Skills required for CompTIA's test C220-601.

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Skills required for CompTIA's test C220-601.

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CompTIA has specified more than twenty objectives for CompTIA's test A+ Essential, which are grouped under eight topics. Following are some important areas in which a candidate should possess good knowledge before taking the A+ Essential test:

1. Identifying the names, purposes, and characteristics of system components. System components include motherboard, BIOS, power supply, processor/CPU, memory, storage devices, display devices, adapter cards, ports, cases, and riser cards.


2. Identifying the names, purposes, and characteristics of processor/CPU chips such as AMD and Intel. Having knowledge of CPU technologies such as Hyperthreading, Dual core, Throttling, Micro code (MMX), Overclocking, Cache VRM, Speed (real vs. actual).


3. Identify the names, purposes, and characteristics of display devices such as projectors, CRT, and LCD. Identifying connector types such as VGA, DVI/HDMi, S-Video, Component/RGB for display devices.


4. Identifying the names, purposes, and characteristics of adapter cards such as PCI/PCIe and AGP.


5. Identifying the names, purposes, and characteristics of ports and cables, for example: USB 1.1 and 2.0, parallel, serial, IEEE 1394/firewire, RJ45 and RJ11, PS2/Mini-DIN, centronics (e.g. mini, 36) multimedia (e.g. 1/8 connector, MIDI Coaxial, SPDIF).


6. Identifying tools, diagnostic procedures, and troubleshooting techniques for personal computer components.


7. Using basic troubleshooting techniques to check for problems (e.g. thermal issues, error codes, power, connections including cables and/or pins, compatibility, functionality, software/drivers ) with components such as motherboard, processor, power supply, memory, display device, etc.


8. Identifying names, purposes, and characteristics related to laptops such as form factors, peripherals, expansion slots, ports, communication connections (e.g. Bluetooth, infrared, cellular WAN, Ethernet), Input devices (e.g. stylus/digitizer, function (Fn) keys and pointing devices such as touch pad, point stick/track point), etc.


9. Identifying LCD technologies that are active and passive matrix. Resolution such as XGA, SXGA+, UXGA, WUXGA, contrast ratio, native resolution.


10. Installing, configuring, optimizing, and upgrading laptops and portable devices.


11. Demonstrating safe removal of laptop-specific hardware such as peripherals, hot-swappable devices, and non-hot-swappable devices.


12. Identifying the difference between suspend, hibernate, and standby modes.


13. Using procedures and techniques to diagnose power conditions, video, keyboard, pointer, and wireless card issues.


14. Identifying and applying common preventive measures for laptops and portable devices, for example, cooling devices, hardware and video cleaning materials, operating environments including temperature and air quality, storage, transportation, and shipping.


15. Identifying differences between operating systems such as Mac, Windows, and Linux. Identifying names, purposes and characteristics of the primary operating system components including registry, virtual memory, and file system.


16. Identifying the names, locations, purposes, and characteristics of operating system files, such as BOOT.INI, NTLDR, NTDETECT.COM, NTBOOTDD.SYS, and Registry data files.


17. Identifying procedures for installing operating systems, for example, Verification of hardware compatibility and minimum requirements, Installation methods, Operating system installation options (e.g. attended/unattended, file system type, network configuration), Disk preparation order (e.g. start installation, partition and format drive), and Device driver configuration (e.g. installing and uploading device drivers).


18. Identifying procedures and utilities used to optimize operating systems, for example, virtual memory, hard drives, temporary files, service, startup and applications.


19. Recognizing and resolve common operational issues such as bluescreen, system lock-up, input/output device, application install, start or load and Windows-specific printing problems (e.g. print spool stalled, incorrect/incompatible driver for print).
20. Analyzing problems including potential causes and initial determination of software and/or hardware problem.


21. Describing common utilities for performing preventive maintenance on operating systems for example, software and Windows updates (e.g. service packs), scheduled backups/restore, restore points. Explaining common error messages and codes.


22. Identifying differences between types of printer and scanner technologies (e.g. laser, inkjet, thermal, solid ink, impact).


23. Identifying the names, purposes, and characteristics of interfaces used by printers and scanners including port and cable types such as Parallel, Network (e.g. NIC, print servers), USB, Serial, IEEE 1394/firewire, Wireless (e.g. Bluetooth, 802.11, infrared), SCSI, etc.


24. Identifying basic concepts of installing, configuring, optimizing and upgrading printers, and scanners.


25. Reviewing knowledge base, and defining and isolating the issues (e.g. software vs. hardware, driver, connectivity, printer).


26. Identifying the fundamental principles of networks. Describing basic networking concepts such as addressing, bandwidth, status indicator, protocols (e.g. TCP/IP including IP, classful subnet, IPX/SPX including NWLINK, NETBEUI/NETBIOS), full-duplex, half-duplex, cabling (e.g. twisted pair, coaxial cable, fiber optic, RS-232, USB, IEEE 1394/Firewire), Networking models including peer-to-peer and client/server. Identifying names, purposes and characteristics of network connectors (e.g. RJ45 and RJ11, ST/SC/LC, MT-RJ).


27. Identifying names, purposes, and characteristics (e.g. definition, speed, and connections) of technologies for establishing connectivity for example: LAN, WAN, Broadband (DSL, cable, satellite), Dialup, Wireless (all 802.11), Infrared, Bluetooth, Cellular, and VoIP.


28. Identifying the fundamental principles of security. Identifying names, purposes, and characteristics of hardware and software security, for example, Hardware deconstruction/recycling, Smart cards/biometrics, Authentication technologies (e.g. user name, password, biometrics, smart cards), Malicious software protection (e.g., viruses, Trojans, worms, spam, spyware, adware, grayware), Software firewalls, and File system security (e.g., FAT32 and NTFS).


29. Identifying names, purposes, and characteristics of data and physical security, for example, Data access (basic local security policy), Encryption technologies, etc.


30. Installing, configuring, upgrading, and optimizing hardware, software, and data security, for example, BIOS, Smart Card, Authentication technologies, protection against malicious software, Data access (basic local security policy), Backup procedures and access to backups, and Data migration.


31. Identifying potential safety hazards and taking preventive measures.


32. Using Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) or equivalent documentation and appropriate equipment documentation.
33. Identifying potential hazards and implementing proper safety procedures including ESD precautions and procedures, safe work environment, and equipment handling.
34. Exhibiting job-related professional behavior including notation of privacy, confidentiality, and respect for customers and their property.
35. Avoiding distractions and/or interruptions when talking to customers.
36. Avoiding arguments with customers and/or becoming defensive.

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