Preventive Maintenance for Hard Drives
Data Security
Removable Drive Storage
Hard Drive Fragmentation
Disk Caching/Virtual Memory
Soft Skills-Phone Skills

Chapter 8: Multimedia Devices
Multimedia Overview
CD Drive Overview
CD Drive Speeds
CD Drive Buffers/Cache
Theory of CD Drive Operation
CD Disc Loading
CD-R and CD-RW
CD Standards
Magneto-Optical Drives
DVD Drives
Decoders
DVD Region Codes
Other DVD Technologies
DVD Book Types
Blu-ray Drives
CD/DVD Drive Interfaces and Connections
CD/DVD Drive Upgrades
Preventive Maintenance for CD/DVD Drives and Discs
CD/DVD Drive Installation
Laptop CD/DVD Drive
Troubleshooting CD/DVD Drive Problems
Sound
Sound Card Theory of Operation
Installing Sound Cards
Sound Cards Using Windows XP
Portable Sound
Speakers
Troubleshooting Sound Problems
Scanners
Digital Cameras
Soft Skills-Use Appropriate Language

Chapter 9: Serial Devices
Serial Devices Overview
How to Configure Serial Devices
More Serial Port Settings
Serial Cables
Serial Device Installation
Serial Device Troubleshooting
Modems Overview
Pros and Cons of Internal and External Modems
Modem Speeds and Standards
56Kbps Modems
Fax Modems
Modem Installation
Analog Modem Troubleshooting
Digital Modems and ISDN
Cable Modems
xDSL (Digital Subscriber Line) Modems
Troubleshooting Cable and DSL Modems
Satellite Modems
Laptop Modems
Modem Preventive Maintenance
Soft Skills-Mentoring

Chapter 10: Video
Video Overview
Types of Monitors
Monitor Terminology and Theory
LCD (Liquid Crystal Display)
Video Ports
Projectors
Monitor Preventive Maintenance
Monitor Energy Efficiency
Screen Savers
Video Adapters
Video Memory
Installing a Video Adapter
Troubleshooting Video
Soft Skills-Attitude

Chapter 11: Printers
Printers Overview
Printer Ports
IEEE 1284 Standard
Printer Switch Boxes
Networked Printers
Wireless Printers
Categories of Printers
Dot Matrix Printers
Ink Jet Printers
Laser Printers
Paper
Refilling Cartridges, Reinking Ribbons, and Recycling Cartridges
Print Drivers
Fonts
Printer Installation
Upgrading Printers
Printer Preventive Maintenance
Printers in the Windows Environment
Windows Printer Troubleshooting
General Printer Troubleshooting
Dot Matrix Printer Troubleshooting
Ink Jet Printer Troubleshooting
Laser Printer Troubleshooting
Soft Skills-Work Ethics

Chapter 12: Basic Windows and Windows Commands
Basic Operating Systems Overview
Basic Windows Usage Overview
Managing Files and Folders
Attributes, Compression, and Encryption
Determining the Windows Version
Windows Registry
Editing the Windows Registry
Recovery Console
Working from a Command Prompt Overview
Working from a Command Prompt Basics
Moving Around from a Command Prompt
The TYPE Command
Copying Files
The ATTRIB Command
Windows Command Format
Soft Skills-Staying Current

Chapter 13: Windows 2000 Professional
Windows 2000 Professional Overview
Pre-Installation of Windows 2000 Professional
Viruses
Installation/Upgrade of Windows 2000 Professional
Troubleshooting the 2000 Installation
Dual-Booting Windows 2000 Professional and NT
Configuring Windows 2000 Professional Overview
Adding Plug and Play Devices
Adding Non-Plug and Play Devices
Adding a Printer
Removing Hardware Devices
Installing/Removing Software
Windows 2000 Registry
Backing Up/Restoring the Windows 2000 Registry
Backing Up the System State
Restoring the System State after a Failure
Computer Management Console
Overview of the Boot Process
Troubleshooting the Boot Process
Creating an Emergency Repair Disk
Recovery Console
Restoring the Registry through Recovery Console
Task Manager, Dr. Watson, and Event Viewer
Troubleshooting a Service That Does Not Start
Shut Down Problems
Monitoring System Performance

Chapter 14: Windows XP Professional
Windows XP Professional Overview
Windows XP Basics
Pre-Installation of Windows XP
Viruses
Installation/Upgrade of Windows XP
Corporate Windows XP Deployment
Verifying the Installation
Troubleshooting the XP Installation
Dual-Booting Windows XP
Reloading Windows XP
Updating Windows XP
Backing Up/Restoring the Windows XP Registry
Backing Up the System State
Restoring the System State after a Failure
Configuring Windows XP Overview
Configuring Windows XP
Adding Devices
System Restore
Adding a Printer
Removing Hardware Devices
Installing/Removing Software
Microsoft Management Console
Permissions
Overview of the Boot Process
Troubleshooting the Boot Process
Advanced Boot Options Menu
ASR (Automated System Recovery)
System Configuration Utility
Task Manager, Dr. Watson, and Event Viewer
Troubleshooting a Service that Does Not Start
Shut Down Problems
Monitoring System Performance
Supporting Windows XP Computers Remotely
Preventive Maintenance for Your Operating System

Chapter 15: Common Introduction to Networking
Networking Overview
Types of Local Area Networks
Network Topologies
Network Media Overview
Copper Media
Fiber Media
Protecting Your Network and Cable Investment
Access Methods
Ethernet Issues and Concepts
Network Standards
OSI Model
Network Protocols
Network Addressing
IP Addressing
DUN (Dial-Up-Networking)
Internet Software
Wireless Networks Overview
Wireless Network Types
Antenna Basics
Wireless Network Standards
Wired or Wireless NIC Installation
Access Point Installation
Configuring a Networked Printer
Network Troubleshooting
Network Printer Troubleshooting
Network Terminology
Sharing
Email
Soft Skills-Being Proactive

Chapter 16: Computer and Network Security
Security Overview
Security Policy
Physical Security
Protecting the Operating System and Data
Protecting Access to Local and Network Resources
Internet Security
Security Incident Reporting
Wireless Network Security Overview
Authentication and WEP
Default Settings
Wireless Security Conclusion
Wireless Network Troubleshooting
Soft Skills-Dealing with Irate Customers

Chapters included on CD-ROM
Chapter 17: Floppy Drives
Chapter 18: Windows 98
Chapter 19: Windows NT Workstation