Course 1: Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to: describe the relationship between hardware and software; describe peripheral devices; distinguish between types of storage devices; identify the main motherboard components; describe how instructions and data are stored on the motherboard; discuss how the CPU works and communicates with other devices; describe hardware and software interaction; identify system resources; outline the steps in booting up a computer; identify the properties of electricity; safeguard a computer system against electrical damage; identify computer cases and form factors; determine power requirements; troubleshoot power supply problems; identify types of motherboards; identify components on the motherboard; assemble a computer; install the motherboard; troubleshoot the motherboard; install peripheral I/O devices; use ports and expansion slots for add-on devices; install and troubleshoot keyboards; install and troubleshoot pointing devices; install and troubleshoot video cards and monitors; describe the different kinds of memory and how each kind works; upgrade and troubleshoot memory; discuss the workings of a floppy drive; manage floppy drives by using commands and Windows; replace a defective floppy drive, and add a second drive; identify various hard drive technologies; organize the hard disk logically to hold data; install a hard drive; manage and troubleshoot hard drives; discuss the basics of SCSI technology and its components; compare SCSI hard drives to IDE drives; troubleshoot SCSI devices; install various multimedia devices; describe optical storage technologies; discuss tape drives; evaluate and install removable drives; describe the use of hardware devices for fault tolerance; troubleshoot multimedia and mass storage devices; explain how a modem works and how to install it; use the AT command set to control a modem; troubleshoot problems related to modems; discuss the role of a PC technician in troubleshooting and maintenance, and discuss the tools used; approach a troubleshooting problem; develop a preventive maintenance plan; use guidelines when purchasing a PC; prepare for assembling a PC; assemble a PC from separately purchased parts. Course 2: Discuss how operating systems work, XP 2000 Windows operating systems, the differences between them and discuss advantages and disadvantages of common non-Windows operating systems; relate an OS to hardware and to other software, and launch an OS application; outline the steps to boot the computer, outline new features of Windows 2000 and describe the basic and dynamic disks, plan and perform the Windows 2000 installation, manage and use Windows 2000 and install hardware and applications with Windows 2000; outline the Windows 2000 boot process, troubleshoot the Windows 2000 boot process and use tools for maintenance, troubleshooting, and performance monitoring in Windows; outline the features and architecture of Windows XP, plan and perform Windows XP installation, customize the Windows XP desktop, manage audio and video, and allow multiple and remote logins under Windows XP, and install hardware and applications with Windows XP; use Windows XP features to secure the PC, view and update the Windows 2000/XP/2003 registry, use tools for troubleshooting and maintaining Windows XP, and troubleshoot the Windows XP boot process; support hard drives and tape backups, identify computer viruses and infestations and protection against them; outline the basics of networking, the different types of addresses used on networks, connect and share resources over a local area network and control a computer remotely; discuss how the OSI model applies to TCP/IP networks, such as the Internet, connect to the Internet using a dial-up connection, connect to the Internet using a cable modem or DSL connections and support some common Internet clients: discuss starting up, using and supporting hardware in the Mac OS, outline the file structure of the Linux OS and usage of some Linux commands, Windows 2000, and Windows XP notebook features and describe power management in notebooks. Course 3: Identify and open objects on the Windows desktop; use Windows XP Help and Support Center; navigate the folder hierarchy and search for files; manage files and folders and work with the Recycle Bin; create simple word processing documents and drawings by using the WordPad and Paint accessories; customize the desktop by creating desktop shortcuts and using the Control Panel; browse the Internet. Course 4: Customize the Start menu, taskbar and folder views; view and change file attributes and file associations; use advanced folder options; add a printer and manage print jobs with the print queue; manage user accounts; use fast user switching and employ basic user-level security; use System Restore, Disk Cleanup, Disk Defragmenter, Backup, and the Security Center; share folders and printer on a LAN and use shared resources. Course 5: Discuss basic networking concepts, including network types, network operating systems, server types, topologies, and planning in network design; explain the significance of the OSI Model, label the seven layers of the OSI Model, and describe the services provided by each layer of the OSI Model; discuss network adapter configuration, NDIS and ODI models, and troubleshoot network adapter problems; discuss the concept of protocols and channel access methods, and discuss transport, remote access, and security protocols; illustrate the basic properties, purpose, and functionality of network cabling, identify the characteristics and appropriate implementation techniques for various types of cables and connectors, and discuss Ethernet, Token Ring, and other devices; discuss inter networking, describe and contrast the functions of bridges, switches, and routers, and discuss routing protocols; describe the properties, benefits, and potential issues involved with POTS, ISDN, cable modem, xDSL, satellite, and wireless remote access methods, configure Windows XP/Server 2003 with a modem, establish a dial-up network connection by using Windows XP/Server2003, discuss Remote Access Service (RAS) and remote access clients, and discuss WAN connectivity; discuss the environmental factors that affect computer networks, define physical and logical indicators of network trouble, identify the function of common network tools, and discuss the science of troubleshooting; discuss the evolution of TCP/IP and the fundamentals of TCP/IP; identify each networked system as a host under TCP/IP, determine the IP address class and default subnet mask, and configure TCP/IP on a Windows XP/Server2003 computer; discuss the role of the HOSTS file, DNS, NETBIOS, LMHOSTS file, and WINS; discuss the purpose of firewalls and the functionality of a proxy server; identify the TCP/IP troubleshooting tools, discuss the Telnet utility, its functions, the functions the File Transfer Protocol (FTP) utility, and diagnose a problem and choose the appropriate troubleshooting tools; identify Network Operating Systems (NOS) features and discuss the features of Microsoft Windows, Novell NetWare, UNIX, Linux, Mac OS X Server and AppleShare IP; describe the network clients that are available to connect DOS-, Windows-, and Macintosh-based clients to a network; describe Windows security models, discuss directory services planning and implementation; describe Active Directory and the new features of Active Directory in Windows Server 2003; describe the Windows NT domain model, and explain the purpose of Novell Directory Services/eDirectory and the significance of NDS/eDirectory objects and bindery emulation; discuss user management and group management; identify the NTFS file system and file system security; explain shared folders and discuss Windows 2000/Server 2003 printing concepts; discuss Windows 2000/Server 2003 system monitoring using Task Manager; discuss troubleshooting using Event Viewer, and describe System Monitor and Performance Logs and Alerts; discuss user and group management in NetWare; describe file system security and rights and trustee assignments; discuss user account restrictions; explain NDS/eDirectory context; discuss NetWare log files, and use MONITOR.NLM, NetWare Remote Manager, as well as other utilities to monitor and manage a NetWare server and file system; discuss disk configuration, Windows-based replication, and NDS partitions and replicas, backup, and UPS; discuss the necessity of applying software patches and fixes, and describe viruses and anti-virus strategies; describe methods to help prioritize network problems, list the basic troubleshooting steps to be followed when working on a problem, and troubleshoot various problems that might occur on the network.