Introduction 1
Pre-Assessment 9
Book 1: Setting the A+ Groundwork 19
Chapter 1: The 2019 A+ Exams 21
Chapter 2: A+ Best Practices 29
Chapter 3: Protecting Yourself and Your PC 55
Chapter 4: An Overview of System Components 75
Book 2: Inside the Box 91
Chapter 1: Knowing Your Motherboard 93
Chapter 2: Picking Your Processor 137
Chapter 3: What to Remember about Memory 179
Chapter 4: Telling Your BIOS from Your CMOS 209
Chapter 5: Working with Storage 241
Chapter 6: Working with Power 281
Book 3: Outside the Box 301
Chapter 1: Identifying Basic Cables and Connectors 303
Chapter 2: Installing and Configuring Input Devices 327
Chapter 3: Installing and Configuring Output Devices 345
Chapter 4: Managing Printers 367
Chapter 5: Working with Multimedia Devices 401
Chapter 6: Dealing with Laptops and Mobile Devices 417
Book 4: Maintenance and Troubleshooting 467
Chapter 1: Performing Preventive Maintenance 469
Chapter 2: Troubleshooting Procedures and Guidelines 491
Book 5: Operating System Basics 517
Chapter 1: System Design and Operating Systems 519
Chapter 2: Windows Operating System Functions 561
Chapter 3: Installing and Upgrading Windows 609
Chapter 4: Managing Files and Directories 631
Chapter 5: Command Prompt Procedures 663
Chapter 6: Working with System Files and the Boot Process 691
Book 6: Managing the Operating System 703
Chapter 1: Loading and Configuring Device Drivers 705
Chapter 2: Working with Applications 725
Chapter 3: Optimizing the Windows Environment 749
Chapter 4: Using Windows-Based Troubleshooting Utilities 785
Chapter 5: Scripting within the Operating System 829
Book 7: Recovering Systems 875
Chapter 1: Managing Error Codes and Startup Messages 877
Chapter 2: Managing Common Problems 897
Chapter 3: Preparing for Disasters with Disaster Recovery 919
Book 8: Networking 949
Chapter 1: Down to the Networking Basics 951
Chapter 2: Understanding Common Wireless Communications 999
Chapter 3: Networking the Operating System 1031
Chapter 4: Configuring Internet Access and SOHO Networks 1103
Book 9: Securing Systems 1143
Chapter 1: Fundamentals of Security 1145
Chapter 2: Implementing Security 1191
Chapter 3: Viruses and Malicious Software 1231
Appendix A: CompTIA A+ Exam Reference Matrix 1253
Index 1271