PREFACE

The objective of this study guide is to help you prepare for and pass the required exams so you can begin to reap the career benefits of CompTIA A+ certification. Because the primary focus of this book is to help you pass the exams, we don’t always cover every aspect of the related technology. Some aspects of the technology are only covered to the extent necessary to help you understand what you need to know to pass the exams.

In This Book

This book is organized in such a way as to serve as an in-depth review for the latest version of the CompTIA A+ exams, released in 2022: Exam 220-1101 (Core 1) and Exam 220-1102 (Core 2). Each chapter covers a major aspect of the exams, with an emphasis on the “why” as well as the “how to” of IT support in the areas of installation, configuration, and maintenance of devices, PCs, and software; networking and security/forensics; diagnosis, resolution, and documentation of common hardware and software issues; troubleshooting; Internet and cloud usage; virtualization; desktop imaging; and deployment.

In the Chapters

We’ve created a set of chapter components that call your attention to important items, reinforce important points, and provide helpful exam-taking hints. Take a look at what you’ll find in every chapter:

   Every chapter begins with the Certification Objectives—what you need to know in order to pass the section on the exams dealing with the chapter topic. The Certification Objective headings identify the objectives within the chapter, so you’ll always know an objective when you see it!

   Exam Watch notes call attention to information about, and potential pitfalls in, the exams. These helpful hints reinforce your learning and exam preparation.

   Step-by-Step Exercises are interspersed throughout the chapters. These hands-on exercises allow you to get a feel for the real-world experience you need in order to pass the exams. They help you master skills that are likely to be an area of focus on the exams. Don’t just read through the exercises; they are hands-on practice that you should be comfortable completing. Learning by doing is an effective way to increase your competency with a product.

   On the Job notes describe the issues that come up most often in real-world settings. They provide a valuable perspective on certification- and product-related topics. They point out common mistakes and address questions that have arisen from on-the-job discussions and experience.

   Scenario & Solution sections lay out problems and solutions in a quick-read format.

   The Certification Summary is a succinct review of the chapter and a restatement of salient points regarding the exams.

   The Two-Minute Drill at the end of every chapter is a checklist of the main points of the chapter. It can be used for last-minute review.

Q&A

   The Self Test offers multiple-choice questions similar to those found on the certification exams. The answers to these questions, as well as explanations of the answers, can be found at the end of each chapter. By taking the Self Test after completing each chapter, you’ll reinforce what you’ve learned from that chapter while becoming familiar with the structure of the multiple-choice exam questions. The book does not include other types of questions that you may encounter on the exams, such as performance-based questions.

Online Content

Included with this book is access to online practice exam software, videos, performance-based questions, and the glossary and an exam objective map viewable through your web browser. Please see the appendix for more information about accessing the online content.

Some Pointers

Once you’ve finished reading this book, set aside some time to do a thorough review. You might want to return to the book several times and make use of all the methods it offers for reviewing the material:

   Re-read all the Two-Minute Drills, or have someone quiz you. You also can use the drills as a way to do a quick cram before the exams.

   Review all the Scenario & Solution sections for quick problem solving.

   Complete the Exercises. Did you do the exercises when you read through each chapter? If not, do them! These exercises are designed to cover exam topics, and there’s no better way to get to know this material than by practicing. Be sure you understand why you are performing each step in each exercise. If there is something you are not clear on, re-read that section in the chapter.

   Retake the Self Tests. Taking the tests right after you’ve read the chapter is a good idea, because the questions help reinforce what you’ve just learned. However, it’s an even better idea to go back later and do all the questions in the book in one sitting. Pretend that you’re taking a live exam. When you go through the questions the first time, you should mark your answers on a separate piece of paper. That way, you can run through the questions as many times as you need to until you feel comfortable with the material.