A+

(7 days / 14 evenings)

A+ Certification is a testing program sponsored by the Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA) that certifies the competency of entry-level service technicians in the computer industry.

Earning A+ certification means that the individual possesses the knowledge, ability, and customer relations skill essential for a successful entry-level computer service technician or support professional.

The test covers a broad range of hardware and software technologies, and is vendor-neutral.

A+ certification is ideal for career changers who wish to find entry-level I.T. positions, or for experienced computer professionals who wish to boost their market worth and income by establishing credentials..

DTC encourages students to use A+ as a stepping stone into an I.T. career. To that end, we offer a $500 rebate if you register for A+ plus an upper-level technical certification such as MCSE or CCNA®!

COURSE OUTLINE:

Hardware:

• Describe the key components of a PC.
• Describe system unit and system board components.
• Understand about electrical safety.
• Document system configuration and understand CMOS/BIOS settings.
• Identify and work with External PC ports, printer ports, cables and connectors.
• Understand handshaking.
• Work with and understand SCSI connectors, cabling and standards.
• Describe the disassembly routine.
• Clean and provide preventative maintenance.
• Troubleshoot the boot process.
• Store components for future use correctly.
• Confidently use test meters.
• Understand electrical units.
• Troubleshoot power supply problems.
• Describe Processor terms and the difference between different processors.
• Troubleshoot processors.
• Work with system resources.
• Work with I/O and memory addresses.
• Resolve resource conflicts.
• Understand BUS architecture.
• Work with RAM and ROM.
• Work with other types of storage media.
• Work with display adapters and monitors.
• Describe the attributes of different printer types.
• Understand Modem communication and describe the difference between Asynchronous and synchronous transmission.
• Understand the differences between a Laptop and a Desktop PC.
• Work with error detection and Modem diagnostics.
• Understand Local Area Networks.
• Work with network cabling and adapter cards.
• Understand repeaters, bridges, routers and gateways.
• Appreciate and understand the importance of good troubleshooting and customer service skills

Operating Systems:

• Navigating DOS: DOS File Management, Common DOS commands
• Installing Windows 98: Identify Hardware requirements, Recover from Setup Failure
• The Windows 98 Boot Process: Understand POST, Real Mode and Protected Mode
• Troubleshooting Windows 98 Boot Process: Create and use a Startup Disk
• Windows 98 Structure: Identify and understand Real Mode and Protected Mode Components
• The Registry: Understand the Function and Structure of the Registry
• Navigating Windows 98: Understand the Windows 98 User Interface, Work with the Control Panel to change system settings
• Windows Disk Management: Use the various Disk tools to optimise Windows 98
• Running Applications in Windows 98: Understand Multi-tasking, Virtual Machines, Windows 98 Memory Model, Optimise 32-bit and 16-bit Windows applications
• Configuring Windows 98 Drivers: The Plug and Play Process, Device Manager, Troubleshoot Device Problems
• Windows 98 Printing: Managing Printing, Troubleshooting Printing
• Windows Millennium Edition: Identify the new features of Windows Me
• Networking: Understand the components of and Configure a Peer-to-Peer Network, Share Resources, set Access Privileges, Understand UNC Names
• The Internet: Understand the Internet, Internet Services, Internet Security, Internet connections, Domain Names
• Features of Windows NT: Identify various features of Windows NT
• Installing Windows NT: Identify System Requirements, the Installation Process, Setup Switches, Steps to Prepare for Network Installations
• The Windows NT Boot Process: Identify the Boot Sequence, Load Sequence, Logon Sequence and Core Boot Files
• Configuring Windows NT Workstation: Understand the Windows NT Registry, Registry Structure, Hives and Files, Last Known Good, Control Panel, Adding and Removing SCSI Devices
• User Account Management: User Account Management
• Windows NT File Systems: File System Comparison, FAT, NTFS, NTFS Recovery, NTFS Security, NTFS Auditing, Ownership of Files and Directories, Using Disk Administrator
• Managing Disk Resources: Setting Permissions, File Compression
• Troubleshooting Windows NT: Error Categories, Event Viewer, Windows NT Diagnostics
• Overview of Windows 2000: Windows 2000 Professional and Server, Differences from Windows 9x
• Windows 2000 Setup: Hardware Requirements, NTFS, FAT, Domain or Workgroup Selection, Setup Program, Creating Setup Boot Disks for Windows 2000, Network Installations
• The Windows 2000 Boot Process: Boot Files, The Recovery Console
• Administering Windows 2000: Microsoft Management Console and Console Modes
• Disk and Storage Management: Partitions, Volumes, Managing Disks and Volumes, Converting from FAT / FAT32 to NTFS, Using Disk Quotas, Encrypting Files and Folders
• Managing Users and Groups: Local and Domain user accounts, Built-in User Accounts, Administrator, Guest, Creating User Accounts, The Local Users And Groups Snap-in, Planning and Implementing Groups, Built-in Groups
• Managing NTFS Security: NTFS Folder and File Permissions, Assigning Permissions to Users and Groups, Permissions Inheritance, Setting Permissions, Ownership, Moving and Copying Files and Folders
• Overview of Windows XP: Differences from Windows 2000, NT, 9x
• Windows XP Setup: Hardware Requirements, NTFS, FAT, Domain or Workgroup Selection, Setup Program, Creating Setup Boot Disks for Windows XP, Network Installations
• The Windows XP Boot Process: Boot Files, New Technologies.

A+ EXAMS:

Each A+ test question is multiple choice with only one correct answer. The tests cover a broad range of hardware and software technologies, but are not bound to any vendor-specific products.

A+ Core Hardware:

• Installation, Configuration and Upgrading
• Diagnosing and Troubleshooting
• Preventive Maintenance
• Motherboard/Processors/Memory
• Printers
• Basic Networking

A+ O/S Fundamentals:

• Installing, Configuring, and Upgrading to/from Windows 9x and Windows 2000
• Diagnosing and Troubleshooting Windows 9x and 2000
• Networking