CompTIA A+ Certification 2012: What's New, Improved, and Different

1. CompTIA A+ Certification 2012: What's New, Improved, and Different Presented by Mark Edward Soper pearsonITcertification.com/soper

2. Welcome – Our Agenda Today Part 1: Presentation –Discover the changes in the 2012 CompTIA A+ Certification exams Part 2: Live Event Q&A Use WEBEX event CHAT to ask Mark a Question Part 3: Post Live Event Survey Feedback wanted. Live event attendees, please complete survey and be registered to win a FREE Pearson IT Certification book or video of your choice. Three (3) winners.

3. 220-801 Objectives • PC Hardware 40% • Networking 27% • Laptops 11% • Printers 11% • Operational Procedures 11% CompTIA 220-801 and 220-802 A+ Certification objectives can be downloaded here.

4. What’s New in 220-801? • Coverage of recent CPU sockets from Intel and AMD • AMD AM3+ • AMD FM1 • Intel LGA1155 Intel Socket 1155

5. What’s New in 220-801? • Coverage of processors with integrated display/graphics • AMD A-series • Intel Sandy Bridge AMD A-series APU display outputs

6. What’s New in 220-801? • Coverage of USB 3.0 (SuperSpeed USB) • Up to 5Gbps • Backwards-compatible with USB 2.0, 1.1 • Port and cable types • Power requirements USB 3.0 B and mini-B ports and cables

7. What’s New in 220-801? • Custom system configurations • Gaming • Virtualization • A/V editing • Graphics, CAD • Audio production • Thick, thin clients • Home server • Home theater Processor heatsinks

8. What’s New in 220-801? • Better network hardware coverage • SOHO router setup • Diagnostic tools • More coverage of fiber optic cable standards SSID WPA2

9. What’s New in 220-801? • Better coverage of IPv4 versus IPv6 • Link-local • Anycast • Unicast • Multicast • Addressing

10. What’s New in 220-801? • Laptop internal components and teardown • Processor • Inverter • Cooling • Memory • Mini-PCIe Laptop processor heatpipe

11. What’s New in 220-801? • Updated printer coverage • New seven-step laser printing process • Enhanced coverage of thermal paper and media • Improved coverage of printer maintenance

12. What’s New in 220-801? • Dealing with prohibited content/activity first response documentation chain of custody

13. 220-802 Objectives • Operating Systems 33% • Security 22% • Mobile Devices 9% • Troubleshooting 36% • CompTIA 220-801 and 220-802 A+ Certification objectives can be downloaded here.

14. What’s New in 220-802? • Client-side virtualization • Host-guest • Hypervisor • Processor features • BIOS configuration

15. What’s New in 220-802? • Mobile devices domain • Apple iOS • Android • tablet versus laptop • features

16. What’s New in 220-802? • More extensive and better organized troubleshooting coverage

17. What’s New in 220-802? • Wireless troubleshooting

18. What’s New in 220-802? • Enhanced wireless security issues troubleshooting DMZ WPA2

19. What’s New in 220-802? • SOHO network security coverage

20. Preparing for Exam with a Single PC • Goals • Avoid changing settings on your computer • Create safe environment for trying Windows commands • Approach “hands-on” experience without endangering your existing equipment

21. Preparing for Exam with a Single PC • Run BIOS setup on your system and review current and optional settings • Exit without saving changes

22. Preparing for Exam with a Single PC • Create virtual machines (VMs) with the version(s) of Windows you want to study Learn more about Windows Virtual PC here. Learn more about virtualization support in Windows 8 Pro here.

23. Preparing for Exam with a Single PC • Use the VMs to practice Windows commands safely

24. Preparing for Exam with a Single PC • Get the CompTIA A+ 220-801 and 220-802 Simulator (available in late December 2012) to study Windows commands, hardware, BIOS, and other settings Example of a drag-and-drop exercise

25. Free Trial Versions of Windows • Microsoft offers free trials of Windows 7 Enterprise • Microsoft offers free Windows Virtual PC and free Windows XP Modefor users of Windows 7 Professional, Ultimate, and Enterprise • Download ready-to-run limited-time Windows 7, Vista, and XP VMs for use with Windows Virtual PC or Hyper-V client here. • VMWare also offers free VMWare Player for use with Windows and a free VMWare vCenter Converter to convert an old Windows XP installation into a VM for use with VMWare Player

26. Running Windows 7 on Windows 8 • Have a brand-new Windows 8 PC? You can use Windows 8’s Hyper-V Client to run Windows 7 or other Windows versions as a virtual machine

27. Running Windows 7 on Windows 8 – Step by Step – p1 • Verify your Windows 8 PC supports virtualized second-level address translation (SLAT). • Enable Hyper-V virtualization with Turn Windows Features on/off (Control Panel - 64-bit Windows 8 Pro or Enterprise only) • Download trial of Windows 7 Enterprise from TechNet Evaluation Center • Run Hyper-V Manager to create and manage your VM

28. Running Windows 7 on Windows 8 – Step by Step – p2 • Create VM with Hyper-V Manager • Install Windows 7 Enterprise trial into VM • Run Hyper-V Virtual Machine Connection to run your new VM

29. XP Mode for Test Preparation • You can run Windows XP from within Windows 7 to practice Windows XP commands • Some Windows XP commands are not present or work differently than those in Vista or 7 • Windows XP, Vista, and 7 are all covered in the Operating Systems objective

30. Running Windows XP on Windows 7 (applies to Windows 7 Professional, Enterprise or Ultimate) • Enable hardware-assisted VM in BIOS (recommended) • Download and install Windows XP Mode from Windows Virtual PC website • Download and install Windows Virtual PC • Restart computer • Run Windows Virtual PC, Windows XP Mode, and complete setup wizard

31. Practice Hardware at a Low Price • Computer recycling firms (search) • Friends and family • Libraries, colleges selling surplus equipment • Computer repair shops; look for pulled or broken • Motherboards • Power supplies • Video cards • I/O devices

32. Sample Hands-on Exercise – p1 • Lab 3-2: Check Fan and Voltage Levels • Scenario: You are a technician working at a PC repair bench. Your client reports that the computer is overheating. You need to check the performance of fans connected to the motherboard and the voltage levels on the motherboard.

33. Sample Hands-on Exercise – p2 • Step 1. Review the CMOS (BIOS) setup screens listed earlier in this chapter. From Figure 3-6, which menu selection would you choose? • Step 2. Review the CMOS (BIOS) setup screens (Figures 3-7 through 3-22). Which figure displays fan speeds and voltage levels? • Step 3. What is the dialog called?

34. Sample Hands-on Exercise – p3 • Step 4. What is the CPU fan speed? _____ • Step 5. What is the CPU voltage called? _____ • Step 6. What is the voltage for the CPU? _____ • Step 7. What key do you press to exit setup without saving changes? ______

35. Choosing the Right Study Materials • Match materials to your learning style • Hands on • Reading • Listening • Combination • Detailed study materials plus review guide • Master material • Provides final review before taking exams

36. CONNECT WITH MARK FollowSopertechon Twitter LikeSopertechon Facebook Mark’s CompTIA A+ exam prep on pearsonITcertification.com/soper

37. Mark Soper CompTIA A+ Exam PreppearsonITcertification.com/soper Book/DVD study guide tied to the exam's objectives, with 2 full practice exams PDF/EPUB/Mobi format of Cert Guide, plus Premium Practice Test Engine with 4 full practice exams PRE-ORDER 12/31/2012 CompTIA A+ 220-801 and 220-802 Authorized Cert Guide & Simulator Library Attendee Discount! Save 35% Use code APLUSSAVE35 at checkout.

38. Feedback Wanted Help us make the Pearson Webcast series more useful for your certification preparation and learning needs. Live event attendees, complete the post event survey and be registered to win a FREE Pearson IT Certification book or video of your choice. Three (3) winners will be selected from all completed surveys 3 days after event live date.

39. Thank you. Expect an e-mail with information on how you can access the recorded session and survey link. Visit pearsonITcertification.com/aplus for CompTIA A+ resources and exam prep Sign-up for More Pearson IT Certification Webcasts @ pearsonITcertification.com/webcast Connect with Us FREE Podcasts on Certification pearsonITcertification.com/podcasts