Week One
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Basic components of computers
Definitions and explanations of essential terms
associated with PCs.
PC: what are they and what do they do?
A system built up from various components
with a processor at the core
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A PC accepts data input, processes the information
and produces output
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- Runs an operating system to interface between the user and the
microprocessor
- Runs software applications designed for specific work or play
activities
- Allows for adding and removing hardware or software as needed
Core PC Components and What They Do
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Case
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Motherboard
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Power supply
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Central Processing Unit (CPU)
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Random Access Memory (RAM)
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Drives (CD)
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Cooling devices
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Cables
Ports, Peripherals and Expansion Slots
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Graphics components (video card)
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Ports ( USB, Ethernet, audio, etc)
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Peripherals (monitor, keyboard,
mouse, etc)
Expansion slots
Powering up a PC, the Boot Process
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Activate the power button
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Power on self test (POST)
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Display of details of the boot process ( BIOS –Basic
Input/Output System and now UEFI – Unified Extensible
Firmware Interface- )
The BIOS/UEFI attempts to access the first sector of the
boot disk
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Load the boot loader
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Loading the operating system
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Turn work load to operating system
PC Operating System (OS)
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Processor management
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Memory management
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Device management
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Storage management
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Application interface
Week Two
Periodic maintenance to optimize performance and
programs to install to avoid operational
sluggishness.
Managing the Anti-virus on your PC
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Install one (and only one) good free Antivirus
software: MSE, AVG, Avast
Enable “automatic update”
Run manually a full anti-virus scan once a month (
preferably in safe mode - F8 at boot up -)
Download/Update/Run a
Malware/Spyware Removal Tool
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Install a free anti malware /spyware program such
as : “Malwarebyte” or “Spybot Search and Destroy”)
Manually update the program before running a scan
to have the latest virus definition
Manually run (in safe mode preferably) a full scan
once a month
Delete or quarantine undesirable files
Delete Temporary Files and other
Unnecessary Files
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Delete once a month unwanted files using the
Windows built up utility “disk clean up” or using
Ccleaner (a third party utility)
to start “disk clean up” go to: start/computer/right click OS C drive/
properties/general tab/disk clean up
Keeping your Hard Drive Healthy
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Once every three months run
Scandisk/Checkdisk/error checking
To start the program go to: start/computer/right click OS C drive/
properties/tools/checknow
Keeping Windows up to Date
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Enable automatic update
Start/control panel/windows update/change settings if needed ( to make sure
that automatic update is enabled)
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Run a manual update once a quarter
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Start/ Windows update
Keep the Hard Drive Optimized
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Run the Windows built in disk defragmenter utility
or third party such as Smartdefrag 2 or Defragger
Start/all programs/accessories system tools/diskdefragmenter
Remove/disable Unnecessary Start up
Programs
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Uninstall unwanted programs (Bloatware) running in
the background using resources and slowing down the
computer with a windows utility or a better third party
utility like “Revo Uninstaller”
Start/control panel/programs and features/click on program/ yes to uninstall
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To disable programs that start automatically follow the
path below and uncheck the programs you don't want to
run
Start/type “msconfig” in the search box/ click on msconfig exe/click on the
start up tab/ uncheck programs
Week Three and Four
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Security issues associated with emails and browsing
the net.
What to do to avoid malware, identity theft, or being
hacked.
Email Best Practices: What to Do and Why
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The risk associated with email:
Malware (viruses, trojan, rootkit,
spyware, etc)
Pop up and Spam
Identity theft
Privacy
Phishing
Email
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The best defense against malware is smart online
behaviour
Don't open attachment you don't trust (.EXE files in
particular)
Beware of pop-up warning you of a problem with your
PC inviting you to run a scan
Have the appropriate security settings on your email
server (spam filter)
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Beware of “reply to all” risks
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Have a strong password and change it often
Email (continued)
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Avoid public Wi-Fi
Don't use email to communicate confidential
information such as social security, bank accounts,
etc
On mail servers log out rather than closing the
window
Never click links in email unless you trust the sender
. Go to the original website
The ultimate solution to privacy: encryption
Safe Web Browsing
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Don't rely on your browser to protect you from
malicious website
Install “Web of Trust” as an add-on ( WOT)
Beware of windows or pages that prompt you to click a
link to run a software
Don't provide personal information to get something
free online
Watch for shortened URLs, and numbers, hyphens or
special characters in a URL
HTTP versus HTTPS
Safe Web Browsing (continued)
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Use “in private browsing” feature
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Use and enable a firewall
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Keep everything updated (antivirus, Windows, all
programs such as Adobe reader and others)
Use strong passwords ( minimum 8 characters,
lower and upper case, numbers, symbols)
Delete your internet temporary files
Week 5 and 6
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Identifying the root cause of a problem (software
versus Hardware)
Solve simple computer problems
Most Common Computer Problems
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Hardware stability issues
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Sluggishness
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Freeze and/or unwanted shut down
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System overheating
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Application compatibility or application bugs
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Driver issues
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Windows bugs
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Integration problems
Common Computer Problems (continued)
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The computer won't start
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The screen is blank
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Windows won't boot
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Strange noises
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Slow internet
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The blue screen of death
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A pop up will not go away
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Error messages
Hardware versus Software
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First determine if your problem is a hardware or a
software issue (difference between the two)
Typical Hardware-related Symptoms
- Machine totally "dead" - no activity (lights, sound, screen information) at power on
- Machine has started producing unusual noises
- A visibly broken, cracked or loose-fitting part
- Problems following liquid being spilled on machine
- Machine getting very hot and/or randomly restarting itself
Fixing Hardware
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Depends mostly on the level of expertise of the user
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Easy : HD, memory, video cards, cable
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Harder: power supply, motherboard
Hardware versus Software
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Typical Software-related Symptoms
- Machine halts part way through start-up
- Programs misbehave or give error messages
- Machine runs very slowly
Tools for Fixing Software Problems
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The F1 key
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Clean the HD to delete temporary files (Ccleaner)
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Run anti-virus and malware removal tools
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Use a Registry cleaner
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Uninstall recently installed programs
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Start in save mode (F8)
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Open “Action center” (in Windows 7)
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Do a System restore
Fixing software problems (continued)
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Run the Windows repair disk
Search the net for solutions (forums, white papers,
Microsoft website, etc...)
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Visit the Microsoft “fix it” website
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Do a Clean install (the nuke option)