Chapter 1 of 4 · CompTIA A+ 220-1202

Operating Systems

OS types, installation, Windows editions, tools, commands, settings, networking, macOS and Linux.

  • 15topics
  • 1 h 5 minfast track
  • 2diagrams and exhibits
  • 28%of the exam
Start with Operating System Types and File Systems

Topics in this chapter

Take them in order, or jump to the one you need.

  1. 1Operating System Types and File SystemsCompare Windows, macOS, Linux, ChromeOS and mobile operating systems, their file systems, and the limits that end of life and…5 min
  2. 2OS Installations and UpgradesChoose a boot method, installation type, partition style and upgrade path for a Windows install, and know what to check before…5 min
  3. 3Windows Editions and Upgrade PathsCompare Windows Home, Pro, Pro for Workstations and Enterprise by feature, including domain join, BitLocker, Group Policy, RDP…5 min
  4. 4Task Manager and Monitoring ToolsUse Task Manager, Resource Monitor, Performance Monitor, Event Viewer and the Services console to find slow processes, failed…4 min
  5. 5Management Consoles and Disk ManagementUse the Microsoft Management Console snap-ins Device Manager, Disk Management, Task Scheduler, Local Users and Groups…4 min
  6. 6System Utilities and the RegistryUse System Configuration, System Information, Registry Editor, Disk Cleanup and Optimize Drives to manage startup, inspect…4 min
  7. 7Windows File and Disk CommandsUse the Windows Command Prompt commands cd, dir, md, rd, copy, xcopy, robocopy, format, chkdsk, sfc and diskpart with correct…4 min
  8. 8Windows Network and System CommandsUse ipconfig, ping, hostname, netstat, nslookup, tracert, pathping, net user, net use, gpupdate, gpresult, shutdown and winver at…4 min
  9. 9Windows Settings and Control PanelFind the right Control Panel applet or Settings area for Internet Options, Programs and Features, Power Options, user accounts…4 min
  10. 10Windows Network ConnectionsConfigure wired, wireless and cellular connections, IP addressing with DHCP and APIPA, DNS, VPN, proxy settings, network profiles…Diagram4 min
  11. 11Sharing, Workgroups and DomainsCompare workgroups and domains, then share files and printers with SMB, administrative shares and mapped drives, and see how…Diagram4 min
  12. 12macOS Features and ToolsLearn macOS tools: Finder, Dock, Spotlight, System Settings, Time Machine, Disk Utility, Keychain, FileVault, Terminal and how…5 min
  13. 13Linux Commands and ToolsLearn Linux desktop commands ls, cd, mv, cp, rm, chmod, chown, grep, find, ps, top, df, ip, dig and sudo, plus permissions…5 min
  14. 14Application Requirements and ImpactCheck CPU, RAM, VRAM, storage, hardware tokens and OS fit before installing an application, pick a distribution method and weigh…4 min
  15. 15Cloud Productivity ToolsSet up cloud email, storage sync, collaboration tools, identity synchronization and licence assignment for Microsoft 365 and…4 min

About this chapter

What this chapter covers

Operating Systems is the largest domain of the CompTIA A+ Core 2 (220-1202) exam. It tests whether you can recognise an OS, install or upgrade it, and then use the built in tools to configure and support it.

Most of the chapter is about Microsoft Windows, because Windows is the main desktop OS in business. The chapter also covers macOS and Linux at a level that lets a technician support a user, not administer a server.

How the topics fit together

The pages follow the life of a computer from choosing an OS to supporting it.

Choose OStypes and file systemsInstall or upgradeboot, partition, editionUse toolsconsoles, commands, settingsConnectnetworking and sharing
  • OS types and installation cover the families, file systems, boot methods and partition styles.
  • Windows editions explain which features each edition has and how to upgrade.
  • Tools and commands cover Task Manager, consoles, utilities and the command line.
  • Settings and networking cover the Control Panel, Settings app, addresses, VPN and sharing.
  • macOS and Linux cover the main tools and commands on the other two desktop systems.
Exam tip

The exam gives a scenario and asks for the best tool or command. Learn what each tool is for, not just its name.

How to use these pages

Each topic page has the same shape, so you can skim for what you need.

  • What it is: the idea in plain words.
  • How it works: the mechanism, with diagrams and example commands.
  • What to remember for the exam: the facts to memorise.
  • Common mistakes: the classic traps.
  • Check yourself: three questions to test your understanding.

For the command pages, practise on a test computer or virtual machine. Typing each command and reading the result is the quickest way to remember the switches.

Ready for more practice?

The full CompTIA A+ 220-1202 question bank has 835 questions, with timed practice exams and an explanation for every answer.

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