The Basics of A+

CompTIA creates IT certifications that cover topics such as how to build and fix computers or how to secure businesses from internal and external threats.

Certifications power the IT industry. CompTIA A+ is the de facto entry point for IT techs, the first certification you should get. It provides a common language for people in IT, and prepares you for work in the industry.

In this video, Steve walks through how to take the CompTIA A+ exam, including the at-home and in-person options through Pearson Vue.

The Core 1 (220-1101) exam tackles five big subject areas: mobile devices, networking, hardware, virtualization and cloud computing, and hardware and network troubleshooting. Steve dives into the sub-objectives and provides an overview of what you need to

In this video, Steve describes the CompTIA A+ exam process, plus explores a good strategy for prepping for the exam. Schedule the exam first! The pressure will have you hitting the books or videos in no time! vvv

Steve shows you how to use this learning path alongside the CompTIA A+ Certification All-in-One Exam Guide, Tenth Edition. He also shows you helpful hints about the videos.

Technical skills are only part of what makes a great tech. Techs must also possess professional communication skills to ensure users get the support they need in using their systems to get their work done. This is the first of two parts that cover the com

Knowing what to say and how to say it is a start, but good communication takes practice. Until you get a chance to try this out in the real world, the next best thing is seeing these skills in action.

Not every client interaction can be pleasant and knowing how to deal with difficult customers is a key soft skill that you will need to master. The wrong response can and often does make the situation worse. In this video we will learn how to effectively

As much as we need to protect our computers, we must also protect ourselves in our work environment. Good techs understand how to use anti-ESD tools, protect their fingers, and employ proper lifting technique.

Technicians need the right tools to do their job. These tools include PC toolkits, mobile device toolkits, voltmeters and circuit testers.

The CompTIA A+ defines a very specific workflow process to troubleshoot any problem on a system. These steps will help you mentally break down the steps to diagnose and repair a computer problem.

Mike takes you on a tour of the primary PC components: the computer case, monitor, and various peripherals, including the keyboard, mouse, speakers, and more.

Before we get hands-on with any component, we always want to make sure we follow a few simple safety procedures. Let’s take a moment to talk about some common hardware concerns and operational procedures that will be critical to ensuring your success as a

Learn the basic parts of a PC.

Computers are everywhere if you know where to look! What are the parts and the functions of a computer? What do all these devices have in common?

We use computers to get work done via programs called applications. Another program, called the operating system, supports the applications, hardware, and storage devices inside our computers.

All operating systems provide security through user accounts. User accounts define what a person can or cannot do on a system. Every operating system also has some form of superuser that has complete control over all other users on that system.

Why is Microsoft Windows so dominant on desktop systems? Features such as domains and active directory are so popular that even macOS and Linux systems have built-in tools to access Microsoft Windows networks.

While you can expect to see Linux and macOS questions on the test, the large majority of the CompTIA A+ exam covers the Microsoft Windows operating system. The modern Windows OS comes in two primary versions, Windows 10 and Windows 11. Let’s pull them up

macOS is the equivalent of Windows on Apple computers. Although it’s a completely different operating system, macOS and Windows actually have a lot in common.

The free and popular Linux OS is taking over the world, though it’s still rare on desktops. Linux’s customization via distributions is perfect for IoT devices, routers, servers and even desktops.