A+ Complete Study Guide, Deluxe Edition [Deluxe Edition] [Hardcover]

David Groth (Author), Dan Newland (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0782140521 | ISBN-13: 978-0782140521 | Publication Date: November 15, 2001 | Edition: Bk&CD-Rom

This study guide offers coverage of A+ exam objectives and contains practical information on essential hardware and OS-related tasks, review questions, as well as exam preparation software, including two testing engines and electronic flashcards on the CD-ROM. Objectives for both of the A+ Module exams are covered including: basic computer service concepts; PC architecture; PC memory architecture; disk system architecture; PC bus architectures; peripheral devices; printers; networks; hardware installation and upgrades; hardware troubleshooting techniques; understanding computer operating systems; understanding the Windows interface; Windows 2000; application installation and configuration; using and configuring additional peripherals; preventative software maintenance; configuring network software; and software troubleshooting.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

The A+ Complete Study Guide, Second Edition is interesting, mainly because it is neither fish nor fowl--it tries to prepare the reader for life in the field, yet ignores some critical new technologies that are pretty much required knowledge. It readies you for the A+ exams, yet entirely skips some of the lesser-tested sections. But in the end, the book becomes a fish with wings, because in spite of these drawbacks, it's engagingly written and astoundingly comprehensive when it counts.

First, the good news: the folks who wrote this book know what they're talking about, and can write rings around most of the other certification writers. Many certification books are written as if you're a Thanksgiving turkey waiting to be stuffed with a miscellany of acronyms and computer facts, whereas the A+ Complete Study Guide actually takes the time to explain things from a repairperson's perspective, giving tips and hints along the way. The book is peppered with real-life examples, reminders of good practices, and history that will help you to understand why things are the way they are today. (They often don't make much sense anymore, but there was a reason for that way back then.) If you're looking for a friendly teacher, this will do nicely.

The end of each chapter is punctuated with a summary and 20 multiple-choice questions, all of which are pretty close to what you'll find on the exam. The explanations given for the answers are terse and don't necessarily tell you why the other answers are wrong, but they suffice.

The book takes some shortcuts along the way, however, and has some odd focuses. The idea is to prepare you for what you'll find in the field, and it frankly admits that practically no one is going to work with DOS commands or 80286 processors anymore. As such, it barely mentions DOS at all, giving a brief list of commands and some quick takes on memory management, and gives Windows 3.1 only a side note, not even bothering to provide pictures. However, there is a staggeringly large section on Windows 95/98 installation. Admittedly, DOS and Windows 3.1 questions are very few and far between on the most recent round of A+ exams, but all it takes is two or three surprise questions to shoot a big hole through your score. Fortunately, the section on the more recent (and more often tested) Windows 95 section is very thorough and should prepare you without a hitch.

Unfortunately, although the field preparation is a good idea, it leaves off mentioning some major technologies. The A+ Complete Study Guide barely mentions that it is possible to burn a CD-ROM in your own home, and doesn't even touch on video accelerators. Although it's tough to keep up with the ever-changing world of hardware, it would have been nice to have some newer technology.

Still, in the end this book means well, and it will serve you in your quest for an A+ certification, as it has for thousands of others. If you can overlook some minor flaws that (probably) won't get in the way of your passing, this book comes highly recommended. --William Steinmetz --This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

From the Publisher

This new edition of the A+ Complete Study Guide is your key to success on CompTIA's new A+ exams-Core Hardware and Operating System Technologies. Organized for optimal learning, this book maps to the latest CompTIA objectives and provides a pedagogically proven approach to learning the topics on which you'll be tested. Best-selling author David Groth applies his years of classroom instructional experience to the task of clearly and concisely explaining how PC hardware and software work in the real world. --This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 976 pages
• Publisher: Sybex Inc; Bk&CD-Rom edition (November 15, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0782140521
• ISBN-13: 978-0782140521
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 7.6 x 2.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (56 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,431,954 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

52 of 54 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Latest Updates to New A+ Certification standards, February 1, 2001

By 

Greg Padgett (Cedar Rapids, IA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A+ Complete Study Guide (Hardcover)

David Groth's new version of the A+ certification is the standard by which all new versions will be judged by. I bought this book recently, to prep myself for the new A+ certification exam guidelines. I enjoyed the material covered on the CD as well as the end of section questions for reviewing subject matter. I put this book a little ahead of the Myers' book for A+, and certainly ahead of the Microsoft Press A+ Certification Study guide.

As for the exams, gone are the questions from the old tests, like customer service, DOS, and Windows 3.1 and 95 questions. New material on tests include Windows 98, NT4, and 2000 Professional.

Groth's book is one of the first new version books to hit the market. Worthwhile subjects for study consideration are: installation and upgrading operating systems(v95 to v98,vNT4 workstation to v2000 Professional), diagnosing and troubleshooting of operating systems errors and peripheral difficulties and the makeup of the two newly named exams (the Core Hardware Exam and the Operating System Technologies Exam).

Buy this book and pass 2001 objectives, the first time through!

40 of 43 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Groth does it again!, February 19, 2001

By 

Michael J Woznicki "Michael J Woznicki" (Holland, MA USA) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A+ Complete Study Guide (Hardcover)

A+ has come out with new exams and keeping up with the changes requires you to have the best possible reference material at your fingertips. David Groth has once again taken the opportunity to make sure that the newest A+ Exams are covered and covered completely.

Groth has updated his already successful book to meet or exceed every exam objective. He also included an objectives quick reference card right in the front the book. Groth's expertise is very evident in this book and this book should be very helpful for a great number of people.

In part 1 of the book, which covers the first 10 chapters, the Core hardware objectives are tackled. Topics like system boards, memory, storage, pc memory, disk system architecture, bus architecture, peripherals, printing, networking foundations and troubleshooting are given complete and detailed coverage.

In part 2, the Operating Systems Technologies, you are exposed to the OSI model, Windows 9.X, NT, 2000 professional, network software, applications support and operating system troubleshooting. Groth makes sure that the book is more than the usual A+ manual, far more.

The book includes review questions at the end of each chapter. Also included is the CD-rom with chapter tests, random testing, an e-book, flash cards and 4 bonus exams. As with other books written by David Groth you get more than you expect and this book is a definitive rival to all others out there.

23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This book is a great place to start your studies, September 26, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: A+ Complete Study Guide (Paperback)

I found this book to be very well laid out for beginners and advanced techs alike. It was easy to read and understand and did a great job of keeping the information in your head (the chapter quizes and study CD were a great tool). I am now A+ Certified and scored a 95 on the Core and an 89 on the DOS/Windows on the first try and I would not have done it without this book! The book led me from knowing nothing but the basics to a solid fundamental knowledge of all exam objectives. The Core Part covers virtually everything the exam can test you on and the DOS/Windows part does a good job of prepping you for the basics but on the exam you had better know Dos,Win3.x and Windows 95 via experience or you may have a hard time with the test. I highly recommend this as your first study platform then using A+ Exam Cram to polish your knowledge before taking the tests! Good Luck! If I can do it so can you!!