CompTIA A+ Core 2 Exam Guide: A Complete Study Guide for Exam 220-1202 (CompTIA A+ Exam Guide)

CompTIA A+ Core 2 Exam GuideA Complete Study Guide for Exam 220-1202First Edition (2026)Pass Core 2 and master the software, security, and judgment that earn trust.CompTIA A+ is the certification that opens the door to IT, and Core 2 (220-1202) is the half that separates a competent technician from a trusted one. This book covers the operating systems, security, software troubleshooting, and professional procedures the 220-1202 exam tests, and prepares you to pass it. The companion volume, CompTIA A+ Core 1 Exam Guide, covers the hardware, networking, and physical side.Written for people who are new to the field, it assumes no prior IT experience and defines every term the first time it appears. Instead of dumping objectives on you in the order the exam lists them, it teaches the technology the way you actually learn it: each domain starts with the foundations, builds up concept by concept, and ends with troubleshooting.What's Inside:Full coverage of all four Core 2 (220-1202) domains in one focused volumeA learning-ordered structure: foundations first, troubleshooting last, so concepts make sense instead of being memorizedMore than 240 practice questions written in the exam's scenario style, each with an explanation of why the right answer is right and the wrong ones are wrongDiagrams and comparison tables for the topics that trip people up: Windows editions, wireless security protocols, file systems, backup types, the malware removal process, and more"Exam Gotcha" callouts that flag the exact distinctions the exam is designed to testPlain-English explanations tied to real support-desk and field-service work, not abstract definitionsFour Domains, Fully Covered:Operating Systems (28%) - Windows editions, the command line and PowerShell, management and configuration tools, networking, OS installation and file systems, plus macOS and LinuxSecurity (28%) - security fundamentals, threats and malware, wireless and SOHO hardening, securing Windows, and mobile, browser, and data securitySoftware Troubleshooting (23%) - Windows OS problems, PC security symptoms, the seven-step malware removal process, and mobile OS issuesOperational Procedures (21%) - documentation, change management, backup and recovery, safety, policy and privacy, communication, scripting, and remote accessExam Preparation:Every objective from the official CompTIA A+ Core 2 V15 exam guide (220-1202), reorganized into a teaching sequenceAbout 10 scenario-based self-check questions per chapter, each with a full answer explanationDiagrams and comparison tables throughout to make the differences clear at a glanceUpdated for the V15 refresh (March 2025): Windows 11, fileless malware, Zero Trust, the APFS file system, and expanded mobile securityPerfect for:Career changers entering IT with no prior experienceHelp-desk and field-service technicians formalizing skills they already useStudents in IT programs that require or recommend A+Anyone returning to IT who needs to update to the V15 objectivesDo the work in the right order, leave the system better than you found it, and prove it on Core 2.About the AuthorMike Aldren has spent more than 15 years in IT support, field service, desktop engineering, and endpoint management. His career started at the help desk and progressed through field service and desktop engineering before he focused on training others to pass their first certifications. He has guided hundreds of candidates through CompTIA A+ preparation and has seen firsthand which topics cause the most confusion and which explanations finally make things click. Read more