Lesson 1: PC Repair Safety
When dealing with computers, we often think of safety as keeping your computer safe from viruses, and perhaps keeping your personal information out of the hands of identity thieves. However, this section deals with how to keep your computer physically safe, and how to keep yourself safe while fixing your PC.
Lesson 2: Data Backup
Learn the different types of media to use when backing up important files and when each method is appropriate. How to create automated backups and perform manual backups. How to clone a hard drive.
Lesson 3: Hardware Identification
Learn the “nuts and bolts” about the hardware in desktop PCs, including cases, cooling, power supplies, motherboards, CPUs, RAM, hard drives, optical drives, video cards, and sound cards.
Lesson 4: PC Cleaning
How to clean your computer and increase airflow and lifespan of your computer.
HARDWARE DIAGNOSIS & REPLACEMENT
Lesson 5: Diagnosis
It’s so important to accurately diagnose a problem first, otherwise you might be going down the wrong path for a long time. Many software and hardware problems mimic each other. So diagnostics are important for determining the true cause.
Lesson 6: Hardware Replacement
Learn to install and remove RAM, CD/DVD/Blu-ray drives, hard drives, power supplies, video cards, expansion cards, fans, motherboards, CPUs, CPU coolers. Also learn about troubleshooting some common hardware issues if the PC doesn’t start after installing a new component.
SOFTWARE PROBLEMS & SOLUTIONS
Lesson 7: Virus Removal
Learn how to prevent, find, and remove malware from your computer. You’ll learn about the different types of malware and which pieces of software to use to get rid of them. You can remove malware with plenty of free software tools.
Lesson 8: File Recovery
Learn how to recovery partially deleted files and overwritten files, or recovery files from a failing hard drive.
Lesson 9: Windows Utilities
Use little-known software utilities that are built into Windows but aren’t found in the Programs menu. Use them to check for corrupted files, restore your machine to a previously working state, speed up your system, and stop programs from eating up all of your system’s resources.
Lesson 10: System Utilities
Learn how to check to see if your hard drive has bad sectors, fix the master boot record, and run an in-place installation.
Lesson 11: Factory Restore
Restore partitions and backup media, the first thing you should always do when buying a new computer, how to restore your PC without deleting user files, how to completely wipe the computer and start fresh, and how to make backups of your restore partitions.
Lesson 12: Unwanted Program Removal
Learn how to know which programs automatically start and load when your PC is booted, and remove programs you don’t need anymore.
Lesson 13: Junk File Removal
Rid your computer of junk files that clutter up your PC and make it run slow. Learn why junk files are likely to lead to virus infections, how to complete remove deleted files, clean up internet files and images, and more.
Lesson 14: Software Updates
Which programs you need to keep updating because they have vulnerabilities that malware makers like to target.
INSTALL & CONFIGURE WINDOWS OS
Lesson 15: Windows Installation
Walkthroughs on how to install Windows 7 and Windows XP.
Lesson 16: Drivers Installation
Learn what drivers are, why you need to update them, how to update them, and how to load them manually when needed.
Lesson 17: Internet Setup
Learn about the different types of internet connections, setup your intenet connection, choosing the best web browser for your internet safety, and setting up an email account.
Lesson 18: Software Installation
After you’ve installed Windows and the necessary drivers, here are the best programs to install that will allow you to keep your computer safe from malware, do word processing and use spreadsheets, play movies and music, browser the internet, burn CDs and DVDs, create PDFs and more.
Lesson 19: Windows Update
Find your system version, install service packs, how to perform a Windows update, and very important: how to roll back Windows update changes that negatively effected your PCs performance.
Lesson 20: User Account Customization
Create user accounts, switch between user accounts without losing your work, adjust the resolution of your monitor, change the background/wallpaper, customize the screen saver, customize the start menu, customize the task bar, and using parental controls.
