Certifications power the IT industry. CompTIA A+ is the de facto entry point for IT techs, the first certification you should get. It provides a common language for people in IT, and prepares you for work in the industry.

In this episode, Steve walks through how to take the CompTIA A+ exam, including the at-home and in-person options through Pearson Vue.

The Core 1 (220-1101) exam tackles five big subject areas: mobile devices, networking, hardware, virtualization and cloud computing, and hardware and network troubleshooting. Steve dives into the sub-objectives in this episode, providing an overview of what you need to know for success on the Core 1 exam.

In this episode, Steve describes the CompTIA A+ exam process, plus explores a good strategy for prepping for the exam. Schedule the exam first! The pressure will have you hitting the books or videos in no time!

Steve shows you how to use this video course alongside the CompTIA A+ Certification All-in-One Exam Guide, Tenth Edition. He also shows you helpful hints about the videos.

Technicians need the right tools to do their job. These tools include PC toolkits, mobile device toolkits, voltmeters and circuit testers.

The CompTIA A+ defines a very specific workflow process to troubleshoot any problem on a system. These steps will help you mentally break down the steps to diagnose and repair a computer problem.

Mike takes you on a tour of the primary PC components including the computer case, monitor, and various peripherals including the keyboard, mouse, speakers, and more.

Learn the basic parts of a PC in this episode.

Computers are everywhere if you know where to look! What are the parts and the functions of a computer? What do all these devices have in common?

The Central Processing Unit (CPU) is quite possibly the most critical component of a PC. But what tasks does the CPU deal with, and how does it go about handling them? Let’s dig into the core features of a CPU.

The modern processor is loaded with features that you need to know in order to excel as a PC technician. Let’s examine some of the modern CPU’s abilities and get hands-on with a tool that has become a necessity when dealing with central processing units.

As technology evolves, the industry sets standards to define milestones. There is possibly no standard more prolific than 32-bit and 64-bit computing. Every piece of hardware and software released in the last three decades follows either the 32-bit or 64-bit standard.

Choosing a CPU that meets all of your needs is one of the most important decisions that you will make when building your PC. The wrong choice can mean a computer that does not perform the needed tasks or quickly becomes outdated. Since we have already learned about CPU features such as multi-cores and clock speed, let’s discuss choosing the right CPU for the job at hand.

By now you are probably wondering what that alphabet soup of letters and numbers alongside a CPU name means. Understanding the nomenclature of CPU models will ensure that you fully understand how they work. In this video, we are going to learn about the different generations and their corresponding CPU architecture.

While anything that uses electricity generates some heat, no other piece of hardware in our PC generates more heat than the CPU. Keeping temperatures under control is one of the keys to a system’s longevity. Let’s beat the heat and learn all about CPU cooling.

Every computer needs a CPU. The installation steps are straightforward but should be handled with care to prevent damage. Additionally, some form of cooling is required.

Dynamic random access memory (DRAM) comes in a number of versions defined by the doubling of commands they process per clock cycle. It’s important for techs to recognize these technologies and the speed rating systems used.

Individual sticks of DRAM will have very different capacities. It’s important to understand RAM capacities and how sticks work together to provide the total memory for a system.

DRAM varies in other ways, such as single-sided or double-sided DRAM. Different motherboards may or may not be able to take advantage of these features.

Running out of memory is something we try to avoid. All operating systems use virtual memory (or RAM), a part of your mass storage set, to act as (very slow) memory in case your real memory runs out.

Upgrading your RAM is one of the quickest tasks that you can do to immediately increase system performance. Whether you are doing a new PC build, or simply updating your system, you are going to need to know how to install and troubleshoot RAM.

Basic Input/Output Services (BIOS) is code (firmware) built into every motherboard to give the CPU basic communication with the hardware attached to the motherboard. BIOS is a critical part of the PC and a good tech needs to understand its function.

The power-on self-test (POST) takes place every time a system starts. POST checks the system and communicates any problems it finds to the user.

A small system-setup program built into the motherboard firmware enables techs to configure low-level features and options for the system’s hardware. A good tech needs to know how to access and use system setup on any computer.

A system’s BIOS is robust and rarely causes trouble, but when it does a good tech must be ready to troubleshoot. Understanding a few simple tricks can make troubleshooting easier.

Motherboards, power supplies, and cases are surprisingly interchangeable due to industry standards called form factors. Techs should know common form factors and the benefits and challenges of each.

A motherboard chipset is what determines the RAM capacity, USB capabilities, CPU architecture, and more. Mike explains how the modern chipsets have evolved over the years and why they matter today.

The motherboard is the backbone of a PC. The type and model of motherboard that you choose can have a profound impact on your system and often determines which components you are able to use. What should you look for when picking out a new one? We’ll explore that and more as we learn about choosing the right motherboard.

Installing a motherboard into a case is part science and part art. The science comes first. The motherboard must match the case’s form factor, and the motherboard and parts must be compatible. Then, the art: the subtle crafts of preparing everything you need; organizing your workspace as you go; planning a few steps ahead to avoid back-tracking; and the soft, patient touch to ensure everything fits together properly.

A PC power supply takes AC power from the grid and transforms it into DC voltage the system needs to run. This episode explores modular and non-modular power supplies.

Power supplies come in a dizzying array of power ratings, sizes, and efficiencies. A good tech understands these factors to make sure a system has the power it needs.

Previously we discussed the types of heat sinks, fans, and liquid cooling that are used to lower component and system temperatures. Now we will look at keeping your system cool through even the most difficult of tasks.

Knowing how to install and troubleshoot errors with power supplies is essential. While it is generally a simple process, there are some things to look out for. Let’s go through installing and troubleshooting a PSU together.

Mass storage (disk drives and solid-state drives) store the operating system and applications. Despite the different technologies, systems talk to these many devices in similar ways.

Hard disk drives (HDDs), which store data on rotating magnetic disks, have been the go-to mass storage media for decades. A good tech understands how this venerable media works and understands magnetic media’s unique needs.

Solid-state drives (SSDs) are quickly replacing HDDs for mass storage needs on almost all computers. SSDs are faster and more robust than HDDs and come with their own maintenance needs.

The Small Computer System Interface (SCSI) has been around in one form or another for decades. Despite its age, SCSI drives still appear in niche systems. It’s important to recognize SCSI systems and where they’re used today.

The Random Array of Independent (or Inexpensive) Disks (RAID) is a philosophy of using multiple drives working as a single drive – an array – for speed or redundancy. A good tech should understand the many RAID levels and the benefits they provide.

Hardware RAID uses a purpose-built RAID controller to configure and maintain RAID arrays. It’s important to understand the benefits of hardware RAID and how to configure and maintain RAID arrays.

Microsoft’s Storage Spaces feature provides a superb tool to configure many different RAID configurations on any Windows system. A good tech knows which types of RAID it supports and how to set them up.

Securing mass storage is a critical aspect of system security. Make sure you know the many ways a system’s mass storage can be encrypted.

Mass storage devices sometimes fail, resulting in the potential loss of critical data. A good tech knows the tools and procedures to diagnose and repair many mass storage problems.

The Universal Serial Bus (USB) interface is the main peripheral interface these days. Make sure you’re aware of different USB standards as well as the different types of USB connectors.

Why are there USB Type-A and USB Type-B connectors? Why do modern systems still provide older USB connectors when the latest USB perfectly supports older devices? It takes a good understanding of the USB standards to see how and why.

Most USB devices work well fresh out-of-the-box. For those that don’t, it’s important to have a proper USB configuration process to make sure a USB device and all of its features work properly.

Thunderbolt and Lightning connectors are high-speed alternatives to USB. A good tech recognizes when these technologies are used, their unique connectors, and the benefits/weaknesses they have compared to USB.

Shiny optical discs are an excellent media for transporting data and are still a very common tool for delivering drivers and configuration utilities for hardware. There’s several different optical standards and it’s critical to know that a certain optical drive supports a certain optical technology.

A broad cross-section of peripherals scan and read data. From flatbed scanners to barcode readers and card readers, these devices make our users’ lives easier and more convenient.

Peripherals allow us to expand our system to support new features such as printing, sound, and external storage. They also enable a wide array of input devices like mice and keyboards. Knowing how to identify each quickly is key to your success in the field and on the exam.

Video conferencing software has changed the way we work, especially with more and more companies moving to remote and hybrid workplaces. This episode gives a quick demonstration of Microsoft Teams and its screensharing function.

Even though we live in a world of built-to-exact-specification systems, you will eventually need to install and possibly troubleshoot expansion cards. Let’s look at the modern expansion card formats and then get hands-on and troubleshoot some common issues.

There’s more than one way to make a monitor, but they all share one very important common feature: the pixel. Once we understand that all monitors have pixels, it’s easier to understand the different technologies you might find in a modern monitor.

The Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) is the dominant technology for today’s monitors. A good tech should possess a deep understand of how LCDs work and how to open and repair an LCD monitor.

Monitors don’t create the images they display; that’s the graphics card’s job. Graphics cards come with different features and capabilities that a good tech understands very well.

More resolution means a more detailed picture. Monitor resolutions have increased for decades and a good tech understands common resolutions and aspect ratios.

Graphics cards often require special treatment when installing them in terms of power and cooling. In addition, systems need special drivers to take full advantage of the power of most graphics cards.

The CompTIA A+ concentrates on Windows, but every operating system gives you the ability to use more than one monitor. Make sure you understand the power of multiple monitors as well as how to install and configure them.

It’s easy to think of projectors as nothing more than monitors that project on a wall but that’s a bit short-sighted. Projectors come with their own technologies and configurations that a good tech understands.

The CompTIA A+ exams will challenge you on monitor troubleshooting. Whether it’s simply changing the input or replacing a burned-out bulb, troubleshooting displays is critical for techs.

You’ll never understand the power of the Internet without first starting at the most basic form of networking: the Local Area Network (LAN). LANs use a central piece of hardware to interconnect individual devices, transferring data from one system to another in discrete frames.

The central box that connects devices on our LANs has gone through many advancements over the years. Whether hubs or switches, a good tech understands the function and features of these boxes in our LANs.

Hexadecimal numbering uses a base-16 system that’s very convenient for IT techs. It’s important to look at a hex value and understand the equivalent binary value.

When a router connects two or more LANs, it creates a Wide Area Network. To understand WANs, it’s critical to understand routers and how they use logical addressing.

Networking uses many different types of cables such as coaxial, twisted pair, and even fiber-optic. These different cables use special connectors and a good tech should recognize the different cables and their connectors.

CompTIA doesn’t expect you to prove you can crimp your own cables, but it does expect you to understand the crimping process. Additionally, you must know EIA standards for crimping cables.

Structured cabling is the process of installing and organizing cable systems to ensure long term, reliable connections. While CompTIA doesn’t want you to be a cable installer, a good tech understands structured cabling and can work with installers.

Network hardware failures are often challenging to diagnose and repair. Good techs know a few simple tools and procedures to get networks back up and running quickly.

The Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) is the cornerstone of Internet addressing and routing. It’s important to understand IP addressing schemes and to see how TCP and IP work together to make the Internet work.

Manually entering IP addresses into all our devices is an administrative nightmare. To avoid this mess, smart techs use the Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) to automatically provide IP addressing to individual hosts.

The traditional IP addressing scheme (called IPv4) is quickly being replaced with the much more advanced IPv6 scheme. IPv6 adds several benefits over IPv4 and good techs know how to use it in our systems.

An IP address directs a packet to the right computer, but it’s the port number that makes a connection between two applications on separate systems. It’s critical to understand how port numbers do their job and to memorize many special port numbers.

TCP is the most popular IP protocol, but it isn’t the only one. User Datagram Protocol (UDP) and Internet Control Message Protocol (ICMP) both serve important purposes and features that techs need to understand.