CompTIA A+ Cert, Part 01 of 13: Fundamentals

Course description

In this course we will start looking at the basics hardware components, including various Display types, different Input Devices, External Devices, Hard Drives, and many other items. I’ll show you how many of these devices are used. We’ll look at various ports found on the mother board including legacy items as well as newest connection ports. Then we will cover many topics, including Personal Computer Operating Systems, what Utilities are found in the Windows Control Panel, how to get to the Command Line and what Tools can be used from the Command Line, and how Windows Security Settings can be used to protect the computer. You will have a better understanding how the Windows operating system works, what software tools are used and how to keep it secure.

Each LearnNowOnline training course is made up of Modules (typically an hour in length). Within each module there are Topics (typically 15-30 minutes each) and Subtopics (typically 2-5 minutes each). There is a Post Exam for each Module that must be passed with a score of 70% or higher to successfully and fully complete the course.

Prerequisites

This course assumes the user has little to experience with computer hardware or software.

Meet the expert

Chuck Nailen

Chuck Nailen has been providing classroom training for more than 16 years. He does training for in department-supported CompTIA curriculums, Microsoft curriculums, and Department of State (DoS) proprietary platforms in support of SAIT and DoS programs. He holds many certifications including National Career Readiness Certificate-Gold Level, MCSA, MCT, MCITP, MCTS, and others.

Video Runtime

194 Minutes

Time to complete

448 Minutes

Course Outline

Hardware

Computer System Components (19:37)

• Introduction (00:10)
• Hardware Fundamentals (04:58)
• Demo: Motherboard (02:00)
• Demo: CPUs & RAM (03:19)
• Demo: System Case & Cards (02:01)
• The System Bus (00:52)
• Power Supplies (02:10)
• Riser Cards (00:34)
• Firmware (00:55)
• The System BIOS (00:23)
• The POST (01:47)
• Summary (00:22)

Storage Devices (11:01)

• Introduction (00:19)
• Floppy Drives (00:54)
• Types of Hard Drives (00:41)
• Optical Disks (03:05)
• Tape Drives (00:25)
• Solid State Storage (02:01)
• Types of Solid State Storage (02:18)
• Demo: Storage Devices (01:02)
• Summary (00:11)

Ports (26:06)

• Introduction (00:21)
• Ports (02:32)
• Serial Connections (01:19)
• Parallel Connections (01:04)
• USB Connections (01:03)
• IEEE 1394 and Firewire (00:48)
• SCSI Connections (00:59)
• PATA Connections (01:07)
• SATA Connections (01:11)
• Display Cable & Connector Type (05:31)
• Audio/Video Connections (01:56)
• Comparing Analog and Digital (00:54)
• Wireless Device Connections (01:28)
• Demo: Display Cable Types (02:39)
• Demo: Drive Cables (02:46)
• Summary (00:23)

Operating Systems

PC Operating Systems (17:26)

• Introduction (00:26)
• Operating System Fundamentals (01:08)
• Microsoft Windows (02:12)
• Microsoft Windows Features (06:53)
• Microsoft Windows 7 Versions (01:42)
• Windows Vista Versions (01:38)
• Microsoft Windows XP Versions (02:16)
• Other Operating Systems (00:53)
• Summary (00:15)

Control Panel (42:42)

• Introduction (00:18)
• The Control Panel (01:21)
• Internet Options (02:42)
• Display (01:48)
• User Accounts (00:40)
• Folder Options (01:27)
• System (01:24)
• Action Center (00:30)
• Windows Firewall (01:08)
• Power Options (00:55)
• Windows XP Control Panel Utils (01:04)
• Vista Control Panel Utilities (01:55)
• Windows 7 Control Panel Utils (02:02)
• Demo: Internet Options (05:53)
• Demo: Internet Options Con't (03:01)
• Demo: Display & User Account (05:26)
• Demo: User Account Con't (01:06)
• Demo: Folder Options (02:09)
• Demo: System (03:28)
• Demo: Action Center (02:44)
• Demo: Power Options (01:05)
• Summary (00:26)

Software Tools

Command Line Tools (11:31)

• Introduction (00:21)
• The Command Prompt (01:08)
• OS Command Line Tools (00:32)
• Networking Command Line Tools (01:39)
• The Recovery Console (00:34)
• WinRE (00:48)
• Demo: Command Prompt (03:22)
• Demo: Networking Tools (02:55)
• Summary (00:09)

Windows Security Settings (35:13)

• Introduction (00:19)
• Types of User Accounts (03:11)
• User Account Control (02:05)
• Group Accounts (00:59)
• System Files and Folders (01:41)
• Windows Explorer (00:57)
• Computer/My Computer (00:40)
• File Extensions (02:00)
• File Attributes (00:56)
• Windows File System Types (01:29)
• Permissions (01:23)
• NTFS File Permissions (00:52)
• NTFS Folder Permissions (01:13)
• Shared Files and Folders (01:07)
• Share Permissions (00:43)
• NTFS vs. Share Permissions (01:41)
• Permissions Considerations (02:15)
• User Authentication (01:00)
• Demo: File Permissions (05:03)
• Demo: Folder Permissions (05:10)
• Summary (00:20)

Windows System Tools (30:47)

• Introduction (00:23)
• Administrative Tools (04:45)
• Demo: Event Viewer (02:29)
• Demo: Local Security Policy (03:01)
• Demo: Computer Management (01:59)
• Demo: Partition (03:59)
• Demo: Task Manager (02:27)
• Migration Tools (02:15)
• The Registry (02:18)
• Registry Subtrees (00:30)
• Run Line Utilities (02:06)
• MSConfig (00:28)
• Demo: Registry Editor (02:03)
• Demo: Msconfig (01:32)
• Summary (00:26)