CompTIA A+ Complete Lab Manual Book

Introduction xxxi

Phase 1 Installing Hardware and Software 1

Task 1.1: Preventing ESD Damage 2

Task 1.2: Installing RAM 5

Task 1.3: Installing a PCI Card 11

Task 1.4: Installing a PCI Express Card 15

Task 1.5: Installing a Power Supply 19

Task 1.6: Installing an IDE Hard Drive 22

Task 1.7: Installing a SATA Hard Drive 27

Task 1.8: Moving an Operating System to a New SATA Drive with Acronis True Image 31

Task 1.9: Installing a SCSI Drive 36

Task 1.10: Installing a DVD Drive 39

Task 1.11: Installing a Video Card 43

Task 1.12: Installing a Laptop Keyboard 47

Task 1.13: Installing SO-DIMM in a Laptop 51

Task 1.14: Installing a Laptop Hard Drive 55

Task 1.15: Installing a Laptop Optical Drive 58

Task 1.16: Installing a KVM Switch 61

Task 1.17: Installing Drivers from a Disc 64

Task 1.18: Installing Drivers from the Internet 67

Task 1.19: Reformatting a Hard Drive Using Windows XP 70

Task 1.20: Installing Windows XP Professional as a Fresh Install 74

Task 1.21: Installing Windows Vista as a Fresh Install 84

Task 1.22: Installing Microsoft Applications in Windows XP 88

Task 1.23: Uninstalling Software in Windows XP 91

Task 1.24: Uninstalling an Application Using Windows 7

Task 1.25: Upgrading from Windows XP to Windows 7 95

Task 1.26: Shutting Down Background Processes in Windows 7 99

Task 1.27: Installing a Local Printer 102

Task 1.28: Installing Printer Drivers 106

Task 1.29: Installing a Bluetooth Printer on Windows 7 109

Task 1.30: Installing a Bluetooth Device for Pairing with Windows 7 112

Task 1.31: Syncing a Mobile Device with Media Player in Windows 7 114

Phase 2 Maintaining and Documenting Computer Systems 117

Task 2.1: Identifying a Motherboard 118

Task 2.2: Identifying a Power Supply 120

Task 2.3: Performing a Quick Test and Replacing a Power Supply 123

Task 2.4: Searching for Windows Vista Drivers 127

Task 2.5: Listing All of the Drivers Installed on a Windows 7 PC 128

Task 2.6: Cleaning Fans 130

Task 2.7: Oiling Fans 132

Task 2.8: Defragging a Hard Drive 135

Task 2.9: Scheduling Automatic Defragging in Windows 7 138

Task 2.10: Defragmenting a Single File 140

Task 2.11: Updating Security Patches 143

Task 2.12: Checking Internal Connectors 145

Task 2.13: Backing Up with Acronis True Image Home 147

Task 2.14: Flashing the BIOS 150

Task 2.15: Changing the CMOS Battery to Correct a Slow PC Clock 153

Task 2.16: Resetting Passwords 156

Task 2.17: Creating a New Local User in Windows Vista 158

Task 2.18: Testing Ports with an Online Scanner 160

Task 2.19: Changing Printer Toner 162

Task 2.20: Scanning a Document Using Windows 7 165

Task 2.21: Managing Windows Startup and Recovery Behavior in Windows XP 169

Task 2.22: Turning Windows 7 Features On or Off 170

Task 2.23: Controlling AutoPlay Settings in Windows 7 172

Task 2.24: Setting Up Advanced File Sharing in Windows 7 175

Task 2.25: Installing Windows Live Mail 177

Task 2.26: Configuring Mail Accounts in Windows Live 179

Task 2.27: Rolling Back Device Drivers 181

Task 2.28: Disabling and Removing Hardware Devices 183

Phase 3 Networking Computer Systems 187

Task 3.1: Mapping Drives 188

Task 3.2: Creating File Shares 191

Task 3.3: Configuring PCs to Use Dynamic Addressing 195

Task 3.4: Releasing and Renewing a Dynamic Address Assignment 199

Task 3.5: Installing a Network Printer 201

Task 3.6: Making a Straight-Through Cable 205

Task 3.7: Making a Crossover Cable 210

Task 3.8: Testing Network Cables 214

Task 3.9: Joining a Computer to a Domain 216

Task 3.10: Creating a User in Active Directory 220

Task 3.11: Setting Up a Local User ID 224

Task 3.12: Adding a Multi-Port Card to a PC 228

Task 3.13: Setting Up VPN on a PC 231

Task 3.14: Connecting a PC to a Network Printer 236

Task 3.15: Managing Windows Vista Outbound Firewall Settings 239

Task 3.16: Monitoring Network Activity with Windows Vista Firewall 242

Task 3.17: Configuring MAC Filtering on a Wireless Router 245

Task 3.18: Turning Off SSID Broadcasts on a Wireless Router 247

Task 3.19: Changing the Default Username and Password on a Wireless Router 249

Task 3.20: Setting Up a Mobile Phone to Use Email 251

Task 3.21: Setting Up Windows Live Mobile 253

Phase 4 Troubleshooting and Restoring Computer Systems 257

Task 4.1: Scanning for and Removing Viruses 258

Task 4.2: Using Restore Point in Windows 7 261

Task 4.3: Troubleshooting in Windows 7 Using the Action Center 264

Task 4.4: Scanning for and Removing Malware 267

Task 4.5: Scanning for Rootkits 270

Task 4.6: Backing Up Outlook 273

Task 4.7: Quickly Diagnosing Windows Vista Problems 276

Task 4.8: Troubleshooting a Randomly Rebooting PC 278

Task 4.9: Troubleshooting an Intermittent Boot Failure of a PC 282

Task 4.10: Troubleshooting a Failed RAM Upgrade 286

Task 4.11: Troubleshooting a PC That Can’t Print to a Local Printer 289

Task 4.12: Troubleshooting a PC That Can’t Print to a Network Printer 293

Task 4.13: Troubleshooting the Error Message "The Specified Domain Either Does Not Exist or Could Not Be Contacted" 298

Task 4.14: Troubleshooting the Error Message "Print Processor Unknown" 304

Task 4.15: Troubleshooting a System Conflict with a Hidden Device 307

Task 4.16: Troubleshooting a Word Template Error Message 309

Task 4.17: Troubleshooting a Serious System Error in Windows 7 312

Task 4.18: Troubleshooting No Monitor Image When the PC Is Powered Up 315

Task 4.19: Troubleshooting the Inability to Connect to a Mapped Drive 318

Task 4.20: Troubleshooting the Inability to Access a Shared Folder on a Remote Computer 320

Task 4.21: Troubleshooting the Inability to Connect to the Network 323

Task 4.22: Troubleshooting Connection Problems with an External USB Hard Drive 326

Task 4.23: Troubleshooting a Scanner Problem 328

Task 4.24: Troubleshooting a Laptop Wi-Fi Connection Failure 331

Task 4.25: Troubleshooting the Failure of a Hard-Disk Drive 333

Task 4.26: Troubleshooting a Persistent "Align Print Cartridges" Message after Cartridges Have Been Replaced and Aligned 336

Index 339