| Introduction |
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1 | (8) |
| Chapter 1 Introduction to Troubleshooting |
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9 | (20) |
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The Six-Step A+ Troubleshooting Process |
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10 | (6) |
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Step 1 Identify the Problem |
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10 | (1) |
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Step 2 Establish a Theory of Probable Cause (Question the Obvious) |
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11 | (1) |
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Step 3 Test the Theory to Determine Cause |
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12 | (1) |
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Step 4 Establish a Plan of Action to Resolve the Problem and Implement the Solution |
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12 | (1) |
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Step 5 Verify Full System Functionality and, If Applicable, Implement Preventative Measures |
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13 | (1) |
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Step 6 Document Findings, Actions, and Outcomes |
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13 | (1) |
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14 | (1) |
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15 | (1) |
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Troubleshooting Examples and PC Tools |
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16 | (13) |
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Troubleshooting Example 1-Basic: Display Issue |
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16 | (2) |
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Troubleshooting Example 2-Intermediate: Power Issue |
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18 | (1) |
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Troubleshooting Example 3-Advanced: Wireless Issue |
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19 | (4) |
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23 | (1) |
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More Troubleshooting Tidbits |
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24 | (2) |
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26 | (1) |
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27 | (2) |
| Chapter 2 Motherboards |
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29 | (36) |
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Motherboard Components and Form Factors |
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30 | (16) |
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30 | (10) |
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40 | (4) |
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44 | (1) |
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45 | (1) |
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46 | (9) |
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BIOS, CMOS, and the Lithium Battery |
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46 | (1) |
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47 | (1) |
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Accessing and Configuring the BIOS |
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48 | (3) |
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51 | (2) |
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53 | (1) |
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54 | (1) |
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Installing and Troubleshooting Motherboards |
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55 | (10) |
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55 | (1) |
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Troubleshooting Motherboards |
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56 | (6) |
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62 | (1) |
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63 | (2) |
| Chapter 3 The CPU |
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65 | (26) |
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66 | (15) |
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66 | (9) |
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75 | (3) |
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78 | (2) |
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80 | (1) |
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Installing and Troubleshooting CPUs |
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81 | (10) |
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81 | (6) |
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87 | (2) |
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89 | (1) |
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90 | (1) |
| Chapter 4 RAM |
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91 | (30) |
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RAM Basics and Types of RAM |
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92 | (16) |
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92 | (1) |
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93 | (6) |
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99 | (7) |
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106 | (1) |
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107 | (1) |
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Installing and Troubleshooting DRAM |
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108 | (13) |
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108 | (6) |
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114 | (3) |
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117 | (1) |
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118 | (3) |
| Chapter 5 Power |
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121 | (30) |
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Understanding and Testing Power |
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122 | (5) |
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Testing an AC Outlet with a Receptacle Tester |
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123 | (1) |
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Testing an AC Outlet with a Multimeter |
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124 | (2) |
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126 | (1) |
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126 | (1) |
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127 | (7) |
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128 | (1) |
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128 | (1) |
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Uninterruptible Power Supplies |
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129 | (3) |
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132 | (1) |
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133 | (1) |
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134 | (17) |
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Planning Which Power Supply to Use |
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134 | (6) |
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Installing the Power Supply |
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140 | (2) |
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Troubleshooting Power Supply Issues |
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142 | (4) |
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146 | (1) |
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147 | (2) |
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149 | (2) |
| Chapter 6 Storage |
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151 | (36) |
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152 | (14) |
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152 | (1) |
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153 | (1) |
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154 | (2) |
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Hard Drive Specifications |
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156 | (1) |
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157 | (1) |
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Preventative Maintenance and Troubleshooting Hard Drives |
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158 | (4) |
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162 | (1) |
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163 | (1) |
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164 | (2) |
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166 | (3) |
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168 | (1) |
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168 | (1) |
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169 | (9) |
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169 | (1) |
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Digital Versatile Disc (DVD) |
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170 | (3) |
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173 | (2) |
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175 | (1) |
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176 | (2) |
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Solid-State Storage Media |
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178 | (9) |
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178 | (3) |
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181 | (2) |
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183 | (1) |
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184 | (1) |
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185 | (2) |
| Chapter 7 Mobile Device Hardware |
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187 | (46) |
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Installing, Configuring, and Troubleshooting Visible Laptop Components |
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188 | (24) |
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188 | (1) |
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189 | (6) |
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195 | (4) |
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199 | (1) |
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200 | (1) |
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200 | (1) |
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201 | (3) |
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204 | (2) |
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206 | (2) |
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208 | (2) |
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210 | (2) |
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Installing, Configuring, and Troubleshooting Internal Laptop Components |
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212 | (8) |
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212 | (1) |
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213 | (3) |
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216 | (2) |
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218 | (1) |
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219 | (1) |
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Understanding Tablet and Smartphone Hardware |
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220 | (13) |
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220 | (3) |
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Hardware Differences Between Tablets/Smartphones and Laptops |
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223 | (2) |
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Tablet/Smartphone Ports and Accessories |
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225 | (3) |
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Other Types of Mobile Devices and Wearable Technology |
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228 | (3) |
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231 | (1) |
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232 | (1) |
| Chapter 8 Installing and Upgrading Windows |
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233 | (28) |
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Installing and Upgrading to Windows 8 |
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234 | (7) |
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234 | (1) |
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Windows 8 Minimum Requirements and Compatibility |
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235 | (1) |
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Windows 8 Installation Methods |
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236 | (1) |
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237 | (2) |
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239 | (1) |
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240 | (1) |
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Installing and Upgrading to Windows 7 |
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241 | (13) |
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241 | (1) |
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Windows 7 Minimum Requirements and Compatibility |
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242 | (1) |
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Windows 7 Installation Methods |
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243 | (3) |
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246 | (2) |
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Verifying and Troubleshooting Windows 7 Installations |
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248 | (3) |
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251 | (2) |
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253 | (1) |
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254 | (7) |
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254 | (1) |
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Windows Vista Minimum Requirements and Compatibility |
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255 | (1) |
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Windows Vista Installation Methods |
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256 | (1) |
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Verifying and Troubleshooting Windows Vista Installations |
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256 | (3) |
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259 | (1) |
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260 | (1) |
| Chapter 9 Configuring Windows |
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261 | (58) |
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262 | (16) |
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262 | (6) |
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268 | (5) |
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Administrative Tools and the MMC |
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273 | (3) |
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276 | (1) |
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277 | (1) |
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System Tools and Utilities |
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278 | (25) |
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278 | (3) |
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Operating System Optimization |
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281 | (8) |
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User Migrations and Customizations |
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289 | (3) |
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292 | (8) |
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300 | (2) |
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302 | (1) |
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Files, File Systems, and Drives |
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303 | (16) |
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Working with Files and File Systems |
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303 | (6) |
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309 | (7) |
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316 | (1) |
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317 | (2) |
| Chapter 10 Maintaining Windows |
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319 | (22) |
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320 | (7) |
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320 | (2) |
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322 | (3) |
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325 | (1) |
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326 | (1) |
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327 | (14) |
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327 | (3) |
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330 | (3) |
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333 | (1) |
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334 | (3) |
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337 | (2) |
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339 | (2) |
| Chapter 11 Troubleshooting Windows |
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341 | (40) |
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Repair Environments and Boot Errors |
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342 | (12) |
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Windows Recovery Environments |
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342 | (7) |
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349 | (3) |
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352 | (1) |
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353 | (1) |
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354 | (17) |
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Troubleshooting Within Windows |
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354 | (8) |
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362 | (2) |
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Improper and Spontaneous Shutdowns |
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364 | (1) |
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Additional Windows Errors and Error Reporting |
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365 | (1) |
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366 | (2) |
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368 | (1) |
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369 | (2) |
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371 | (10) |
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371 | (5) |
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376 | (2) |
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378 | (1) |
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379 | (2) |
| Chapter 12 Video and Audio |
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381 | (34) |
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382 | (24) |
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382 | (9) |
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391 | (3) |
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Video Settings and Software |
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394 | (9) |
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403 | (2) |
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405 | (1) |
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406 | (9) |
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406 | (2) |
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Installing a Sound Card and Speakers |
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408 | (1) |
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Troubleshooting Audio Problems |
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409 | (3) |
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412 | (1) |
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413 | (2) |
| Chapter 13 Peripherals and Custom Computing |
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415 | (26) |
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Input/Output, Input Devices, and Peripherals |
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416 | (13) |
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416 | (6) |
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Input, Output, and Hybrid Devices |
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422 | (4) |
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426 | (2) |
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428 | (1) |
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429 | (12) |
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Audio/Video Editing Workstation |
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429 | (1) |
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430 | (1) |
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Virtualization Workstation |
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430 | (2) |
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432 | (2) |
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434 | (1) |
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435 | (1) |
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436 | (1) |
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437 | (2) |
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439 | (1) |
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440 | (1) |
| Chapter 14 Printers |
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441 | (30) |
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Printer Types and Technologies |
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442 | (10) |
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442 | (5) |
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Local Versus Network Printers |
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447 | (2) |
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449 | (2) |
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451 | (1) |
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Installing, Configuring, and Troubleshooting Printers |
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452 | (19) |
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Printer Installation and Drivers |
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452 | (1) |
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453 | (7) |
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460 | (3) |
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463 | (4) |
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467 | (2) |
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469 | (2) |
| Chapter 15 Computer Networking Part I |
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471 | (44) |
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Types of Networks, Network Devices, and Cloud Technology |
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472 | (13) |
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472 | (1) |
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473 | (3) |
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Cloud Technology and Server Roles |
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476 | (6) |
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482 | (1) |
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483 | (2) |
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Cables, Connectors, and Tools |
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485 | (12) |
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Cable Types and Connectors |
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485 | (6) |
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491 | (4) |
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495 | (1) |
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496 | (1) |
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497 | (18) |
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497 | (3) |
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500 | (3) |
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503 | (2) |
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TCP/IP Protocols and Their Ports |
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505 | (6) |
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511 | (2) |
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513 | (2) |
| Chapter 16 Computer Networking Part II |
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515 | (38) |
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SOHO and Windows Networking |
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516 | (30) |
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516 | (4) |
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Router Setup and Wireless |
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520 | (8) |
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528 | (9) |
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537 | (1) |
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538 | (1) |
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539 | (1) |
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Command-Line Interface Tools |
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539 | (7) |
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Troubleshooting Common Symptoms |
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546 | (7) |
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550 | (1) |
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551 | (2) |
| Chapter 17 Security |
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553 | (52) |
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Security Threats and Prevention |
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554 | (23) |
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554 | (1) |
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Preventing and Troubleshooting Malicious Software |
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555 | (10) |
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565 | (4) |
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569 | (2) |
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Hard Drive Recycling and Disposal |
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571 | (1) |
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Additional Attacks and Security Vulnerabilities |
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572 | (2) |
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574 | (1) |
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575 | (2) |
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Desktop Operating System Security |
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577 | (20) |
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577 | (7) |
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584 | (5) |
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589 | (3) |
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592 | (2) |
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594 | (1) |
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595 | (2) |
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597 | (8) |
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Changing Default Passwords |
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597 | (1) |
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Changing and Disabling the SSID |
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598 | (1) |
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Configuring Wireless Encryption |
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598 | (2) |
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600 | (1) |
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600 | (1) |
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Assigning Static IP Addresses |
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601 | (1) |
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601 | (1) |
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A Final Word on SOHO Routers |
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601 | (1) |
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602 | (1) |
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603 | (2) |
| Chapter 18 Android, iOS, OS X, and Linux |
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605 | (60) |
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606 | (10) |
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Open-Source and Closed-Source Operating Systems |
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606 | (2) |
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608 | (1) |
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609 | (2) |
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611 | (1) |
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611 | (1) |
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Microsoft Mobile Operating Systems |
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612 | (2) |
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614 | (1) |
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615 | (1) |
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Android/iOS Networking and Synchronization |
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616 | (18) |
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Cellular Radio Technologies |
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616 | (3) |
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Wi-Fi Network Connectivity |
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619 | (2) |
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621 | (2) |
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623 | (2) |
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Bluetooth Troubleshooting |
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625 | (1) |
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625 | (2) |
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Troubleshooting E-mail Connections |
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627 | (1) |
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Synchronizing Android and iOS-based Devices to a PC |
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628 | (2) |
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Synchronizing Other Devices |
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630 | (1) |
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631 | (1) |
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632 | (2) |
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Android/i0S Security and Additional Troubleshooting |
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634 | (14) |
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634 | (2) |
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Compromised and Damaged Devices |
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636 | (2) |
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638 | (2) |
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640 | (2) |
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Additional Mobile Device Troubleshooting |
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642 | (4) |
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646 | (1) |
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647 | (1) |
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648 | (17) |
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648 | (6) |
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654 | (8) |
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662 | (1) |
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663 | (2) |
| Chapter 19 Safety, Procedures, and Professionalism |
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665 | (22) |
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666 | (8) |
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666 | (1) |
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667 | (1) |
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668 | (3) |
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671 | (2) |
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673 | (1) |
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673 | (1) |
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Procedures and Environmental Controls |
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674 | (8) |
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Temperature, Humidity, and Air |
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674 | (1) |
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675 | (1) |
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675 | (2) |
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Incident Response and Documentation |
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677 | (1) |
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CompTIA A+ Troubleshooting Theory |
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678 | (2) |
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680 | (1) |
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681 | (1) |
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Professionalism and Communication Skills |
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682 | (5) |
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685 | (1) |
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686 | (1) |
| Chapter 20 Taking the Real Exams |
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687 | (12) |
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Getting Ready and the Exam Preparation Checklist |
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688 | (4) |
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Tips for Taking the Real Exam |
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692 | (4) |
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General Practices for Taking Exams |
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693 | (2) |
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Smart Methods for Difficult Questions |
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695 | (1) |
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696 | (1) |
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Beyond the CompTIA A+ Certification |
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696 | (3) |
| Practice Exam 1: CompTIA A+ 220-901 |
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699 | (20) |
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700 | (17) |
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717 | (2) |
| Practice Exam 2: CompTIA A+ 220-902 |
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719 | (20) |
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720 | (17) |
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737 | (2) |
| Appendix A Real-World Scenarios |
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739 | (10) |
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740 | (5) |
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Scenario 1 Design a CAD Workstation Computer |
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740 | (1) |
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Scenario 2 Select the Best Components for Three Computers |
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741 | (1) |
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Scenario 3 Identify Video Ports |
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742 | (1) |
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Scenario 4 Configure Wi-Fi on a SOHO Router |
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742 | (1) |
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Scenario 5 Identify Various Wireless Ranges |
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743 | (1) |
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Scenario 6 Identify IP Addresses |
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744 | (1) |
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745 | (4) |
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Scenario 7 Troubleshoot an IP Issue with Ipconfig |
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745 | (1) |
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Scenario 8 Sharing and Mapping in the Command Prompt |
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746 | (1) |
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Scenario 9 Troubleshooting a System with Msconfig |
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747 | (1) |
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Scenario 10 Fixing a Computer That Won't Boot |
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747 | (2) |
| Index |
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749 | |
