A+ Course Outline 

Week 1

Chapter 1 – How Computers Work

1. Hardware
2. Software

Homework – End-of-chapter review questions and projects

Chapter 2 - How Software and Hardware Work Together

1. The Boot, or Startup, Process
2. How Software Manages Hardware Resources
3. Protecting Data, Software, and Hardware

Homework – End-of-chapter review questions and projects

Week 2

Chapter 3 - The System Board

1. Types of System Boards
2. The CPU and the Chip Set
3. ROM BIOS
4. RAM (Random Access Memory)
5. Wait States
6. Buses and Expansion Slots
7. On-Board Ports
8. Hardware Configuration

Homework – End-of-chapter review questions and projects.

Chapter 4  - Understanding and Managing Memory

1. Physical Memory
2. How DOS and Windows 9x View Memory
3. Managing Memory with DOS or Windows 3.x
4. Managing Memory with Windows 3.x
5. Managing Memory with Windows 9x
6. The Ultimate Solution: Windows NT
7. Memory Management Troubleshooting Guidelines
8. Upgrading Memory

Homework – End-of-chapter review questions and projects.

Week 3

Chapter 5 – Floppy Drives

1. Introduction to How Data is Physically Stored on a Disk
2. Exchanging and Supporting Floppy Drives

Homework – End-of-chapter review questions and projects

Chapter 6  - Introduction to Hard Drives

1. Hard Drive Technology
2. How a Hard Drive Is Logically Organized to Hold Data
3. Operating System Commands to Manage a Hard Drive
4. Optimizing a Hard Drive
5. Removable Drives

Homework – End-of-chapter review questions and projects.

Week 4

Chapter 7 – Hard Drive Installation and Support

1. Installing a Hard Drive
2. Troubleshooting Hard Drives and Data Recovery
3. Hard Drive Troubleshooting Guidelines

Homework – End-of-chapter review questions and projects.

Chapter 8 – Troubleshooting Fundamentals

1. Troubleshooting Perspectives
2. Protect Yourself, the Hardware, and the Software
3. Troubleshooting Tools
4. How to Isolate Computer Problems and Devise a Course of Action
5. Troubleshooting Guidelines
6. When a PC Is Your Permanent Responsibility

Homework – End-of-chapter review questions and projects.

Week 5

Chapter 9 - Supporting I/O Devices

1. Basic Principles of Peripheral Installations
2. Using Ports and Expansion Slots for Add-on Devices
3. SCSI Devices
4. Keyboards
5. Pointing Devices
6. Computer Video

Homework – End-of-chapter review questions and projects.

Chapter 10 – Multimedia Technology

1. The Right Tools for the Job
2. Multimedia on a PC
3. Devices Supporting Multimedia

Homework – End-of-chapter review questions and projects.

Week 6

Chapter 11 – Electricity and Power Supplies

1. Introduction to Basic Electricity
2. Measuring the Voltage of a Power Supply
3. Problems with the Power Supply
4. Energy Star Computer (the Green Star)
5. Surge Protection and Battery Backup

Homework – End-of-chapter review questions and projects.

Chapter12 – Supporting Windows 3.x and Windows 9x

1. How Windows 9x Differs from Windows 3.x and DOS
2. How Windows 98 Differs from Windows 95
3. Loading and Running Windows 9x
4. Installing and Configuring Windows 9x
5. Plug and Play Hardware Installations
6. Supporting Application Software with Windows 9x
7. Monitoring System Performance

Homework – End-of-chapter review questions and projects.

Week 7

Chapter 13 – Understanding and Supporting Windows and NT Workstation

1. Windows NT v. Windows 9x
2. The Windows NT Environment and Architecture
3. Installing and Customizing Windows NT
4. Supporting Windows NT and Applications
5. The Windows NT Registry
6. Installing Software and Hardware
7. Windows NT diagnostic Tools

Homework – End-of-chapter review questions and projects.

Chapter 14 – Supporting Windows 2000 Professional

1. Comparing Windows 2000 to Windows NT and Windows 98
2. Installing Windows 2000 Professional
3. Troubleshooting Problems with Windows 2000

Week 8

Chapter 15 – Purchasing a PC or Building Your Own

4. Selecting a Personal Computer to Meet Your Needs
5. Preparing to Build Your Own PC
6. Building a Personal Computer, Step by Step

Homework – End-of-chapter review questions and projects.

Week 9

Chapter 16 – Communicating Over Phone Lines

1. Communications Layers
2. All About Modems
3. Communications Software
4. Troubleshooting Guidelines
5. Faster Than Phone Lines

Homework – End-of-chapter review questions and projects

Week 10

Chapter 17 – Networking Fundamentals and the Internet

1. An Overview of Networking
2. Network Architectures
3. Networking Hardware
4. Networking Software Overview
5. Networking with Windows 9x and Windows NT Workstation
6. PCs and the Internet
7. Some Examples of Network Services
8. Network Troubleshooting Guidelines

Homework – End-of-chapter review questions and projects.

Week 11

Chapter 18 – Printers and Notebook Computers

1. Printers
2. Notebook Computers

Homework – End-of-chapter review questions and projects.

Chapter 19 – Viruses, Disaster Recovery, and a Maintenance Plan That Works

1. Preventive Maintenance
2. Viruses and Other Computer Infestations
3. All About Backups and Fault Tolerance

Homework – End-of-chapter review questions and projects.

Week 12

Chapter 20 – The Professional PC Technician

1. What Customers Want: Beyond Technical Know-how
2. Support Calls: Providing Good Service
3. Record keeping and Information Tools
4. Professional Organizations and Certifications
5. Staying Abreast of New Technology
6. Protecting Software Copyrights