CompTIA A+ Core 2 | Domain 6: Operating Systems (28%) | Reading
6.1 Operating System Fundamentals
What is an Operating System (OS)?
An OS is software that:
- Manages hardware
- Runs applications
- Provides user interface
Common Operating Systems
- Windows 10 / Windows 11
- macOS
- Linux
- Mobile OS: Android, iOS
OS Types
|
Type |
Description |
|
Desktop OS |
Personal computers |
|
Server OS |
Network services |
|
Mobile OS |
Phones/tablets |
6.2 Windows Editions & Features
Windows Editions
|
Edition |
Use |
|
Home |
Basic users |
|
Pro |
Business features |
|
Enterprise |
Large organizations |
|
Education |
Schools |
Key Windows Features
- Remote Desktop
- BitLocker (encryption)
- Group Policy
- Windows Defender
6.3 Windows Installation Methods
Installation Types
Clean Install
- Fresh OS installation
- Deletes all data
Upgrade Install
- Keeps files and apps
Repair Install
- Fixes OS without data loss
Installation Steps:
- Boot from USB/ISO
- Select partition
- Install OS
- Configure settings
Partition Types
|
Type |
Description |
|
MBR |
Older (2TB limit) |
|
GPT |
Modern (UEFI required) |
6.4 File Systems (VERY IMPORTANT)
Common File Systems
|
File System |
Features |
|
NTFS |
Permissions, encryption |
|
FAT32 |
Compatible, limited |
|
exFAT |
Flash drives |
NTFS Features:
- File permissions
- Encryption (EFS)
- Compression
6.5 Windows Tools & Utilities (EXAM CRITICAL)
System Tools
|
Tool |
Purpose |
|
Task Manager |
View processes |
|
Device Manager |
Manage hardware |
|
Disk Management |
Manage drives |
|
Event Viewer |
Logs |
|
Services |
Background processes |
Control Panel vs Settings
- Control Panel → legacy
- Settings → modern interface
6.6 Command-Line Tools (HIGH PRIORITY)
Essential Commands
ipconfig → Network info
ping → Test connectivity
sfc /scannow → Repair system files
chkdsk → Check disk errors
tasklist → Show processes
taskkill → End process
Admin Tools:
- Run as Administrator required for many commands
6.7 Windows Networking
Network Settings:
- IP configuration
- DNS settings
- Network profiles:
- Public
- Private
- Domain
Firewall:
- Blocks unauthorized access
- Configurable rules
6.8 macOS Basics
Features:
- Finder (file manager)
- Spotlight (search)
- Time Machine (backup)
Tools:
- Disk Utility
- Activity Monitor
6.9 Linux Basics
Common Distributions:
- Ubuntu
- Debian
- Fedora
Basic Commands:
ls → list files
cd → change directory
chmod → change permissions
sudo → run as admin
Linux File Structure:
- Root directory: /
- Everything is file-based
6.10 OS Configuration & Management
System Settings:
- Power options
- Display settings
- User accounts
User Management:
- Admin vs standard user
- Permissions and access control
Security Settings:
- Password policies
- Account lockout
6.11 Remote Access
Remote Desktop (RDP)
- Connect to another computer
VPN (Virtual Private Network)
- Secure remote connection
6.12 OS Troubleshooting
Boot Issues
Causes:
- Corrupt OS
- Missing boot files
Fix:
- Safe Mode
- Startup Repair
Slow Performance
Causes:
- Too many startup apps
- Low RAM
Fix:
- Disable startup apps
- Upgrade hardware
Blue Screen (BSOD)
Causes:
- Driver issues
- Hardware failure
Recovery Options
- System Restore
- Reset this PC
- Recovery Environment
6.13 Malware Removal (EXAM IMPORTANT)
Steps:
- Identify malware
- Quarantine system
- Remove malware
- Update system
- Educate user
6.14 Virtualization in OS
Built-in Tools:
- Hyper-V
Use Cases:
- Testing software
- Running multiple OS
Videos Operating Systems
1.1 – Operating Systems
The operating system is the foundation of any computing platform. In this video, you’ll learn about Microsoft Windows, Apple macOS, Linux, Google Chrome OS, Apple iOS, Google Android, and more.
The data stored by our operating systems is written to a specific file system. In this video, you’ll learn about NTFS, ReFS, FAT/FAT32, exFAT, ext4, XFS, and APFS.
1.2 – Installing Operating Systems
There are many options to consider when installing an operating systems. In this video, you’ll learn about different boot methods, installation options, zero-touch deployment, partition types, and formatting options.
Upgrading Windows requires more than launching a setup utility. In this video, you’ll learn about upgrade types, OS requirements, hardware requirements, and more.
1.3 – Microsoft Windows
There’s an edition of Windows for almost any computing environment. In this video, you’ll learn about different Windows editions for Windows 10 and Windows 11, the features available in each edition, and how Windows N editions are used in Europe.
Windows includes a number of useful features for managing devices in an enterprise. In this video, you’ll learn about Domain Services, Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP), RAM support, encryption options, and more.
1.4 – The Windows OS
The Windows Task Manager is an important utility when performing real-time monitoring and troubleshooting. In this video, you’ll learn about Task Manager and features for Services, Startup, Processes, Performance, Networking, and Users.
The Microsoft Management Console provides a framework for creating the perfect troubleshooting toolkit. In this video, you’ll learn about Event Viewer, Disk Management, Task Scheduler, Device Manager, Performance Monitor, and more.
Windows includes a number of useful troubleshooting utilities. In this video, you’ll learn about System Information, Resource Monitor, System Configuration, Disk Cleanup, defrag, and regedit.
1.5 – The Windows Command Line
The Windows command line provides a powerful interface for monitoring and troubleshooting. In this video, you’ll learn about navigating the command line prompt, copying files, viewing host and version information, managing Group Policy, and keeping your system secure.
Troubleshooting the network is often managed from the Windows command line. In this video, you’ll learn about ipconfig, ping, netstat, nslookup, net view, net use, net user, tracert, and path ping.
1.6 – Windows Settings
The Windows Control panel allows for the configuration the Windows user experience. In this video, you’ll learn about Internet Options, Devices and Printers, Network and Sharing Center, Performance Settings, User Accounts, and more.
The Windows Settings utility provides a consistent user interface for configuring many operating system options. In this video, you’ll learn about Time and Language, Personalization, Apps, Privacy and Security, and more.
1.7 – Windows Networking
Windows includes many resources for networking devices together. In this video, you’ll learn about shared resources, Workgroups, Domains, and sharing printers.
Windows Defender Firewall is a built-in personal firewall and is available for most Windows versions. In this video, you’ll learn about the Defender Firewall configuration options and how to create your own customized firewall rules.
There are many ways for a Windows computer to obtain an IP address. In this video, you’ll learn about Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP), Automatic Private IP Addressing (APIPA), TCP/IP host addressing, and alternate configurations.
Windows includes a number of different features to connect to different network technologies. In this video, you’ll learn about VPN connections, wireless networks, wired connections, WWAN links, proxy settings, network locations, network paths, mapping drives, and metered connections.
1.8 – macOS
Apple’s macOS is a popular operating system and includes a number of important usability features. In this video, you’ll learn about file types, the Apple App Store, system folders, backup features, and more.
The macOS operating system provides numerous options for customization. In this video, you’ll learn about the System Preferences app and configuration options for displays, network adapters, printers, accessibility features, and more.
macOS includes a number of features for security, backups, and usability. In this video, you’ll learn about Mission Control, Spaces, Keychain, Spotlight, Finder, Continuity, and more.
1.9 – Linux
The Linux operating system is a popular option for both desktop and server environments. In this video, you’ll learn about Linux, the Linux bootloader, the Linux kernel, systemd, and important Linux configuration files.
The Linux operating system provides numerous utilities to manage the OS from the command line. In this video, you’ll learn about ls, pwd, mv, cp, rm chmod, grep, and more.
The Linux command line can be used for monitoring, management, and troubleshooting. In this video, you’ll learn about ping, curl, dig, traceroute, cat, top, and more.
1.10 – Installing Applications
Installing an application requires attention to hardware and software requirements. In this video, you’ll learn about CPU types and requirements, memory specifications, distribution methods, ISO images, and more.
1.11 – Cloud Productivity
The cloud has extended the capabilities of our infrastructure and applications. In this video, you’ll learn about cloud-based mail systems, collaboration tools, identity synchronization, and more.