Troubleshooting the PC with A+ Preparation

This easy-to-understand book provides readers with the complete knowledge to learn how to install, configure, manage, maintain and successfully troubleshoot a PC running Windows 9X, Windows 2000, Windows XP and Linux. It is also prepares the students to pass the COMPTIA’s A+ (2004) exam and Microsoft’s Certified Desktop Support Technician (MCDST). It is assumed that users of this text are familiar with and how to use the computer, have a general understanding of Windows, and have basic word-processing and spreadsheet skills. The text starts with a discussion of the basic hardware components (processor, motherboard, RAM, and drives), followed by add-on peripherals, and ends with a discussion of the various operating systems.

Key Features:

• Real-world examples motivate interest.
• Built-in, hands-on exercises provide accessible, easy-to-grasp presentation.
• End-of-section questions check understanding and prepare for the COMPTIA’s A+ and Microsoft MCDST exams.
• Many websites for additional information.
• Appendixes include POST codes, operating system error messages and Windows Stop errors. The book also lists and describes the common BIOS settings and Apple Macintosh beep codes.

What is New:

• Updated to include the newest technology including AMD Athlon 64 and Opteron processors, BTX form factor, PCI Express, mini-PCI cards, USB 2.0, serial IDE and SCSI devices, extensible firmware interface, and spyware and wireless networks.
• Information on Windows 2000 and XP have been greatly enhanced.
• Detailed information on troubleshooting and disassembling and reassembling notebook computers.
• More information on installing, configuring, maintaining and troubleshooting Windows applications including Microsoft Office, Microsoft Outlook Express, Microsoft Outlook, and Internet browsers.
• Detailed information on installing, configuring, maintaining and troubleshooting Linux.
• Introduces Apple Macintosh computers.
• Prepares readers to take and pass the COMPTIA’s A+ (2004) and the Microsoft’s MCDST exams.

This easy-to-understand book provides readers with the complete knowledge to learn how to install, configure, manage, maintain and successfully troubleshoot a PC running Windows 9X, Windows 2000, Windows XP and Linux. It is also prepares the students to pass the COMPTIA’s A+ (2004) exam and Microsoft’s Certified Desktop Support Technician (MCDST). It is assumed that users of this text are familiar with and how to use the computer, have a general understanding of Windows, and have basic word-processing and spreadsheet skills. The text starts with a discussion of the basic hardware components (processor, motherboard, RAM, and drives), followed by add-on peripherals, and ends with a discussion of the various operating systems.

Key Features:

• Real-world examples motivate interest.
• Built-in, hands-on exercises provide accessible, easy-to-grasp presentation.
• End-of-section questions check understanding and prepare for the COMPTIA’s A+ and Microsoft MCDST exams.
• Many websites for additional information.
• Appendixes include POST codes, operating system error messages and Windows Stop errors. The book also lists and describes the common BIOS settings and Apple Macintosh beep codes.

What is New:

• Updated to include the newest technology including AMD Athlon 64 and Opteron processors, BTX form factor, PCI Express, mini-PCI cards, USB 2.0, serial IDE and SCSI devices, extensible firmware interface, and spyware and wireless networks.
• Information on Windows 2000 and XP have been greatly enhanced.
• Detailed information on troubleshooting and disassembling and reassembling notebook computers.
• More information on installing, configuring, maintaining and troubleshooting Windows applications including Microsoft Office, Microsoft Outlook Express, Microsoft Outlook, and Internet browsers.
• Detailed information on installing, configuring, maintaining and troubleshooting Linux.
• Introduces Apple Macintosh computers.
• Prepares readers to take and pass the COMPTIA’s A+ (2004) and the Microsoft’s MCDST exams.

Patrick Regan has been a PC technician and network administrator/engineer for the past 14 years. He has also taught many computer and network classes at Sacramento local colleges (Heald Colleges and MTI College), conducted considerable formal and informal training while an IT administrator (Heald Colleges) and a product support engineer for the Intel Corporation Customer service, and participated in and led many projects (Heald Colleges and Intel Corporation). For this teaching accomplishments, he received the Teacher of the Year award from Heald Colleges; in addition, he received several recognition awards from Intel. He currently works for Virtual Alert as a network engineer supporting the BioTerrorism Readiness Suite. Currently, he holds many certifications, including Microsoft’s MCSE, MCSA and MCT; COMPTIA’s A+, Network+, Server+, Linux+, Security+, and CTT+; Cisco CCNA; and Novell’s CNE.

Over the last couple of years, he has written several books including Troubleshooting the PC, Networking with Windows 2000 and 2003, Linux, Local Area Networks and WANs. Recently, Pat has started a new exciting Acing series which including Acing the A+, Acing the Network+, Acing the Security+, Acing the Server+ and Acing the Linux+.