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| Preface | |
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| Introduction | |
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| The Importance of the A+ Certification | |
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| The Structure and Contents of the A+ Certification Exams | |
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| How to Pass the A+ Exams | |
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| The Visible PC | |
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| How the PC Works | |
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| Essential Tools of the Trade and ESD Avoidance | |
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| Recognize the Major Components of a PC | |
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| Connectors | |
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| All Kinds of Connectors | |
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| Chapter 2 Review | |
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| Microprocessors | |
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| CPU Core Components | |
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| Memory | |
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| Modern CPUs | |
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| Specialty Processors | |
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| Installing CPUs | |
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| RAM | |
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| DRAM | |
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| RAM Sticks | |
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| RAM Sticks, Part II | |
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| Improvements in DRAM Technology | |
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| Installing RAM | |
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| Troubleshooting RAM | |
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| Chapter 4 Review | |
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| BIOS and CMOS | |
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| The Function of BIOS | |
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| CMOS Setup Utilities | |
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| BIOS and Device Drivers | |
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| Power-On Self Test (POST) | |
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| Chapter 5 Review | |
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| Expansion Bus | |
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| Structure and Function of the Expansion Bus | |
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| System Resources | |
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| Modern Expansion Bus | |
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| Installing Expansion Cards | |
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| Troubleshooting Expansion Cards | |
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| PCI-X and PCI-Express | |
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| Chapter 6 Review | |
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| Motherboards | |
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| How Motherboards Work | |
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| Types of Motherboards | |
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| Chipset Varieties | |
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| Upgrading and Installing Motherboards | |
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| Troubleshooting Motherboards | |
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| Chapter 7 Review | |
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| Power Supplies | |
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| Powering the PC | |
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| Troubleshooting Power | |
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| Chapter 8 Review | |
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| Floppy Drives | |
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| Floppy Drive Basics | |
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| Installing Floppy Drives | |
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| Floppy Drive Maintenance and Troubleshooting | |
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| Chapter 9 Review | |
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| Hard Drive Technologies | |
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| How Hard Drives Work | |
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| Hard Drive Interfaces | |
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| BIOS Support: Configuring CMOS and Installing Drivers | |
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| Troubleshooting Hard Drive Installation | |
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| Chapter 10 Review | |
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| Implementing Hard Drives | |
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| Partitioning Hard Drives | |
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| Formatting Hard Drives | |
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| Maintaining and Troubleshooting Hard Drives | |
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| Chapter 11 Review | |
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| Understanding Windows | |
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| Functions of the Operating System | |
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| Common Windows Features and Characteristics | |
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| Features and Characteristics of Windows 9x/Me | |
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| Features and Characteristics of Windows NT/2000/XP | |
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| Chapter 12 Review | |
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| Working with the Command Line Interface | |
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| Deciphering the Command Line Interface | |
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| Mastering Fundamental Commands | |
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| Working with Files | |
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| Chapter 13 Review | |
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| Installing and Upgrading Windows | |
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| Windows Installation/Upgrade Overview | |
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| Installing and Upgrading Windows 9x/Me | |
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| Installing and Upgrading to Windows 2000 Professional | |
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| Installing and Upgrading to Windows XP Professional | |
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| Troubleshooting Installation Problems | |
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| Chapter 14 Review | |
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| Maintaining, Optimizing, and Troubleshooting Windows 9x and Windows Me | |
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| Maintaining and Optimizing Windows 9x/Me | |
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| Device Installation | |
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| Troubleshooting Windows 9x/Me | |
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| Chapter 15 Review | |
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| Maintaining, Optimizing, and Troubleshooting Windows NT, 2000, and XP | |
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| Tools for Maintaining and Optimizing Windows | |
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| Maintaining and Optimizing Windows | |
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| Troubleshooting Windows | |
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| Chapter 16 Review | |
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| CD and DVD Media | |
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| CD Media | |
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| DVD Media | |
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| Installing CD and DVD Media Drives | |
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| Troubleshooting | |
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| Chapter 17 Review | |
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| Video | |
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| CRT and LCD Displays | |
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| The Video Card | |
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| Installing and Configuring Video Software | |
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| Troubleshooting Video | |
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| Chapter 18 Review | |
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| SCSI | |
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| SCSI Chains | |
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| SCSI Flavors | |
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| Troubleshooting SCSI | |
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| Costs and Benefits of SCSI | |
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| Chapter 19 Review | |
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| Sound | |
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| How Sound Works in a PC | |
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| Getting the Right Sound Card | |
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| Installing a Sound Card in a Windows System | |
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| Troubleshooting Sound | |
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| Chapter 20 Review | |
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| Portable PCs | |
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| Portable Computing Devices | |
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| Enhance and Upgrade the Portable PC | |
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| Managing and Maintaining Portables | |
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| Chapter 21 Review | |
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| Printers | |
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| Printer Technologies | |
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| The Laser Printing Process | |
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| Installing a Printer in Windows | |
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| Troubleshooting Printers | |
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| Chapter 22 Review | |
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| Networking | |
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| Networking Technologies | |
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| Network Operating Systems | |
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| Installing and Configuring a Wired Network | |
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| Installing and Configuring a Wireless Network | |
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| Troubleshooting Networks | |
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| Chapter 23 Review | |
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| The Internet | |
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| Understanding the Internet | |
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| Connecting to the Internet | |
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| Internet Software Tools | |
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| Chapter 24 Review | |
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| Glossary | |
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| Index | |