Comptia is a trusted and well-known name in the computer technology and certification field. Comptia offers several different certification exams for different aspects of computer technology.
There are three main A+ exams: the Core 1 exam that focuses on hardware, the Core 2 exam that focuses on software, and an Academic Exam that is designed for students. This article will focus on the two core A+ exams and what you can expect on the exam day.
The A+ exams are updated every three to four months, so if you are planning on taking the exam soon, it is important to check for recent updates. The most recent update was in February 2018 for both Core 1 and Core 2 A+ exams.
Hardware
Comptia A+ certified technicians are well-rounded in all areas of IT. One of the biggest areas is hardware. Technicians need to know the basics about computer hardware to diagnose problems and fix them.
Memory, hard drives, CPU, graphics cards, and peripherals are all areas that must be tested for functionality when troubleshooting a computer problem. Memory must be checked for compatibility and strength, the hard drive must be checked for errors or fragility, the CPU must be tested for speed and whether it is compatible with the other components, graphics cards must be tested for compatibility with the operating system and adequate power supply, and peripherals must be tested for connectivity or issues.
Software
Software is what makes your computer work. There are different types of software and different levels of complexity. Some examples of basic software are an operating system, a web browser, a word processing program, and a calculator.
An operating system is the software that runs your computer. A web browser is what goes to a website and displays the content and navigation bars. A word processing program is what handles typed text and saves it as a file type that can be opened on other computers or devices. A calculator does simple math for you.
There are many free apps and programs available for download online. Be careful when downloading these as some may contain malware or viruses that can harm your computer or take away privacy on your personal information.
Networking
Networking is a huge part of computer knowledge. Knowing how to set up a network, view and manage network settings, and diagnose and fix problems in the network system is important.
Setting up a network requires identifying the devices, choosing an infrastructure, and then setting up the devices and connecting them. Identifying the devices means deciding what computers, smartphones, or tablets will be on the network.
Infrastructure depends on whether you are using wired or wireless devices. Wired uses cables to connect devices, while wireless uses radio waves. You must also decide how many nodes there will be on the network- one or many!
diagnosing issues can be hard unless you are well-versed in computer knowledge. Issues can be caused by anything from faulty hardware to malware or viruses. It is important to know what these are and how to remove them.
Security
Security is a large and important part of computing. Security is the practice of preventing unauthorized access to electronic data and systems. There are many aspects of security, from user awareness all the way up to high-tech solutions.
User awareness is one of the most important aspects of security. Educating users on the dangers of opening emails from unknown senders, not sharing passwords with anyone, and staying away from questionable sites and downloads helps prevent a lot of problems.
Network security deals with protecting computers, networks, and data transfers within these entities against outside threats. This can include firewalls, VPNs, encryption, and other protective measures.
Data security refers to keeping data protected even if the data storage device or device holding the data is compromised. This can be done by encryption or other algorithms.
Device security refers to keeping devices such as laptops, phones, and tablets safe from external threats such as malware or hackers. Settings such as locking your phone with a passcode or using fingerprint recognition help prevent casual snooping.
Troubleshooting
After you have identified the problem, you must decide how to fix it. This is called troubleshooting. You can consult a number of resources to help you fix the problem.
You can ask other people who may have more experience with the problem or the solution. You can also check online for tips and tricks or ask Google. You can even look at Apple support pages or call them for direct help.
Once you have determined the source of the problem, you must decide whether to repair or replace the part or device that is causing the issue. If the device is older and costly to repair, you may choose to replace it with a similar quality device instead.
Remember, when troubleshooting, be careful not to over-repair your device. Only identify one issue at a time and address that before moving on to the next one.
Consumer issues
When it comes to computers, the average user has several issues that they need help with. The first is understanding how to use a computer in the first place.
Many users are familiar with smartphones, therefore finding someone new to learn on can be difficult. Many libraries offer classes or one-on-one help for this issue.
The next issue is knowing how to do a specific task on a computer. For example, how to do an internet search, how to create a document, or how to send an email.
There are many websites and free programs that teach you how to do these things so they are not hard to find. Google even has a tool that helps you find the best one for you depending on what task you are trying to complete.
The last issue is having problems with your computer due to something happening on the inside. There are several places that do computer repairs at a reasonable price.
Power issues
Power issues is a large section that covers a lot. These include:
Power Supply Issues- These are questions about the different power supplies and how they work. Questions can be asked about what happens if you use a lower voltage supply, what happens if you use a higher voltage supply, and how to test them.
These are questions about the different power supplies and how they work. Questions can be asked about what happens if you use a lower voltage supply, what happens if you use a higher voltage supply, and how to test them. Overloading- Questions can be asked about what happens when there is too much load on the power supply and what steps to take to fix it.
Connectors
A connector is a word or phrase that connects two sentences, clauses, phrases, or words. Connectors can be passive or active, depending on their function.
Passive connectors fail to mention who is performing the action. For example, in the sentence “It was noted by several people that the dog ate the cake,” the phrase “It was noted” is a passive connector. It does not specify who noted it, but we can infer that it was the people who were watching the dog who noted this fact.
Active connectors name who is performing the action mentioned in the sentence. For example, in the sentence “I noted that the dog ate the cake,” I is performing the action of noting.
Both types of connectors can be either front-end or back-end depending on where they are placed in a sentence.
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