A+ Certification Exam Cram 2 PC Maintenance and Troubleshooting Field Guide

Charles J. Brooks is currently the president of Marcraft International Corporation, located in Kennewick, Washington, and is in charge of research and development. He is the author of several books, including Speech Synthesis, Pneumatic Instrumentation, The Complete Introductory Computer Course, Radio-Controlled Car Project Manual and IBM PC Peripheral Troubleshooting and Repair. A former electronics instructor and technical writer with the National Education Corporation, Charles has taught and written on post-secondary EET curriculum, including introductory electronics, transistor theory, linear integrated circuits, basic digital theory, industrial electronics, microprocessors and computer peripherals.

Introduction.

Troubleshooting Jump Table.

I. INSTALLING, CONFIGURING, AND UPGRADING.

1. Installing, Configuring, and Upgrading Hardware.

    Introduction.

    Installing System Boards.

      Seating the System Board.

      Connecting System Board Cables.

      Installing Adapter Cards.

      Connecting External I/O Systems.

      Installing the System Unit’s Cover.

    Upgrading System Boards.

      Installing Microprocessors.

      Heat Sinks and Fans.

      Configuring the Microprocessor.

      Required Knowledge for Manually Configuring Processors.

      Upgrading Microprocessors.

      Microprocessor Upgrade Paths.

      Upgrading the BIOS.

      Testing the Upgrade.

      Overclocking.

      Matching Processors to Incompatible Sockets 

      Installing Additional Processors.

      Processor and Slot Specifications.

      Installing Memory Modules.

    Upgrading Memory.

      Using the System Board Documentation.

      Advanced SDRAM Technologies.

      Static RAM (SRAM) Technologies.

      RAM Speeds.

      Optimizing Memory.

    Flashing BIOS.

      Required Knowledge for Flashing a BIOS.

      Making Upgrade Decisions.

    HDD Installation.

      Partitioning Physical Drives.

      Disk Drive Subsystem Enhancements.

      Required Knowledge for Installing Hard Disk Drives.

    HDD Upgrading.

      Planning for an HDD Upgrade.

    Installing CD-ROM/DVD Devices.

      Configuring CD-ROM/DVD Devices.

      Installing CD-RW and DVD-RW Drives.

      Required Knowledge for Installing CD-ROM and DVD Drives.

    Installing Tape Drives.

      Required Knowledge for Installing Tape Drives.

    Installing Adapter Card-Based Peripherals.

      Installing Sound Cards.

      Installing Modems.

    Upgrading Adapters.

      Specialized Video Cards.

      Optimizing Network Adapters.

    Installing and Upgrading Peripherals.

      Ports.

      IEEE-1284 Parallel Port Devices.

      Installing Devices Using Advanced Buses and Ports.

      Installing Digital Cameras.

      Upgrading Peripheral Devices.

      Implementing Ports.

    Installing Wireless LAN Components.

      Required Knowledge for Installing Wireless LANs.

    Loading and Adding Device Drivers.

      Windows 9x Device Drivers.

      Windows NT, Windows 2000, and Windows XP Device Drivers.

      Finding Updated Device Drivers.

      Driver Signing.

    Power Supply Upgrade Considerations.

      Required Knowledge for Upgrading the Power Supply.

2. Installing, Configuring, and Upgrading Operating Systems.

    Introduction.

    Disk Preparation.

    Installing Windows 95.

    Installing Windows 98.

      Installing Windows 98 from a Network Server.

    Installing Windows Me.

      Adding CAB Files to the Installation.

    Installing Windows NT, Windows 2000, and Windows XP Operating Systems.

      Installation Methods.

      Installing Windows 2000 Professional.

      Installing Windows XP Professional.

      Patches and Service Packs.

    Operating System Upgrading.

      Upgrading to Windows 2000.

      Upgrading to Windows XP.

      Performing Local Upgrades.

    Installing Dual-Booting Operating Systems.

      Required Knowledge for Establishing a Dual-Boot System.

    Troubleshooting Operating Systems Install Failures.

      Windows 9x Setup Problems.

      Windows NT, Windows 2000, and Windows XP Setup Problems.

      Windows XP Setup Problems.

      Troubleshooting OS Upgrade Failures.

    Adding Applications.

      Installing Additional Windows 9x and Windows Me Components.

      Windows 2000 and Windows XP Applications.

      Windows 2000 and Windows XP Application Installer.

      Launching Windows Applications.

    Installing Printers.

      Installing Printers in Windows 9x and Windows Me.

      Establishing Printers in Windows 2000 and Windows XP.

      Printer Properties.

    Configuring LAN Connections.

      Networking with Windows 9X.

    Networking with Windows 2000 and Windows XP.

      My Network Places.

      Windows 2000 and Windows XP Network Control Panel.

      Configuring Windows 2000 and Windows XP Network Shares.

    Networking with Novell NetWare.

      Installing NetWare Clients and Protocols.

    Installing Other Network Protocols.

    Wide Area Networking with Windows 9x and Windows Me.

      The Windows 9x and Windows Me Internet Connection.

    Wide Area Networking with Windows NT, Windows 2000, and Windows XP.

      The Windows 2000 and Windows XP Internet Infrastructure.

      Establishing the Windows 2000 and Windows XP Dial-Up Configuration.

      Establishing Dialing Rules.

      Establishing Dial-Up Internet Connections.

      Establishing Internet Connection Sharing.

      The Windows XP Firewall.

    Configuring Internet Options.

      Configuring Security Settings.

      Configuring Script Support.

      Configuring Proxy Settings.

    Optimizing Windows Performance.

      Optimizing Windows 9x and Windows Me Systems That Have Legacy Files.

      Optimizing Virtual Memory in Windows 9x.

      Optimizing Windows 2000 and Windows XP Systems.

II. TROUBLESHOOTING.

3. Hardware Troubleshooting Techniques.

    Introduction.

    Sorting Hardware/Software/Configuration Problems.

    Hardware Troubleshooting Tools.

      Software Diagnostic Packages.

      Using a Multimeter in a PC.

      Cable Testers.

      POST Cards.

    Troubleshooting Power-Supply Problems.

      Checking Dead Systems.

      Other Power-Supply Problems.

    Troubleshooting the System Board.

      System Board Symptoms.

      Configuration Problems.

      Microprocessors.

      RAM.

      ROM.

      CMOS Batteries.

    Troubleshooting Keyboard Problems.

      Keyboard Symptoms.

    Troubleshooting Mouse Problems.

      Mouse Hardware Checks.

      Mouse Configuration Checks.

     Troubleshooting Video.

      Video Hardware Checks.

    Troubleshooting Floppy Disk Drives.

      Basic FDD Checks.

    Troubleshooting Hard Disk Drives.

      HDD Configuration Checks.

      Basic HDD Checks.

      HDD Hardware Checks.

    Troubleshooting CD-ROM Drives.

      Basic Checks.

      Windows Checks.

      CD-ROM/DVD Hardware Checks.

    Troubleshooting Tape Drives.

      Troubleshooting Other Removable Storage Systems.

    Troubleshooting Port Problems.

      Port Problem Symptoms.

      Basic Port Checks.

      Windows Printer Checks.

      Troubleshooting Infrared Ports.

    Troubleshooting Modems.

      Modem Symptoms.

      COM Port Conflicts.

      Windows Modem Checks.

      The Hayes AT Command Set.

      Modem Hardware Checks.

    Troubleshooting Sound Cards.

      Sound Card Configuration Checks.

      Sound Card Hardware Checks.

    Troubleshooting Network Cards.

    Working on Portable Systems.

      Troubleshooting PCMCIA Problems.

      Troubleshooting Portable Unique Storage.

      Troubleshooting Batteries.

      Troubleshooting Docking Stations/Port Replicators.

4. Operating System Troubleshooting.

    Introduction.

    General Computer Startup Problems.

      Types of Startup Troubleshooting Tools.

      Troubleshooting Bootup/Startup Problems.

    General Operational Problems.

      Operational Troubleshooting Tools.

      Memory Usage Problems.

      General Troubleshooting for Application Problems.

      Optional Devices Will Not Operate.

      Windows-Related Printing Problems.

      General Network Troubleshooting.

      General WAN Troubleshooting.

      Dealing with Viruses.

    Windows 9x and Windows Me Startup Problems.

      Troubleshooting Windows 9x Startup Problems.

      HIMEM.SYS Problems.

      Initializing the Display Adapter.

      Windows 9x and Windows Me Boot Problems.

      Missing Windows Core File Problems.

      Swap File Problems.

      Initialization File Problems.

      Windows 9x and Windows Me Troubleshooting Tools.

      Creating a Windows 95 Emergency Start Disk.

      The Windows 98 Emergency Start Disk.

    Windows 9x and Windows Me Operational Problems.

      Drive Space and Memory Problems.

      Applications Will Not Install.

      Stalled Applications.

      Troubleshooting Windows 9x Application Problems.

      Optional Devices Will Not Operate in Windows 9x or Windows Me.

      Troubleshooting Windows 9x and Windows Me Printing Problems.

      Windows 9x and Windows Me Networking Problems.

    Windows NT, Windows 2000, and Windows XP Startup Problems.

      Windows 2000 and Windows XP Network Startup Problems.

      Windows NT, Windows 2000, and Windows XP Startup Troubleshooting Tools.

      Alternative Windows NT 4.0 Startup Modes.

      Alternative Windows 2000 and Windows XP Startup Modes.

      Windows NT and Windows 2000 Emergency Disks.

      Windows 2000 and Windows XP Recovery Console.

      Altering BOOT.INI.

      Using Device Manager.

      Using the Windows XP Driver Rollback Feature.

      Windows XP System Restore.

    Windows 2000 and Windows XP Operational Problems.

      Optional Devices Will Not Operate in Windows 2000 or Windows XP.

      Windows 2000 and Windows XP Application Problems.

      Problems with Windows NT, Windows 2000, and Windows XP Files, Folders, and Printers.

      Locating Hidden Files.

      Applications Will Not Install.

      Windows 2000 and Windows XP Operational Troubleshooting Tools.

    Troubleshooting Windows 2000 and Windows XP Printing Problems.

      Troubleshooting Windows 2000- and Windows XP-Related Network Printing Problems.

    Troubleshooting Windows 2000 and Windows XP Blue Screen Errors.

      Windows 2000 and Windows XP Networking Problems.

III. TECHNICAL DATA.

5. Important Resources.

    Introduction.

    Using the Windows Command Line.

      Accessing the Windows Command Prompt.

      Working from the Command Line.

      Microsoft Drives and Disks.

      Drive and Disk-Level Command Operations.

      Directory-Level Functions.

      File-Level Commands.

      Command-Line Shortcuts.

      Windows Command-Line Utilities.

    Linux Commands and Utilities.

      Linux Paths.

      Directory-Level Linux Commands.

      File-Level Linux Commands.

    I/O Buses and Cabling.

      Twisted-Pair Cabling.

      CAT5 Crossover Cables.

      Ethernet Cabling Standards and Specifications.

      Telephone Cabling.

      Serial Cable Pinout Descriptions.

      SCSI Cables and Connectors.

    Universal Serial Bus.

      USB Cabling and Connectors.

      FireWire.

      Infrared Ports.

      Common Router Default Settings.

    IP Addresses.

      Subnets.

      Private IP Classes.

      Well-known TCP/UDP Ports.

    Standard PC Resource Usage.

      Interrupts.

      PC Address Allocations.

    Support Sources.

      Information Resources.

      Third-Party Utility Websites.

      Product Support Websites.

      FTP Utility Site Listings.

      Manufacturer Support Phone Numbers.

Index.