CompTIA A+ (Level 1, or an entry, or beginner)
Before, we talk about A+ topic. Computer will always has.
Step 1: Hardware
At this stage, is it turn ON, the cable are connected.
Monitor: output the result on the screen.
Keyboard/mouse: input from user
Hard Drive: permanent storage space available for that PC.
CPU: running
RAM: temporary space use to run the software
Bus speed: data move between the above component
NIC: network card, allow to add IP address to form a network possible.
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Step 2: CMOS software
At this stage, the hardware maybe dead
You will see CMOS related error of black screen. The CMOS only check the hardware is passing the ON and working state. It doesn’t deal with HD files format.
CMOS/BIOS: the First software to run when you press power button, and this is also known as the motherboard software. It is this software that can understand all the hardware connected to the motherboard. This software is load into the RAM and run.
To update the bio you have to go to the motherboard web site maker to downloads the update version of it. This will allow to support bigger size RAM, or HD, etc…
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Step 3: Operating System (OS) software
At this stage, the CMOS had done it job, now is the OS job.
-You will see the Operating System error message, and black or blue screen of death.
-This is the operating system software issue stage.
-The operating system may not like the hard ware driver, maybe it is bad file systems, boot sector virus issue, system files corruption issue, because we use the operating system to do it. We didn’t use the CMOS software to setup all of this. We use the CMOS mostly to modify the Boot drive selection.
What is CompTIA A+?
It is an introduction to the subject and materials with zero years knowledge and expose to the subject of computer hardware and software.
You are interested of becoming an IT person. You saw a person fixing and replacing computer parts and you would like to do it some day, because it is cool.
Get certified in CompTIA A+. It is about repairing computer hardware, software and operating system.
Check out some of the cool Window Short Cut Keys to complete task quickly.
You must be familiar with and know how to use the bottom tools:
Right click: to quickly access setting and option of a program or hardware property.
Install and update hardware driver: from vendors of the hardware by using (Device Manager).
Add / Remove software: such as Operating System, and Business applications such as Microsoft Office Suite.
1. Task Scheduler (Schtasks.exe)
2. Task Manager (Taskmgr.exe)
3. Computer Management (compmgmt.msc)
4. System Information (msinfo32.exe)
5. Control Panel (Window Key + R > Control)
5. Control Panel > Administrator Tools
6. Control Panel:
– Device Manager
– Default Program
– Device and Printer
– File Explorer options
– System
– Credential Manager
– Network and Sharing Center
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Run > CMD
-Run > msconfig
-Run > Regedit
-Run> control userpasswords2
-Run > netplwiz
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Important directory (folder) location:
C:\Users
C:\Program Files (x86)
C:\Program Files
C:\Windows
C:\Windows\PolicyDefinitions
C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution
C:\Windows\System32
C:\Windows\System32\drivers
C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc
C:\Windows\System32\wbem
C:\inetpub
C:\Windows\Temp
Some of the key topic in detail and explanation.
Command Prompt or (CMD):
Window Key + R and they type cmd
What is CMD? instead of clicking to get computer to do something. You’ll type in the program name to get computer to do something. This is similar to Unix / Linux / AS400 base operating system.
And all Window Operating System came with CMD and to open up CMD
press: Window Key + R then type in CMD. You will get black screen program and once you open CMD to know how to use the program, you can type in: help
System Information:
It is important to find out detail information about the system that you are working on. It will about RAM, IRQ, I/O issue, BIOS version, operating system version, Running Process, Hardware type and all kind of details…..
And Open up the system information is maybe the first step in checking the system issue or preparing for updating hardware components.
There System Information or msinfo32
CMD > msinfo32
Computer Management: run > compmgmt.msc
CMD> compmgmt
is a collection of tools to maintenance and managing issues for computers.
Most of this program are locate: C:\Windows\system32\
C:\Windows\system32\compmgmt
C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Administrative Tools
Device Manager: run > devmgmt.msc
CMD> devmgmt
is part of the computer management tool set. This tool is mainly use to look into why that device is not working, a certain setting you can apply to a device, devices setting and update it driver (software).
-To update driver you must first download the latest driver from the hardware manufacture then open device manager > Driver tab > Browse
Control Panel and Registry editor: is all the Options setting for Window Operating system, just like in a program you have option under its menu setting, for window it is call Control Panel. You also have another options seating o modify window it is call the Registry. (Registry is where all the options available for operating system and all the installed program in that computer. You must know what you doing to modify the computer registry. If you don’t you can make the operating not work! Most people will enable different options using Control Panel instead and it is the safer to enable /disable options.)
CMD> control
Window Registry system
CMD> regedit
Microsoft Management Console:
CMD > mmc
*You may know this tool has .msc extension. Because it is a snap-in control file associated with Microsoft Management Console. Which mean a tool that can be add to toolbox collection call Microsoft Management Console.
Top open up a brand new MMC, open up CMD and type in mmc
You can search for: mmc
-The program location is mostly list under this directory: C:\Windows\system32\
C:\Windows\system32\mmc
-To get to this directory in window by open up Window Explorers (a folder) and type in the address : %windir%\System32\mmc
Widow Explorer (folder explorer):
%windir%\System32\control.exe
-Widow Explorer, may crashed and cause the GUI of the screen disappeared.
press: Window Key + R and they type in: explorer.exe
Location of the Window Explorer:
%windir%\explorer.exe
-You may notice %windir% this is a way to get to whatever the root letter of the window directory maybe, some people may change the root letter to other then C:\ like D:\ or G:\ when they installed Window Operating system.
Each options in Control Panel (.cpl) can be run by CMD
-To uninstall program:
CMD > appwiz.cpl
-View Network Connection:
CMD > ncpa.cpl
-Desktop Background:
CMD > control.exe desktop
-Monitor and screen size option
CMD> desk.cpl
-View Device Manager:
CMD> devmgmt
-View Computer Management:
CMD> compmgmt
-Display and monitor setting
desk.cpl
-Driver Verifier Utility
verifier
-Event Viewer
eventvwr.msc
-Folders Properties
control.exe folders
-Group Policy Editor
gpedit.msc
-Local Security Settings
secpol.msc
-Local Users and Groups
lusrmgr.msc
-Keyboard
control.exe keyboard
-Mouse
control.exe mouse
-Performance Monitor
perfmon.msc
-Power Configuration
powercfg.cpl
-Printers Folder
control.exe printers
-Registry Editor
regedit
-Resultant Set of Policy
rsop.msc
-Scheduled Tasks
control.exe schedtasks
-Security Center
wscui.cpl
-Services
services.msc
-Shared Folders
fsmgmt.msc
-Sounds
mmsys.cpl
-System Configuration Editor
sysedit
-System Configuration Utility
msconfig
-System Properties “computer name change”
sysdm.cpl
-Task Manager
taskmgr
-Windows Firewall
firewall.cpl
ping 127.0.0.0
and if it is generate a corrupted or general failure.
It is maybe due to TCP/IP is not running on the network or you many need to
disable TCP/IP component and reenable it.
To do so by: Right click on that network adapters > Property > un check: TCP/IP v4
View IP address of WiFi adapter:
netsh interface ipv4 show addresses “wi-fi”
cmd > netsh /?
View IP address of LAN adapter:
netsh interface ipv4 show addresses “Local Area Connection”
IP configuration and setting:
cmd > ipconfig / ?
You can find more short cut listing from this web site:
https://shortcutworld.com/Windows-Run-Commands/win/Windows-Run-Commands_Shortcuts
Operating System Repair:
You probably know by now that an Operating System is nothing more then a computer program. It is act like any other program.
When an operating system files is missing or changed by other program or corrupted by a virus, then the operating system will not run!
If a program will not run:
A. You can see what the error message about or what is the program looking for?
B. Then try to safety the program by providing the data the program looking for.
C. What are the fastest way to make the program work again?
1. Any known vendor issue related to the error message?
2. Undo the last previous changed that cause the issue?
3. Get a working file and replace the bad files?
4. Write down all the options and backup any data then do Uninstall and reinstall of the program?
Window operating system has option of mode: Normal mode, Safe mode
By pressing F8 key, during window boot up, you can pick this mode:
Example, Safe Mode option.
Safe Mode is disable all the services or drivers of hardware that window may not need to load window up (basic code). This will tell you if a hardware drive or computer program may hung up or conflicting with Window.
Repair Mode: Repair window using its built in Repair mode option.
Hard Disk Repair: sometime the file system NTFS, or FAT32 need to be repair.
CMD > chkdsk /f /r
Hard Disk Defrag: sometime hard drive need to put files closer to each other again, this way it will help speeding up reading and writing process. Defrag /?
CMD > Defrag /a
System Files Repair:
If Window able to load up fine and producing some error dialog pop up. You can use a system file checker automatic repair.
Window Key + R and type in CMD
And press SHIFT + Ctrl + Enter key, to open CMD in admin mode.
Then type below to run system file checker.
sfc /scannow
help
cmd > sfc /?
Below are some of the useful programs:
Component Hardware repair:
It is a lot cheaper to replace the bad part with a good part then try to repair the bad compactors or component. It is all depend, only an expensive part is worth replacing bad capacitor etc…
Last topic, there are third party PC repair software that can scan for Memory and hardware error.
The End of topic introduction to CompTia A+
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You may want to know some of Window Short Cut key to make your job more easy.
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Next, topic will be CompTIA N+
or Level 2, because each topic build on top of each others.
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