i
Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION............................................................................................................. 1
CHAPTER 1
Introduction to Troubleshooting............................................................................9
The Six-Step A+ Troubleshooting Process...................................................................10
Step 1: Identify the Problem...................................................................................10
Step 2: Establish a Theory of Probable Cause (Question the
Obvious)..........................................................................................................................11
Step 3: Test the Theory to Determine Cause.................................................12
Step 4: Establish a Plan of Action to Resolve the Problem and
Implement the Solution..........................................................................................12
Step 5: Verify Full System Functionality and, If
Applicable, Implement Preventative Measures...........................................13
Step 6: Document Findings, Actions, and Outcomes..................................13
Cram Quiz.............................................................................................................14
Cram Quiz Answers......................................................................................................15
Troubleshooting Examples and PC Tools............................................................16
Troubleshooting Example 1—Basic: Display Issue......................................16
Troubleshooting Example 2—Intermediate: Power Issue.......................18
Troubleshooting Example 3—Advanced: Wireless Issue.........................19
PC Tools................................................................................................................23
More Troubleshooting Tidbits...............................................................................24
Cram Quiz.............................................................................................................26
Cram Quiz Answers......................................................................................................27
CHAPTER 2
Motherboards.........................................................................................................29
Motherboard Components and Form Factors............................................................30
Motherboard Components.......................................................................................30
Form Factors...................................................................................................................40
Cram Quiz.............................................................................................................44
Cram Quiz Answers......................................................................................................45
The BIOS/UEFI..............................................................................................................46
BIOS, CMOS, and the Lithium Battery......................................................46
The POST........................................................................................................ 47
,ii
CompTIA A+ 220-901 and 220-902 Exam
Accessing and Configuring the BIOS.........................................................48
Flashing the BIOS..............................................................................................51
Cram Quiz.............................................................................................................53
Cram Quiz Answers.....................................................................................................54
Installing and Troubleshooting Motherboards..........................................................55
Installing Motherboards............................................................................................55
Troubleshooting Motherboards.............................................................................56
Cram Quiz.............................................................................................................62
Cram Quiz Answers.....................................................................................................63
CHAPTER 3
The CPU..................................................................................................................65
CPU 101............................................................................................................................66
CPU Technology.................................................................................................66
Cooling...................................................................................................................75
Cram Quiz.............................................................................................................78
Cram Quiz Answers.....................................................................................................80
Installing and Troubleshooting CPUs..............................................................................81
Installing CPUs...................................................................................................81
Troubleshooting CPUs.....................................................................................87
Cram Quiz.............................................................................................................89
Cram Quiz Answers.....................................................................................................90
CHAPTER 4
RAM......................................................................................................................... 91
RAM Basics and Types of RAM...............................................................................92
RAM Basics.......................................................................................................................92
Types of RAM......................................................................................................93
RAM Technologies........................................................................................................99
Cram Quiz..........................................................................................................106
Cram Quiz Answers...................................................................................................107
Installing and Troubleshooting DRAM........................................................................108
Installing DRAM..............................................................................................108
Troubleshooting DRAM................................................................................114
Cram Quiz..........................................................................................................117
Cram Quiz Answers...................................................................................................118
, iii
CHAPTER 5
Power.................................................................................................................... 121
Understanding and Testing Power................................................................................122
Testing an AC Outlet with a Receptacle Tester.........................................123
Testing an AC Outlet with a Multimeter.......................................................124
Cram Quiz...........................................................................................................126
Cram Quiz Answers...................................................................................................126
Power Devices...........................................................................................................................127
Power Strips..................................................................................................................128
Surge Protectors..........................................................................................................128
Uninterruptible Power Supplies.........................................................................129
Cram Quiz...........................................................................................................132
Cram Quiz Answers...................................................................................................133
Power Supplies.........................................................................................................................134
Planning Which Power Supply to Use............................................................134
Installing the Power Supply..................................................................................140
Troubleshooting Power Supply Issues.............................................................142
Heating and Cooling.......................................................................................146
Cram Quiz...........................................................................................................147
Cram Quiz Answers...................................................................................................149
CHAPTER 6
Storage................................................................................................................. 151
Hard Drives................................................................................................................................152
Hard Disk Drives........................................................................................................152
Solid-State Drives.......................................................................................................153
SATA.....................................................................................................................154
Hard Drive Specifications.......................................................................................156
Installing Hard Drives..............................................................................................157
Preventative Maintenance and Troubleshooting Hard Drives............158
Network Attached Storage.....................................................................................162
Cram Quiz...........................................................................................................163
Cram Quiz Answers...................................................................................................164
RAID................................................................................................................................. 166
Cram Quiz...........................................................................................................168
Cram Quiz Answers...................................................................................................168
, iv
CompTIA A+ 220-901 and 220-902 Exam
Optical Storage Media..........................................................................................................169
Compact Disc (CD).........................................................................................169
Digital Versatile Disc (DVD).......................................................................170
Blu-ray.............................................................................................................................173
Cram Quiz..........................................................................................................175
Cram Quiz Answers...................................................................................................176
Solid-State Storage Media...................................................................................................178
USB Flash Drives.............................................................................................178
Secure Digital Cards..................................................................................................181
CompactFlash Cards.................................................................................................183
Cram Quiz..........................................................................................................184
Cram Quiz Answers...................................................................................................185
CHAPTER 7
Mobile Device Hardware.....................................................................................187
Installing, Configuring, and Troubleshooting Visible Laptop
Components............................................................................................................................188
Laptop 101....................................................................................................................188
Input Devices................................................................................................................189
Video.................................................................................................................................195
Audio.................................................................................................................................199
Optical Drives...............................................................................................................200
Fans...................................................................................................................................200
Power...............................................................................................................................201
Expansion Devices.....................................................................................................204
Communications.........................................................................................................206
Cram Quiz..........................................................................................................208
Cram Quiz Answers...................................................................................................210
Installing, Configuring, and Troubleshooting Internal Laptop
Components............................................................................................................................212
Hard Drives...................................................................................................................212
Memory...........................................................................................................................213
System Board and CPU.................................................................................216
Cram Quiz..........................................................................................................218
Cram Exam Answers................................................................................................219
Understanding Tablet and Smartphone Hardware...............................................220
Mobile Hardware Examples..................................................................................220
Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION............................................................................................................. 1
CHAPTER 1
Introduction to Troubleshooting............................................................................9
The Six-Step A+ Troubleshooting Process...................................................................10
Step 1: Identify the Problem...................................................................................10
Step 2: Establish a Theory of Probable Cause (Question the
Obvious)..........................................................................................................................11
Step 3: Test the Theory to Determine Cause.................................................12
Step 4: Establish a Plan of Action to Resolve the Problem and
Implement the Solution..........................................................................................12
Step 5: Verify Full System Functionality and, If
Applicable, Implement Preventative Measures...........................................13
Step 6: Document Findings, Actions, and Outcomes..................................13
Cram Quiz.............................................................................................................14
Cram Quiz Answers......................................................................................................15
Troubleshooting Examples and PC Tools............................................................16
Troubleshooting Example 1—Basic: Display Issue......................................16
Troubleshooting Example 2—Intermediate: Power Issue.......................18
Troubleshooting Example 3—Advanced: Wireless Issue.........................19
PC Tools................................................................................................................23
More Troubleshooting Tidbits...............................................................................24
Cram Quiz.............................................................................................................26
Cram Quiz Answers......................................................................................................27
CHAPTER 2
Motherboards.........................................................................................................29
Motherboard Components and Form Factors............................................................30
Motherboard Components.......................................................................................30
Form Factors...................................................................................................................40
Cram Quiz.............................................................................................................44
Cram Quiz Answers......................................................................................................45
The BIOS/UEFI..............................................................................................................46
BIOS, CMOS, and the Lithium Battery......................................................46
The POST........................................................................................................ 47
,ii
CompTIA A+ 220-901 and 220-902 Exam
Accessing and Configuring the BIOS.........................................................48
Flashing the BIOS..............................................................................................51
Cram Quiz.............................................................................................................53
Cram Quiz Answers.....................................................................................................54
Installing and Troubleshooting Motherboards..........................................................55
Installing Motherboards............................................................................................55
Troubleshooting Motherboards.............................................................................56
Cram Quiz.............................................................................................................62
Cram Quiz Answers.....................................................................................................63
CHAPTER 3
The CPU..................................................................................................................65
CPU 101............................................................................................................................66
CPU Technology.................................................................................................66
Cooling...................................................................................................................75
Cram Quiz.............................................................................................................78
Cram Quiz Answers.....................................................................................................80
Installing and Troubleshooting CPUs..............................................................................81
Installing CPUs...................................................................................................81
Troubleshooting CPUs.....................................................................................87
Cram Quiz.............................................................................................................89
Cram Quiz Answers.....................................................................................................90
CHAPTER 4
RAM......................................................................................................................... 91
RAM Basics and Types of RAM...............................................................................92
RAM Basics.......................................................................................................................92
Types of RAM......................................................................................................93
RAM Technologies........................................................................................................99
Cram Quiz..........................................................................................................106
Cram Quiz Answers...................................................................................................107
Installing and Troubleshooting DRAM........................................................................108
Installing DRAM..............................................................................................108
Troubleshooting DRAM................................................................................114
Cram Quiz..........................................................................................................117
Cram Quiz Answers...................................................................................................118
, iii
CHAPTER 5
Power.................................................................................................................... 121
Understanding and Testing Power................................................................................122
Testing an AC Outlet with a Receptacle Tester.........................................123
Testing an AC Outlet with a Multimeter.......................................................124
Cram Quiz...........................................................................................................126
Cram Quiz Answers...................................................................................................126
Power Devices...........................................................................................................................127
Power Strips..................................................................................................................128
Surge Protectors..........................................................................................................128
Uninterruptible Power Supplies.........................................................................129
Cram Quiz...........................................................................................................132
Cram Quiz Answers...................................................................................................133
Power Supplies.........................................................................................................................134
Planning Which Power Supply to Use............................................................134
Installing the Power Supply..................................................................................140
Troubleshooting Power Supply Issues.............................................................142
Heating and Cooling.......................................................................................146
Cram Quiz...........................................................................................................147
Cram Quiz Answers...................................................................................................149
CHAPTER 6
Storage................................................................................................................. 151
Hard Drives................................................................................................................................152
Hard Disk Drives........................................................................................................152
Solid-State Drives.......................................................................................................153
SATA.....................................................................................................................154
Hard Drive Specifications.......................................................................................156
Installing Hard Drives..............................................................................................157
Preventative Maintenance and Troubleshooting Hard Drives............158
Network Attached Storage.....................................................................................162
Cram Quiz...........................................................................................................163
Cram Quiz Answers...................................................................................................164
RAID................................................................................................................................. 166
Cram Quiz...........................................................................................................168
Cram Quiz Answers...................................................................................................168
, iv
CompTIA A+ 220-901 and 220-902 Exam
Optical Storage Media..........................................................................................................169
Compact Disc (CD).........................................................................................169
Digital Versatile Disc (DVD).......................................................................170
Blu-ray.............................................................................................................................173
Cram Quiz..........................................................................................................175
Cram Quiz Answers...................................................................................................176
Solid-State Storage Media...................................................................................................178
USB Flash Drives.............................................................................................178
Secure Digital Cards..................................................................................................181
CompactFlash Cards.................................................................................................183
Cram Quiz..........................................................................................................184
Cram Quiz Answers...................................................................................................185
CHAPTER 7
Mobile Device Hardware.....................................................................................187
Installing, Configuring, and Troubleshooting Visible Laptop
Components............................................................................................................................188
Laptop 101....................................................................................................................188
Input Devices................................................................................................................189
Video.................................................................................................................................195
Audio.................................................................................................................................199
Optical Drives...............................................................................................................200
Fans...................................................................................................................................200
Power...............................................................................................................................201
Expansion Devices.....................................................................................................204
Communications.........................................................................................................206
Cram Quiz..........................................................................................................208
Cram Quiz Answers...................................................................................................210
Installing, Configuring, and Troubleshooting Internal Laptop
Components............................................................................................................................212
Hard Drives...................................................................................................................212
Memory...........................................................................................................................213
System Board and CPU.................................................................................216
Cram Quiz..........................................................................................................218
Cram Exam Answers................................................................................................219
Understanding Tablet and Smartphone Hardware...............................................220
Mobile Hardware Examples..................................................................................220
