iii Support for PCs and mobile devices has evolved into one of the largest service industries in the world. Th e demand for skilled technicians to maintain, support, and upgrade PCs and mobile devices is ever-growing. It is a rewarding and challeng- ing career that can take you anywhere in the world. If you wish to learn computer networking, programming, administration, or any of the computer sciences, this is the perfect place to start. A good foundation in computer technology will provide you with a base of knowledge that will make learning the other technical areas, such as networking and cybersecurity, much easier. Computer Service and Repair was written for individuals wishing to pursue a career in information technology with a specifi c focus on troubleshooting, repair, maintenance, or support. Th e text provides specifi c content about information tech- nology as well as career information needed for employment. It is an introductory text, so no previous experience is required. Th is text is aligned to CompTIA A+ Certifi cation 220-1001 and 220-1002 Exam Objectives. By studying Computer Service and Repair and using the ancillary study guide and laboratory manual, you can improve your level of preparation to earn an industry-recognized certifi cation. Upon completing this course, you will able to ■ recall and identify essential components of a personal computer (PC) ■ diff erentiate between operating systems and understand how they interact with the computer ■ understand how motherboards operate and how they work with individual components ■ compare, select, troubleshoot, and install a central processing unit ■ troubleshoot, replace, and understand the functionality of power supplies ■ upgrade, install, and understand the construction and operation of memory ■ list and identify common input devices and their interactions with computers ■ compare, troubleshoot, and install monitors and video adapter cards ■ describe characteristics of audio data and install sound cards ■ diff erentiate, troubleshoot, and replace both magnetic and solid-state storage devices ■ compare, contrast, and comprehend the construction and operation of optical storage technologies ■ troubleshoot and explain the operation principles of various printer types ■ compare, contrast, troubleshoot, and replace laptop and mobile device components ■ understand the diff erences between Internet-connection methods and troubleshooting modems ■ discuss methods to physically secure a workstation and enforce authentication ■ list common security applications and categorize malware ■ troubleshoot a number of commonly encountered symptoms, diff erentiate between Windows diagnostic utilities, and apply preventive maintenance procedures Preface