IT Essentials, 5th Edition

Features

• Chapter objectives—Review core concepts with focus questions listed at the beginning of each chapter.
• Key terms—Updated lists of networking vocabulary introduced with highlighted terms in context. 
• Course section numbering—Follow along with the course heading numbers to easily jump online to complete labs, activities, and quizzes referred to within the text. 
• Check Your Understanding Questions and Answer Key—Evaluate readiness with the updated end-of-chapter questions that match the style of questions seen on the online course quizzes.

• Copyright 2014
• Edition: 5th

• Book
• ISBN-10: 1-58713-308-3
• ISBN-13: 978-1-58713-308-4

IT Essentials: PC Hardware and Software Companion Guide, Fifth Edition

IT Essentials: PC Hardware and Software Companion Guide, Fifth Edition, supports the Cisco Networking Academy IT Essentials: PC Hardware and Software version 5 course. The course is designed for Cisco Networking Academy students who want to pursue careers in IT and learn how computers work, how to assemble computers, and how to safely and securely troubleshoot hardware and software issues.

As CompTIA Approved Quality Content, the course also helps you prepare for the CompTIA A+ certification exams 220-801 and 220-802. CompTIA A+ 220-801 covers the fundamentals of computer technology, installation and configuration of PCs, laptops, related hardware, and basic networking. CompTIA A+ 220-802 covers the skills required to install and configure PC operating systems and configure common features, such as network connectivity and email for Android and Apple iOS mobile operating systems. Students must pass both exams to earn the CompTIA A+ certification.

The features of the Companion Guide are designed to help you study and succeed in this course:

--  Chapter objectives—Review core concepts by answering the focus questions listed at the beginning of each chapter.

--  Key terms—Refer to the updated lists of networking vocabulary introduced, and turn to the highlighted terms in context. 

--  Course section numbering—Follow along with the course heading numbers to easily jump online to complete labs, activities, and quizzes referred to within the text. 

--  Check Your Understanding Questions and Answer Key—Evaluate your readiness with the updated end-of-chapter questions that match the style of questions you see on the online course quizzes.

--  Glossary in the back of the book to define Key Terms

The lab icon in the Companion Guide indicates when there is a hands-on Lab or Worksheet to do. The Labs and Worksheets are compiled and published in the separate book, IT Essentials: PC Hardware and Software Lab Manual, Fifth Edition. With more than 1300 pages of activities, including Windows 7, Windows Vista, and Windows XP variations covered in the CompTIA A+ exam objectives, practicing and performing these tasks will reinforce the concepts and help you become a successful PC technician.

Sample Pages

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Table of Contents

Introduction xxiv

Chapter 1 Introduction to the Personal Computer 1

Objectives 1

Key Terms 1

Introduction (1.0.1) 4

Cases and Power Supplies (1.1.1) 4

    Computer Cases (1.1.1.1) 4

    Power Supplies (1.1.1.2) 6

        Connectors 7

    Electricity and Ohm’s Law (1.1.1.3) 8

Internal PC Components (1.1.2) 11

    Motherboards (1.1.2.1) 11

    CPUs (1.1.2.2) 13

    Cooling Systems (1.1.2.3) 16

ROM and RAM 18

    ROM (1.1.2.4) 18

    RAM (1.1.2.5) 19

    Memory Modules (1.1.2.6) 20

        Cache Memory 22

        Error Checking 22

    Adapter Cards and Expansion Slots (1.1.2.7) 22

    Storage Devices and RAID (1.1.2.8) 25

        Floppy Drive 26

        Hard Drive 26

        Tape Drive 27

        Optical Drive 27

        External Flash Drive 28

        Types of Drive Interfaces 28

    Internal Cables (1.1.2.9) 30

External Ports and Cables (1.1.3) 31

    Video Ports and Cables (1.1.3.1) 31

    Other Ports and Cables (1.1.3.2) 35

        Serial Ports and Cables 35

        Modem Ports and Cables 36

        USB Ports and Cables 36

        FireWire Ports and Cables 37

        Parallel Ports and Cables 38

        eSATA Data Cables 38

        SCSI Ports and Cables 38

        Network Ports and Cables 39

        PS/2 Ports 40

        Audio Ports 40

Input and Output Devices (1.1.4) 41

    Input Devices (1.1.4.1) 41

        Mice and Keyboards 41

        Gamepads and Joysticks 42

        Digital Cameras and Digital Video Cameras 42

        Biometric Identification Devices 43

        Touchscreens 43

   

Errata

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