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Welcome to the free ExamNotes by CertBlaster! Here we will review the things you’ll need to know to be successful at the 220-1002 exam. We’ll cover as much as possible, but it takes a lot of information from a variety of sources to really master the content. Search for virtual or real-life practice sources and learn hands-on as much as possible. There are also a lot of good practice tests available. CertBlaster is the name of our version and is highly reviewed. Exam simulations put you in a sample test environment and so gives you a sense of what Performance-Based Questions (PBQ) are like but also how the allocated time at the exam feels against the number of questions served up. Please take a look at our YouTube Channel as we offer many resources for free. Don’t forget to check good old Google too! Our focus with these objective breakdowns is to inform what’s to be expected of you in addition to putting a little life into the material, as opposed to the vast majority of dry boring graphs and numbers you would typically be hammered with.
Click here for the A+ Practice Test Bundle for A+ Exams 220-1001 & 220-1002
We will start this series with CompTIA A+ Core 2 Main Domain 1.1 (by definition) which looks deceivingly simple. However, after reading deeper into the objectives, you will notice that you’ll need to know which hardware platforms support which Operating systems as well as which system architectures are involved. Wait there’s more! A single statement (around 30 words) covers system tool responsibilities, diagnostics, monitoring, prevention, system upgrade paths, and eye candy. There’s quite a bit of stuff to keep track of!
Let’s get into it by starting with the basic architecture. Using Windows as an example, there are 32-bit and 64-bit versions of all the operating systems covered. 32-bit and 64-bit systems boil down to memory or RAM. With a 32-bit operating system, there is a 4GB cap. You can put as much memory as you like into a 32-bit system, but the system will only be able to see or use 4GB. A 64-bit system can utilize up to 16 Exabytes of memory and the proportional data throughput makes a 64-bit system the fastest machine currently and into the foreseeable future.
For both the OS and programs, remember that 64-bit versions will be considerably faster.
| Operating System | 32-Bit Architecture | 64-Bit Architecture |
| Windows 10 Home Windows 8.1 | 4 GB | 128 GB |
| Windows 10 Pro Windows 10 Enterprise Windows 8.1 Pro Windows 8.1 Enterprise | 4 GB | 512 GB |
| Windows 7 Home Premium | 4 GB | 16 GB |
| Windows 7 Professional Windows 7 Enterprise Windows 7 Ultimate | 4 GB | 192 GB |
Windows Memory Support
In terms of compatibility, 32-bit software will run reliably on a 64-bit platform. However, 64-bit software will not run on a 32-bit platform. Always opt for 64-bit versions of software if your system supports it. Remember that 64-bit Windows versions require 64-bit device drivers.
Per the exam objectives, we will now move onto the systems that you will need to know.
Microsoft Windows
The exam covers all the major releases of Microsoft’s vendor-specific (closed source) Windows OS’s: Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 10. Within each major release, different features are available. We will cover these features in the next post.
With Microsoft Windows, it is interesting to note that all features from the versions of the OS are installed on the PC, but only those features of the installed edition are available.
Apple Macintosh OS
Another popular vendor-specific (closed source) OS is Mac OS X. The MacOS can only be installed on Macintosh computers from Apple Inc. The MacOS is based on the venerable UNIX core with proprietary enhancements. We’ll cover the features later in this series and note some of the differences between this and other operating systems.
Linux
Linux, like the MacOS, is based on UNIX. In contrast to the MacOS, Linux is completely free. Based on freely available open source code, the Linux OS allows developers to create compatible applications and to contribute to the evolution of the product. This also allows for patches and bug fixes to be implemented quickly.
Microsoft Windows
In the mobile arena, Windows 10 Mobile represents a very small portion of the installed smartphone base. Based on the Windows 10 platform, Windows 10 Mobile is significantly more popular on tablets.
Android
Based on the Linux kernel and Linux OS, the Android OS is popular on both smartphones and tablets. The free open source nature of development allows for continuous improvement. Google has assumed a management, distribution, and quality control role with Android but does not own the OS. The Android OS holds the lion’s share of the smartphone and tablet market.
iOS
iPhones and iPads run Apple’s iOS based on the MacOS. Together, iPhones and iPads account for roughly one-fifth of the market. This is a proprietary operating system.
Chrome OS
The Chrome OS is another open source operating system. Developed by Google, it is based on the Chromium OS and is designed for use with Google’s Chromebook. The attraction of this OS is that it is mainly browser-based and requires fewer local resources than a conventional desktop.
Here is where you need to address your needs and budget. In the case of vendor-specific operating systems, the vendor is free to establish licensing, pricing, and availability of the code. In some cases, this means that the OS can only be installed on specific hardware platforms.
End-of-life
End of Life (EOL) is a term used to describe software or hardware that has reached the end of its useful life. This means that the product is no longer supported by the vendor and any software or driver updates will no longer be available. In terms of security, this creates a considerable vulnerability and the user should upgrade to the latest version of the product if possible.
Update limitations
As described earlier, Software updates can be discontinued for EOL systems. The update limitations can also be enforced on unlicensed software.
Click here for the A+ Practice Test Bundle for A+ Exams 220-1001 & 220-1002
Compatibility concerns between operating systems Generally, the programs we run on our devices or hardware platforms will only operate on that specific operating system. A Linux program will not install or run on a Windows or iOS system. Always install the correct version of any software for your system. Use the FAT32 filesystem in order to transport the data produced by these programs so that file system incompatibilities can be reduced. FAT32 is common to all current OS’s.
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